The number of initial jobless claims in the United States fell more than expected, but the impact of tariffs may soon be reflected in the data.

The number of initial jobless claims in the United States last week decreased more than expected, indicating that the labor market continues to remain stable despite increasing risks from tariffs. The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the seasonally adjusted number of initial jobless claims decreased by 13,000 to 228,000 people for the week ending May 3, while the market had expected 230,000 people. This decline to some extent offset the impact of the spring break in New York state, which had led to a peak in the number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the past two months. However, economists believe that the weakness in surveys of businesses and consumers will eventually affect so-called hard data such as initial jobless claims, inflation, and employment reports. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve maintained interest rates in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%, with policymakers noting that "the risks of rising unemployment and inflation have increased."