"Jobless Claims Hold Steady as Tesla Plans 10% Workforce Layoff"

The U.S. Labor Department has reported an unusual consistency in first-time claims for unemployment benefits, with the past several weeks showing exactly 212,000 claims, prompting skepticism and speculation about statistical anomalies and potential manipulation. However, officials attribute the uniformity to seasonal adjustments and new seasonal factors, emphasizing that claims not adjusted seasonally have shown substantial fluctuation. Federal Reserve officials closely monitor these numbers as part of their assessment of the labor market, which has displayed unexpected resilience amid tightening monetary policy.