According to Jinshi, the number of initial unemployment claims in the United States fell more than expected last week, consistent with the gradual cooling of job market conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor reported on Thursday that the number of initial unemployment claims fell by 22,000 in the week ending December 14, to a seasonally adjusted 220,000 (230,000 in a Reuters poll). Initial unemployment claims have entered a period of volatility, which can make it difficult to get a clear picture of the labor market. A range of indicators, including the number of people applying for unemployment benefits and job vacancies, suggest that the employment situation is much looser than before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the labor market is slowing down in an orderly manner.