Jobless Claims Drop; Fed Likely to Hold Rates Despite Pressure From Trump

Jobless claims fell to a three-month low last week, signaling a stable labor market, though slow hiring is leaving many laid-off workers struggling to find new jobs, according to Reuters. Stable labor market conditions are expected to give the Federal Reserve justification to keep interest rates unchanged next week. An S&P Global survey showed businesses raised prices in July, highlighting the inflationary impact of Trump’s tariffs. Trump is urging the Fed to resume rate cuts, but economists expect it will hold rates steady following next week’s policy meeting. Business sentiment remained cautious in July, despite an increase in overall activity, due to ongoing tariff uncertainty. S&P Global found rising input and output prices, with many firms citing tariffs as a key factor. Employment levels held steady, markets were mixed, the dollar strengthened, and Treasury yields rose.