Weekly Jobless Claims and Gold
When the US weekly jobless claims comes out, why it moves gold, and how gold actually reacted the last 12 times, from real hourly prices. Next release in your time zone, with a countdown and a calendar reminder.
US weekly jobless claims:
Thu 5 Nov 2026, 8:30 am New York time · source: US Department of Labor
The time above is shown in your own time zone. The calendar file holds this release with a reminder 15 minutes before; it works in Apple, Google and Outlook calendars.
How gold reacted the last 12 times
- Average release-hour move
- $17.2 (0.39%)
- Average release-hour range
- $29.7
- Release hour closed higher
- 8 of 12
- Average session move
- 1.19% ($51.1)
- Gold closed the session higher
- 6 of 12
- Average session range
- $91.1
Averages of the absolute moves (ignoring direction) in the table above, computed when the page was built. Past reactions do not predict the direction of the next one.
| Release (New York date) | Release hourmove | Release hourhigh–low | Gold that sessionclose to close | Session rangehigh–low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 29 Oct 20268:30 am NY · with PCE, GDP | +$1.2+0.03% | $16.1 | −1.17%−$47.9 | $65.4 |
| Thu 22 Oct 20268:30 am NY | +$28.8+0.71% | $33.1 | −2.88%−$119.7 | $127.5 |
| Thu 15 Oct 20268:30 am NY · with PPI, Retail sales | +$7.2+0.17% | $29.2 | +1.58%+$65.2 | $76.8 |
| Thu 8 Oct 20268:30 am NY | −$6.6−0.16% | $19.4 | +0.52%+$21.6 | $42.6 |
| Thu 1 Oct 20268:30 am NY | −$3.6−0.09% | $13.3 | +0.45%+$18.7 | $53.4 |
| Thu 24 Sep 20268:30 am NY | +$15.6+0.36% | $23.2 | −0.29%−$12.6 | $59.7 |
| Thu 17 Sep 20268:30 am NY | +$23.8+0.54% | $39.5 | +1.82%+$78.1 | $128.8 |
| Thu 10 Sep 20268:30 am NY · with PPI | −$34.9−0.79% | $54.5 | −1.99%−$88.7 | $125.2 |
| Thu 3 Sep 20268:30 am NY | +$50.4+1.12% | $58.5 | +1.93%+$85.7 | $131.8 |
| Thu 27 Aug 20268:30 am NY | −$12.8−0.28% | $21.0 | +0.15%+$7.0 | $81.7 |
| Thu 20 Aug 20268:30 am NY | +$6.7+0.15% | $26.3 | −0.12%−$5.6 | $91.1 |
| Thu 13 Aug 20268:30 am NY · with PPI | +$14.4+0.32% | $22.9 | −1.39%−$61.9 | $109.1 |
Prices: COMEX gold futures (GC=F) 1-hour bars via Yahoo Finance, dollars per ounce. Release hour = the 1-hour bar that contains the release, from the close of the hour before. Session = the COMEX day the release falls in (6 pm New York the evening before to 5 pm New York), against the previous session’s close. Session closes are the last hourly price before 5 pm New York, not the 1:30 pm settlement, so afternoon releases such as Fed decisions are inside the move.
Get reminded
Two free ways, no account needed. Add the next release to your own calendar with the buttons above, or get Gold Daily: once a day, Mon–Sat, it lists the next big event in your time zone with today’s gold levels.
What is the US weekly jobless claims?
The Department of Labor's weekly count of new claims for unemployment insurance (initial claims) and of people still claiming (continuing claims). The next Jobless claims release is on Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 8:30 am New York time ( in your time zone).
When does it come out?
Every Thursday at 8:30 am New York time, for the week ended the previous Saturday. In holiday weeks it can come a day early. Dates come from the US Department of Labor; we only list a date once it is on the official schedule.
Why does it move gold?
Claims are the most timely read on layoffs. A run of rising claims hints at a weakening jobs market and earlier rate cuts, which tends to help gold; low claims tend to support yields and the dollar. One week rarely moves gold much unless it is a big surprise or confirms a trend.
What moves the price is the surprise: the gap between the number and what the market expected. We do not show consensus forecasts, because they come from commercial surveys we cannot republish, and we never guess them.
What traders look at
- Initial claims against the forecast
- The four-week average, which smooths out holidays
- Continuing claims, a sign of how fast people find work
What the history table shows
Across the last 12 times, gold’s release hour moved $17.2 on average (0.39%), with an average high–low range of $29.7 in that hour. Over the whole session gold moved 1.19% on average and closed higher 6 of 12 times. The table uses COMEX gold futures, which trade a few dollars above spot gold (XAUUSD) but move almost identically. For an 8:30 am release the release hour is the 8:00–9:00 am New York bar, so it includes 30 minutes before the number. Rows marked “with” show other releases that came out at the same minute: gold’s move that hour is the combined reaction.
How traders prepare (education)
- Know the time in your zone. The countdown above converts it for you; add it to your calendar so it does not catch you mid-trade.
- Size for the release hour. Compare the average release-hour range above with your stop. The position size calculator shows the lot size that keeps the risk the same with a wider stop.
- Decide before the number. Stand aside, reduce size or wait for the first spike to settle: pick one in advance. See the gold news trading lesson.
- Check the week. The weekly gold cheat sheet lists this week’s events and levels; the market scoreboard shows the dollar and yields gold reacts to.
Related reading
- NFP jobs report and gold
- JOLTS job openings and gold
- NFP and gold tracker
- All gold event pages
- Gold economic calendar
- Gold event centre: next three weeks
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Jobless claims release?
Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 8:30 am New York time (13:30 UTC), according to the US Department of Labor. The page shows it in your own time zone with a countdown.
What time is the Jobless claims released?
Every Thursday at 8:30 am New York time, for the week ended the previous Saturday. In holiday weeks it can come a day early.
Does the Jobless claims push gold up or down?
It depends on the surprise, not the number itself. A run of rising claims hints at a weakening jobs market and earlier rate cuts, which tends to help gold; low claims tend to support yields and the dollar. What else is moving yields and the dollar that day matters too, so the same kind of surprise does not always move gold the same way.
How much does gold move on Jobless claims?
Over the last 12 times, gold’s release hour moved $17.2 on average (0.39%), with an average range of $29.7. Over the full session it moved 1.19% on average and closed higher 6 of 12 times. These are averages of real past moves, not a forecast.
Where do the numbers on this page come from?
Release dates come from the US Department of Labor’s official schedule and release archive. Gold prices are COMEX gold futures (GC=F) 1-hour bars via Yahoo Finance, and every move in the table is calculated from those bars when the page is built. We do not show consensus forecasts.
Can I get a reminder before the release?
Yes. Use Add to calendar for a calendar file with a reminder 15 minutes before, or the Google Calendar button. Gold Daily, our free email, lists the next big event in your time zone once a day, Mon–Sat.
Educational page only. Not financial advice and not a signal. Past price reactions do not predict future prices. See our risk disclaimer.