劳动力市场疲态显现，美国续请失业金人数创2021年底以来最高

Group 1 - The core point of the articles indicates a cooling labor market in the U.S., as evidenced by rising unemployment claims, which supports expectations for interest rate cuts [1][2][4] - As of the week ending July 26, the number of individuals continuing to claim unemployment benefits increased by 38,000 to 1.974 million, the highest level since November 2021, indicating a weakening labor market [2][4] - Despite the increase in unemployment claims, the initial claims for unemployment benefits remain relatively low, suggesting that while companies are reducing hiring, they are not aggressively laying off existing employees [4][8] Group 2 - The recent non-farm payroll report showed a significant slowdown in U.S. employment, raising concerns among investors and economists about further deterioration in the labor market [8] - Companies are hesitant to hire new employees but are also not rushing to lay off current staff, reflecting uncertainty in the economic environment influenced by policies such as tariffs [7][8] - Some large companies, including Merck and Intel, have begun layoffs, and Stanford University plans to cut over 300 jobs due to federal funding reductions [8]