The release
Released by the Department of Labor on 28 May 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims rose to 215K for the week ending 23rd May, from 209K in the week ending 16th May.
It arrived at the same moment as Durable Goods Orders, Durable Goods Orders Excluding Transportation, Gross Domestic Product Report, Personal Income and Outlays, Personal Consumption Expenditures, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures and Continued Jobless Claims, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.
Measured by Clometrix
Polkadot's volatility ratio was 1.03x, against 1.32x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 1.15x, against a typical 1.54x. Under 1.5x is not a reaction at all: the market barely noticed this release. Both compare the quarter hour of the release with an ordinary quarter hour that same day, where 1.00x is no change: volatility is how far the price ranged, volume how much traded.
How Polkadot moved
Polkadot was at $1.190 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.84% higher, and an hour later 0.84% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 0.84% of its price, against 0.84% in the hour before.
What made it matter
Since 2021, Initial Claims releases in the two weeks before a Fed decision have moved Polkadot about as much as those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 1.41x across 93, against 1.27x across 208. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 1.03x compares with 1.27x for those, so it moved the price less than its circumstances would suggest.
How it compares
Across 301 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Polkadot's usual price swing is 1.32x. This one was 0.78 times the usual.
Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.32x. Thick line: this release, 1.03x. Under 1.5x counts as no reaction at all.
Minute by minute
Each row is the time after the release, with the same length of time before it for comparison.
| After | High | Low | Close | Change | Range | Range before | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 20,332 DOT |
| 5 minutes | 1.19 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.84% | 28,544 DOT |
| 10 minutes | 1.20 | 1.19 | 1.19 | 0.00% | 0.83% | 0.84% | 50,386 DOT |
| 15 minutes | 1.20 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 0.83% | 0.84% | 74,248 DOT |
| 30 minutes | 1.20 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 0.83% | 0.84% | 116,958 DOT |
| 1 hour | 1.20 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 0.83% | 0.84% | 298,477 DOT |
| 2 hours | 1.21 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 1.65% | 1.67% | 980,948 DOT |
| 4 hours | 1.21 | 1.19 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 1.65% | 1.67% | 1.778M DOT |
| 6 hours | 1.23 | 1.19 | 1.22 | 2.46% | 3.25% | 1.67% | 2.395M DOT |
| 8 hours | 1.21 | 1.18 | 1.20 | 0.83% | 2.48% | 4.84% | 2.881M DOT |
| 12 hours | 1.23 | 1.19 | 1.22 | 2.46% | 3.25% | 4.84% | 3.312M DOT |
Every coin at this release
| Coin | Price swing | Usual for Initial Claims | Reaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 1.12x | 1.50x | Quiet |
| Ethereum | 1.28x | 1.46x | Quiet |
| XRP | 0.00x | 1.18x | Quiet |
| BNB | 1.32x | 1.42x | Quiet |
| Solana | 1.52x | 1.38x | Ordinary |
| Dogecoin | 1.35x | 1.38x | Quiet |
| TRON | 1.29x | 1.33x | Quiet |
| Cardano | 2.11x | 1.35x | Strong |
| Chainlink | 2.01x | 1.43x | Strong |
| Sui | 1.52x | 1.24x | Ordinary |
| Bitcoin Cash | 1.03x | 1.34x | Quiet |
| Hedera | 1.68x | 1.32x | Ordinary |
| Avalanche | 1.80x | 1.42x | Ordinary |
| Litecoin | 1.71x | 1.39x | Ordinary |
| Gram | 2.01x | 1.02x | Strong |
| Shiba Inu | 1.36x | 1.33x | Quiet |
| Uniswap | 1.02x | 1.34x | Quiet |
| Polkadot | 1.03x | 1.32x | Quiet |
| Aave | 1.13x | 1.38x | Quiet |
| Bittensor | 1.68x | 1.40x | Ordinary |
| NEAR Protocol | 0.68x | 1.24x | Quiet |
| Aptos | 1.89x | 1.41x | Strong |
| Internet Computer | 1.05x | 1.45x | Quiet |
| POL (prev. MATIC) | 1.81x | 1.40x | Ordinary |
| Filecoin | 1.15x | 1.27x | Quiet |
What is Initial Jobless Claims?
The weekly claims report is released Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. ET by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Initial claims are new jobless claims filed by U.S. workers seeking unemployment compensation, included in the unemployment insurance weekly claims report. The report, published since 1967, includes a separate count of workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits, known as continuing claims.Questions about this page
Is 1.03x a lot?
No. Under 1.5x the market barely noticed the release.
Will the next Initial Claims do the same?
Nobody can say. A forecast shows the range Polkadot moved in after past Initial Claims releases, so you can plan for the likely size of the move.
Disclaimer
The data analysis, forecasted results and projections provided herein are based on historical price action and market trends. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, these predictions are speculative and should not be considered a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not assume any liability for any losses that may result from reliance on this information.