Bloomberg News reports:
Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly jumped to the highest level in three months, suggesting the labor market’s recovery is faltering amid the surge in Covid-19 cases and widening business closures.
Initial jobless claims in regular state programs rose by 23,000 to 885,000 in the week ended Dec. 12, Labor Department data showed Thursday. On an unadjusted basis, the figure fell by about 21,000.
Before the coronavirus erupted in March, weekly jobless claims had typically numbered only about 225,000. https://t.co/gWTSn4WcYO
— WGRZ (@WGRZ) December 17, 2020
BREAKING: U.S. jobless claims rise to 885,000 as layoffs remain elevated amid resurgence of virus. https://t.co/7uKH5nIbRI
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2020