jobless claims

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Jobless Claims in US Plummet to Lowest Level in 52 Years

Number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits drops to 199K, the lowest since 1969

(Newser) - The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plummeted last week to the lowest level in more than half a century, another sign that the US job market is rebounding rapidly from last year's coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 71,000 to 199,000, the lowest since mid-November...

If Markets End Losing Streak, This Report Is Why

Weekly jobless claims fall to a pandemic low

(Newser) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 444,000, a new pandemic low and a sign that the job market keeps strengthening as consumers spend freely again, viral infections drop, and business restrictions ease, per the AP . Major US stock indexes rose after the report came...

It's a Banner Day for Economy So Far

Retails sales surge, jobless claims reach pandemic low, and stocks reach record highs

(Newser) - Thursday is starting out as a strong day for the economy:
  • Consumers: Retail spending surged almost 10% in March thanks to factors including stimulus checks to households, warmer weather, and an increased reopening of businesses, reports the Wall Street Journal . The spike, detailed in a new Commerce Department report, follows
...

New Jobless Claims Are, 'in Absolute Terms, Bad News'

They remain elevated at 803K

(Newser) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell by 89,000 last week to a still-elevated 803,000, evidence that the job market remains under stress nine months after the coronavirus outbreak sent the US economy into recession and caused millions of layoffs. The latest figure, released Wednesday by the...

Unemployment Claims Head in Wrong Direction

Weekly figure jumps to 853K, highest since September

(Newser) - The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher, per the AP . The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 716,000 the previous...

Virus Numbers Aren't the Only Ones On the Rise

Jobless claims are up, too, for the 2nd week in a row

(Newser) - The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week for a second straight week, to 778,000, evidence that the US economy and job market remain under strain as coronavirus cases surge and colder weather heightens the risks. The Labor Department's report Wednesday said jobless claims climbed...

6 Months In, Businesses Still Getting Squeezed

Jobless claims ticked up last week

(Newser) - The number of people seeking US unemployment aid rose slightly last week to 870,000, showing that the viral pandemic is still squeezing businesses six months after it first erupted. The figure coincides with evidence that some newly laid-off Americans are facing delays in receiving unemployment benefits as state agencies...

Jobless Claims Remain Above a Big Threshold

Once again, more than 1 million apply for benefits in the last week

(Newser) - Just over 1 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that the coronavirus outbreak continues to threaten jobs even as the housing market, auto sales, and other segments of the economy rebound from a springtime collapse, per the AP . The Labor Department reported Thursday that the number...

Jobless Claims Milestone Is Short-Lived

Number of people seeking benefits rises back above 1M for the week

(Newser) - The number of laid-off workers seeking US unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the economy, per the AP . The latest figures, released Thursday by the Labor Department, suggest that more...

A Welcome Milestone on Jobless Claims

New claims drop below 1M for first time since March

(Newser) - Layoffs continue five months into the pandemic, but there is a silver lining. Unemployment claims dropped below 1 million last week for the first time since March. There were 963,000 new filings for state unemployment benefits in the week ending Aug. 8—a drop of 228,000 claims from...

Jobless Claims Continue a Historic 16-Week Streak

Numbers dip, but they remain above 1M

(Newser) - New unemployment claims are out, and they're a smidge better than expected, reports CNBC . As in, 1.31 million people applied for jobless benefits last week, compared with the expected figure of 1.39 million. The AP has some coronavirus context: This marks the 16th straight week the figure...

The Jobs Report Is Coming. It's Going to Be Grim
'And Now, It's Gone':
What the Jobs Report Will Hold
the rundown

'And Now, It's Gone': What the Jobs Report Will Hold

US is expected to have wiped out a decade's worth of jobs

(Newser) - The monthly jobs report is out at 8:30am ET Friday, when we'll find out just how grim the April employment numbers are. The March report was "shocking," without even showing the true brunt of the coronavirus pandemic's impact since the relevant surveys end mid-month. Media...

It's by Far the Worst String of Layoffs on Record

4.4M more file for unemployment benefits, bringing total to 26M over 5 weeks

(Newser) - More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for US unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down. Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers...

Jobless Claims Swell by Another 6.6M

About 10% of the workforce is now unemployed

(Newser) - With a startling 6.6 million people seeking jobless benefits last week, the United States has reached a grim landmark: Roughly one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks, per the AP . The figures collectively constitute the largest and fastest string of job losses...

Jobless Claims Clock in at Quadruple the 1982 Record

At nearly 3.3M

(Newser) - Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week—more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982—amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus. The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is doing to the economy. Filings...

Strong Jobs Report Comes With a Dose of Caution

Employers add 273K jobs, but numbers came before worst of coronavirus news

(Newser) - The latest jobs report is in, and it's a strong one. Employers added 273,000 jobs in February, well above expectations of 175,000, reports the Wall Street Journal . The unemployment rate ticked down from 3.6% to a 50-year low of 3.5%, notes the AP . Both stories,...

Soft Jobs Report Signals Fear of a Larger Slowdown

Employers add 75K jobs, well below projections

(Newser) - May's jobs report is in, and the numbers are weaker than expected. Employers added 75,000 jobs, well below projections in the 180,000 range, reports the Wall Street Journal . The pullback in hiring is a sign that businesses may have become more cautious in the face of slowing...

Unemployment Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since 1973

Claims for jobless aid drop by 22K to 222K

(Newser) - The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since Richard Nixon was president, the AP reports. The Labor Department said Thursday that claims for jobless aid dropped by 22,000 to 222,000, the fewest since March 1973. The less volatile four-week average slid...

Jobless Figures Surprisingly Weak

Rate remains at 5.1%, but fewer jobs than expected were created

(Newser) - Not so great news out of the Labor Department this morning: The economy created 142,000 jobs in September, well below forecasts of more than 200,000, reports the AP . Even so, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1%. The 142,000 may initially sound worse than last month'...

Jobless Claims Hit Pre-Recession Levels

2.56M people are receiving benefits, a 6-year low

(Newser) - Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, as the number of people collecting jobless aid fell to its lowest level in more than six years. The Labor Department said today that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 312,000. The four-week average, a less...

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