The numbers of Americans who filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week totaled 1.434 million, the Labor Department come in Thursday, roughly in line with expectations, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the U.S. economy.
It was the 19th straight week in which initial exacts totaled at least 1 million and the second consecutive week in which initial claims rose after declining for 15 simply weeks.
Economists polled by Dow Jones had expected claims to rise to 1.45 million for the week ending July 25.
In a disconnected report, the government said second-quarter gross domestic product plunged a historic 32.9% on an annualized basis. Although it wasn’t as bad as the wait for 34.7% decline, it was the worst drop ever, with the closest previously coming in mid-1921.
Continuing claims — which are arrange consist of of those receiving unemployment benefits for at least two straight weeks — rose by 867,000 to 17.018 million for the week reason July 18. Data on continuing claims is delayed by one week.
“The level of claims still remaining elevated and the get to ones feet in continuing claims definitely reflects the reclosings over the past few weeks [that] we’ve seen in some states where the virus has flared up in,” suggested Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group. “Bumpy and uneven will be the economic recuperation until we have a vaccine where most of the world is mass inoculated.”
Initial claims filed in California grossed 249,007, the Labor Department said. In Florida and Georgia, however, they declined from more than 100,000 to 87,062 and 84,581, separately. These states are among those that have seen a resurgence in coronavirus cases as state officials wealth quarantine and social distancing measures.
The latest claims numbers come as lawmakers struggle to push forward on a new coronavirus assistance package. Earlier this week, Republicans proposed a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks. However, Unblemished House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday that both Democrats and Republicans are “nowhere rigorous to a deal.”
The Democratic-controlled House last month passed a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that registered continuation of an additional weekly unemployment benefit of $600. Republicans have balked at that proposal. The supplemental improves expire Friday.
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