Another 853,000 Americans filed jobless claims last week, more than expected

(Image credit: ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

published 10 December 2020

The latest total of new jobless claims has come in higher than expected, making for the worst week in almost three months.

The Labor Department on Thursday said 853,000 Americans filed first-time jobless claims last week, up 137,000 from the previous week's revised level of 716,000. This was more than the 730,000 claims economists had been expecting, and it was the highest weekly total since Sept. 19, CNBC reports.

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"Last week's [monthly] jobs report showed a rapid deceleration in the recovery in November, and surging UI claims only add to the picture of a slowing recovery this winter," Glassdoor senior economist Daniel Zhao said, CNN reports. "The worsening economic data raises the specter of a double-dip recession. Despite the prospects of widespread vaccine availability by next summer, weak economic data now puts increasing pressure on Congress to extend additional relief to bridge Americans over the next few months."

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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