States reported that 885,000 U.S. workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending Dec. 12, as record new COVID-19 case counts are reported and some businesses go through another round of shutdowns.
The total number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits fell to 5.5 million. At the same time, more than 14 million people were claiming assistance under federal programs set to expire at the end of the month, unless Congress enacts another virus-relief bill before Dec. 31 to reauthorize them. Lawmakers are reportedly near a deal which would include enhanced federal unemployment benefits.