The number of new applications for unemployment benefits last week was 1.2 million, the Labor Department reported Thursday, marking the 20th straight week that claims have been over 1 million. It is also the lowest number of new claims since the pandemic exploded in the United States in March.

Economists predicted that new claims would be 1.42 million.

Recommended Stories

1.9M claimed jobless benefits last week, bringing total to over 42M since mid-March

Jobless claims rise to 206,000, more than expected but still very low

New jobless claims totaled 4.4M last week, topping 26M over past five weeks