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U.S. Jobless Claims Soar to Once-Unthinkable Record 6.65 Million

  • Filings totaled 10 million in two weeks, spanning industries
  • Jobless rate of 20% ‘not unthinkable’ as shutdowns multiply
Bloomberg business news
WATCH: A total of 6.65 million people filed jobless claims in the week ended March 28.Daybreak: Americas." (Source: Bloomberg)
Updated on

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits soared to a record 6.65 million last week, a level unimaginable just a month ago.

As states shut down commerce to prevent the deadly coronavirus from spreading, the weekly claims data have been among the first detailed figures to show the devastating economic hit, highlighting the extent to which U.S. businesses and workers are reeling from the global health crisis.