WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 900,000, still a historically high level that points to ongoing job cuts in a raging pandemic.
The Labor Department’s report underscores that President Joe Biden has inherited an economy that faltered this winter as virus cases spiked, cold weather restricted dining and federal rescue aid expired.
The government said 5.1 million Americans are continuing to receive state jobless benefits, down from 5.2 million in the previous week.
That suggests that while some of the unemployed are finding jobs, others are likely using up their state benefits and transitioning to separate
