District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 364,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance assistance for the week that ended June 26, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. These claims were a decrease of 51,000 from the previous week’s revised unemployment claims of 415,000. The claims were also lower than the Dow Jones’ estimate of 390,000, according to CNBC. The jobless claims are still higher than before COVID-19, despite the healing economy. In March 2020, the average weekly jobless claims were 220,000. The latest jobless claims data comes a day before the Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the June nonfarm payroll employment report. Some officials predict the June jobs report will show the unemployment rate decreased from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent, according to the Washington Examiner. In February 2020, the unemployment rate was only 3.5 percent, which is much lower than it is today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 411,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance assistance for the week that ended June 19, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. These claims constituted a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week’s revised unemployment claims of 418,000. The claims were also higher than the Dow Jones’ estimate of 380,000, according to CNBC. Continuing claims, data of which lags a week, lowered to 3.39 million, which was a decrease of 144,000, according to the news outlet. First time claims for unemployment insurance have been above 400,000 for the second week in a row, following two weeks in late May and June when the number of claims dipped below 400,000. CNBC reports that there are 9.3 million job openings but still approximately 9.6 million American citizens without jobs. A total of 25 states have opted out of federal unemployment benefits, a full two months earlier than the Sept. 6 deadline. The news outlet also reports that despite the unemployment benefits ending in certain states, many people are not in any hurry to find a job, due to health concerns from the COVID-19 virus.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 412,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance assistance for the week that ended June 12, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. These claims constituted an increase of 37,000 from the previous week’s revised unemployment claims of 376,000. Many states across the country have decided to end unemployment benefits. Starting on Saturday June 19, eight states will no longer take part in federal unemployment benefit programs, according to the CNBC. The news outlet reports that about 417,000 people will no longer receive federal unemployment benefits in those eight states, which are Alabama, North Dakota, West Virginia, Idaho, Indiana, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Hampshire. CNBC also reports that these eight states are part of a total of 25 states that have decided to opt out of federal unemployment benefits earlier than the Sept. 6 deadline, when federal unemployment benefits approved in response to the pandemic are set to expire.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the first portion of American Rescue Plan funds for Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) to be utilized by individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. HUD is awarding $1.1 billion via 70,000 vouchers for 626 public housing authorities (PHAs) administering the agency’s Housing Choice Voucher Program. The voucher awards are part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), which enabled HUD and other agencies to allocate $5 billion in additional vouchers to PHAs. The EHV funding provides communities in need with resources that help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, as well as those fleeing or attempting to flee unsafe situations such as domestic violence, dating violence and/or sexual assault. The first portion of the EHVs will cover the cost of vouchers and related administrative costs, as well as costs needed to stay in the program for up to the first 18 months. After that, HUD says it will provide yearly funds to cover the cost of renewals in 12-month increments through Sept. 30, 2030 or until the $5 billion ARP allocation runs out, whichever comes …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 376,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance assistance for the week that ended June 5, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. These claims were a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s unrevised unemployment claims of 385,000. Still, the claims were higher than the Dow Jones economists’ estimates of 370,000, according to CNBC. The most recent nonfarm payroll employment report showed the economy added 559,000 jobs in May, which was lower than what economists expected. With enhanced unemployment assistance in most states still available until September, some officials are worried about inflation. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that consumer prices in May increased at a faster pace than at any point since August 2008. Compared to one year ago, the consumer price index (CPI), which tracks the movement in prices for food, groceries, housing costs, energy and other commodities, increased 5 percent. The CPI was higher than the 4.7 percent prediction from Dow Jones economists, according to CNBC. The news outlet also says that inflation has not been a huge problem for the U.S. economy since the early 1980s, and that central bank officials are hopeful that the current inflationary pressures are …