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WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 744,000 Americans filed for first time unemployment assistance for the week that ended April 3, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. The amount of initial jobless claims was higher than the 694,000 figure that economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted and is an increase of 16,000 from last week’s revised total of 728,000. Last week, the original number of first time unemployment claims were a total of 719,000. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased by 105,750 to a little more than 3.86 million. Last month, the economy appeared to be healing. In March, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6 percent and nonfarm payrolls increased by 916,000, which was the biggest job gain since August 2020. However, the unemployment rate remains substantially higher than the pre-pandemic low of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 719,000 Americans filed for unemployment assistance for the week that ended March 27, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. The amount of initial jobless claims was higher than the 675,000 figure that economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted and is an increase from last week’s revised amount of 658,000. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased by 46,000 to a little more than 3.8 million. Despite the unemployment insurance claims being higher than what economists predicted, many believe the economy is improving. CNBC reports the total number of people receiving unemployment benefits dropped by 1.5 million, which the news company attributes to pandemic-related benefits. This report follows President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion spending plan released yesterday that will add to the $5 trillion of stimulus spent to aid the U.S. economy. ADP, a payroll processing firm, stated that firms across the country added 517,000 workers in March, which is the biggest monthly job gain since September, according to CNBC. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its March 2021 jobs report tomorrow morning.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 684,000 Americans filed for unemployment assistance for the week that ended March 20, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. This week was the first-time total claims fell below 700,000 since the pandemic started, according to CNBC. The amount of initial jobless claims was lower than the 735,000 figure that economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted and is a decrease from last week’s revised amount of 770,000. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased to a little more than 3.8 million. Employers in the United States added 379,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate decreased to 6.2 percent. With jobs rebounding, the $1.9 trillion stimulus and the continued rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal increased their 2021 economic growth forecast for the U.S. GDP to a little over 5.9 percent on an annualized basis. If realized, it will be the fastest economic growth pace in about four decades.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 770,000 Americans filed for unemployment assistance for the week that ended March 13, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. The amount of initial jobless claims was higher than the 700,000 figure that economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted and is an increase from last week’s revised amount of 725,000. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased to a little more than 4.1 million. The unemployment numbers were expected to fall lower due to COVID-19 vaccines and lessening restrictions on retailers and restaurants, as well as President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package that was signed into law last week. States around the country are continuing to open back up and lessen restrictions as well. According to CNBC, Texas, Florida and Mississippi have either reduced pandemic restrictions or completely gotten rid of them. Other states like Pennsylvania are expected to cut back on its business restrictions as well, and approximately 2.4 million Americans a day are getting the vaccine. CNBC also reports that the Federal Reserve’s governing committee will hold the federal funds rate close to zero until the economy fully recovers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Commerce Department has reported that retail sales decreased 3 percent in February, following a robust showing in January. According to CNBC, economists surveyed by Reuters expected February retail sales to only drop 0.5 percent in light of inclement weather around the country. The Commerce Department also revised January retail sales total up from 5.3 percent to 7.6 percent. Nonstore retailers were up 25.9 percent from February 2020, while food services and drinking places were down 17 percent from a year ago. Overall retail sales were up 6.3 percent above this time last year. Other types of businesses were also down in the month of February. Gas stations were down 3.5 percent, motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 4.2 percent, furniture and home stores were down 3.8 percent and electronics and appliance stores were down 1.9 percent. According to The Wall Street Journal, February is typically a slow month for retailers as stores prepare for the spring season and Easter. The article also states that economists are forecasting for retail sales to be higher in the coming months because of warmer weather and stimulus checks. As part of the most recent stimulus package, some Americans …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A total of 712,000 Americans filed for unemployment assistance for the week that ended March 6, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. The amount of initial jobless claims was below the 725,000 figure that economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted and is a decrease from last week’s revised amount of 745,000. Continuing claims, for which data lags a week, decreased by 193,000 to 4.1 million. CNBC reports that unemployment numbers are expected to lower even more in the coming weeks due to President Joe Biden signing a $1.9 trillion relief package into law, which is expected for Friday. The House of Representatives passed the revised stimulus plan on Wednesday. The U.S. economy still has a long way to go before it is completely back to pre-pandemic levels, with a total number unemployed workers totaling 10 million through February. CNBC reports that the number of individuals receiving partial or full unemployment compensation totaled 20 million as of Feb. 20.