US jobless claims DOUBLE to 6.6 million in record high as coronavirus pandemic deepens – The Sun

UNEMPLOYMENT claims hit another record high at 6.6 million, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to deepen.

Jobless claims doubled from 3.3 million in just a week, as around two-thirds of Americans are under stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Millions of workers have had hours slashed, been furloughed, or lost their jobs entirely as many non-essential businesses around the nation have had to close their doors.

When unemployment claims hit a record 3.3 million last week, the number was five times the previous record, held from 1989.

Some economists anticipate that as the economy continues to be affected by the outbreak, unemployment rates could hit 13 percent.

This would be higher than rates seen during the Great Recession in 2009, when unemployment hit 10 percent.

The record unemployment number came as the U.S. remains the COVID-19 epicenter, with U.S. cases soaring past 216,000 with more than 5,100 deaths.

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