Jobless claims total 4.4 million last week

Jobless claims totaled 4.4 million last week, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday, meaning that approximately 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment over the last five weeks as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the U.S. economy.

The 4.4 million total was about in line with industry estimates and the number was down from 5.2 million the previous week.

But it’s cold comfort to the millions of Americans struggling to pay their bills and keep or find employment amid the pandemic.

Employers had created about 22 million jobs since the end of the 2008-2009 recession.

The $2.2 trillion economic rescue package Congress passed last month included a $600-per-week increase for unemployment checks, but many people have reported difficulty filing new claims with state unemployment offices that have been overrun with surging demand.

The U.S. House was expected to take up a nearly $500 billion package on Thursday that provides a $310 billion boost to a small business lending program designed to help companies make payroll and retain employees during the pandemic.

The U.S. Senate cleared the package earlier this week. Democrats are already looking ahead to the next round of relief, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has cautioned that Republicans aren’t going to sign off on a blank check to states, whose budgets have been decimated by the virus.