<article><p class="lead">Initial jobless claims rose in the latest week to the highest level in five weeks, a sign that renewed Covid-19 lockdowns amid the quickening spread of the virus is threatening the labor market recovery.</p><p>Initial jobless claims rose to 778,000 in the week ended 20 November from 748,000 in the prior week, according to the labor department. It was the second back-to-back weekly gain since the middle of July. Still, it was well off the 6.9mn initial claims failed the last week of March, when lockdowns were at their most severe.</p><p>The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ended 7 November was 20.5mn, up by 135,297 from the prior week. These include 6mn from regular continuing state claims. They also include another 10.2mn in pandemic assistance, mainly for gig workers and self-employed which will terminate at the end of the year.</p><p>Initial claims had been falling steadily since late March as the economy recovers from a 10pc second quarter contraction from the first three months of the year. With Covid-19 cases in the US approaching 13mn and daily cases spiking, progress in mending the labor market and broader economy is at risk unless a deadlocked Congress can put together a speedy fiscal stimulus plan.</p><p class="bylines">By Robert Willis</p></article>
