* AP…
The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 709,000, a still-high level but the lowest figure since March and a sign that the job market might be slowly healing.
The figures coincide with a sharp resurgence in confirmed viral infections to an all-time high above 120,000 a day. Cases are rising in 49 states, and deaths are increasing in 39. The nation has now recorded 240,000 virus-related deaths and 10.3 million confirmed infections.
As colder weather sets in and fear of the virus escalates, consumers may turn more cautious about traveling, shopping, dining out and visiting gyms, barber shops and retailers. Companies in many sectors could cut jobs or workers’ hours. In recent days, the virus’ resurgence has triggered tighter restrictions on businesses, mostly restaurants and bars, in a range of states, including Texas, New York, Maryland, and Oregon.
Last week’s new applications for unemployment benefits was down from 757,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The still-elevated figure shows that eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs.
* CBS 2…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 67,158 new unemployment claims were filed across the state last week, the week of Nov. 1.
Illinois’ estimated claims were among 709,000 total filed across the country last week.
The most recent claims represent a nearly 9% decrease from the prior week when 73,515 unemployment claims were filed in Illinois, but a 510% increase over the 11,015 claims filed during the same week of 2019.
*** UPDATE *** I asked the governor about this today…
Well I think I mentioned the other day that we had a huge spike in this PUA unemployment. And a lot of that is fraud-related we believe, based on the analytics. And so we’re trying to address that.
Look, unemployment is never good no matter what that is, it’s not good. We very much want to continue growing our economy. I have believed from day one that the way you do that is tackle the virus, and make sure that you’re doing everything you can. While you’re tackling the virus to keep people safe in the economy that is up and running. And to some degree is continuing to grow from a low that had hit last spring.
- Sue - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
Whether it’s good policy is questionable but Illinois is one of very few with a statewide eat in restaurant ban. That is what is driving the UI numbers compared with other states
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:19 pm:
Illinois has 12.7 million people
US has 328 million people
3.8 % of population but 10% of the unemployment claims?
Imagine how bad these numbers look like now.
The average annual growth of compensation in the U.S. between 1998 and the third quarter of 2019 was 4 percent. Illinois grew by 3.2 percent (43rd among the 50 states)
- TheUpperRoom - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:21 pm:
It’s going to be a long winter, and conservative officials at the local, state and federal level have done little to help.
For those who have pushed the correct message and done the right thing in spite of all the misinformation coming from their own side, thanks.
I truly wish this had been given the attention and seriousness it warranted when we locked down in the spring. We blew months of having a good chance to get this under control.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:39 pm:
Truly amazing that whatever the issue is,
conservatives are always to blame in Illinois.
- OneMan - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 1:40 pm:
Based on what I have heard from people I wonder what % of those filings are fraudulent? When I went to report that happening to me last week at the local PD I was told I was at least the third person to come in the last hour or two to report that.
- Petey L. - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:02 pm:
So, are we still going to extol the job the JB administration is doing with the economy and Covid?
- A Jack - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:05 pm:
@OneMan…. I wonder that as well. I was a victim of that this week. The interesting thing was that I had never worked at the agency that the claim was filed against. You would think they would have verified that before approving the claim.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:06 pm:
=== economy and Covid===
Polling has had the governor above water on the virus.
- back bench - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
OneMan, I was ridiculed and deleted for bringing that up last week. Beware
- A Jack - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:08 pm:
WICS has been doing news items on the IDES fraud and put out a number of 40% of all IDES claims are fraudulent.
- 1st Ward - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:37 pm:
“Polling has had the governor above water on the virus”
Polling had the Gov above water on the Fair Tax too.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 2:40 pm:
=== Fair Tax too.===
Can’t beat someone with no one.
The Frerichs Tax helped sink the Fair Tax. The fear of the Frerichs Tax won the day, even though that wasn’t on the ballot.
Who is going to take on Pritzker, and what, they gonna run against science?
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:03 pm:
LP - Our mere existence renders Democrats unable to fix any of the state’s many problems. Why, we won’t propose any budget cuts or tax increases so they can’t be done. You would think we owned every statewide office and had super majorities in the legislature judging by the lack of solutions proposed by Democrats. Maybe if conservatives would just be more bipartisan the Democrats could actually accomplish something.
- 1st Ward - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
“Who is going to take on Pritzker, and what, they gonna run against science?”
Hopefully not Baily and Jacobson. Does Adam Kinzinger have any desire? The decisions that will need to be made over the next several months do not favor higher approval for Pritzker. It’s the best of the bad options and he will be criticized. The R’s might not need a strong candidate come 2022. Support for R’s is typically static unlike D’s i.e. Pritzker vs. Quinn 2nd Term vote totals.
- Karyn - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:24 pm:
FYI…there are a lot of fraudulent unemployment claims being made. My small firm had two just in the past week. One was made in my own name. Another employer told me that have had several and IDES is aware of the problem.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:26 pm:
=== The R’s might not need a strong candidate come 2022. Support for R’s is typically static unlike D’s i.e. Pritzker vs. Quinn 2nd Term vote totals.===
Pritzker was someone.
Pritzker will be running as an incumbent with a 9-figure commitment to win… Quinn didn’t have that.
- Uptown Progressive - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:26 pm:
I just got a notice informing me that my application for benefits had been denied. NOT me! And I have a unique name. (I also got a similar notice from Ohio a couple of weeks ago.)
- 1st Ward - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 3:58 pm:
“Pritzker will be running as an incumbent with a 9-figure commitment to win”
Depending on who the R candidate is Ken Griffin may take away the 9-figure commitment advantage. Defending tough decisions as an incumbent is difficult. Haven’t had a two term Gov in a while.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 4:04 pm:
=== Ken Griffin===
… just spent money to defeat a Supreme Court justice, that now is still in Dem hands, and likely drawn to keep it that way.
Rauner tried to find FOUR people to run against Pritzker, promising to bank roll. How did that turn out?
Ricketts looks even worse now, think about his opponent research on race and bigoted thoughts…
Things to ponder.
- Simply anon - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:16 pm:
This is about massive fraud. In suburbs, we know multiple government workers who did not apply but received findings or cards. Feds recently hit IDES over their lack of preparation and slow resolution of the fraudulent claims.
- Simply anon - Thursday, Nov 12, 20 @ 10:18 pm:
IDES is supposedly aware of the tens of thousands of fraudulent claims, but our experience has been they don’t respond or acknowledge complaints.