, Weekly Jobless Claims , Fall to 712,000.<br />The Department of Labor released its <br />newest jobless claim data on Dec. 3. .<br />The 712,000 new claims were less than the 780,000 economists had predicted.<br />Still, weekly totals continue <br />to amount to three times <br />the pre-pandemic average.<br />Emergency federal assistance expires at the end of the year, at which time millions of Americans are set to lose their benefits.<br />According to Economic Policy Institute <br />Senior Economist Elise Gould and <br />Director of Research Josh Bivens.<br />the economy "would be boosted by 3.5 percent, <br />and 5.1 million more jobs would be added in 2021" <br />if the emergency pandemic programs were reinstated.<br />On Nov. 30, the Government Accountability Office said the Department of Labor's counts and payments have sometimes been inaccurate, .<br />with many states paying the basic minimum instead of taking previous pay into account.<br />Even with inaccuracy, the ballpark size of total initial claims underscores that Covid-19 continues to inflict deep economic pain, AnnElizabeth Konkel, economist at Indeed Hiring Lab.<br />With record virus cases combined with few outdoor options for businesses because of winter, the pain will continue, AnnElizabeth Konkel, economist at Indeed Hiring Lab
