States reported that 216,000 workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending Dec. 17, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits—1.67 million—has been steadily rising through the year and is now just under the pre-pandemic average of 1.7 million. The number of recurring applications for unemployment benefits is at its highest level since early this year, suggesting that laid-off workers may be having more trouble finding new jobs. Read more.