WEEK’S JOBLESS CLAIMS DIP; TOTAL AID FIGURES RISE

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 793,000, evidence that job cuts remain high despite a substantial decline in new confirmed viral infections. Last week’s total declined from 812,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The report also showed a sizable rise in the total number of Americans who are receiving jobless aid, including through extended benefit programs. All told, 20.4 million people were receiving benefits in the week that ended Jan. 23, the latest period for which data are available. That’s up sharply from 17.8 million from the week before.

STEVEN SENNE/ AP