The jobs picture south of the border remains bleak as the coronavirus pandemic re-gathers steam.
Figures released by the U.S. Labor Department revealed jobless claims totaled 1.48 million last week as unemployment related to the pandemic remained stubbornly high.
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting 1.35 million claims.
While the weekly numbers remained high and were worse than expectations for the second straight week, the total of those receiving benefits continued to fall. Total recipients, or continuing claims, fell by 767,000 to 19.52 million.
The most recent number marked the 14th straight week that filings remained above one million, a total first eclipsed for the week ended March 21. That was shortly after the World Health Organization declared the pandemic and much of the U.S. economy went into lockdown.
