Washington (AFP) – New applications for US unemployment benefits surged last week by 137,000, according to government data released Thursday, underscoring the need for more economic stimulus as Covid-19 cases hit new peaks. The gain was far higher than economists had been expecting and ramps up pressure on US lawmakers to break the impasse on a new federal relief package to help families and businesses hit by the pandemic. With millions of unemployed workers faced with losing their benefits by the end of the year, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers may stay in Washington thro…
