Jobless claims highest since '82

CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose to a new 26-year high last week, according to a government report released Wednesday.rnrnThe Labor Department said that initial filings for state jobless benefits rose to 586,000 for the week ended Dec. 20. That was an increase of 30,000 from the 556,000 revised figure for the prior week, and up from a recent high of 575,000 claims reported earlier this month.