U.S. jobless report: 5.2 million Americans filed for unemployment last week

The number of Americans filing first-time jobless claims last week was 5.2 million, the Labor Department said Thursday. 

The number marks a moderate decline from the 6.6 million Americans who filed in the week prior. The total number of Americans who have filed for unemployment benefits since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic now tops 20 million. 

Most recently the U.S. unemployment rate was recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 4.4%, though some experts believe it is more likely much higher, and could be as high as 13%.