The number of U.S. citizens seeking jobless claims dropped off a bit last week, however, the number of people staying on the benefits rolls after drawing an initial week of aid the week ending Jan. 31 was at the highest on record, according to the Labor Department.
The number of people staying on the benefits rolls rose by 11,000 to 4.810 million in the week ended January 31, the latest week for which data is available, reports the Associated Press.
The revised economic stimulus package awaiting the final votes is set at $789 billion. Final votes are to be out Friday, after making it through the House and Senate, after a round of bargaining that yielded agreement on tax cuts and spending totaling $789 billion, reports Andrew Taylor for the Associated Press.
The $500-per-worker credit for lower- and middle-income taxpayers that Obama outlined during his presidential campaign was scaled back to $400 during bargaining by the Democratic-controlled Congress and White House. Couples would receive $800 instead of $1,000. Critics are skeptical this will do much for overall consumption and would be a very small contribution to the overall economy.