The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment has fallen below one million for the first time since March.

The unemployment claims dropped from nearly 1.2 million a week ago to about 963,000.

The Labor Department said the figures have been subsiding since peaking at 6.9 million in late March, but they remain extremely high, driving the debate in Washington over the need for further stimulus.

More than 28 million people were still collecting benefits in the week ended July 25.

Nigel Bell, Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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