1.3 million people filed for first-time unemployment last week

First-time applications for unemployment benefits topped 1.3 million last week, marking a continued pain point in the nation's economic recovery after 17 straight weeks of job losses in the millions.

The data, released Thursday by the Department of Labor, comes amid a spike in coronavirus cases in 40 states, complicating a broader nationwide reopening of businesses.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington remain at loggerheads over extending the supplemental $600 in pandemic unemployment assistance that has been a lifeline to families affected by coronavirus-induced layoffs. The benefit is set to expire at...