Spike in jobless claims comes after PPP and other pandemic benefits expired

The unexpected jump in weekly initial jobless numbers to more than 1 million is a red flag about the stability of small business in the United States.

The first week of claims data after the Paycheck Protection Program stopped accepting applications shows the need for renewed stimulus for small businesses and consumers, advocates and business owners say.

“We’ve had to lay off and furlough. The good thing is business is picking up, but we're nowhere near where we were March 12 — that was our last working day before the pandemic,” said Brandy Woods, who owns two Houston-area child care centers.