US unemployment claims surge again

US Labor Department figures reflect a rise in new unemployment benefit claims, with a steep jump in the number of people collecting emergency benefits.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits has climbed by 2,000 reaching 439,000 in the week ending on November 13.

The department has also announced an increase of more than 120,000 people that have used up their traditional benefits and are now collecting emergency payments.

The development comes as America is facing a near ten-percent unemployment rate, with the total number of unemployed people reported at 14.8 million.

Earlier this month, slow recovery in employment forced the US Federal Reserves to announce the purchasing of USD 600 billion in US Treasuries as part of a quantitative easing policy.

The government claims that the economy is currently experiencing deflation based on Consumer Price Index figures, which it plans to balance by printing more money.

The decision of the Federal Reserve to make large asset purchases has drawn criticism from other countries that worry about its impact on their exports.

Countries such as China, Brazil, Germany and South Africa have condemned the move, saying that it will weaken the dollar and drive capital flows to emerging markets, creating asset bubbles.

“It doesn’t add up when the Americans accuse the Chinese of currency manipulation and then, with the help of their central bank’s printing presses, artificially lower the value of the dollar,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.