Economy

There were 18,151 new unemployment claims made during the week ending Sep. 5, which is 417 less than the week prior. The most recent weekly claims are 23% higher than they were a month ago.

The Men's Wearhouse store on Route 9 in Worcester has closed, one of up to 500 locations its owner said this summer would be shuttered across the company.

Unemployment claims filed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic have increased to 1,245,097 in Massachusetts, according to the U.S Department of Labor data released Thursday morning.

Unemployment rates in July improved in Greater Worcester and Northern Worcester County, but each remained among the nation's worst, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday.

Worcester's middle class has shrunk in the past decade, with more households often finding themselves in or near poverty, according to a report by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.

Unemployment claims filed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic have increased to 1.23 million in Massachusetts, according to the U.S Department of Labor data released Thursday.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. has received $946,000 in federal aid to help small businesses suffering during the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the economic recession amid the coronavirus pandemic, executives from JPMorgan Chase, who are growing their presence in Central Massachusetts, are saying both Greater Worcester and the nation as a whole have good reasons for economic optimism.

After a small spike in confirmed Worcester County coronavirus cases at the end of July and the start of August, the number of positive tests is again on the decline, falling for the last two weeks.

Massachusetts made it only two straight weeks with improving numbers in new unemployment claims before moving in the wrong direction again last week.