[ti:Millions Unemployed as Central Bank Warns US in 'Recession']
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[00:00.04]More than 3 million jobless Americans asked the United States government for financial assistance last week.
[00:11.40]That is a record number for one week, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.
[00:20.00]The old record had been 695,000 from 1982.
[00:28.20]This is the beginning of the really bad numbers we are going to see for the next few months, said Subadra Rajappa.
[00:39.40]She is head of U.S. Rates Strategy at Societe Generale in New York City.
[00:48.24]Also on Thursday, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, told NBC television
[00:57.04]that "the U.S. may already be in recession," as many companies have suspended operations.
[01:06.12]Schools, movie theaters and other businesses have closed
[01:11.12]as Americans turn to social distancing to slow the growth of coronavirus.
[01:19.16]The central bank chair added that progress in controlling the spread of the coronavirus
[01:26.16]will decide when the economy can fully reopen.
[01:32.56]Wednesday night, the U.S. Senate approved a $2 trillion bill
[01:38.20]to help people and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
[01:45.12]The measure is the largest stimulus bill in American history.
[01:50.60]The House of Representatives is expected to pass it on Friday.
[01:57.60]Once signed into law, it will provide direct payments to many Americans
[02:04.12]as well as provide money to businesses that are hurting.
[02:09.68]Lawmakers hope the bill will prevent the economy from heading into a long economic depression,
[02:17.72]such as the one the United States experienced in the 1930s.
[02:24.64]U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that he would like to see Americans go back to work by Easter, April 12.
[02:35.72]He suggested that efforts to slow the virus may no longer be needed at that date.
[02:43.00]However, several companies and business groups are listening to health officials
[02:49.36]who say Americans need to stay home for a much longer amount of time.
[02:56.76]"We urge all businesses and the public to listen to public health officials
[03:03.16]when it comes to social distancing," says Neil Bradley of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
[03:12.00]But some business leaders agree with the president.
[03:16.72]Former Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankenfein wrote:
[03:22.64]"Crushing the economy, jobs and morale is also a health issue."
[03:29.48]His comments appeared on Twitter.
[03:33.76]The Ford Motor Company announced Thursday it will open its factories as early as April 6.
[03:42.84]Ford said it will include "new safety measures" for its workers.
[03:48.96]In Europe, government officials and industry leaders are still discussing the need for a full shutdown.
[03:58.56]Italy, which has the most coronavirus deaths of any country, is adding new restrictions.
[04:07.40]French President Emmanuel Macron has urged some workers to continue reporting to work.
[04:16.08]Spain is in a complete shut down.
[04:19.68]The country has the second largest number of deaths from the virus, more than 4,000.
[04:28.16]In China, economic conditions are just beginning to improve.
[04:34.84]In the United States, New York City is now the epicenter of the virus.
[04:41.68]New York has more than 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
[04:49.20]Hospitals in the city are running out of room to store the bodies of the dead, one worker told news organizations.
[04:59.48]New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday the peak of the infection is still about three weeks away.
[05:10.08]He said he expects as many as 140,000 cases and nearly 40,000 people will need hospitalization.
[05:22.00]I'm Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM