New jobless claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly for the second straight week, bursting any hopes for a quick recovery to the economic crisis.

576,000 Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits up from 561,000 a week earlier, according to statements from the US Labor Department earlier today.

A total of 6,241,000 workers are currently included in the continuing jobless claims figure, nearly double from a year earlier. If federal emergency programs are also included, a total of 9,180,000 recipients in the week ended Aug. 1 are receiving jobless benefit. Congress has added up to 53 extra weeks of benefits on top of the 26 typically provided by the states.

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