UNEMPLOYMENT: “If laid-off workers who have settled for part-time work or have given up looking for new jobs are included, the unemployment rate rose to 17 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994.”

UPDATE: Related item here: Early retirements mean it is worse than 9.8% unemployment. Plus this: “The stimulus backfired. It undermined confidence in the economy. And people are reacting. Not only are companies cutting back on employees, but workers are throwing in the towel. Rather than look for another job, they are retiring or filing for a disability.”