GALLUP SURVEY REPORTS BIG JUMP IN UNEMPLOYMENT. “According to a daily tracking poll from Gallup, the nation’s unemployment and underemployment rate has jumped significantly in the last month. The latest poll out Wednesday said unemployment was 8.9 percent compared to 7.8 percent a month ago. Gallup also reported the underemployment rate now stands at 17.9 percent. Gallup says its unemployment and underemployment rates are calculated as a percent of the workforce. Daily results reflect 30 day rolling averages based on telephone interviews with about 30,000 adults. Last month, the U S government reported unemployment at 7.4 percent. However, because results are not seasonally adjusted, Gallup says they are not directly comparable to the numbers reported by the U S Burea of Labor Statistics.”

I suppose this could just be an aberration, but it’s not promising. Perhaps things haven’t come all that far from the early days of hope and change, when this iconic photo captured the national mood.