Did it 'expire'? I thought the stimulus would cap it at 8% and we had to act NOW in order to make that happen.

Did Congress and the President lie?


Jobless rate tops 10 pct. for first time since '83
By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 and is likely to go higher.

Enlarge photo In this Nov. 4, 2009 photo, Sonja Jackson, of Detroit, holds a Employment Guide standing in line while attending a job fair in Livonia, Mich. The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 _ and is likely to go higher. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Enlarge photo In this Nov. 4, 2009 photo, Terrell Collins, of Detroit, pauses while checking employment on a laptop comuter while attending a job fair in Livonia, Mich. The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 _ and is likely to go higher. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Enlarge photo Linda A'Vant Deishinni, of Providence, R.I. listens to a speaker during a job search seminar at a state managed employment center, in Providence, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Deishinni was laid off in June of 2009 from her job as a museum educator at Brown University in Providence. The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 _ and is likely to go higher.

But the loss of jobs last month exceeded economists' estimates. It's the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has shed jobs, the longest on records dating back 70 years.

Counting those who have settled for part-time jobs or stopped looking for work, the unemployment rate would be 17.5 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994.

The jobless rate rose from 9.8 percent in September.

Friday's report is the first since the government said last week that the economy grew at a 3.5 percent annual rate in the July-September quarter, the strongest signal yet that the economy is rebounding. But that isn't fast enough to spur rapid hiring, raising the specter of a jobless recovery.

In addition, many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.

One sign of how hard it still is to find a job: the number of Americans who have been out of work for six months or longer rose to 5.6 million, a record. They comprise 35.6 percent of the unemployed population, matching a record set last month.

Congress sought to address the impact of long-term unemployment this week by approving legislation extending jobless benefits for the fourth time since the recession began. The bill would add 14 to 20 extra weeks of aid and is intended to prevent almost 2 million recipients from running out of unemployment insurance during the upcoming holiday season. President Barack Obama is expected to quickly sign the legislation.

The employment report showed that job losses remain widespread across many industries. Manufacturers eliminated a net total of 61,000 jobs, the most in four months. Construction shed 62,000 jobs, down slightly from the previous month.

Retailers, the financial sector and leisure and hospitality companies all continued to reduce payrolls.

But temporary employment grew by 33,700 jobs, after losing positions for months. That's a positive sign because employers are likely to add temporary workers before hiring permanent ones.

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 and is likely to go higher.

- Democrat was President

It's the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has shed jobs, the longest on records dating back 70 years.

- Democrats in control of Congress


Jobless rate rose from 9.8% in September

- Democrat is Presidend / Democrats in control of Congress


Anyone else see a pattern?

Obama calls job's report 'sobering'
Posted: November 6th, 2009 11:47 AM ET

Obama called the latest jobs report 'sobering.'
(CNN) - President Obama called the latest jobs report indicating the unemployment rate has jumped to 10.2 percent "sobering," and pledged Friday to "not rest until all Americans who want work can find work."

"I just signed into law a bill that will help grow our economy, save and create new jobs and provide relief to struggling families and businesses," Obama said in the White House Rose Garden.

"The need for such a measure was made clear by the jobs report that we received this morning. Although we lost fewer jobs than we did last month, our unemployment rate climbed to over 10 percent, a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead," he also said.