Changes

[[Image:U-2009-2.jpg|thumb|275px|left]]

[[Image:U-2009-2.jpg|thumb|275px|left]]

After reaching a low of 4.1% in October, 2006, the U.S. unemployment rate has been trending upward, reaching 9.4% in May 2009.  It will continue rising for several more months. Unemployment normally peaks a few months ''after'' the economy reached bottom and starts going up again.

After reaching a low of 4.1% in October, 2006, the U.S. unemployment rate has been trending upward, reaching 9.5% in June 2009.  It will continue rising for several more months. Unemployment normally peaks a few months ''after'' the economy reached bottom and starts going up again.

Some people think that to get figures on unemployment the Government uses the number of persons filing claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under State or Federal Government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So the Government conducts a monthly sample survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure the extent of unemployment in the country. The CPS has been conducted in the United States every month since 1940 when it began as a Work Projects Administration project.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref>

Some people think that to get figures on unemployment the Government uses the number of persons filing claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under State or Federal Government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So the Government conducts a monthly sample survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure the extent of unemployment in the country. The CPS has been conducted in the United States every month since 1940 when it began as a Work Projects Administration project.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref>