What has happened to jobs in America under Obama? See how unemployment has changed

Obama and jobs in the US are in deep focus this week. So, how has US unemployment faired under this president?

Employers have added no new jobs on balance in August, and the unemployment rate is stuck at 9.1%. No US president since FDR has won an election with unemployment that high.

Since 2001, US unemployment averaged 5.2% (4.2% min and 6.3% max). Since April 2008, it has risen sharply from from 4.9% to 10.1% in in October 2009. It has since inched on a downward trend.

On a state level, Nevada is the worst hit with an unemployment rate of 12.9% followed by California at 12%. By contrast, North Dakota has the lowest rate at 3.3% followed by Nebraska at 4.1%.

We’ve mapped the unemployment data by state – you can explore it here:

For further details, visit www.albatrosa.com

Inflation rises to 4.5% for August

  • High utility, transport and clothes costs behind rise
  • CPI hits 4.5% for August, up from 4.4% in July
  • RPI, used for wage negotiations, hits 5.2%

The consumer prices index rose to 4.5% in August, up from 4.4% in July, driven by the biggest annual rise in water and energy bills in more than two years. A surge in the cost of clothing and footware last month also drove CPI higher, according to data from the ONS.

More notably –  inflation is racing ahead of average earnings.