US unemployment claims rise 4000, NC unemployment rate 9.8 percent, Unemployment rate increased in 26 NC counties, Charlotte Mecklenburg rate 10 percent

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“North Carolina currently has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the country and has stayed well above the national average through 2012.”…WRAL, August 17, 2012

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

From the US Labor Department August  23, 2012.

“In the week ending August 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 372,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,000, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 364,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending August 11, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 11, was 3,317,000, an increase of 4,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,313,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,311,500, an increase of 6,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,305,000.”

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm

From the NC Department of Commerce August 24, 2012.

“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.8 percent in July. This was a 0.1 of a percentage-point decrease from June’s revised rate of 9.9 percent, and a 1.1 percentage-point decrease over the year.

Over the month, the unemployment rate decreased in 47 counties, increased in 26 and remained the same in 27. Thirty-four counties had unemployment rates below the state’s 9.8 percent rate.

Scotland County recorded July’s highest unemployment rate at 17.6 percent, remaining the same as the previous month. Graham County had the second-highest rate at 15.2 percent. Currituck County had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, followed by Chatham, 7.0 percent; and Orange, 7.1 percent.”

http://www.ncesc1.com/PMI/Rates/PressReleases/County/NR_July2012CountyRate_M.pdf

Mecklenburg County, the home of the 2012 Democrat convention in Charlotte, has an unemployment rate of 10 percent.