The U6 Number Has Reached 17.5%

The Labor Department's broader measure of unemployment has surged to 17.5% of the labor force, putting it on par with the worst numbers of any recession since the 1930s. The reality is that the situation will get worse before it improves. With history as our guide, unemployment numbers typically don't peak until well after the trough in the business cycle has been reached. In the aftermath of the recession in 1990-91, unemployment reached its summit 19 months after the official end. That could mean that unemployment will increase throughout all of 2010. Click on the title above to read the details.