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Home » CurrentEvents

Today's dishonest Fox News graphic September 11, 2012 9:54 am BuckGalaxy

During a segment criticizing the Obama administration for its messaging on the economy, a Fox & Friends graphic claimed that the “real unemployment rate” had increased from 7.8% in 2009 to 14.7% now:

But in order to make the claim that unemployment had increased from 7.8% to 14.7% during Obama’s time in office, Fox had to conflate two different statistics and completely distort Obama’s jobs record.

The 7.8 percent figure is the official unemployment rate from January 2009. This statistic reports on people who are unemployed and actively looking for a job. But as of the latest report, the official unemployment rate is 8.1 percent (0.3 percent higher than it was in January 2009), not 14.7 percent.

The 14.7 percent figure is a completely different measurement of the unemployed, which in addition to those who are actively looking for work, also counts people who are unemployed and discouraged from looking for a new job, part-time workers who prefer full-time employment, and more. This alternative measure of unemployment, which conservatives often call the “real” unemployment rate, was 14.2 percent in January 2009 — 0.5 percentage points lower than it is today.

Indeed an accurate chart of this statistic would show that the rate has declined in recent years:

After being presented with the Fox graphic, Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham said: “Other than Fox News, where are you really seeing those statistics?”

  • Yep. Hope more people call 'em on that. n/t by RobVG 2012-09-11 16:23:23
    • What does "Unemployment rate for govt workers 5.1%" mean? by alcaray 2012-09-11 13:33:34
      • I would think government worker unemployment is zero? Government workers by definition are working right? But then again... by BuckGalaxy 2012-09-11 18:33:19
        • I think everyone knows what is meant by an unemployment rate for a particular class of workers. by TB 2012-09-11 19:27:18
          • Additional graph by TB 2012-09-11 19:45:01
            • So according to TB's graphs here... by BuckGalaxy 2012-09-11 22:08:47
              • Just making sure all the information is out there. by TB 2012-09-12 11:21:04
        • That's what I am. by ER 2012-09-11 13:48:09
          • So the criteria is "once having held a government position"? by alcaray 2012-09-11 15:08:43
            • I'm not sure. by ER 2012-09-11 15:27:14
        • How are retirees counted? by ER 2012-09-11 12:59:49
          • A valid point: the two percentages are apples and oranges. by TB 2012-09-11 11:14:23

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