November 6, 2009
Posted: November 6th, 2009 08:43 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in October, the Labor Department said Friday.

It's the first time the unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent since 1983.

Full story from CNNMoney.com

Filed under: Economy


K2   November 6th, 2009 10:54 am ET

I guess feel-good economic policy doesn't really work. Sure was hoping it would....

CJL   November 6th, 2009 10:53 am ET

Whoops. Thanks Obama.

patsy lopez   November 6th, 2009 10:48 am ET

Jack
I believe the constant reporting of how bad the economy is has
the people so scared they will never start to spend again. You guys need to cool it.

wolfgangpitbullingtgonIII!   November 6th, 2009 10:47 am ET

As it relates to Obama: "What he say he will do, he don't do; and, what he say he don't do he does"! Obama is making this country less secure, getting our troops killed, has our military "infiltrated" with our enemies, is anti-American, and is going to get us all "incinerated". For the good of the country, Obama should "RESIGN"!

No More Incumbents   November 6th, 2009 10:47 am ET

We need to add a lot of politicians to the rolls of the unemployed. Oh wait, then they'll just become over-paid lobbyists. Oh wait, they already are..........

This Is Great   November 6th, 2009 10:45 am ET

"Under my stimulus plan, unemployment will be no greater than 8 percent". Bull. 10.2 percent, Mr. President. What else have you lied about? What else has your little Chrystal Ball been wrong about. People, it's time to stop handling Obama with kids gloves. If Bush, or even Clinton had made a promise that unemployment wouldn't reach 8 percent, and it hit 10.2, everyone, dem's and republicans would be screaming. Wake Up everybody. This man is not who he said he is.

t22   November 6th, 2009 10:42 am ET

I "hope" that the employment outlook will "change" for the positive.

And in 2010 when we get rid of the Dems in Congress, it just may.

AJL   November 6th, 2009 10:37 am ET

Jobs are created by business not government. So the blame for high unemployment, especially in an ecomony supposedly improving, needs to be directed at business not at the administration. The federal government, both at the end of the Bush administration and at the start of the Obama administration, has provided a little over $1 trillion dollars to the economic sector. Pretty much without any strings. To do with it what they please and unemployment is still rising. The only jobs the federal government has direct control over are in the military and government agencies. The general public is firmly against "bigger government" so adding bodies to government agencies is out of the question. Without a draft adding bodies to the military cannot be done. So, if you are peeved at rising unemployment, call your neighborhood bank, your investment broker or someone else that has been provided "bailout" money from the federal government and ask them what they are doing with it.

fools and their freedoms are soon parted   November 6th, 2009 10:36 am ET

No supriseNo suprise.....spin that Obamatrons

BILL   November 6th, 2009 10:36 am ET

10.2 percent, great job Dems.

Let them pass the healthcare bill and Cap and Trade bill and watch it go even higher.

Change you can believe in.

P. S. your employer pays into the unemployment, not the employee.

Reaganomics Leads To Feudalism   November 6th, 2009 10:35 am ET

"It's the first time the unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent since 1983."

1983...and just WHO was President in 1983 when unemployment surpassed 10%? Can any of you conservatives tell me?

Allow me to refresh your selective memories...it was the man you guys practically worship as if he were a "god" or something...

Ronald Wilson Reagan was President in 1983 when the unemployment rate surpassed 10%...and he was in his THIRD year as President, not in his first like our current President.

Oh yeah...Ronald Reagan...the "greatest President we've ever had..."

NOT!

Dean in Florida   November 6th, 2009 10:34 am ET

Thanks, Obama!

proud conservative   November 6th, 2009 10:34 am ET

How's that "hope and change" working out for you?

Casy   November 6th, 2009 10:32 am ET

Is this really a surprise? Not to me......the only surprise is that it appears that MANY Democrats are dedicated to getting on the Titantic with Obama and Pelosi!

Makes no sense to me....it appears that they are ready willing and able to become the minority......

LacrosseMom   November 6th, 2009 10:32 am ET

" Its the first time the unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent since 1983." GUESS WHO WAS PRESIDENT IN 1983? REAGAN.

The media loves to scare, deflate, incite angst, however, those of us who have been around for a while, know that RECESSIONS, come and go.

We know that we have been here BEFORE! Recessions are not fast-food, you can not wave a magic wand and........ viola..... its over!

There are signs of RECOVERY, but the so-called-liberal media likes to focus on all that's wrong!

NEWSFLASH: The U.S. Economy GREW for in the 3rd Quarter!

BE PATIENT AMERICA, WE WILL RECOVER.

Laura, Boston MA   November 6th, 2009 10:31 am ET

Change I don't believe in....anymore!!!

robert rosendahl   November 6th, 2009 10:31 am ET

What was the highest unemploymentrate since 1945 ?

JD   November 6th, 2009 10:30 am ET

The 10.2% unemployment rate is actually a lowball estimate. The real unemployment rate is somewhere between 15% to 17%. And this is all thanks to the dithering work of Mr. Nobel Prize himself.

While 0bama has been doing nothing apart from bankrupting the future of our nation and our nation's children by saddling all of us with trillions of dollars in debt and trying to ram socialist programs down our throats, people are losing their jobs, their homes and their livelihoods.

Enough is enough! Time to sweep these clowns out of office. 2010 and 2012 can't get here fast enough!

Dave   November 6th, 2009 10:27 am ET

Before you wing nuts start blaming Obama for this, you might want to remember who was president the last time unemployment was this high in 1983. That's right, it's the republican saint Ronald Reagan.

Right Leaning Independent   November 6th, 2009 10:26 am ET

The Stimulus was a joke and so is this adminstration!! They lied about the effect on the unemployment rate if the stimulus was passed without discussion. And for those on here that will say it is Bush's fault. We are not buying that! We know the financial crisis that created this larger mess was an effect of Clinton and the CRA and Barney Frank who overlooked warnings about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003. If you want job creation, the administration had better stop being Anti-Business because it is businesses that create jobs!

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   November 6th, 2009 10:26 am ET

This wouldn't have happened if for a number of things; if there had been more regulation keeping people from buy homes that they couldn't really afford and speculators from doing really untried and highly risky investments that they couldn't explain. Those are my initial ideas.

Bill   November 6th, 2009 10:23 am ET

If we pass this stimulus, unemployment will not go above 8%" – Obama, July 2009

Pelosi + Obama + 10.2   November 6th, 2009 10:22 am ET

One word: Obama

RAG   November 6th, 2009 10:20 am ET

Worse economy since Reagan. Worst jobless rate since Reagan. It took 4 years for reagan to turn it around though increased taxes and governement deficit spending. Obama is fixing in in 1 year! What are Republicans complaining about????

Sniffit   November 6th, 2009 10:19 am ET

$10 to the GOPer who can come up with the most insane and virulent comment about this. Ready? Go...

Fair is Fair   November 6th, 2009 10:16 am ET

You have to admit – O-blah-blah DID promise change.

Kevin in Ohio   November 6th, 2009 10:12 am ET

Yep, Obama sure is changing things. I wonder where it will be in 2012.

Lila   November 6th, 2009 10:08 am ET

"I want Obama to fail"

Something tells me the right fringe is celebrating today, which kinda makes me sick to my stomach.

Bill   November 6th, 2009 10:08 am ET

Hope and change. Right.

Brenda   November 6th, 2009 10:06 am ET

How do you like that "hopey and changey" now??

The countdown is now on until 2010.

After the 2010 elections--it will then be goodbye power/control of the Dems!!

Tick, tick, tick.

A. dedomenico   November 6th, 2009 10:04 am ET

So much for the Stimulus Package.
had tax cuts been given to business and the middle class, unemployment would not be at 10.2%.

MatthewDetroit   November 6th, 2009 10:01 am ET

Great job Barack, Great job.

These idiots were all complaining when President Bush was in office and unemployment was at 5.3%....

This idiot has unemployment at 10.2% and he is ruining the US economy...

And I am sure Obama Mama, and Puerto Ricans for Obama, and GI Joe for Obama,,.. will all say keep going obama.... we love you.... we drank the kool aid... we think you are so handsome... blah blah blah...

The idiot is driving the country into the ground and into socialism... He would rather extend welfare and unemployment benefits forever rather than create jobs. 40% + do not pay any taxes.... He loves that. You are all becoming more dependant on the state. That is bad.

all the news that's fit to omit   November 6th, 2009 10:01 am ET

The GDP going up, OBAMA is gush, gush the greatest.

Unemployment going up, BUSH"S FAULT.

The GDP going back down next quarter after the $24,000 per car cash for clunker or the $8000 handout to first time homebuyers are not part of the quarter, BUSH'S FAULT.

Obambi being president (no cap deserved), YOUR FAULT.

Joe, Chicago IL   November 6th, 2009 10:00 am ET

WOW CNN!

A two liner headline.

You dedicated two pages to Palin's trip to WI.

It is obvious with whom you are in the tank.

How about reporting how Obama promised that unemployment will not exceed 8% with his Stimulus package? Whoops, that would mean an attempt at journalism.

My bad.

Party Purity will never bring Political Power!   November 6th, 2009 9:58 am ET

To all you neo-cons yappin' about the unemployment rate NOW.

You were the same group of republicans screaming that all the banks and auto companies should fail and go into bankruptcies taking down the financial system and major group of manufacturing suppliers. Imagine the unemployment rate if the republican plan had been in place.

Only now do you care about people and only because it suits your stated political agenda of having President Obama "fail".

@queene4theday   November 6th, 2009 9:58 am ET

Oh great bring on the repugs who will blame it on government spending, healthcare reform, and whoever/whatever else is marching to the beat of Sarah Palin's drum! Yes unemployment is at 10.2 percent but let's rememeber that 89.8 percent of Americans are working!!!

New Age Independent   November 6th, 2009 9:58 am ET

When Bush was president, Democrats used to blast him for a 4.5% unemployment rate. Obama has been President for a year and the rate is now 10.2%!

It's safe to say that the Spendulous package was a complete disaster!

mjm   November 6th, 2009 9:54 am ET

Only we have Obama, aka the most unqualified president ever, and the Democrats instead of Reagan, aka one of the greatest presidents of all time (no matter what liberal nut jobs say).

Let's see who gets better results.

Tax and Spend, or tax cuts for all and fiscal responsibility.

uhav2bkiddinme   November 6th, 2009 9:53 am ET

Good job Obama! CHANGE! YAY! .....idiot

Roger   November 6th, 2009 9:52 am ET

Come on Mr. President we are counting on you!!!!!

ran   November 6th, 2009 9:51 am ET

Where is the "free market" in all of this. Oh! must be counting all the money they have made not hiring more workers and making those who have a job do more for less.

Think of how much more money the employer's would have if they had single payer non-profit universal health care instead of for profit insurance/ affordable energy not dictated by big oil. See Republicans how things really do interconnect. Then more jobs could be available unless the employer decided to keep all the money for themselves.

Fear/hate/obstructionism will not solve the problem.

JB   November 6th, 2009 9:47 am ET

But I thought the stimulus was creating or saving jobs!! Take the rest of the stimulus which clearly hasn't worked and pay for healthcare for the 12 million un insured. There you go. Then change the law to outlaw "pre-existing conditions", put restrictions on the amount premiums can go up. There you go. Instead crazy pelosi needs 2000 pages to screw up this country.

AnProf   November 6th, 2009 9:44 am ET

Between the stratospheric fiscal debt load, the impending health reform efforts, impending end to Bush's tax cuts, mob vitriol over corporate profits, and proposed energy taxes this administration is clearly eroding business confidence and hiring.
We don't need to grow more government jobs; we need private sector relief in the form of tax credits and lower capital gains taxes, as well as a clear voice that in America we seek to grow our economy and raise up living standards for all by that route, rather than taxing successful endeavors at Euro-levels.
Stop government growth and vigorously support individuals and business.

jp,michigan   November 6th, 2009 9:44 am ET

YOU CANNOT CONTINOUSLY INCREASE THE WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS! Some one has to finally do something positive about the economy and jobs. Forget health care for now , people on the hill need to set jpriorities.

German,Irish American   November 6th, 2009 9:44 am ET

Ok CNN, it's time to quit hiding the facts of the Obama FAILED stimulus package and start doing some real reporting. Remember when we were told we HAD TO PASS this unread bill in just Three short days or our unemployment rate would rise to over 8%. This bogus stimulus has now been shown for what it was intended, payback to Obama's contributers onthe taxpayers backs. And now today, the house will vote on another UNREAD health care bill that will be a government takeover of one-sixth of the economy.

John   November 6th, 2009 9:43 am ET

The reason our unemployment is skyrocketing is because most jobs are being offshored to India and elsewhere where labor is cheap. How about we close our borders like Japan did and stop letting companies offshore jobs left and right and rein in the ridiculous salaries of CEOs who honestly do nothing.

Mike   November 6th, 2009 9:40 am ET

Dont worry people the recovery package is working!

Terry, TX   November 6th, 2009 9:39 am ET

10.2 % unemployment that's all you have to report. Again how do you impact unemployment with trillions of dollars of pork...cash for clunker at $24,000 a car....the takeover of our medical industry....bailouts.....and taxing businesses in a recession ...it just ain't working....DUH.
These White House solutions just ain't working...and the buck stops there..

Joe Stafford   November 6th, 2009 9:36 am ET

Obama promised that it would go no higher than 8 percent. Something is not working.

Shawn - GA   November 6th, 2009 9:36 am ET

It has been 11 months it is far beyond the time for this administration to take ownership for the country's state and stop blaming backwards.

And to those who say we have had 8 years of getting us into this... You and I both know that is an exaggeration and at this point is a moot point as things are getting worse not staying the same and not getting better.

The blame someone else mentality is what is making us a weak country, people need to take possession of their problems and work as hard as they can to improve things and that goes for the Government as well. This needs to apply to all parties and all people on all levels of Government. I am a former Republican and now I am an independent... Enough of the 2 parties and people following party lines.

SLM   November 6th, 2009 9:35 am ET

Great job Obama!! Your lie to pass the pork filled stimulus to keep unemployment below 8%..................Obama has no clue what he is doing, spending/printing money we don't have, making policies that will cause businesses to leave this country and the ones that stay to NOT do any hiring. Great job............clueless Tax and spend Democrat. Any republican would have had the economy on the mend by now, this recession is lasting longer than it should because of Obama!

Macho Macho   November 6th, 2009 9:34 am ET

10.2 percent without counting the other 10.2% that have exhausted their benefits or taken any part-time employment they can find. Reality would be more like 20+% and climbing. What is the Democrats response to assist small businesses in creating jobs? Push a climate change bill that will cost us all about a 20% increase in everything we consume, push a healthcare reform bill that will further crush small businesses and the tax paying middle class, and push a mandate for paid sick days.

Oh yeah, they are the right track!

Not to worry folks, we are now close to the tipping point, wait till that 20% gets tired of eating beenie weenies for dinner every night while the elitists in Washington eat steak!

steve   November 6th, 2009 9:33 am ET

Nobama. Keep the change.

Kitchen Police   November 6th, 2009 9:30 am ET

Thank you, George Bush!!!

seebofubar   November 6th, 2009 9:30 am ET

Didn't our sorry excuse of a president guarantee that if the stimulus bill passed that unemployment wouldn't go over 8%? This guy is an inefective sham and as soon as we can get him out of office the better we all will be...IMPEACH OBAMA NOW...save our country !

southerncousin   November 6th, 2009 9:29 am ET

And yet, CNN & MSNBC as representatives of the state controlled media, will not state the obvious, Obama and the liberals have stolen a lot of money from the taxpayers to give to their dope smoking supporters and lied about it to the American people. LIED!!!!!!!

munchmom   November 6th, 2009 9:28 am ET

And NO ONE can blame this on Bush-this has all happened under Obama's watch, which isn't a very good one. Hurry up 2012, so we can get done with this guy and get someone who is decent!

(CNN, please post...)

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   November 6th, 2009 9:27 am ET

Thank you Republican Party for deregulating every dam thing. You want to blame someone, blame yourself!!! Your actions are the primary reason why the Manufacturing in this country has come to a halt.

Jeff   November 6th, 2009 9:27 am ET

How's that hope and change working for ya?

Mark, Bham   November 6th, 2009 9:23 am ET

And we are still bringing 125,000 foriegn workers month and have 12 to 20 million illegal immigrant workers and their families still in this country. Just think of all the jobs available if the laws of this great country were upheld. The real number of unemployed and under employed is even higher. Put a freeze on foriegn workers and enforce the laws so illegal immigrants cannot find jobs. E-Verify is the most accurate system the government has ever developed. (99.6%)

Richp   November 6th, 2009 9:20 am ET

Cool, lets take on more debt, pass that health care boondoggle, start importing illegals so we can support them too, lets get some homeless people with no jobs and give them mortages so a few more savings and loans can go belly up.
RUN THEM PRINTING PRESSES non stop, there's always more paper..

Johnny DC   November 6th, 2009 9:19 am ET

But it would have been 15% without Obama's superpowers.

The Liberals are so concerned with their longterm policy changes that they are annihilating their own 2010 and 2012 hopes.

Albo58   November 6th, 2009 9:19 am ET

Before this administration and Congressional drones claim this was an inherited problem and blaming the previous administration, let the record show that the focus of these folks has been the government-takeover of health care, Cap & Trade (read: just another tax), and the un-enforcement on illegal immigration! After 10 months of a spending orgy, isn't it about time they take responsibility and start focussing on unemployment? I can assure you that we taxpayers will be focussing on the unemployment of these thieves in 2010 and 2012!

Obama/Biden = One and Done, please God....   November 6th, 2009 9:15 am ET

Don't worry, blame Bush. I suspect he will still be blamed for all kinds of stuff in 2012...

Let's face it....what specifically has the current administration actually achieved beyond the rhetoric??? The truth? not much at all.....

Thank goodness we are 1/4 finished with this disaster.

Paul from Phoenix   November 6th, 2009 9:15 am ET

10.2%???????? Wait, I thought the emergency stimulus was promised to keep unemployment below 8%???????

Another promise broken.

Sam Sixpack   November 6th, 2009 9:14 am ET

You wanted change? You got Jimmy Carter II.

Bluebonnet   November 6th, 2009 9:13 am ET

Well, Nobama, what say you?? You can't blame Bush now.

JM   November 6th, 2009 9:10 am ET

Oh I thought if the President passed his stimulous bill, the unemployement rate wouldn't go above 8%. What happened Obama? Can we get a refund on the stimulous dollars already wasted since they didn't work?

Jeff   November 6th, 2009 9:09 am ET

As such, now would be a bad time to add to the costs of employing people. Namely, requiring employers provide health insurance (ie a service plan), and paid sick time (getting paid not to work, which would encourage employers not to hire until after flu and cold season).

The thing to do would be to encourage domestic PRODUCTION, as opposed to service and government jobs. I like the idea of domestic, renewable energy. I just do. But I'd rather burn oil we harvested than oil harvested by people that really don't like us too much.

Mike   November 6th, 2009 9:08 am ET

My tuition has increased, the cost of text books has increased; my full-time job has become my part-time job, I have no health insurance. What a mess!

Hoss Fly   November 6th, 2009 9:06 am ET

It's the economy stupid! Obama must deal with the economy and jobs first and wory about ObamaCare / his political clout later.

Please Mr Obama?

Sam Sixpack   November 6th, 2009 9:05 am ET

You think it's bad now? Just wait until the IRS puts a lean on your house because you couldn't afford health insurance.

jim   November 6th, 2009 9:05 am ET

Well, at least this might stop to flow of illegal aliens into the US. With all the jobs that went to Mexico, I think soon there will be a day when Mexico starts to deport illegal Americans crossing their boarder, looking for work.

Robin   November 6th, 2009 9:03 am ET

YOU LIE!!

President Obama insisted the stimulus would keep unemployment under 8%, and we all know our Dear Leader would not lie to us!

Tina   November 6th, 2009 9:03 am ET

So what is the REAL unemployment rate i.e. the rate calculated by including those who have quit looking for work and those who are underemployed? I'm guessing it's 20%. Hurry up and get here 2012 so we can vote Obama out before the economy is ruined byeond repair.

rachel   November 6th, 2009 9:03 am ET

Roland one of the commentaors here wrote something I finally agree with . President Obama cousin pookie needs a job!!!

Robert   November 6th, 2009 9:02 am ET

That's the change we can believe in.

Indy   November 6th, 2009 9:02 am ET

don't worry they will get to it soon, if you look at the stimulus spending they haven't really made a dent yet, but don't worry the majority of the money is coming! election quarter 2010 and election quarter 2012 !!!!!! you can't make this stuff up !!!!!!!

obummer, 1 and done   November 6th, 2009 8:59 am ET

Say it isn't so.
The spending bill was supposed to keep it under 8%.

Let's see the response
1 It's Bush's fault
2 Only part of the money has been spent
3 It's the republican's fault
4 Oh yeah, it's Bush's fault
5 It's the corporations fault

What we do know is it could not possibly be obummers fault.
He's done more in 9 months than any previous president did during their terms of office. LOL!!!

I wish I could think of 1 positive thing he's done, or anyone else could.
He can't even make a decision and hides behind saying the intelligent thing to do is weigh everything but sometime, somewhere, he actually has to make a decision, That's what a president does!!!

doug   November 6th, 2009 8:56 am ET

Bobo, if you truly love America, please resign and walk away now and let someone take over who has, at least, somewhat of an understanding of what to do to get America back to prosperity. I truly hope that all of you who voted for this fraud understand the grave mistake you made. Please investigate your candidate before you vote for them, and don't just vote for a party. 10.2%!!!!! What a catastrophic and historic mess. This is not the previous admins mess, this is Bobo's and his alone. He took a down econonomy and completely destroyed it. This is all on him. No one else.

Chris   November 6th, 2009 8:51 am ET

Gee CNN, This is headline news everywhere else. One line? Come on.

Are you afraid god might punish you for reporting it?

Wow   November 6th, 2009 8:50 am ET

Unfortunately this was expected. This is ridiculous. This is unacceptable and it needs to be fixed. I thought the $757 billion stimulus package that was passed was going to keep the unemployment rate @ 8% as stated by the White House? That clearly did not happen and yet Liberals shake their heads in agreement everytime the White House speaks.

Marry   November 6th, 2009 8:48 am ET

Probably by 30.2% if Mc Cain and Palin had moved into the White House!

TangledThorns   November 6th, 2009 8:46 am ET

Obama and his stimulus plan, another failure of his. Lets vote this bum out in 2012 while we still have a country left.

Eleanor   November 6th, 2009 8:45 am ET

Former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and their whole cadre must be so very, very proud of themselves for the wonderful state their policies have left our nation.
Why is it that there is no accountability for former presidents?

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