Number games, NPR

This morning, NPR trumpeted a drop in the unemployment rate to 9.0%, as if that means the economy is in recovery. Spinning the news, an NPR tradition -- "...And we do it on your dime!"

Yes, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.0%, but the economy only added 36,000 jobs. Canada, with one-tenth our population, added 69,200 (via drudgereport.com).

The only way the unemployment rate can drop when only 36,000 jobs are added is if lots of people are giving up and dropping out of the labor force.

And what do you know:

...the civilian labor force dropped from 153,690,000 in December to 153,186,000 in January after a recent November peak of 153,950,000. That was a drop of 504,000 in January from December, and 764,000 in two months. The participation rate dropped from 64.5% in November to 64.3% in December and 64.2% in January. (via hotair.com)

None of those numbers were reported by NPR -- they know which side of the bread their butter's on.

Byron