Media completely mistated unemployment data

[CARLHAYDEN]

Its bad enough when the media spins data, but its really terrible when they simply make statements which are contrary to data.  Here's some examples from the BLS unemployment data.

Now, I'm contrasting the months of July, when the unemployment rate supposedly dropped by a tenth of a point (adjusted) and the media went wild with optimism and August, when the adjusted rate whent up three tenths of a point, and the media told us that the change was really good news!

One specific false allegation was that the reason for the increase in the unemployment rate in August was that people who had previously been discouraged from applying for work, were encouraged by the reported drop in unemployment in july as to lead them to reenter the workforce, thereby increasing the unemployment rate in August,

The problem with that allegation is that Table A-8 of the "Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment" indicates that the category of "reentrants" comprised 22.8% of the unemployed in both July and August!

Also, a matter largely ignored in the media reports was the U-6 underemployment rate (Table A-12) went from 16.3% in July to 16.8% in August, an increase of five tenths of a percent!