Unemployment report, part 1

Some good economic news for January:  the unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%, with 243,000 net jobs in January.  Good start for 2012!

Unemployment report, part 12

Some good economic news: a December drop in the unemployment rate to 8.5%, the lowest level in 2011.  The economy added 200,000 jobs.  Obama must be happy.

Here are the month-by-month totals for 2011:

December 8.5%
November 8.6%
October 9.0%
September 9.1%
August 9.1%
July 9.1%
June 9.2%
May 9.1%
April 9.0%
March 8.8%
February 8.9%
January 9.0%  

Unemployment report, part 11

Is there hope?  The unemployment rate for November dropped to 8.6%, the largest monthly decrease for 2011.  

Here are the monthly unemployment rates for 2011:

November 8.6%
October 9.0%
September 9.1%
August 9.1%
July 9.1%
June 9.2%
May 9.1%
April 9.0%
March 8.8%
February 8.9%
January 9.0%

Environmental Economics Blog Post 14

In Environmental Economics we look for connections between economic activity and environmental quality.  Often there is conflict between the two.  One example is the need for irrigation for agriculture, important to regional economies throughout the midwest.  As water sources run low, the ability to undertake conventional farming practices is compromised.  Read this new article on the topic.  What is your reaction to the article? 

(Blog comment 14 is due Tuesday, December 6.)

Environmental Economics Blog Post 13

In recent weeks in Environmental Economics we've discussed the trends of population growth, climate change, urbanization and food production.  Over the course of the next few decades, how will these trends come together to create a new global economic reality?  (The hyper-linked articles and sites provide some context and perspective.) 

(Blog comment 13 is due, Tuesday, November 29.) 

Unemployment report, part 10

The unemployment rate for October fell to 9%.  We're back to where we were in January.  Here are the monthly totals for 2011: 

October 9.0%
September 9.1%
August 9.1%
July 9.1%
June 9.2%
May 9.1%
April 9.0%
March 8.8%
February 8.9%
January 9.0%