Category Archives: North Carolina

NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May?, Greensboro News Record AP, Labor force participation rate dropped .1 percent, Dishonest media reports, Dishonest Bernanke report

NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May?, Greensboro News Record AP, Labor force participation rate dropped .1 percent, Dishonest media reports, Dishonest Bernanke report

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” …James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, June 2013

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”…SBN Strategies March 22, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

The Greensboro News Record on Friday June 21, 2013 regurgitated an AP report about the May unemployment rate in NC. The report was misleading and dishonest.

“NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent in May from April’s revised rate of 8.9 percent, marking the fourth straight month of slow improvement in the measure of economic health for workers, the state Commerce Department said Friday.

“The headline is going to say that unemployment goes down a notch,” said Robert Whaples, chairman of the economics department at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. “But it’s not really that beautiful of a change from a month ago.”

North Carolina remains stuck with the country’s fifth-highest unemployment rate behind Nevada, Illinois, Mississippi and Rhode Island. The national rate rose from 7.5 percent in April to 7.6 percent in May.

The numbers show the total number of employed in North Carolina rose by about 1,000 people between April and May, while the total number of unemployed workers dropped by nearly 2,500, Whaples said. Equally meaningful is that even as the state’s population continues to grow, the number of people in the labor force _ people who are of working age who have a job or are looking for one _ dropped in May by about 1,400, signaling people are still dropping out and ending their job search, Whaples said.

The number of people employed in North Carolina has increased by more than 37,000 in the past year, but there are still more than 416,000 people listed as unemployed.”

“”That’s the good news. Our employment in this state has not fallen since the beginning of the recession. It hasn’t gotten better. It went down. It came back up. so we’re sort of back where we started,” he said. “The last few months haven’t been much. The last year, it’s been enough to keep up with population growth. But it could be worse.””

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/news/north_carolina_ap/article_f2cad77b-33b3-5f27-914b-fb285076ebd9.html

Now I’m not a rocket scientist, but I can read.

So I went to the NC labor data website and found that the labor force participation rate in NC fell .1 percent in May. That fully accounted for the .1 percent drop in the unemployment rate.

Can’t the folks at the News Record or the AP read?

Don’t they care?

Or is this part of an agenda?

And what about Ben Bernanke stating that the US unemployment rate could fall to 6.5 percent in 2014.

That sounds dishonest to me.

Especially when the current US unemployment rate is 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor rates.

And when you use the May 2008 labor force rate for NC the current NC unemployment rate is 11.5 percent.

Don’t take my word for it.

Check it for yourself.

http://esesc23.esc.state.nc.us/d4/LausSelection.aspx

NC unemployment rate 8.9 percent ?, Greensboro News Record AP article quotes Duke University Economics Professor, Labor force participation rate dropped .3 percent, Good news?

NC unemployment rate 8.9 percent ?, Greensboro News Record AP article quotes Duke University Economics Professor, Labor force participation rate dropped .3 percent, Good news?

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”…SBN Strategies March 22, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

The Associated Press has always been a problem. A member “news” organization creates a report and it is regurgitated across the nation & world, in most cases without fact checking.

We have another example recently from the Greensboro News Record.

Is this because the Rhino Times just shut down?

Or because John Coleman, an economics professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business was quoted?

From the Greensboro News Record May 17, 2013.

“North Carolina unemployment rate drops 8.9 percent”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in April _ the lowest in the state in four years.

The state’s unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in March.

“This is very encouraging for North Carolina,” said John Coleman, economics professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

The state Commerce Department said Friday the number of people unemployed fell by 15,259 between March and April. On the downside, nearly 4,200 fewer people held jobs than in March.

The industry with the largest monthly increase: Leisure and hospitality services, which added 6,100 jobs. It was followed by financial activities with 2,000; government with 1,300, and professional and business services with 1,300.

January 2009 was the last time the state’s unemployment rate was at 8.9 percent.”

” Coleman said the report contained good news about North Carolina’s economy.”

“”What’s encouraging about the report is the large drop in the number of unemployed,” he said. That number seems to have more to do with new jobs than people who are deciding to give up rather than keep competing for work.

He also said the new figures bode well for North Carolina in the future.”

http://www.news-record.com/news/north_carolina_ap/article_f2cad77b-33b3-5f27-914b-fb285076ebd9.html

Huh???

From the Employment Security Commission of NC.

Labor Force Participation Rate

March 2013    62.8 %

April    2013    62.5 %

http://esesc23.esc.state.nc.us/d4/LausSelection.aspx

The Labor Force Participation Rate fell .3 percent in April.

That fully accounts for the drop in the unemployment rate and is certainly not good for the NC public.

Perhaps it is good for lying politicians and newspapers.

Mr. Coleman, did you actually make those statements that were reported???

Rhino Times publishing ends after 21 years, Rhinoceros Times donations, Truth in print in NC, John Hammer printed truth about Obama and local officials

Rhino Times publishing ends after 21 years, Rhinoceros Times donations, Truth in print in NC, John Hammer printed truth about Obama and local officials

“The function of the press is very high. It is almost Holy.
It ought to serve as a forum for the people, through which
the people may know freely what is going on. To misstate or
suppress the news is a breach of trust.”…. Louis D. Brandeis

“Satan laughing with delight the day the music died”...Don McLean “American Pie”

“We must not let the truth die.”…Citizen Wells

 

The truth in print in NC.

I met with John Hammer of the Rhino Times this morning.

I am a long time reader and fan of the Rhino (Rhinoceros) Times, published in Greensboro, NC and with coverage of one of the larger metro areas in NC. Sadly, due to high debt brought on by the economy, the Rhino Times has been forced to shut down its publication.

The Rhino Times exposed the truth about local politicians and officials and John Hammer wrote the truth about Barack Obama.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times April 30, 2013.

“It is with a great deal of sadness that I announce that the April 28 edition of The Rhinoceros Times now on the stands is the last.

I’d like to thank all of our readers for making a point of picking up The Rhino Times for the past 21 years and I wish we could continue to provide you with the news, opinion and humor every week that you have come to expect, but we have simply run out of money. Like a lot of small businesses, we took a huge hit in 2008, and although we have done everything we could think of, we simply can no longer pay our bills.

Newspapers got hit with the double whammy of the recession and increasing competition from the internet, and we join a long list of newspapers that have closed their doors.

I would especially like to thank our advertisers, some of whom have been advertising with us for over a decade. We appreciate their support. They are the ones who have been footing the bill for us to bring you The Rhino every week.

And I’d like to thank our employees.”

“We’ve had a really good run and are incredibly thankful for all the kindness our readers have shown us.

Not many people knew about this, but the few that had been told responded, “Is there anything I can do?” The answer is yes. The Rhinoceros Times is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. We need money to pay our creditors. I guarantee all the money raised will be used to pay debts. If you have been reading The Rhino from the beginning, that’s 21 years of free newspapers. We ask you to consider paying $1 for each of those years and sending us a check for $21 dollars. Of course, if you are moved to donate more, no amount is too large, and if you can’t afford $21 but want to send something, no amount is too small. Nickels, dimes and quarters will be graciously accepted. But we thought one dollar a year was not asking too much.

This would be a donation. It is not tax deductible and you won’t receive anything of value for it. But right now we are deep in a financial hole and every bit helps. If you would like to send a donation please send it to The Rhino Times, PO Box 9421, Greensboro, NC 27429. Thank you in advance.

And we’d like to add that The Rhino Times will continue to have a web presence for as long as possible.”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Breaking-News-c-2013-04-30-215617.112113-Rhino-Says-Goodbye.html

The truth about Obama in print in NC.

Here are a few examples taken from John Hammer and reported here:

From Citizen Wells June 8, 2011.

From John Hammer and the Rhino Times April 28, 2011.

“It is strange that we have a president that the people of this country really know very little about.”
“Interesting, isn’t it? Even when it seems there appears to be a historical fact about Obama’s past, it turns out there is no documentation to back it up.”
“The question remains, why did Obama wait so long and spend so much money to keep his birth certificate from being made public.”

From John Hammer and the Rhino Times June 02, 2011.

“It is incredible that the mainstream media are still giving President
Barack Hussein Obama the protection that they are.”

“The mainstream media is so deep in his pocket that they don’t know
whether it is night or day but simply believe whatever Obama tells
them.”

“The mainstream media give Obama a pass on every stupid thing he says
or every lie he tells depending on how much you think Obama knows
about what is going on in the world. Obama said we were going to be in
Libya for days not weeks. How about months not years, or maybe he
meant to say years not decades.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/obamagate-obama-and-justice-department-abused-power-howard-coble-and-house-judiciary-committee-must-investigate-john-hammer-rhino-times/

From Citizen Wells March 10, 2012.

“John Hammer, Editor and Publisher of the Rhino (Rhinoceros) Times, is a good man. He is also a rare commodity these days. He has consistently put into print in NC articles that are critical of Barack Obama. I met with John last year and I was just thinking I should meet with him again about the possibility of a larger, real news organization. I finally got around to reading his latest opinions in “Under the Hammer.” I was pleased as usual but even more so because he quoted Illinois Pay to Play, a site that Citizen Wells has quoted and been quoted at. John Hammer, in print in North Carolina, the state that is hosting the Democrat Convention, has covered the Daniel Frawley $400,000 for Rezko to give to Obama.

From the Rhino Times March 08, 2012.

“Isn’t it funny what the mainstream media decides is news? According to the website Illinoispaytoplay.com, Obama has been implicated in the investigation of Obama’s good friend Tony Rezko, who has been convicted and sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for corruption involving, among others, Obama’s good friend former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/obama-rezko-daniel-frawley-400000-reported-in-nc-by-john-hammer-rhino-times-fdic-lawsuit-against-mutual-bank-ties-obama-to-rezko-chicago-corruption/

From Citizen Wells June 17, 2012.

The results of the Sheriff Joe Arpaio investigation of Obama’s birth certificate, Selective Service Application and other records are beginning to surface and a news conference is expected soon. Press coverage, though often biased is increasing. It is good to see Obama questioned in print in NC.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times June 14, 2012. 

“Finally some reporters are doing some investigation of the life of President Obama. The left has done a great job of making anyone who asks any questions about Obama’s past out to be crazy.

People who just wanted to see Obama’s birth certificate, not anymore than Obama would have to show if he wanted to play Little League baseball, are called “birthers” and are by definition the same folks who see black helicopters hovering over their houses every night. The left has done a remarkably good job of defining people who just wanted to see proof that Obama was born in the United States as nutcases. His Republican opponent in that last election, Sen. John McCain, went to court and proved that even though he was born in Panama, he met the definition of a “natural born citizen.” Obama facing the same challenge went to court and said that he didn’t have to prove that he was a “natural born citizen.”

As it turns out, people had good reason to ask that question about Obama, because for years Obama claimed to have been born in Kenya. He was listed as born in Kenya in his publisher’s biography. That was no doubt done to boost book sales, but it is either evidence that Obama was born in Kenya or evidence that he is not a very honest person. In some of the information about Obama when he was running for the Senate is information that Obama was born in Kenya. Once again it makes him seem more exotic and was supposed to win him more votes, and unless you’re running for president it doesn’t make any difference where you were born.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/obama-birth-certificate-and-kenya-birth-in-print-in-nc-rhino-times-john-hammer-obama-new-party-affiliation-sheriff-joe-arpaio-investigation/

Read some of the comments left for the Rhino Times.

This one is typical.

printemail

So Sorry to Hear That
April 30, 2013 | 11:55 AM

I counted on the Rhino to bring up the Real local news that is why I read it – you will be a missed source – back in the 80’s I was talking with a neighbor who told me that your paper was the only one that told the truth for the local scene I started reading that week

Lynn”

Check this one out.

The Importance of The Rhino
April 30, 2013 | 12:54 PM

The new of your paper folding saddens me deeply.
Community newspapers like The Rhino are what keep the politicians honest (well, sort of…), the schools on their toes to the benefit of our children and police departments ever vigilant lest a reporter be watching what they do.
I’m wondering if your community realizes the ramifications of The Rhino’s death? The beasts ever watchful eye will be closed, the consequence of the “Hammer” coming down on the mis-behaving will be silenced, the publcs right to know what the hell their elected officials are doing behind the scenes will be muted.
I have personally benefited from the glorious Rhino and their intrepid founders,John and Elaine Hammer. They took in this homeless reporter during the political corruption trial of John Edwards and out of the goodness of their hearts gave her a quiet place to write and a fuzzy cat to pet.
Please, everyone who reads this – send in a donation. Help the Hammers continue their good works on the internet.
They, like all dedicated journalists, work for you because they believe in their hearts YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Diane Dimond
Newsweek/TheDailyBeast.com

Diane Dimond”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Breaking-News-c-2013-04-30-215617.112113-Rhino-Says-Goodbye.html

There is always a chance that enough funds can be raised to resurrect the Rhino Times.

Unlike newspapers in general, they depended solely on advertisers and printed the truth.

They had many loyal readers. There must be thousands and thousands out there. If you are one, please donate if you can.

Remember, this was the truth in print in NC.

Wells

Rhinoceros Times closes, Greensboro NC Rhino Times conservative weekly, Free paper and internet site money woes, God bless John Hammer, The truth in print in NC

Rhinoceros Times closes, Greensboro NC Rhino Times conservative weekly, Free paper and internet site money woes, God bless John Hammer, The truth in print in NC

“But, February made me shiver with every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep – I couldn’t take one more step
I can’t remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside the day the music died”

“Satan laughing with delight the day the music died”...Don McLean “American Pie”

“The function of the press is very high. It is almost Holy.
It ought to serve as a forum for the people, through which
the people may know freely what is going on. To misstate or
suppress the news is a breach of trust.”…. Louis D. Brandeis

 

With a bit of sadness I report and mourn the loss of the Rhinoceros Times, a conservative weekly newspaper and website published in Greensboro, NC.

The truth in print in NC.

However, as the saying goes, every closed door leads to an open door.

Let’s hope so for the sake of publisher John Hammer and the truth.

From the Greensboro News Record May 1, 2013.

“The Rhinoceros Times newspaper in Greensboro closes”

“After more than 21 years, Rhinoceros Times publisher John Hammer says Greensboro’s conservative weekly newspaper has published its last issue.

“We just ran out of money,” Hammer said in an interview Tuesday.

In a post to the free weekly’s website Tuesday morning, Hammer wrote that the paper is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. He asked for reader donations to help pay off creditors.

The paper’s website will keep going for as long as it can, Hammer said — but having laid off all his paid staff Tuesday, he isn’t sure what it will look like.

“I’m still enormously interested in local politics,” Hammer said. “That hasn’t changed just because we’ve run out of money.”

Hammer said print advertising just dried up. An aborted attempt to expand into Charlotte also lost the company a lot of money, Hammer said. The paper pulled out of Charlotte in 2008.

Hammer said he met with a series of potential buyers and investors but couldn’t put together a deal to save the paper. It isn’t yet clear what will become of the paper’s offices on Market Street, he said.

Scott Yost, the paper’s Guilford County editor and columnist, said staffers will land on their feet but the community will feel the loss of the Rhino.

“I feel like we’ve been a real asset,” Yost said. “I feel like we’ve uncovered a lot of scandal, and a lot of politicians and leaders didn’t get away with things because of us.”

The Rhino freely mixed news writing with editorial comment and came at every story from a conservative point of view — something Hammer said they never denied.

But the paper also crusaded for more transparency in local government, Hammer said, reporting on politicians meeting in secret and publishing an annual salary list of every county and city employee.

The Rhino’s combative nature and conservative message made it popular with area Republicans, a number of whom it championed for local office.

“The Rhino was very important for conservatives and how we got our message out,” said Linda Shaw, the chairwoman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

“I hate to see them go,” Commissioner Jeff Phillips said in agreement.

“I’ll miss the constant presence of their conservative message and Scott Yost at all our meetings,” Phillips said. “It’s hard to imagine Guilford County politics without the Rhino.”

Not everyone was sorry to hear about the paper’s demise.”

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/home/1149017-63/the-rhinoceros-times-newspaper-closes

“Not everyone was sorry to hear about the paper’s demise.”

A compliment if ever I heard one.

I can hear satan laughing with delight, but we must not let the truth die.

NC unemployment rate drops .1 percent in February 2013, Labor Force Participation rate drops .2, Participation rate drops 1.7 percent since Obama took office, Charlotte Observer omits data

NC unemployment rate drops .1 percent in February 2013, Labor Force Participation rate drops .2, Participation rate drops 1.7 percent since Obama took office, Charlotte Observer omits data

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

As you may recall, the NC unemployment data for January was released about a week ago. On March 28, 2013 the unemployment figures for February 2013 were released by the NC Department of Commerce.

The NC report as well as media reports from NC fail to mention the drop in the Labor Force Participation Rate. That failure will not be carried over here.

From the Charlotte Observer March 28, 2013.

“NC jobless rate falls slightly to 9.4 percent”

“The state’s unemployment rate edged downward in February but remains just marginally better than it was a year ago.

“It was yet another month that didn’t really alter the status quo very much,” said John Quinterno of South by North Strategies, a Chapel Hill firm specializing in economic and social policy. “It’s very similar to the numbers we’ve seen on and off at least for the past 14 or 15 months.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate across North Carolina fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.4 percent in February, according to data released Thursday by the state Commerce Department’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division. A year ago, the state’s jobless rate was 9.5 percent.

Quinterno noted that since the beginning of 2012 the unemployment rate has moved up and down within a narrow band – never higher than 9.6 percent or lower than 9.4 percent.

The state unemployment rate continues to lag the national rate of 7.7 percent. The number of unemployed workers in North Carolina totaled 446,840 in February.

North Carolina added 3,300 jobs in February, a gain of one-tenth of a percent.

The state lost 327,800 jobs between December 2007, the pre-recession peak, and February 2010, Quinterno said. Since then the state has added 209,500 jobs.

“We actually have closed a significant part of the gap since then,” Quinterno said. “We shouldn’t ignore that. But on the other hand, it has been so slow that it doesn’t really feel like it is getting better for a lot of folks.””

Read more:
It seems to me Charlotte Observer, et al in the media, that your readers should know that the Labor Force Participation rate in NC dropped .2 percent from January to February.
It seems to me that they should also know.

                         Labor Force Participation Rate

Jan 2007                                    66.1
Jan 2009                                    64.9
Feb 2013                                     63.2

The Democrats took control of Congress in January 2007 and Obama, of course, took the White House in January 2009.

Once again, as recently reported, that is an ugly picture and a picture is worth a thousand words.

NC unemployment impact of Obama and Democrat Controlled Congress, Jan 2007 to Jan 2013, Unemployment rate doubles, Percent of population employed dropped almost 6 percent

NC unemployment impact of Obama and Democrat Controlled Congress,  Jan 2007 to Jan 2013, Unemployment rate doubles, Percent of population employed dropped almost 6 percent

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

You have heard the excuses from Obama aided by the lies from the mainstream media. Obama blamed Bush for inheriting a mess even though he and his Democrat cronies and criminals helped create the mess. When Obama took the White House in January 2009, the Democrats had controlled both houses of Congress for 2 years and would do so for 2 more years until January 2011.

The Labor Force Participation Rate for NC recently has been difficult to locate (I will find it.) The unemployment rate for NC and North Carolina counties for January 2013 was reported late in March.

Learn more here:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/nc-unemployment-rate-rises-in-january-march-2013-reports-jobless-rate-up-in-all-100-counties-guilford-from-9-6-to-10-3-percent-why-no-feb-reports-news-record-headline/

The percent of the population employed is another good indicator of the true employment picture.

% Pop Employed     Unemployment Rate

Jan 2007     63.0                               4.7
Jan 2009     59.1                                8.9
Jan 2013     57.4                                9.5

That is an ugly picture and a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.bls.gov/lau/ststdsadata.txt

NC unemployment rate rises in January, March 2013 reports, Jobless rate up in all 100 counties, Guilford from 9.6 to 10.3 percent, Why no Feb reports?, News Record headline

NC unemployment rate rises in January, March 2013 reports, Jobless rate up in all 100 counties, Guilford from 9.6 to 10.3 percent, Why no Feb reports?, News Record headline

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

In case you have been wondering why the latest NC unemployment rates have not been presented here, there is a reason. The unemployment rate in NC for January 2013 was just reported a few days ago. There was no report in February 2013. I still do not know why. Perhaps there was pressure to delay it. I can understand why.

Thanks to the Greensboro News Record for reporting this and placing it at the top of Saturday’s, March 23, 2013 issue.

The paper edition had these headlines:

“Jobless rate for January rises in NC.”

“All 100 counties saw an increase, including Guilford with 10.3
percent unemployment.”

From the Greensboro News Record electronic edition March 23, 2013.

“Guilford, Rockingham unemployment rates rose in January”

“Unemployment rates rose in each of the state’s 100
counties in January, showing that many communities continue to
struggle with a sagging economy.

Guilford County’s rate rose from 9.6 percent in December to 10.3
percent in January, according to figures released Friday by the N.C.
Department of Commerce.

Rockingham County’s rate jumped from 10.8 percent to 11.7 percent.

Randolph County’s rate was 11.1 percent, up from 9.6 percent in December.

At 20.4 percent, Graham County had the state’s highest unemployment
rate in January.”

“Statewide, rates rose in each of the 14 metropolitan areas.
Unemployment in the Greensboro-High Point metro — which includes
Guilford, Rockingham and Randolph counties — rose from 10.3 percent a
year ago to 10.6 percent in January.

Unemployment rates dropped in 30 counties compared to the same month last year.

However, unemployment increased in 63 counties compared to a year ago.

The latest numbers show that many communities continue to struggle
economically, said John Quinterno of the Chapel Hill-based economic
research firm, South by North Strategies.

Economic activity remains below normal, which translates into a
decreased demand for employees, Quinterno said.

“In many local communities, we started off 2013 not all that radically
different than we started off 2012,” Quinterno said. “We continue to
have a labor market that’s very unhealthy.””

http://www.news-record.com/home/946709-63/guilford-rockingham-unemployment-rates-rose

The unemployment rate by county can be viewed here:

http://www.wral.com/news/state/page/4879060/

Here are the report schedules from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Employment Security. Note there are non from February.

“Previous State Unemployment Rates

Date Title
3/18/2013 North Carolina’s January Employment Figures Released
1/18/2013 North Carolina’s December Employment Figures Released
12/21/2012 North Carolina’s Unemployment Rate at 9.1 Percent in November”

“Previous County Unemployment Rates

Date Title
3/22/2013 North Carolina’s January County and Area Employment Figures Released
1/30/2013 North Carolina’s December County and Area Employment Figures Released
1/3/2013 Unemployment Rates Rise in 81 Counties in November”

http://www.ncesc1.com/pmi/rates/ratesmain.asp

From SBN Strategies March 22, 2013.

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”

Local Labor Markets Stumble Into 2013

Remember, these high unemployment rates do not include the thousands who have dropped out of the labor force. Finding a recent percent for this stat has been elusive recently but I will will find it. Stay tuned.

Guilford county NC healthcare cost increases may cause benefit cuts, Obamacare costs, No pay raises in 4 years, Obamacare is causing prices to go up

Guilford county NC healthcare cost increases may cause benefit cuts, Obamacare costs, No pay raises in 4 years, Obamacare is causing prices to go up

“And so our goal on health care is, if we can get, instead of health care costs going up 6 percent a year, it’s going up at the level of inflation, maybe just slightly above inflation, we’ve made huge progress. And by the way, that is the single most important thing we could do in terms of reducing our deficit. That’s why we did it.”…Barack Obama

“However … health insurance rates and benefit coverage plan costs have continued to increase. As a result of those increases, county employees have experienced a pay decrease that has grown larger each year.”…Guilford County Interim Manager Sharisse Fuller

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

We warned you.

From the Greensboro News Record March 4, 2013.

“Guilford workers could see cuts to health benefits”
“Some county leaders say it’s possible — but they hope it can be avoided.

Guilford County commissioners are searching for where to save money as
the county faces a $41 million budget deficit. This month, the
commissioners plan to meet with representatives from UnitedHealthcare,
which manages health insurance for county employees, about how the
company can provide savings to the county.

The meeting has some commissioners nervous on behalf of employees they
say are already struggling.

“I am concerned that the purpose of that discussion will be to take
away some of the benefits that our employees now have,” Commissioner
Carolyn Coleman said. “They haven’t had a raise in four years. We
don’t have the same insurance that the Senate or the president have,
but it’s decent insurance. I think we owe it to them to provide the
best insurance we can.””

“The county has cut costs for the past two years by increasing co-pays,
deductible amounts and out-of-pocket maximums for employees.

“Over the last four years, no merit increases have been awarded to
Guilford County employees,” Fuller said Friday in an email. “However
… health insurance rates and benefit coverage plan costs have
continued to increase. As a result of those increases, county
employees have experienced a pay decrease that has grown larger each
year.””

““It looks to me like Obamacare is causing prices to go up and will
continue to make prices go up,” Henning said. “That’s something we’re
going to have to deal with, like everyone else in this economy.”

“The question is do you raise costs or do you cut services?” Henning
said. “Hopefully, we won’t do either. But health care costs are going
up for everyone. County employees aren’t immune.””

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/news/826898-91/costs-could-erode-county-benefits

US stated unemployment rate 7.9 percent, Labor force participation rate 63.6 percent, NC unemployment rate up, Berkshire Hathaway buys Greensboro News Record

US stated unemployment rate 7.9 percent, Labor force participation rate 63.6 percent, NC unemployment rate up, Berkshire Hathaway buys Greensboro News Record

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984”

 

From the US Labor Dept. February 1, 2013.

“Employment Situation Summary”

“Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 7.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Retail trade, construction, health care, and wholesale trade added jobs over the month.

Household Survey Data

The number of unemployed persons, at 12.3 million, was little changed in January. The unemployment rate was 7.9 percent and has been at or near that level since September 2012. (See table A-1.) (See the note and tables B and C for information about annual population adjustments to the household survey estimates.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.3 percent), adult women (7.3 percent), teenagers (23.4 percent), whites (7.0 percent), blacks (13.8 percent), and Hispanics (9.7 percent) showed little or no change in January. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.5 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier.
(See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

In January, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was about unchanged at 4.7 million and accounted for 38.1 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.)

Both the employment-population ratio (58.6 percent) and the civilian labor force participation rate (63.6 percent) were unchanged in January.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The Orwellian reporting of Obama and economic news is getting worse with no end in sight.

The Greensboro News Record has done a decent job of economic and jobs reporting over the past year.

However,

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway just bought the Greensboro News Record.

“But Kroeger said BH Media likes the News & Record because it is the dominant source of information for the region, and that gives it an edge in attracting advertisers.

Kroeger said it’s important that the print newspaper is affordable and accessible to all readers, even in an economically troubled region.

But plenty of readers want their news by computer, smartphone and iPad. So, BH Media wants to deliver content to those people and earn money in the process.”

http://www.news-record.com/home/latestnews/673320-91/buffett-media-buys-news-

From the Greensboro News Record  January 30, 2013 .

“Update: Jobless rate up slightly in Triad”

“The jobless rate for the Greensboro-High Point metro area was 9.6 percent in December, up from November’s figure of 9.2 percent.

The December rate was lower compared with December 2011, which had a jobless rate of 10.5 percent, according to figures the N.C. Department of Commerce released today.”

http://www.news-record.com/news/business/665883-92/update-jobless-rate-up-slightly

“up slightly”

Is that like slightly pregnant?

Actually, unemployment was up in 97 of 100 counties in NC!

From the Greensboro News Record  February 1, 2013 .

“Greensboro area jobless rate drops, still high”

“No economist likes a 9.6 percent unemployment rate.

But December’s rate in the Greensboro/High Point Metro Area is nearly 1 percentage point lower than it was in December 2011, according to figures released Wednesday by the state Department of Commerce.

“That’s a terrible number, but it’s less terrible than a year ago,” said Andrew Brod, senior research fellow at the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNCG.”

http://www.news-record.com/news/crime/latestnewsnewscrime/666278-92/greensboro-area-jobless-rate-drops

“:jobless rate drops”

How many people read that and believed that it was reality?

Factor in the drop in the labor force participation rate in NC and it may not have dropped from a year ago.

George Orwell must be spinning in his grave.

NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties, Graham County 18.5 percent, Guilford 9.5, Mecklenburg 9.3, Labor force participation rate down

NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties, Graham County 18.5 percent, Guilford 9.5, Mecklenburg 9.3, Labor force participation rate down

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

NC unemployment rates increased in 97 of 100 counties.

That is scary enough.

That is only part of the picture.

Since the Democrats took control of congress in 2007, the labor force participation rate in NC has dropped 3.6 percent. Since Obama took the White House it has dropped 1.8 percent. So as bad as these unemployment rates appear, they are actually much higher.

From the NC Department of Commerce January 30, 2013.

“Unemployment rates increased in 97 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December, decreased in one, and were unchanged in two. Thirteen of the State’s metro areas also experienced rate increases while one metro decreased. The December (not seasonally adjusted) statewide rate was 9.5 percent.

Graham County had the highest unemployment rate at 18.5 percent, while Orange County had the lowest at 5.9 percent. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 12.5 percent experienced the highest rate, and Durham-Chapel
Hill at 7.2 percent had the lowest.”

“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.5 percent in December. This was a 0.5 of a percentage-point increase from November’s revised rate of 9.0 percent, and a 0.7 percentage-point decrease over the year.”

“Unemployment rates increased in 13 of the state’s 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The Rocky Mount MSA had the highest unemployment rate in December at 12.5 percent. Durham/Chapel Hill reported the month’s lowest unemployment rate at 7.2 percent, which increased 0.3 of a percentage point from the previous month. Asheville and Raleigh/Cary followed at 7.5 percent.”

Click to access NR_December2012_CntyRates_M.pdf