Comparing Bureau of Labor Statistics' unemployment rate to that of Gallup's daily tracking poll invites the fair criticism that one is matching apples to oranges. One can not use Gallup when it fits one's needs and then switch to the BLS when it is more conducive to one's sympathies. Both organizations use accepted but different polling and statistical techniques so it is logical to expect the trends to match over time. In the above Gallup tracking poll ignore the actual numbers and focus solely on the trends. Notice that the number of "employed full time" declines in February just as "unemployed" trends slightly upward. The difference between Gallup and the rosy picture of continuing falling unemployment put for by BLS is the fact that the Gallup numbers have not been seasonally adjusted.
We know that figures don't lie but liars do figure but here my fairest assessment of the Obama's administration's claims of success is that they are presently benefiting from a statistical quirk that may bite them six month down the road. We shall see.
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