Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Manufacturing Performance Institute/MAPI show that the end of 2008 was one of the worst periods in recent history for job losses.
6.7% U.S. unemployment rate as of November 2008
573,000 Unemployment claims filed for the week of Dec. 6, 2008 (a 26-year high)
7.8%* Annual rate at which manufacturing production declined during third-quarter 2008
4.2%* Rate at which manufacturing production is expected to decline in 2009
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
* Manufacturing Alliance/MAPI
See Also
