“Gallup Truthers” On the Way?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_10/gallup_truthers_on_the_way040566.php

October 17, 2012 12:53 PM

In a rude interruption of the spin battles over the second presidential candidates’ debate, the Gallup organization published its latest estimates of trends in unemployment, and they reinforce the BLS September Jobs Report indication that the unemployment rate is finally and significantly dropping:

U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 7.3% in mid-October, down considerably from 7.9% at the end of September and at a new low since Gallup began collecting employment data in January 2010. Gallup’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 7.7%, also down from September. October’s adjusted mid-month measure is also more than a percentage point lower than October 2011.

Gallup also reported a less favorable number: the percentage of Americans working part-time who want to work full-time is up slightly from September. But at the same time, its measurement of the “underemployment rate” is actually at the lowest rate since Gallup started collecting this data in 2010.