Updated Unemployment Revision numbers for the entire Obama Presidency

An updated version of my most recent chart comparing the initial weekly unemployment claims vs the revisions put out by Obama's Department of Labor.

I found some interesting information while I was compiling this data. For instance, 5 of the 14 downward revisions came during a 2 month period from November 2009 to January 2010 and there hasn't been a downward revision since February 19, 2011. That means during Obama's time as President there has been an upward revision 88.2% of the time.

How does that compare to Bush? Well, in his last 55 weeks in office there were 8 downward revisions and 6 spot on estimates for an upward revision 74.5% of the time.

For a larger version click the images.

Weekly Initial Jobless Claims:

Revised upward.... again.

In the week ending April 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 388,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 389,000. The 4-week moving average was 381,750, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 375,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending April 14, unchanged from the prior week.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 14 was 3,315,000, an increase of 3,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,312,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,311,750, a decrease of 9,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,321,500.

That makes 59 of the last 60 weeks where the initial jobless claims has been revised upward. Of course, by putting out a lower number initially and then revising it upward the very next the Labor Department, and by extension the Obama Administration, is able to claim that initial jobless numbers are declining week in and week out.

Over the last five weeks initial jobless claims have increased by approximately 30,000 but the Labor Department has reported that number as declining week in and week out. Jon Corzine, the criminal and Obama fundraising bundler, did the same thing in New Jersey in the months leading up to his race against Christie.

I know that the initial numbers are never going to be spot on but over the course of 60 weeks you should see upward, and downward revisions. Yet, we consistently see upward revisions with the administration claiming that the new numbers are a "decrease." There is something fishy going on and Obama needs to be called on it.