[Yo-Yo]

True, unemployment in the United States is ticking up, approaching 7%, and some economists think the figure might crest at 8%. For the millions of people this affects, that’s bad news — but it’s hardly comparable to the Great Depression of the 1930s, when more than 25% were unemployed, over 50% in some regions. If 8% unemployment is considered a Great Depression, then Canada has been in a Great Depression for most of the last 30 years.

Ahem, Erza. Look at this chart of unemployment during the Great Depression:

Notice that unemployment in late 1929 and early 1930 wasn't too bad. Unemployment didn't peak until 1934, and didn't fall below double digits until 1941, the start of World War II for the United States.

To make a historical comparison, we are currently in January of 1930.

[driftdiver]

Can you really use stats comparing unemployment in the 1930s to that of today. The economies are totally different and tracking methods are vastly superior today.

[expat_panama]

make a historical comparison, we are currently in January of 1930

Your chart shows that in 1930, the first year of the Great Depression, yearly average unemployment almost tripled from 3.2 to 8 percent.  In the first year of our current "depression" it's gone from 4.6% to 5.6%.

So by comparing our unemployment to the Great Depression of the '30's, what we got now might be called an emotional depression.

[Clive]

Your chart is a US chart. The author is discussing the Canadian economy.

There is an old saying to the effect that when the US economy gets a case of the sniffles, the Canadian one gets pneumonia.

The current state of affaires is anomalous in thyat the Camadian ecoomy appears momentarily to be healthier than the US one.

[WOSG]

Notice that unemployment in late 1929 and early 1930 wasn’t too bad. “

That’s because in 1929 and 1930 it wasnt more than a garden variety recession. Smoot-Hawley and the collapse in global trade took care of that.

But we arent raising tariffs for 300% and we are not deflating massively - so why the false comparison?

The fact remains that the comparisons are inapt and wrong.
Why not compare this recession to 1980-1982?