For the vast majority of workers, either the benefits have already run out - and they have nowhere to turn - or in sheer desperation they’re taking on substandard, burger-flipping tasks.
So-called “new applications” doesn’t tell much of a tale about what’s happening nation-wide.
First of all, these are “applications” for UNemployment insurance, not for employment. Secondly, it is a national number, so it does in fact tell us what is happening “nation-wide.”
I’ll keep saying it: we need to come to grips with the possibility that Obama is going to go into the 2012 election with an expanding economy at his back. Failing to consider that is going to get the GOP candidate blind-sided if it does indeed happen.