USA Today reports that vehicle traffic fell an incredible 30% in US metro areas in 2011. This was during a period of time in which the unemployment rate supposedly fell. From the article:
Traffic congestion dropped 30% last year from 2010 in the USA's 100 largest metropolitan areas, driven largely by higher gas prices and a spotty economic recovery, according to a new study by a Washington-state firm that tracks traffic flows.
That was the largest drop since the nation plunged into recession in December 2007.
Of the 100 most populous metro areas, 70 saw declines in traffic congestion while just 30 had increases, says Jim Bak, co-author of the 2011 U.S. Traffic Scorecard for Kirkland, Wash.-based INRIX.
That was a reversal of what happened in 2010, when 70 had increases in congestion and 30 had declines. Tampa had the biggest increase in congestion, and Minneapolis the biggest drop.
A 30% one year decline is a statistical outlier and then some. Such a precipitous decline would suggest that the unemployment rate rose in 2011, and by a large number. How serendipitous that today's Buried Headlines includes a story about Obama officials pressing government contractors to alter the way they calculate unemployment.
Maybe the unemployed gave up commuting for job interviews and took McJobs in the neighborhood?
Yup. The government is lying. And how many unemployed have recently dropped off the unemployment rolls because they went 99 weeks? How convenient for the government to just write them off.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pic of ATL. Go Braves!
I lived in ATL for a few years. Used to drive the Downtown Connector all of the time.
Deletehow fitting that usatoday just ran a piece about the deficit being much higher than the gov reported. the lies are being exposed!!! thanks for helping shine sunlight on this cesspool of a governmnet.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for reading!
DeleteSeth, Minneapolis is one of the best places in the country for cycling, and they also have great public transit. Isn't it possible that these workers are taking more economical and eco-friendly transportation to work given the high cost of gasoline? I know SA has great mass transit and is improving it all the time. What about people who work from home or telecommute?
ReplyDeleteGas prices rise incrementally, but a 30% one year nationwide reduction suggests a sudden, drastic change in lifestyle. Unemployment would be a logical cause for such a sudden, drastic change.
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