Unemployment Picks Up Speed While Bailout Slows - TIME

A new Reuters poll of economists does not offer much hope for an improvement in the nation's financial condition. Many see unemployment topping 10%. The news service reports that "Median forecasts now assume gross domestic product will shrink an annualized 5.3% this quarter, following a brutal 6.2% decline at the end of 2008."

On another front, data from the states shows that four now have unemployment rates above 10% and some have recorded joblessness well in excess of 9%. (What Sells in a Recession: Canned Goods and Condoms.)

All of those numbers indicate that the recession is picking up speed. At the same time, the rescue packages which are supposed to help salvage part of this year are starting to get bogged down. Several senators have told President Obama that they do not have the votes to pass the newly proposed budget without changes. That could lead to several weeks of debate.

Unemployment Picks Up Speed While Bailout Slows - TIME