DATA EXERCISE #2

Due at the End of Week 5

This project is closely related to the course objectives and learning resources
provided for the course. This project is based on the course learning
resources studied during Week 2:

 Chapters 8 of the textbook “Unemployment”,

 Chapters 9 of the textbook “Inflation”,
 How the Government Measures Unemployment

Purpose of the Data Exercises

The data exercises are designed to ensure that students are familiar with the
methodology of collecting and analyzing data from the web. Each exercise
includes collecting the required data, creating a graph or table to present
this information, and writing three to four double-spaced data analysis
pages. Students should aim to provide clear insights and interpretations
rather than merely presenting data.

Data Exercise Requirements

1. Textbook and Learning Resources as a Reference: Students must

use the assigned textbook, as well as chapters from “How the
Government Measures Unemployment” book provided in Content > Unit 2
> Learning Resources as a primary reference for their analysis. This
ensures a strong theoretical foundation and context for the data being
analyzed.
2. Current Data and References: All data used must be the most recent
available data. Students must include references from recent news
articles, journals, or other credible sources to support their analysis. This
requirement aligns with the expectation to use up-to-date Bureau of Labor
 Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the Economic
Report of the President data.

3. Focus on Analysis –While charts and graphs are necessary to present

data visually, the focus should be on explaining the significance of the
data.

4. Elimination of First-Person Language: Students must avoid using the

first person in their papers. Instead, reflections and analyses should be
restated in the third person. This enhances objectivity and
professionalism in academic writing.

Format of the Project:

The Data Exercise must be posted to the LEO Student Assignments as a

Attachments are limited to a maximum two files in doc, docx., xls. xlsx., or
rtf. formats. OTHER FORMATS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE, will not be reviewed or
graded.

Please note that hand-written and scanned works, pdf. files, jpg. files, as well
as files posted in google drive, will not be accepted or graded.

No more than 20% of the text of the project should be made up of quotes.

The UMGC is seeking professional/business style communications with

appropriate citations/references. The students’ grades will not be reduced
because of a lack of strict adherence to a particular style. We suggest
students utilize one of the styles as a guide to their work. As a preferred
guide, APA -7th edition is most used in social sciences such as economics,
business and finance. Please use Content > Course Overview > Course
Resources > page 4 > Writing Resources as a guide how to use APA -7th
edition in your work.

Written projects:
 1. Must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial
font, with one-inch margins
2. Must have professional/business style of the title page
3. Must have appropriate in-text citations and professional/business style
of the reference list
4. Must be prepared using word processing software (Microsoft Word
preferred).
5. If you are using Excel to calculate or create charts, please also submit
the Excel file.

DATA EXERCISE #2 ASSIGNMENT

Consists of three parts

Part 1: The Unemployment Rate (weight 30% of the assignment

grade)

Complete the following exercise

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site,

www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm

(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm). Select Employment

Situation Summary.

Please note that using the data from previously published releases
and summaries will produce grade zero for this part of the project.

Write a report (about 2 pages double spaced) in your own words to answer
the questions:
 1. What month (and year) is summarized? What was the unemployment
rate for that month? How does that rate compare with the rate in the
previous month?
2. What were the unemployment rates for adult women, teenagers,
blacks, Hispanics, and whites? How did these rates compare with those
a month earlier?
3. What factors make it difficult to determine the unemployment rate?
Please include references from course learning resources, recent news
articles, journals, or other credible sources to support your answer to
this question.
4. Why is unemployment an economic problem? Please include
references from course learning resources, recent news articles,
journals, or other credible sources to support your answer to this
question.
5. What are the noneconomic effects of unemployment? Please include
references from course learning resources, recent news articles,
journals, or other credible sources to support your answer to this
question.
6. Who loses from unemployment? Please explain your answer.
7. Please analyze the significance of the data that you received
for this Data exercise. Please include references from course
learning resources, recent news articles, journals, or other credible
sources to support your analysis.
8. Reflection– the students should write a paragraph in their own words
reflecting on specifically what they learned from the assignment and
how they think they could apply what they learned in the workplace
and/or in everyday life.

Part 2: The Inflation Rate (weight 30% of the assignment grade)

Complete the following exercise:

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site,

www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm
(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm). You will be using “Consumer
Price Index Summary” and the “Table 1 Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U): U. S. city average, by expenditure category “.

Please note that using the data from previously published releases
and summaries will produce grade zero for this part of the project.

Write a report (about 2 pages double spaced) in your own words to answer
the questions:

1. What month (and year) is summarized? What was the level of the
CPIU for that month? (See Table 1 “Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers”). What does this number represent?
2. What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPIU) for the
last available month? How does that rate of inflation compare with the
rate in the previous month?
3. What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPIU) for the
last 12 months for “all items”?
4. Which two categories of goods or services had the greatest price
increase for the last 12 months? Which two categories of goods or
services had the lowest price increase for the last 12 months?
5. Which two categories of goods or services had the largest price
decrease for the last 12 months?
6. Who loses from inflation? Please include references from course
learning resources, recent news articles, journals, or other credible
sources to support your analysis.
 7. Who benefits from inflation? Please include references from course
learning resources, recent news articles, journals, or other credible
sources to support your analysis.
8. Please analyze the significance of the data that you received
for this Data Exercise. Please include references from course
learning resources, recent news articles, journals, or other credible
sources to support your analysis.
9. Reflection– the students should write a paragraph in their own words
reflecting on specifically what they learned from the assignment and
how they think they could apply what they learned in the workplace
and/or in everyday life.

Part 3: Unemployment Data by Labor Force Groups and Duration

(30% of the project grade)

Go to https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/erp

This is the home page of the Economic Report of the President.

Click on the most recent available Report, scroll down, and download
individual tables as Excel. Click on the button XLS next to the table you are
using for each question to download the data.

Please note that using the data from previous Reports will produce
grade zero for this part of the project.

1. Collect and present the required data and charts (15% of

the project grade)

1) Find unemployment data (Table B–27.—Civilian unemployment rate)

for each year 2000 to present. Use three labor force groups:
 men 20 years and over, women 20 years and over, both sexes 16 to
19 years of age.

a. Present the result in your project as a table.

b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.), present them
in your project.

2) Find unemployment data (Table B–27.—Civilian unemployment rate)

for each year 2000 to present by educational attainment (25
years and over). Use the following groups: less than a high school
diploma; high school graduates, no college; some college or
associate degree; bachelor’s degree and higher.
a. Present the result in your project as a table.
b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.),
present them in your project.

3) Use the Economic Report of the President (Table B–28.—

Unemployment by duration and reason) to find data on the duration
of unemployment for each year 2000 to present.

a. Present the result in your project as a table.

b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.), present them
in the project.

2. Write a report (2 pages or more double-spaced) in your own

words about the results you received (15% of the project grade)

In this paper consider, but do not be limited to the following:

1. Which years had the highest and lowest unemployment rates? How do
the rates compare among men 20 years and over, women 20 years
and over, both sexes 16 to 19 years of age? Please include references
 from recent news articles, journals, or other credible sources to
support your analysis.
2. Compare the unemployment rates by educational attainment. How do
the rates compare among these groups? What relationship, if any, do
you find? Please include references from recent news articles, journals,
or other credible sources to support your analysis.
3. Compare the distribution of unemployment by duration over these
years. Which years had the highest and lowest unemployment
duration? What relationship, if any, do you find? Please include
references from recent news articles, journals, or other credible
sources to support your analysis.
4. Demographic studies show that the proportion of teenagers and
minorities in the U.S. population is likely to increase in the near future.
In your opinion, what implications, if any, will this trend have on the
unemployment rate? Please include references from recent news
articles, journals, or other credible sources to support your analysis.
5. Please analyze the significance of the data that you received
for this Data exercise. Please include references from recent news
articles, journals, or other credible sources to support your analysis.
6. Reflection– the students should write a paragraph in their own words
reflecting on specifically what they learned from the assignment and
how they think they could apply what they learned in the workplace
and/or in everyday life.

PRESENTATION OF THE DATA EXERCISE (10%) of the project

grade):

 Organization, format, and presentation of paper including

professional/business style of the title page, introduction, body,
and summary. Begin each section with a subheading; use the
 subheadings described in the assignment (3% of the project
grade).
 Use of tables, figures, and other graphics to summarize and
support analysis presented in the paper. All tables and charts
should have the numbering system: “Table 1”, a substantive
title, and a reference to the source of the information. (3% of the
project grade).
 Use of the assigned textbook and learning resources provided in
the course as a primary reference for the analysis, recent news
articles, journals, or other credible sources, appropriate in-text
citations and professional/business style of the reference list.
(4% of the project grade).