If we are going to talk about unemployment rates, let's talk about the ones that are more important

[RB TexLa]

right now.

Euro area unemployment rate at 11.4%
EU27 at 10.5%


The euro area1 (EA17) seasonally-adjusted2 unemployment rate3 was 11.4% in August 2012, stable compared
with July4. The EU271 unemployment rate was 10.5% in August 2012, also stable compared with July4. In both
zones, rates have risen compared with August 2011, when they were 10.2% and 9.7% respectively.
Eurostat estimates that 25.466 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 18.196 million were in the euro area,
were unemployed in August 2012. Compared with July 2012, the number of persons unemployed increased by
49 000 in the EU27 and by 34 000 in the euro area. Compared with August 2011, unemployment rose by 2.170
million in the EU27 and by 2.144 million in the euro area.


Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.5%), Luxembourg
(5.2%), the Netherlands (5.3%) and Germany (5.5%), and the highest in Spain (25.1%) and Greece (24.4% in
June 2012).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in twenty Member States, fell in six and remained
stable in the United Kingdom. The largest falls were observed in Estonia (13.2% to 10.1% between the second
quarters of 2011 and 2012), Lithuania (15.0% to 12.9%) and Latvia (17.0% to 15.9% between the second
quarters of 2011 and 2012). The highest increases were registered in Greece (17.2% to 24.4% between June 2011
and June 2012), Cyprus (8.0% to 11.7%), Portugal (12.7% to 15.9%) and Spain (22.0% to 25.1%).

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-01102012-AP/EN/3-01102012-AP-EN.PDF

[dkf]

1. Well we can't do anything about that and they have a better safety net than we do anyway.

[RB TexLa]

2. We are a strategic trading partner with the EU and we are members of the IMF and the World Bank

There is plenty of engagement from North America. I'm just saying it's a lot more important issue for the election than the US unemployment numbers.

[dkf]

3. No I think the impact from Europe is lessened as long as there isn't some major problem with Spain

Or Italy.

The buying of bonds is scheduled for the beginning of next year right?

More bluntly, Europe wants Obama. They are not going to screw him over.