Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006)
Unemployment Rate - Black or African American — Historical Chart
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Sign Up FreeUnderstanding Unemployment Rate - Black or African American
Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (FRED series LNS14000006) is a monthly economic indicator measured in percent. The series is published through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis economic database, with history going back to 1972. Values are seasonally adjusted, smoothing out predictable calendar effects so that underlying trends are easier to see.
Why it matters: Unemployment Rate - Black or African American is one of the indicators traders, economists, and policymakers watch within the economic complex. Analysts use it to track conditions in the US economy and to anticipate shifts in growth, inflation, and policy.
How to read it: focus on the direction and persistence of changes rather than any single monthly print. Comparing the latest value against its level a year ago, and against its long-run range since 1972, gives a better sense of whether the series is signaling acceleration, deceleration, or a turning point.
About This Series
The series comes from the 'Current Population Survey (Household Survey)' The source code is: LNS14000006
Recent Data
| Date | Value (%) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 6.60% | -0.7 |
| April 1, 2026 | 7.30% | +0.2 |
| March 1, 2026 | 7.10% | -0.6 |
| February 1, 2026 | 7.70% | +0.4 |
| January 1, 2026 | 7.30% | -0.2 |
| December 1, 2025 | 7.50% | -0.7 |
| November 1, 2025 | 8.20% | +0.6 |
| September 1, 2025 | 7.60% | +0 |
| August 1, 2025 | 7.60% | +0.4 |
| July 1, 2025 | 7.20% | +0.4 |
| June 1, 2025 | 6.80% | +0.8 |
| May 1, 2025 | 6.00% | -0.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unemployment Rate - Black or African American today?
The latest value of Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006) is shown at the top of this page, along with its observation date and the change from the prior reading. Data is sourced from FRED and refreshed regularly.
How often is Unemployment Rate - Black or African American updated?
Unemployment Rate - Black or African American is reported monthly (Monthly). New observations appear on FRED shortly after the source agency releases them, and this page updates daily.
What does a rising Unemployment Rate - Black or African American mean?
A sustained rise in Unemployment Rate - Black or African American signals strengthening readings in this economic measure, in percent. Whether that is positive or negative for markets depends on context — compare the move against the series’ trend and related indicators in the same category.
Where does the LNS14000006 data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID LNS14000006. History is available back to 1972.
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- Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private34.3
- Average Weekly Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees, Manufacturing41.6
- Average Weekly Overtime Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees, Manufacturing4
- Business Applications: Total for All NAICS in the United States523,971
- ICE BofA US Corporate Index Option-Adjusted Spread0.75
Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated June 5, 2026.