16 million Americans; that's how many people are now considered unemployed in the United States.

That's 10-point-2 percent of the population, the highest national average since 1983.

October was the 22nd month in a row that employers cut jobs.

This news comes as retailers gear up for the holiday shopping season, hoping for a good 4th quarter to end the year on a positive note.

On the first Friday of every month, businesses in downtown Sioux Falls stay open late, hoping to catch the eye of customers, old and new.

"We sell furniture off our floor but we also do a lot of design projects as well." Julie Grossman is the owner of "Traditions" furniture and interior design.
She's keeping late hours tonight, one of her jobs: try to make this rough economy work for her, not against her. "When people are down here wandering around, dining you know it gives them an opportunity to shop as well."

She says this new unemployment report concerns here.
It comes as a time when businesses need customers to feel good...the holiday shopping season.
The numbers in our region are tough; nearly 20-thousand unemployed in South Dakota, more than 113-thousand in Iowa and more than 381-thousand in Minnesota.
So with national unemployment at a 26 year high, and grim regional unemployment numbers, how is Julie Grossman making this economy work for her?
She says people are generally spending less but spending more time at home..."When you sit in your home sometimes you look around and you think 'g'all, I really would like to change this area or that area' and a lot of people are putting their money there."

And hopefully, investing money with Julie....at Traditions.

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