The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in mid-March, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, a decline from 9.1 percent in February, the organization reported. The mid-month reading normally reflects what the U.S. government reports for the entire month, according to Gallup.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking from Feb. 16 to March 15 with a random sample of 18,825 adults, aged 18 and older.