The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.0 percent in mid-February, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, up 8.3 percent for mid-January. The mid-month reading normally reflects what the U.S. government reports for the entire month, according to Gallup.

Although the Gallup numbers are not seasonally adjusted, the organization estimates the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics could report an increased seasonally adjusted unemployment rate when it releases February employment figures after the end of the month.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking from Jan. 17, 2012, to Feb. 15, 2012, with a random sample of 18,630 adults, aged 18 and older.