At the end of this week, we'll get the next unemployment figures. Might want to start bracing yourself now. No matter what the jobs report says, I expect both sides to spin the heck out of it.

Personally, I don't expect much to get excited about on Friday. I was just reading in the New York Times that the ratio of job seekers to job openings is 6 to 1 — the worst it has been since the government started tracking it.

I figure that, if there is another modest drop in joblessness, it will prove to be a temporary lull, like the others. It will merely be evidence that the house is still burning down, just slower than it was.

For that matter, it could be a sign that some of those who were receiving unemployment benefits are no longer receiving them. Whether they got jobs would be beside the point.

Need a silver lining?

Well, it ain't much, but here goes.

Gas prices are down.

Yep, gas prices have been declining since August 7 — nearly two months now.

And, if there is anything good to be said about high joblessness, it is this: "Demand is down due to the recession and mounting unemployment."

Consequently, says Lundberg Survey publisher Trilby Lundberg, "there's nowhere for gasoline prices to go but down."

You aren't saving a fortune — about 12 cents per gallon. But that beats paying 12 cents more per gallon.

Doesn't it?