At the outset of the recession described, the unemployment rate was:

1. The recession is tracked from its starting unemployment rate. 2. The unemployment rate rises as a recession takes hold. 3. At the outset of the recession, the rate is given directly. 4. It was 5.0 percent. _Source: OpenStax Principles of Macroeconomics for AP Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 'Unemployment'_