Unemployment headlines: To fret or not to fret?

CLARKONOMICS: The headlines about unemployment have created a lot of anxiety across the land. Initial claims climbed to a 4-year high and workers are remaining jobless for longer; about 3 million have lost a job and not been able to rebound with employment. Meanwhile, Challenger, Gray & Christmas -- a leading outplacement consulting firm -- found a 19-month high in the number of planned job cuts.

Should you be worried? You know from your own industry and place of work whether or not you'll be OK. Be realistic when you're facing that onslaught of headlines. Maybe you don't need to fret as much as you have been.

If you are in danger of being pink-slipped, that's fair warning to get your financial house in order. Start pulling back on the spending and reducing your debt. That way you'll be more prepared in the event of a layoff.

This time is not even close to the worst we've seen, yet it's not the best either. Things could decline even further, but Clark doesn't see overwhelming doom and gloom ahead. It's steady as you go for most of us.