WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — Even though much has changed the past four years, President Barack Obama begins his second term with one thing that hasn’t: the unemployment rate.

When Obama first took office in January 2009, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. Today the unemployment rate is once again at 7.8 percent.

The unemployment rate rose as high as 10 percent during Obama’s first term before falling back down to 7.8 percent last November.

Unemployment rates fell in less than half of U.S. states last month, as steady but slow hiring is making only gradual improvement in the job market.

The Labor Department said Friday that rates fell in 22 states in December and rose in 16. They were unchanged in 12.

The department’s monthly report also shows that steady hiring nationwide in the past two years has lowered the unemployment rate in many parts of the country. The rate is now below 7 percent in 25 states. And some of the states hardest hit in the recession have seen solid gains.

Obama has prepared a second inaugural address that broadly lays out his vision for the country’s future, setting the stage for looming debates over taxes, guns, immigration and other issues while leaving the details for another day.

The speech, slated right after Obama takes an oath to “faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States” Monday on the Capitol’s west front, includes no new policy, aides say. Rather, the president plans to use the moment as it traditionally has been in most of the 56 previous inaugurations — to talk about founding American values and their importance to the country’s success today.

MORE HERE

GALLON OF GAS:

1/20/09 -- $1.84

1/21/13 -- $3.26