More states reported lower unemployment in October

The national unemployment rate fell one percentage point to 6.9% in October. Job growth continued at a rate similar to that recorded in September, with 638,000 jobs added to payrolls. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that unemployment dropped in 37 states and jobs increased in 32 states. That reflects a larger share of states with improving economic situations than reported in September, although only two states, Utah and Idaho, managed to match their employment levels from this time last year.