NE unemployment down slightly

The New England unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in August, down 0.3 percentage points from July and essentially unchanged from August 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in August, said the bureau, part of the US Department of Labor.

New England's unemployment rate has largely remained in the 4.5 percent to 4.8 percent range since August 2004, the bureau said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)