Unemployment rises in majority of U.S. states

Unemployment rates rose in a majority of the 50 U.S. states in August for a third consecutive month, the government said Friday, providing further evidence that the depressed job market is widespread. The Labor Department reported that unemployment rates increased in 26 states, fell in 12, and remained unchanged in 12. Thirty states and the city of Washington reported job losses. Nationally, the economy added no new net jobs in August, and the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent for the second consecutive month. Many employers reduced hiring after the economy barely grew in the first half of the year. The economy added an average of only 39,500 jobs per month from may through August, down from an average above 178,000 jobs per month in the first four months of the year.