New England unemployment rate climbs

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The unemployment rate in New England climbed in July but remains below the national average.

The New England office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday the jobless rate in the six-state region was 7.1 percent last month, up from 6.8 percent in June.

Rhode Island's 10.8 percent unemployment rate is the highest in New England and the second highest in the U.S.

By contrast, Vermont's rate of 5 percent is the lowest in the region and the fifth lowest in the country.

The national jobless rate in July was 8.3 percent.

The New England rate is down seven-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago.