Unemployment rates rose in July from June in almost all U.S. states, including those where the presidential election fight is expected to be fiercest, according to data released on Friday by the Labor Department.
Altogether, jobless rates rose in 44 states, dropped in Idaho, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, and were unchanged in four states in July from June.
(Source: Reuters, 8/17/12, “Unemployment rates rise in US election swing states,” by Lisa Lambert)