Unemployment Rate Falls To Lowest Since March 2009

AP
Updated
unemployment rate lowest in years
unemployment rate lowest in years

By Christopher S. Rugaber


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. unemployment rate fell last month to its lowest level in more than two and a half years, as employers stepped up hiring in response to the slowly improving economy.

The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate dropped sharply to 8.6 percent last month, down from 9 percent in October. The rate hasn't been that low since March 2009, during the depths of the recession.

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