Unemployment Fell In 43 States In November

By Martin Crutsinger

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates fell in 43 states in November, the most number of states to report such declines in eight years.

The falling state rates reflect the brightening jobs picture nationally. The U.S. unemployment rate fell sharply in November to 8.6 percent, the lowest since March 2009. The economy has generated 100,000 or more jobs five months in a row - the first time that's happened since 2006, before the Great Recession.