NC December jobless rate hits historic high

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s unemployment rate hit a historic high in December, climbing to 11.2 percent.

The state’s Employment Security Commission said Friday December marked the eleventh straight month the unemployment rate has hovered around 11 percent.

December’s jobless rate of 11.2 percent rose from 10.8 percent in November. While December’s rate may be revised later, it is fractionally higher than the previous peak of 11.1 percent in May.

The national jobless rate last month was 10 percent. In December 2008, the state rate was 8.1 percent.

Economists forecast a weak jobs recovery this year as worried consumers hold down spending and banks limit lending to small businesses, which generate most new jobs.

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