Lincoln County’s non-seasonally

adjusted unemployment rate climbed from 13.9 percent in October to

16.1 percent in November, according to the Montana Department of

Labor and Industry.

It was the highest unemployment rate in

the county since reaching 16.8 percent in April. The worst month

for the year was in March when unemployment came in at 19.3

percent.

Montana’s seasonally adjusted

unemployment rate fell for the second straight month in November,

moving down 0.1 percent to 7.2 percent.

The U.S. rate increased by 0.2 percent

to 9.8 percent.

Statewide, private payroll employment

increased slightly by 700 jobs, but an equal decline of 700

government jobs kept total payroll employment unchanged over the

month. The estimate for the total number of Montanans who are

working, including agricultural, payroll and self-employed workers,

was essentially unchanged, showing a loss of 290 jobs on a

seasonally adjusted basis.

Inflation remained low over the month,

with the seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban

Consumers increasing by 0.1 percent in November. Food, energy and

all other items all posted price increases but the increase in the

energy index was the smallest in five months.

The index for all items less food and

energy (also called core inflation) increased slightly by 0.1

percent after staying flat for the last three months.