Ya-Hoo

Up in smoke stacks
Larry Kudlow
June 3, 2004


Election-year battleground states in the Midwest industrial heartland are reporting significantly lower unemployment rates compared to one year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, Michigan registered a 6 percent jobless rate compared to 7.2 percent in April 2003. Ohio's jobless rate fell to 5.8 percent from 6.2 percent. Pennsylvania's dropped to 4.9 percent from 5.4 percent. West Virginia reported 5.4 percent from 6.6 percent a year earlier. Missouri's jobless tally dropped to 4.5 percent from 5.5 percent.