REGION

REGION
Jobless rate increases in Mercer County
MERCER, Pa. -- The unemployment rate in Mercer County rose from 3.8 percent in October to 4.1 percent in November. The state Department of Labor and Industry said job reductions in the goods-producing sector were the primary cause of the increase. The labor force dropped slightly from 58,000 to 57,900 while the number of unemployed rose from 2,200 to 2,400.
NATION
Decline in confidence
NEW YORK -- Consumer confidence declined in December, largely because of the discouraging employment outlook, a private research group reported Tuesday.
The New York-based Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 80.3 from a revised 84.9 in November, when the index reversed a previous five-month-long downward trend.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports