No. 8: Businesses seek recession's end

The economy showed signs of improvement, but evidence of a clear end to the recession that started in early 2008 was hard to find.

An October report by Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. found unemployment held at 17.2 percent, showing little improvement for the construction industry.

Overall unemployment in Greene County was at 7.8 percent for October, down from 8.4 percent in October 2009, well below the state at 9.4 percent, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

SBJ reported positive numbers for manufacturers after an October index from the Institute for Supply Management was released. The index tracked 18 manufacturing sectors and 14 reported growth.

Prices edged higher for items such as food, 1.5 percent; gasoline, 7.7 percent; and medical care, 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index report on Dec. 15.

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