MO unemployment drops to lowest rate in three years

Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8 percent in December, its lowest point in three years.

The state's rate hasn't been that low since January 2009, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The December rate also was two-tenths of a point below November's rate.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in December, the release said.

Despite the decrease in unemployment, Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment fell by 11,800 in December, which included seasonal losses due to holiday/semester breaks at colleges and universities.