MO unemployment rises slightly in July

After hitting a 42-month low in June, Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a point to 7.2 percent in July.

The state's unemployment rate last month was below the U.S. jobless rate of 8.3 percent during July, and the Missouri rate has been below the nationwide average for 35 consecutive months, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Nonfarm payroll employment in the state fell by 7,700 in July, as outdoor activities such as construction, landscaping and lawn care, and recreation programs took a hit due to drought and high temperatures. For the year, however, the state has added 6,800 jobs, and it finished 2011 with a gain of 21,386 jobs, according to the DED.