Alaska's unemployment rate falls to 7.1 percent

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's unemployment rate fell to a preliminary 7.1 percent in October, its lowest level in five months.

The seasonally adjusted rate compared to 7.5 percent both in September and in October 2011. It was the lowest since May, when unemployment stood at 7 percent.

Alaska's unemployment rate also remained lower than the national rate, which was 7.9 percent last month.

The state labor department says there has been no clear trend, in either direction, in Alaska's unemployment rate this year. The rate has been as high as 7.7 percent, in August, and as low as 6.9 percent in April.

The seasonally adjusted rate is meant to help account for fluctuations in seasonal employment.