Montana jobless rate down

In December, the fourth month in a row, Montana's jobless rate declined.

The state's unemployment rate went down from 7.1 percent in November to 6.8 percent in December.

The national unemployment rate has declined steadily since August, registering at 8.5 percent in December.

"Montana's employment growth has gained momentum in the last half of 2011, posting large job gains and a sizable drop in the unemployment rate, due in part to the strong agriculture economy and the oil activity on the eastern part of the state, " said Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly. "The strong employment growth in the se...