Wisconsin, Minnesota Unemployment Figures Drop

Minnesota's jobless rate dropped another one-tenth of a percent in August and is now 8 percent. This is the second straight month of falling unemployment in the state.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin's unemployment rate has dropped for three straight months. It is now at 8.4 percent, down from 9.2 percent in June and 8.8 percent in July.

As if you needed us to tell you, despite this, Minnesota and Wisconsin have much higher unemployment rates than last year at this time. However, they are both well below the national average for August, which is 9.7 percent.

Does this mean the economy is on the mend? If you list to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, the answer is yes. Certainly, the drop in both Minnesota's and Wisconsin's unemployment rates are good news for the midwest.