S.C. unemployment rate breaks a 26-year-old record

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina’s unemployment has set a state record, with the jobless numbers for April reaching 11.5 percent.
   
The numbers released Friday broke a 26-year-old record.
   
In March, the state unemployment rate was 11.4 percent. That matched the highest rate ever in the state, set in January 1983.
   
Unemployment in South Carolina has now increased for 14 straight months. The number of unemployed workers in the state has more than doubled during that time to nearly 253,000 people.
   
Nationally, the unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent in April. That was up nearly a half-point from 8.5 percent in March.
   
A year ago, the U.S. rate was at 5.0 percent.