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North Dakota's 3 percent unemployment rate is the nation's lowest, the report said. That's down from 3.1 percent in the previous month. Nebraska has the second-lowest rate, at 4 percent, down from 4.1 percent. South Dakota has the third-lowest rate, at 4.3 percent, the same as the previous month. The report follows some disappointing economic data Thursday. The average number of people seeking unemployment benefits nationwide in the past month has reached a three-month high. Home sales slowed last month after healthy gains over the winter. And manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region declined in April, a separate report found. Despite the negative reports, most economists expect modest growth to continue this year. The economy likely expanded at a 2.5 percent annual pace in the January-March quarter, down slightly from 3 percent growth in the fourth quarter. The government will issue its first estimate of January-March growth next Friday. Economists said temporary layoffs stemming from the spring holidays may have inflated the unemployment benefit figures. Some school employees are laid off during spring break and are eligible to file for benefits.
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