The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce tracks a lot of economic numbers. This is according to Chamber President Lyle Butler, in his update at Thursday’s Riley County Commission meeting. Butler said one of the things they trace are the unemployment numbers because it gives them a good indication of what’s happening.

Butler said Riley County has been one of the lowest, not only in the State of Kansas, but one of the lowest in the country, with a population of 25,000 or more. If you’ve been following the news, in January 2010, the unemployment figures, although nationally held flat, there were 30 states where the unemployment rates jumped up and Kansas was one of those.

According to Butler, the unemployment rate has been sliding up a little bit, but the January number did jump up to 5.1%, compared to Pottawatomie County at 5.9% and Geary County at 8.9%.

Butler added the State saw an overall increase in the unemployment numbers, but feels weather played a role in construction jobs, and layoffs of seasonal help by retailers was also a factor. Butler did have some good news….some of the local manufacturer’s have seen an increase in sales for both January and February, and have begun hiring again.

Butler said Riley County is being affected by the economy. It took a long time because for most of 2009, unemployment figures were in the 3.5 to 3.9% range; way below the national average and one of the lowest in the country.