Honolulu jobless rate hits 4.2 percent in June

Hawaii's average gas price has hit $4.50 per gallon and meanwhile the Honolulu jobless rate has also continued to climb, reaching 4.2 percent in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Earlier reports put the June statewide unemployment figure at 3.8 percent.

The Honolulu jobless rate was up from 3 percent a year ago and up from 3.1 percent in May. 19,300 people were out of work in June, up 5,600 from the 13,700 without work the year before and up 4,900 from 14,400 jobless in May.

National unemployment rates for June were higher than the year before in 332 of 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 27 areas and unchanged in 10 areas. The national unemployment rate in June was 5.7 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year earlier, and up from 5.2 percent in May.

Sioux Falls, S.D., and Idaho Falls, Idaho, had the lowest rates for the month, at 2.3 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. El Centro, Calif., continued to have the highest unemployment rate at 22.6 percent.