Unemployment rate in New England inches to 5.8 percent; Rhode Island rate one of highest in US

The unemployment rate in New England ticked up to 5.8 percent in July, but it's still lower than the national average.

The New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the rate for the six-state region on Wednesday. It was one-tenth of 1 percentage point higher in June.

Rhode Island had the highest rate in the region, at 7.7 percent, which is tied for the third worst in the U.S. Connecticut's rate was next, at 6.6 percent. Massachusetts' rate is 5.6 percent, followed by Maine at 5.5 percent, New Hampshire at 4.4 percent and Vermont at 3.7 percent.

The national unemployment rate in July was 6.2 percent.

The New England rate a year ago was 7.2 percent.