Here are the unemployment rates for counties and major cities in the 8th Congressional District for May 2009 followed by the unemployment rates for May 2008, released by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services:

Butler County: 9.7 percent/5.4 percent

Darke County: 11.3 percent/5.8 percent

Mercer County: 9 percent/4.3 percent

Miami County: 12.1 percent/5.7 percent

Montgomery County: 11.4 percent/7.5 percent

Preble County: 12.3 percent/6.2 percent

Ohio’s unemployment rate is now a staggering 10.8 percent – up from 6 percent a year ago