Hawaii posted the lowest unemployment rate among all states in October at 2.3%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Iowa was next at 2.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis, followed by New Hampshire at 2.6%.

Alaska recorded the highest jobless rate among all states at 6.4% in October.

Texas and Washington state set new series lows at 3.7% and 4.3%, respectively.

The bureau reported Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, during the reference periods for both the establishment and household surveys. Response rates for the two surveys were within normal ranges for the affected areas.

Unemployment rates fell in October in six states; the largest was a 0.2 percentage-point decrease in North Carolina.

Two states had month-over-month rate increases: Colorado and Wyoming both posted 0.1 percentage-point increases.

Separately, the US Department of Labor yesterday reported the US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,500 to 215,250 last week. The four-week moving average smooths the volatility of the week-to-week numbers; total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Nov. 10 rose to 216,000, up 2,000 from the previous week’s level.