Fri Nov 3, 2006 9:23am ET


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to its lowest in nearly 5-1/2 years during October as 92,000 more jobs were added and hiring in each of the two prior months was revised up, a government report on Friday showed.

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Unemployment at 5-year low

Unemployment rate falls unexpectedly to lowest point since May 2001.

November 3 2006: 9:13 AM EST
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<!-- CONTENT --><!--endclickprintexclude-->NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Employers added fewer jobs in October, but the unemployment rate fell to a five-year low.
The unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.4 percent, from the 4.6 percent rate posted in September. It was the lowest rate since May of 2001. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate would remain unchanged at 4.6 percent.

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