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The good news is that Michigan's unemployment rate is rising at a slower pace. The bad news is that it is still rising.

The (grossly underestimated) official rate of joblessness in Michigan rose from 15.2 percent in August to 15.3 percent in September 2009, according to the state Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth. In a written statement, the department's bureau of labor market information and strategic services blamed the losses on the service sector. Some gains were temporarily made in manufacturing thanks to the "Cash for Clunkers" program.