A monthly snapshot of North Carolina's economy.

• Position: NC TREND: Vital Signs - Brief article - Statistical table

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYED December 2014 4.37m December 2015 4.52m 3.4% CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE December 2014 4.62m December 2015 4.79m 3.6% UNEMPLOYED December 2014 250,000a December 2015 269,800 7.9% COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIGHEST Graham 12.0% Tyrrell 11.7 Hyde 11.6 Scotland 9.9 Dare 9.3 LOWEST Buncombe 3.9% Orange 4.2 Chatham 4.3 Henderson 4.3 Wake 4.3 TAXABLE RETAIL SALES (THOUSAND) Dec 15 Nov 15 Dec 14 Mecklenburg $1,590.2 $1,590.1 $1,460.5 Wake 1,140.8 1,139.2 1,078.3 Guilford 543.2 554.0 513.9 Durham 523.8 528.9 521.9 Forsyth 398.2 408.2 372.8 Buncombe 394.5 406.2 359.6 New Hanover 305.3 304.3 285.6 Cumberland 304.5 310.9 302.6 Cabarrus 255.6 247.2 233.1 Alamance 180.6 181.1 171.9...