(AP) - New York's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.8 percent in February, up from 7 percent in January. State officials say that's the highest level since June 1993.

The state labor department reported the new rate Thursday, noting that it was just 4.6 percent in February 2008. In New York City, the February rate was 8.1 -up from 6.9 percent in January and 4.4. percent a year earlier.

State officials say that outside New York City, the region's unemployment rate stands at a 25-year high of 7.6 percent, up from 4.8 percent last year.

Among individual counties, Lewis County again had the highest rate at 12.8 percent. The lowest rate - 5.9 percent - was in Tompkins County, up from 5.6 percent the previous month.

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