Official: West Virginia in a recession

The worst coal production since the 1930s has helped drive West Virginia into an official recession, according to the Mountain State Business Index.

John Deskins, director of West Virginia University’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said the recession will last at least through the summer.

Unemployment claims have risen for five consecutive months.

Hit hardest with jobless rates are Mingo County (15%), Logan (12.8%), Boone (11.3%) and Wyoming (11.9%), all in southern West Virginia.

West Virginia’s state jobless rate is 7.8%. The national average is 5%.