The rate for textiles eased to 89.1 percent in August from 93.6 percent last year.

The rate on that benchmark eased to 6.32 percent from 6.37 percent.

The increase came after a decline in September, when the rate eased three-tenths of a point.

The rate for teen-agers eased to 14.1 percent from 15.5, as their entry into the summer work force was less than in the recent past.

The jobless rate for Hispanics eased one point, to 8 percent, about the average for the first quarter of the year.

The rate in the fourth quarter actually eased, for the second consecutive quarter.

The rate on the 10-year bond, a benchmark for mortgages, eased a bit further, to 5.86 percent.

The rate for Ohio, a major political battleground, eased five-tenths of a point, to 7.1 percent.

New York's rate eased by two-tenths, bringing its 12-month increase to 4.5 percent.

However, the association said the figures indicated that the rate of the slowdown eased slightly during the month.