The unemployment rate jumped to 6.5 percent in October from 6.1 percent in the previous month as employers cut 240,000 jobs, according to data from the Labor Department, the Associated Press reported. Unemployment has surpassed the last recession levels, which peaked at 6.3 percent in June 2003, and it’s the 10th straight month of declines that have eliminated 1.2 million jobs so far this year. A year ago, the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent. Manufacturing suffered the biggest loss with 90,000 job cuts. Construction companies shed 49,000 jobs, retailers cut 38,000 jobs, professional and business services reduced employment by 45,000, financial activities eliminated 24,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality cut 16,000 jobs. There were some gains in the government and education and health care sectors.

Ford Motor Co. announced today that it lost $129 million in the third quarter and will cut 2,260 jobs after sales fell 22 percent to $32.1 billion in the quarter, the Associated Press reported. The automaker also went through $7.7 billion in cash, more than the $2.1 billion it used in the second quarter when it posted a record loss of nearly $8.7 billion. Analysts project that if economic conditions persist, Ford could run out of money sometime shortly after 2010. The company had $18.9 billion in cash on hand as of Sept. 30, down from $26.6 billion at the end of the second quarter. Ford is among U.S. automakers that have approached the government for low-interest loans. It also is in discussions with foreign governments; it has asked the European Commission for a low-interest loan of 40 billion euros.

West Des Moines-based FBL Financial Group Inc.’s net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $11.2 million, or 37 cents per diluted common share, compared with $16.5 million, or 54 cents per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2007. The figures represent a 32 percent decline in profits. “FBL’s operating results for the third quarter were solid, considering the current economic environment, and reflect increased death benefits and lower results from our variable segment due to the decline in the equity markets,” said CEO Jim Noyce. “We recently secured $100 million of debt capital from affiliated Farm Bureau entities. This financing bolsters FBL’s capital position and provides us with excess capital and increased financial flexibility.” Premiums and product charges for the quarter increased 8 percent, traditional life insurance premiums increased 4 percent and net investment income increased 16 percent. FBL recognized net losses on investments of $27.2 million compared with gains of $3.9 million a year ago.

The Lutheran Church of Hope will host a job fair and seminar tomorrow at 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines. The free event will begin at 9 a.m. with a seminar, “Journey to Success – Valleys and Victories,” where five speakers will discuss their routes to career success. A job fair will follow from 10 a.m. to noon, with more than 50 Central Iowa employers and employment agencies attending. For more information, call Jim Adams at 556-4920.

The Metro Arts Alliance will host the Metro Arts Two River Expo this weekend at Hy-Vee Hall. The hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is Metro Arts’ major fundraiser and features 130 visual artists, nearly half of them Iowans. Tickets are $5. For more information, go to www.metroarts.org.