Hires rates by region, seasonally adjusted, Dec. 2005-May 2006 Percent Dec-05 Jan-06 Feb-06 Mar-06 Apr-06 May-06 Northeast 2.8 2.9 3.2 3.6 3.3 3.3 South 3.8 4.1 4.3 3.7 3.7 3.9 Midwest 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.6 West 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.7 U.S. 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.7