The December (not seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate was essentially unchanged for the Peoria MSA, rising slightly to 8.3 percent in December 2012 from 8.2 percent in December 2011.   “December marks another month that shows falling unemployment rates throughout our state,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “The most pressing challenge to our economic progress is the uncertainty tied to Congress, the debt ceiling and the fiscal cliff. Our economic recovery could be compromised if Congress is not seen as working together to build a solution.”  See Greater Peoria regional trend charts below...