New data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development highlighted an improving economy with lower unemployment in nearly every county across the state in August.

Benton was the only county with a slight increase of 0.1 of a percentage point in its month-to-month comparison.

Lewis and surrounding counties showed a decrease in unemployment. Lewis County declined 7.6 percent, from 8.8 percent. Maury County decreased to 8 percent from 10.1; Wayne County, 7.4 percent from 9 percent; Hickman County, 6 percent from 7.1 percent; Perry County, 8.2 percent from 10.4 percent; and...