There is grim news about unemployment in the Garden State.

The state's Labor Department reported that New Jersey's jobless rate hit 7.1 percent in December, its highest point in nearly 15 years. According to the Labor Department, 15,200 jobs were lost during the month.

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) said he hopes to be able to avoid increasing payroll taxes to boost the state's underfunded unemployment fund. By law, jobless claims must be paid regardless of the fund's financial health.

And job losses in New Jersey continue to increase. In Eatontown and Brunswick, two DCH Saturn dealerships have announced plans to close. While the company says they hope to keep some employees, there will still be significant cuts.

"It's definitely a sad day,? says Ray DeSimone, general manager of DCH Saturn in Eatontown. ?[I?ve] been with [the] company 14 years, but feel it's time to move on."

AP wire reports contributed to this report.