The FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report for 2005 indicates the nation and the Northeast have experienced an increase in violent crime.

According to the report, violent crime nationwide increased 2.5 percent from 2004 to 2005, with the murder rate increasing 4.8 percent. The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The Northeast experienced the smallest increase in violent crime of all regions, at 1.4 percent. However, the region’s murder rate of 5.2 percent exceeded the national average.

Boston experienced an 8.1 percent increase in violent crime from 2004 to 2005, while violent crime in Manchester dropped 16.1 percent, according to statistics provided by the FBI. The FBI’s preliminary report is available at www.fbi.gov/ucr/2005preliminary/index.htm.