Report – 175,000 Jobs Added in February

After two months of reporting weak job growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday that, seasonally adjusted, 162,000 new private jobs were created in February. Government at all levels hired 13,000. The official unemployment rate—which BLS calls U3 and calculates in a separate survey—rose to 6.7 percent. The bureau revised its previously reported results… Continue reading Report – 175,000 Jobs Added in February

More Good News – Retail Sales Saw Solid Gains In February

More good news for the economy. Reuters is reporting that retail sales rose solidly in February as Americans bought automobiles and other goods even as they paid more for gasoline, suggesting consumer spending this quarter will hold up despite higher taxes. The Commerce Department said on Wednesday retail sales increased 1.1 percent, the largest rise since… Continue reading More Good News – Retail Sales Saw Solid Gains In February

More Jobs Created – Unemployment Rate Falls To 7.7 Percent

A surprisingly strong jobs report for February sparked renewed faith in the economic recovery despite looming federal spending cuts and the recent increase in payroll taxes and gasoline prices. Unemployment fell to 7.7 percent last month, from 7.9 percent in January. It was the lowest rate of joblessness since December 2008, when the financial crisis… Continue reading More Jobs Created – Unemployment Rate Falls To 7.7 Percent