https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/economic-week-review-10072011
Economic Week in Review: Job gains provide a (contingent) sigh of relief
October 07, 2011
The latest economic reports suggest that the U.S. economy is on a knife's edge—growing enough at the moment to stave off recession, but not enough to make a dent in the unemployment rolls, which continue to cast a shadow on the longer-term outlook. The week's closely watched jobs figures illustrated the dilemma: The unemployment rate was unchanged in September at 9.1%, payroll job growth was substantially higher than expected, and previous months' payroll figures were restated upward. Good, but not good enough, say economists. Meanwhile, Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, warned that the U.S. economic recovery was "close to faltering" and urged fiscal action from Congress and the White House. For the week ended October 7, the S&P 500 Index rose 2.1% to 1,155 (for a year-to-date total return—including price change plus dividends—of about –6.7%). The yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury note increased 18 basis points to 2.10% (for a year-to-date decrease of 120 basis points).
Payroll job growth surprises
(Article does continue. Zim.)
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