Update at 8:35 a.m. ET. Things Were Better Than Expected:
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Our original post:
Slow job growth and little change in the unemployment rate.
That's what to expect this morning when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its February jobs report, NPR's Yuki Noguchi .
Economists think we'll hear that there were about 160,000 jobs added to payrolls, she said, which "may be enough to bring the unemployment rate down slightly" — perhaps to 7.8 percent from January's 7.9 percent.
But in effect, Yuki added, the news is expected to be "more of the same": Some job growth, but not enough to bring the jobless rate down significantly — and perhaps not enough to prevent a slight uptick in that rate.
The report is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. We'll pass along the news once its released and then sift through the report and reactions to it.
One reason the unemployment rate has remained stuck around 8 percent for the past year: "Companies downsized and invested in technology in recent years," Yuki said. That boosted their productivity and means they don't need to hire as many workers now.
Related headlines:
-- "The Scariest Jobs Chart Ever Isn't Scary Enough." ( )
-- "Making The Jobless Rate A Moving Target." ( )
-- "European Stocks, U.S. Futures Rise Before Payrolls Report." ( )
-- "Steady Job Gains Seen Bolstering Economy." ( )
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