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Just 88,000 jobs were added to private and public payrolls in March. The jobless rate still edged down to 7.6 percent — but only because nearly half a million fewer people were in the labor force.

As far as the economy goes, the labor market has been something of a tortoise — slowly moving along. Housing has been the hare — moving ahead quickly. We'll hear much more Friday morning when the March data on jobs and unemployment are released.

Prices rose overall by 0.7 percent. The major factor: a 9.1 percent surge in gasoline. Since February, though, gas prices have retreated. So economists do not think the latest report changes the inflation picture.

The pace of claims for unemployment insurance continues to be the lowest since January 2008. Meanwhile, higher energy costs pushed wholesale prices up sharply in February. But the upward pressure has since eased somewhat.

February's jobs numbers were better than expected. The jobless rate is now the lowest it's been since President Obama took office. The rate's recent peak was 10 percent in October 2009.

Economists expect to hear that there were about 160,000 jobs added to payrolls in February. The jobless rate likely stayed near 7.9 percent. Slow job growth and stubbornly high unemployment likely continued.

As many eyes turn to Friday's employment report, new data offer a somewhat conflicting picture.

The job market remains "sturdy," according to the latest ADP National Employment Report. Much more will be known about the labor picture when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its figures on Friday.

Consumer prices were flat in January. But since then, gas prices have risen sharply. So upcoming inflation reports may not be as positive.

Women are paid less than men, even when they're doing the same jobs. Here's where the wage gap is smallest — and largest.