A new report from the Labor Department says that the economy added 88,000 jobs in March. This is the 30th straight month that there has been an increase in jobs. The number is down significantly from February, when 268,000 jobs were created. The unemployment rate fell to 7.6%. The decrease in unemployment is due to the lower number of people looking for work. Government layoffs are expected over the next few months due to the effects of Congressional budget cuts.
See "U.S. Adds Only 88,000 Job; Jobless Rate Falls to 7.6%", Catherine Rampell, The New York Times, April 4, 2013