Jobless rate rises to 9.2% as June job gains are weak

Townhall Staff | Jul 08, 2011

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WASHINGTON— U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in June, with employers hiring the lowest number of workers in nine months, dampening hopes the economy was on the cusp of regaining momentum after stumbling in recent months.

Nonfarm payrolls rose only 18,000, the weakest reading since September, the Labor Department said on Friday, well below economists' expectations for a 90,000 rise.