Jobs report slightly better than expected

The World

The U.S. economy added  117,000 jobs in July, lowering the unemployment rate to 9.1 percent. The new figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics bring a flicker of optimism to the markets after the worst day on  Wall Street in three years. The European debt crisis conflated with fears the U.S. may be entering another recession has lead to a violent investor sell off around the world. Asian markets all closed down around  4 percent, and U.S. futures have been volatile this morning.  Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for  The New York Times,  has the latest.

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. If you’ve been thinking about making a donation, this is the best time to do it. Your support will get our fundraiser off to a solid start and help keep our newsroom on strong footing. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!