WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added a robust 379,000 jobs last month, the most since October and a sign that the economy is strengthening as confirmed viral cases drop, consumers spend more and states and cities ease business restrictions.

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell underscored the U.S. economy’s ongoing weakness Feb. 23 in remarks that suggested that the Fed sees no need to alter its ultra-low interest rate policies anytime soon.

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, a sign that the viral pandemic retains a tight grip on the economy nearly a year after it triggered a painful recession.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined to 779,000 in the week ended Jan. 30, a still historically high total that shows that a sizable number of people keep losing jobs to the pandemic.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve’s policymakers face an unusual conundrum as they meet this week: a short-term economic outlook that is worsening even while the longer-term picture is brightening thanks to the emergence of coronavirus vaccines

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 709,000, a still-high level but the lowest figure since March and a further sign that the job market might be slowly healing.

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose the week of Oct. 5 to 898,000, a historically high number and evidence that layoffs remain a hindrance to the economy’s recovery from the pandemic recession that erupted seven months ago.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined last week to a still-high 837,000, evidence that the economy is struggling to sustain a tentative recovery that began this summer.

The United States added 1.8 million jobs in July, a pullback from the gains of May and June and evidence that the resurgent coronavirus is weakening hiring and the economic rebound.