Jobless Rate Probably Unchanged in July: U.S. Economy Preview

The U.S. probably failed to create enough jobs in July to reduce unemployment, showing anxiety over government debt deliberations and a slowdown in consumer spending have shaken employer confidence, economists said before reports this week.

Payrolls climbed by 90,000 workers after an 18,000 increase in June that was the smallest this year, according to the median forecast of 62 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before a Labor Department report Aug. 5. The jobless rate held at 9.2 percent after rising in each of the previous three months.