U.S. Payrolls Rise 236,000; Jobless Rate at 7.7%

March 8 (Bloomberg) -- Payrolls increased more than forecast in February and the jobless rate unexpectedly fell to a five-year low of 7.7 percent, a sign U.S. employers were undaunted by the budget impasse in Washington. Employment rose 236,000 last month after a revised 119,000 gain in January that was smaller than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Peter Cook reports on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop." Source: Bloomberg)