Employment Increase in U.S. Trails Most-Pessimistic Forecasts

Hiring by American employers trailed the most pessimistic forecasts in March, casting doubt on the strength of the expansion now in its third year.

The 120,000 increase in payrolls reported by the Labor Department in Washington yesterday was the smallest in five months. The data also showed the unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent as people left the labor force, while workers put in fewer hours.