Recovery difficult as jobless rate hits 9.7 pct

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER,
Ap Economics Writer – 2 hrs 9 mins ago

WASHINGTON – At least it's not all bad anymore.

The nation's unemployment rate climbed last month to 9.7 percent — the highest in nearly a generation — but the number of job losses was less than expected and the smallest monthly total in a year.

"It's good to see the rate of job losses slow down," said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight. But with unemployment rising, "there isn't the underlying fuel there for strong consumer spending growth," which is vital for a strong recovery.