US job figures below forecasts

The US economy saw fewer jobs created than expected in August and theunemploymentrate also rose, according to official figures released yesterday.

Non-farm payrolls increased by 156,000, falling short of the 178,000 expected. July’s figure was also revised downwards, to 189,000, in yesterday’s report. The jobless rate edged up to 4.4 per cent from 4.3 per cent.