May 2013 US Employment Report
As it has in each of the past two years, the U.S. economy has started off strongly in 2013. Real GDP grew at a 2.5% annual rate in the first quarter. Payroll employment increased by an average of 221,000 jobs per month from November 2012 to February 2013. However, signs of a slowdown began to emerge in March. Job growth slowed to 88,000 jobs, manufacturing production fell, and retail sales declined by 0.4%