Head in the sand

6 October 2017 By Gina Chon Follow @GinaChon

The U.S. economy lost 33,000 positions last month, largely due to hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It’s probably a temporary blip. But President Trump and his aides have touted monthly employment gains and other snapshot economic figures when it suits them. They own the downturns, too.

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The U.S. economy lost 33,000 jobs in September while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Oct. 6. The losses were largely blamed on the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It is the first time payrolls have fallen since September 2010.

Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a gain of 90,000 positions. Average hourly wages rose by 12 cents to $26.55 in September, while the labor-force participation rate increased to 63.1 percent. The food services and drinking places sector experienced the biggest hit with 105,000 jobs lost.

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