USA TODAY: The Federal Reserve sent a clear message Wednesday about the day’s seemingly contradictory economic news: Stay focused on the better economy that lies ahead, not the dismal one in the rearview mirror.
The Commerce Department said the economy barely grew in the first quarter, with the nation’s gross domestic product rising at a 0.1% annual pace. That’s down from 2.6% growth in the fourth quarter and the weakest since late 2012.
Striking a more positive note, payroll processor ADP said businesses added 220,000 jobs in April, more than the median estimate of 200,000 in a survey by Action Economics. The economists surveyed also estimate that Friday’s more closely watched employment report will show that the public and private sectors added a total 210,000 jobs last month, the most since last fall… (more)
