WASHINGTON -- The economy showed off unexpected signs of resilience Friday as job losses slowed, the dollar gained a bit of muscle for a change and there were even indications that food prices may be easing. The unemployment rate dipped, though that may not last.

The unemployment rate edged down in April and employers cut far fewer jobs than expected, according to a government report yesterday, the latest evidence that the U.S. economy is undergoing a mediocre spell, rather than a disastrous downturn.

WASHINGTON -- The economy showed off unexpected signs of resilience Friday as job losses slowed, the dollar gained a bit of muscle for a change and there were even indications that food prices may be easing. The unemployment rate dipped, though that may not last.

California employers kept payrolls flat and the state's unemployment rate jumped half a percentage point in March as a slowing economy curtailed employment in a broad range of industries. Total jobs outside the farm sector increased by 1,000 in March, while...

NEW YORK -- Wall Street fell sharply Friday after the government's much-anticipated employment report showed weaker-than-expected job growth and a rise in the unemployment rate. The Nasdaq composite index, also pummeled by a downgrade of Intel Corp., skidded more than 3.5 percent, while the Dow Jones industrials fell more than 1.5 percent.

Economic contraction probably has already taken hold in some states, including California, analysts say. Hopes that the economy could shake off the sub-prime mortgage mess and dodge recession grew fainter Friday as the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers last month added the smallest number of new jobs in more than four years -- driving the unemployment rate to a two-year high of 5%.

NEW YORK -- Wall Street fell sharply Friday after the government's much-anticipated employment report showed weaker-than-expected job growth and a rise in the unemployment rate. The Nasdaq composite index, also pummeled by a downgrade of Intel Corp., skidded more than 3.5 percent, while the Dow Jones industrials fell more than 1.5 percent.

The Labor Department reports a payroll increase of 110,000 in September, unemployment rate rises 4.7%