White House says economic recovery goes on intact

(AP) WASHINGTON - The White House says Friday’s unemployment report provides more proof that the economic recovery is continuing.

At the same time, Alan Krueger, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, is warning that $85 billion in spending cuts that went into effect on March 1 will be, in his words, a "headwind in the months to come."

Krueger noted that Friday’s report was the first since those budget reductions took effect.

The White House has insisted that the spending cuts will damage the economy.

The Labor Department said Friday that U.S. employers added just 88,000 jobs in March, the fewest in nine months. The unemployment rate dipped to 7.6 percent from 7.7 percent, however, because more people stopped looking for work.