Unemployment fell to a five-month low of 4.4% after U.S. employers boosted payrolls by 180,000 in March.(THE NUMBERS)

American Drycleaner, May, 2007 by O'Rourke, Shelly

UNEMPLOYMENT FELL TO A five-month low of 4.4% after U.S. employers boosted payrolls by 180,000 in March. Job growth was seen in most sectors except for manufacturing, which lost 16,000 jobs; construction led the gains with 56,000 new positions.

Worker paychecks also increased, the Labor Department reports. The average hourly wage rose to $17.33 in March, a 0.3% increase from the prior month and a full 4% higher than wages 12 months prior.

The wage increases are seen as a necessary boost for consumer spending, which helps keep the economy growing if it isn't blunted by adverse economic forces such as inflation.