A good number to end the week with: 227,000

Observation:   The jobless report published today indicates 227,000 jobs added to the U.S. economy last month, which was better than expected.  Click here to read the Washington Post version of the complete story.

Implications: More jobs = more consumers with paychecks.  It is always nice to end a week on a positive note; in times like these, it's important to amplify the optimistic.

Mike Anderson, for the Elm Street Economics consumer trends blog. A service of The Center for Sales Strategy, Inc.