The lackluster change validates the Fed's view that inflation is not likely to be a major overall issue in 2004. Although this bodes well for policy, it is not a positive for corporate pricing power.

I have to come away with the view that the drop in crude prices offered the opportunity for a relief rally, although it didn't offer that much relief.

Although today's employment report provides little evidence of anything resembling a double-dip recovery, it does provide stronger support for the onset of a gradual to a moderate recovery in the months ahead.

Although the gain in real GDP came in somewhat below market expectations, the details of the report were much more favorable,

Although the BLS failed to provide an estimate of what the hurricane did to this report, my research does show that in nine out of the last 10 largest hurricanes, payrolls softened by an average of 120,000,

Although it's not particularly good news for the housing market, the fact that you're seeing weakness here shows that monetary policy is working and the (Fed) would not have to blunt the economy with more hikes than the market has been anticipating.

Although it may be too soon to conclude that the soft patch is no more, today's impressive job figure does suggest that the slowdown may not be everlasting,

The jump in payrolls this month shows that although the economy clearly went through a wider-than-expected soft patch, it does not appear as though the shortfall in growth was permanent,