When the March jobs report arrives Friday morning, economists will scrutinize the data for indicators that might catch the eye of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate-setting committee, which meets later in the month.
Given global economic weaknesses and dampened inflation expectations, few expect the Fed to move at its April meeting. But the jobs data released Friday could sway the Fed’s messaging, either helping to justify a projected two interest rate hikes this year or, in the case of a disappointment, make that path a vanishing possibility.
