Low unemployment rates fuelled consumer confidence
At their meeting last month, Federal Reserve officials said the U.S. economy was “showing resilience”
Businesses south of the border remain confident in the economic outlook
Central bankers are longer worried that a healthy job market will necessarily fuel excessive inflation
The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%, matching a half-century low
Sales increased 3.1% compared with a year ago
The Fed is likely to hold its benchmark short-term rate in the coming months
The move isn’t aimed at lowering longer-term rates
Unemployment hit a five-decade low of 3.5%
Excluding government hiring, businesses added just 96,000 jobs