U.S. President George W. Bush said Friday the U.S. cannot take economic growth for granted, but noting the U.S. financial markets are "strong and solid."
"This economy of ours is on a solid foundation, but we can't take economic growth for granted," Bush told reporters after meeting with his top economic advisers in the White House.
"And there are signs that will cause us to be ever more diligent and make sure that good policies come out of Washington," he added.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that the nation's unemployment rate rose to 5 percent, its highest level since November 2005. And the nonfarm payrolls rose by 18,000 in December, the weakest increase since August 2003.
The data aroused investors' worries that a weakening job market will hurt consumer spending and thus triggered the economic recession if consumers can not depend on a solid job market.
"While there is some uncertainty, the report is that the financial markets are strong and solid," Bush said. He also called for building new refineries to ease rising gasoline prices.
Source: Xinhua
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