Treasury Economic Update 8.1.08: “Job Growth: Payroll employment fell by 51,000 in July, following a decrease of 51,000 in June. The United States has added about 7.8 million jobs since August 2003. Employment increased in 33 states and the District of Columbia over the year ending in June. (Last updated: August 1, 2008). Unemployment: The unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in July, up from 5.5 percent in June. (Last updated: August 1, 2008)
See also:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Summary, July 2008
• Economy gets people out of the house, into libraries – “Study shows more checkouts in hard times,” Newhouse News Service