By VINCENT TRIVETT. Last week's biggest economic event -- the government's Employment Situation Report for June -- was not a cause for optimism. Only 80,000 jobs were added to America's payrolls last month, while the unemployment rate stayed at 8.2%.. With only four more months left until election day, the jobs report takes on serious political significance. Mitt Romney pounced on this third straight month of five-digit job growth, calling it a "kick in the gut.". "The president's policies have not gotten America working again and the president is going to have to stand up and take responsibility for it," Romney said in New Hampshire.. President Obama admits that the past few months have been disappointing.. "We can't be satisfied because our goal was never to just keep on working to get back to where we were back in 2007," the president said at an Ohio rally. "I want to get back to a time when middle-class families and those working to get into the middle class have some basic security.". Layoffs in the cash-strapped public sector -- the police, teachers, and other civil service employees -- have been consistently dragging down hiring numbers. Some cities are so starved that they are defaulting on their debt.. Today, kicks off earnings season, as companies file their financial statements for the April-June quarter. Alcoa will be the first Dow component company to report today. China and Germany, the world's export powerhouses, will report on trade balance numbers.. There aren't any major earnings announcements or economic indicators coming on tomorrow, but on Wednesday, we might see some reaction from the Fed on last month's earnings. Many are hoping that the poor economic data will push the central bank toward more monetary stimulus.. On Thursday, Google is expected to report a record quarter and weekly jobless claims will be released.. China's growth numbers will be released Friday. Economists are unsettled by reports that suggest that China's days of explosive growth are winding down. On Friday morning though, all eyes will be on JP Morgan Chase. In May, it came out that bets made by one unit of the bank went bad. Initially, it was reported to be at least $2 billion loss, but some estimates run as high as $9 billion. Friday's filings and conference call might shed some light onto this
Lasting tribute in Oakdale ... What's in the store with the weather ... Out East: Shellfish surprise
Credit: Newsday
Knicks back in finals for first time since 1999 ... Ticket prices through MSG roof! ... Blakeman's agenda for 'new' NY ... Out East: Shellfish surprise
Lasting tribute in Oakdale ... What's in the store with the weather ... Out East: Shellfish surprise
Credit: Newsday
Knicks back in finals for first time since 1999 ... Ticket prices through MSG roof! ... Blakeman's agenda for 'new' NY ... Out East: Shellfish surprise
