CHICAGO (Reuters) - The struggling U.S. economy probably continued to bleed jobs at a rapid rate in March, continuing to drive up the jobless rate at a startling pace.
Forecasters polled by Reuters expect nonfarm payrolls to register a decline of 650,000 for March, similar to the 651,000 shed in February. The 78 estimates ranged from down 522,000 to down 750,000 jobs.
The jobless rate is forecast at 8.5 percent, up from 8.1 percent in February, when the rate unexpectedly surged from 7.6 percent.
"Layoffs continue at a record pace, although they are no longer accelerating," said Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial in New York.
