US: Obama says US economy saved from 'catastrophe'
Sat Aug 8 05:11:50 EST 2009
WASHINGTON, Aug 7 AFP - President Barack Obama says his administration has saved the US economy from catastrophe and the worst of the recession may be over, after a surprise drop in the unemployment rate.
"This morning we received additional signs that the worst may be behind us," said Obama in remarks in the White House Rose Garden after new figures showed the jobless rate slipped to a better than expected 9.4 per cent in July from the June level of 9.5 per cent.
"This morning, we received additional signs that the worst may be behind us," Obama said.
"We are losing jobs at less than half the rate we were when I took office. We have pulled the financial system back from the brink.
"While we have rescued our economy from catastrophe, we have also begun to build a new foundation for growth," Obama said, but he also warned that tough times lay ahead before the economy would be restored to full prosperity.
"We have a steep mountain to climb and we started in a very deep valley."
