The United States added more than half a million jobs in July, a much better figure than expected. The unemployment rate also dipped to 3.5% last month, a number not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic, and a figure that represents a half-century low.  It’s a boost for the White House following two consecutive quarters of negative growth, which had prompted fears of a recession.

Benji Hyer reports from Washington, D.C.