WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. job market is flagging, and consumer prices are barely rising. The picture sketched by data released Thursday has made some economists predict the Federal Reserve will announce some new step next week to boost the economy.
Applications for unemployment benefits rose last week, pointing to a fourth straight month of sluggish hiring in June. And consumer prices were pulled down in May by a plunge in gas prices.
Weak job growth raises pressure on the Fed because part of its mission is to boost employment. And mild inflation gives policymakers more leeway to act. If inflation were threatening to accelerate, Fed policymakers might feel compelled to raise interest rates.
Fed officials are "likely to go into that meeting feeling a little chastened and looking for a way to support the economy," said Jeremy Lawson, an economist at BNP Paribas.
Expectations that the Fed will take some action sent stocks soaring Thursday. And stocks surged higher in the final hour of trading after a report said major central banks were prepared to pump money into global financial markets if necessary.
The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 155 points to close at 12,652 on Thursday. That's a gain of 1.2 percent. The Dow jumped about 100 points after the report came out then pulled back.
The Standard & Poor's 500 increased 14 points to 1,329. The Nasdaq composite gained 18 to 2,836.
More than two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was lighter than average at 3.6 billion shares.
The Fed's policymaking committee meets on June 19-20. Economists say the Fed is likely to extend a current program during the meeting that swaps short-term Treasury securities for bonds with longer maturities. The program expires at the end of the month.
Known as "Operation Twist," the goal is to further lower long-term interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending.
Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial, said allowing the program to end could result in tighter credit and make it harder for Americans to buy or refinance homes.
The reason: a key part of the program is buying new mortgage-backed securities with the proceeds from those that mature. Without those purchases, banks might issue fewer mortgages.
Earlier this year it seemed less likely that the Fed would extend Operation Twist. Employers created an average of 252,000 a month from December through February. Consumers were growing confident in the economy and spending at the fastest pace in more than a year.
But many economists are now predicting slower growth after seeing the economy slump this spring.
Employers added an average of only 96,000 jobs per month in past three months. Consumers barely increased their spending at retail businesses in May. And European leaders are struggling to contain their financial crisis, which has already plunged much of the region into recession.