Biden argues that economy is improving despite lackluster April unemployment numbers

President Biden argued that the lower-than-expected April unemployment numbers unveiled on Friday morning still showed that the economy was improving, although he acknowledged that fully economic recovery would be a "marathon." He took the opportunity to discuss his administration's efforts on the country's economic recovery and promote his ambitious multi-trillion dollar infrastructure and health care agenda.

The U.S. gained 266,000 new jobs in April, falling far short of the 1 million economists expected. The unemployment rate rose slightly from 6% to 6.1%. Gains in the leisure and hospitality services were offset by declines in temporary help services and in couriers and messengers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Quite frankly, we're moving more rapidly than I thought we would," Mr. Biden said in remarks on Friday. He defended the American Rescue Plan, his $1.9 trillion coronavirus response bill, which he signed in March. Mr. Biden noted that "it was designed to help us over the course of a year," and said that funding allocated from the American Rescue Plan will be delivered to state and local governments this month.