The unemployment rate also remained unchanged at 4.3%, suggesting that the labor market is still holding steady even as many Americans face higher living costs and increasing economic uncertainty.
The report arrives at a particularly tense moment globally. Following US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets earlier this year, Iran responded by tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil and liquefied natural gas.
The partial disruption of the waterway has sent energy prices soaring worldwide, especially gasoline prices in the United States. Millions of Americans are now paying significantly more at the pump, putting additional pressure on household budgets and raising concerns about inflation.
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