The national unemployment rate declined for the second consecutive month to 8.1% in April 2012, the lowest since February 2009. 115,000 new jobs were added, with opportunities in professional/business services (+62,000), retail trade (+29,300), and manufacturing (+16,000). Hiring continued to slow as only 115,000 new jobs were created. Losses occurred in information (-2,000) and transportation/warehousing (-16,600). The document also provides economic data for various countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, and others from April and May 2012.