Obama lauds ‘better than expected’ jobs numbers for February

President Barack Obama boasted Friday that his economic recovery efforts were showing results after the national unemployment rate stayed at a steady 9.7 percent for February.

Obama, touring a small business in Arlington, Va., said that the 36,000 jobs lost last month was "actually better than expected" considering the massive snowstorms that devastated the East Coast.

But the president said the steady number also “shows that the measures we're taking to turn our economy around are having some impact.”

Despite the relatively good news, Obama repeated his pledge that he “will not rest” until every American who wants a job has one.

“Even though it's better than expected, it's more than we should tolerate,” Obama said.

The president hailed the recent extension of benefits for the unemployed despite some Republican opposition, and he called on Congress to extend those benefits through the end of the year.

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