Federal Reserve policy-makers began meeting today amid expectations they will keep interest rates at 46-year lows in the absence of a convincing brightening in job prospects.
The US central bank's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee will announce its decision at about 7:15 p.m. Irish time.
The stagnant job market worries central bank policy makers as well as US President George W. Bush, who in November faces presidential elections where the economy is a key issue.
A surprisingly low new-job tally of 21,000 in February rocked financial markets' confidence in the economy's ability to generate robust employment, while events such as last week's train bombings in Spain have sent tremors through global investors' confidence.
The Fed in January dropped a pledge adopted in August to keep rates low for a "considerable period," opting instead for a less specific promise of patience.