US jobs report: July disappoints with only 157,000 jobs added

The gain, below the 190,000 anticipated, was the lowest since March, as the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9%

After two months of dependable US jobs growth, the labor department reported a touch of lethargy in the economy on Friday, with jobs increasing to 157,000 in July - below the 190,000 economists had expected.

The gain was the lowest since March, though it still dropped the unemployment rate to 3.9% from 4%, or roughly the lowest in half a century.

Related: US economy growing at annual rate of 4.1%, fastest pace in four years