World Of Hurt: Global Economy Under Threat As Us Job Market Falters And Europe And Asia Slow

PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
First Posted: June 04, 2012 - 12:01 am

WASHINGTON — The global economy's foundations are weakening, one by one.
PHOTO: In this Friday, June 1, 2012, file photo, Raul Rodriguez sweeps the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The global economy’s foundations are weakening, one by one. The global economy's foundations are weakening, one by one. Already hobbled by Europe's debt crisis, the world now risks being hurt by slowdowns in its economic powerhouses. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
In this Friday, June 1, 2012, file photo, Raul Rodriguez sweeps the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The global economy’s foundations are weakening, one by one. The global economy's foundations are weakening, one by one. Already hobbled by Europe's debt crisis, the world now risks being hurt by slowdowns in its economic powerhouses. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Already hobbled by Europe's debt crisis, the world now risks being hurt by slowdowns in its economic powerhouses.

The U.S. economy, the world's largest, had a third straight month of feeble job growth in May. High-flying economies in China, India and Brazil are slowing, too.

Fears of a global economic downturn have sent investors rushing toward the safest possible investments: U.S. and German government bonds. As a result, the interest rate on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has hit a record-low 1.46 percent. The rate on the German 10-year bond is even lower: 1.17 percent.

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http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/bc23b08be720499db96e60bfa2323228/US--Global-Economy-Vital-Signs