KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Aug 6 (AFP) - US Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry on Friday pounced on weak July jobs figures as a sign of President George W. Bush's economic mismanagement.
"The president keeps saying we've turned the corner. But unfortunately today's job numbers further demonstrate that our economy may be taking a U-turn instead," Kerry said in a statement.
US employers hired an unexpectedly meagre 32,000 extra workers in July, crushing market hopes of a rebound from a sluggish June.
"Saying we've turned the corner doesn't make it so," said Kerry, seeking to replace Bush in the White House in November 2 elections.
"America will not turn the corner to better days until we have a new president who can see our problems and take action to fix them," he said.
"America can go in a new direction. We can make it better. The American people need jobs and a strong economy, affordable health care and energy independence and we have a plan to get it done."