The momentum of a strong 2014 did not carry the American economy upward during Q1 2015 when viewed against certain key indicators. In the second half of 2014 the national unemployment rate dipped below 6% for the first time in over six years and ended the year at 5.6%. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, unemployment actually increased during the first month of 2015, climbing to 5.7% in January, only to drop to 5.5% in February and remain unchanged through the end of the quarter. Some surprise came from the announcement that nonfarm payroll employment increased by only 126,000 in March, 2015, after increases of 257,000 and 295,000 in January and February, respectively.