U.S. unemployment hits 8.1 percent, Barbie moves to China

GOOD DAY FOR: Shanghai Barbie, as Mattel opens its first all-Barbie store today—in China’s commercial capital. With growth slowing in the U.S. and Europe, Mattel is looking to Asia to revive Barbie’s economic fortunes. The Shanghai store opening is one of the main events as Mattel launches Barbie’s 50th birthday celebration March 9. Unlike 50 years ago, Barbie dolls today are made in China or Indonesia. (Bloomberg)

BAD DAY FOR: Good trends, after the U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 8.1 percent in February, the highest level since 1983. Employers cut a greater-than-forecast 651,000 jobs last month, and the Labor Department revised January and December’s numbers upward. Since December 2007, the U.S. economy has shed 4.4 million jobs, with more than half of those cuts coming in the last four months. (AP in Yahoo! Finance)

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