Morning Edition

The Labor Department releases the monthly jobs report for April Friday morning. Over the past six months, the economy generated an average of about 150,000 jobs a month. And, the unemployment rate has fallen to eight-point-eight percent.

Linda Wertheimer has business news.

The price of virtually every majority commodity fell Thursday. Oil prices closed below $100 a barrel and silver fell 8 percent. Analysts say prices fell, at least in part, because of recent reports suggesting the economy might be slowing, which would mean less demand for commodities.

President Barack Obama traveled to Ground Zero Thursday — just days after Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. Obama placed a wreath on the memorial site and met privately with families of victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The president also visited a firehouse and police station, but he did not address the crowd that had gathered to take part in the ceremony.

The Kentucky Derby will be run Saturday, and many spectators will be sipping on Mint Juleps — and munching on bourbon balls, the sweet treats that have a little kick.

There are several styles of bourbon balls, says Louisville chocolatier Erika Chavez-Graziano. She describes her version as "a dark chocolate confection; it's a butter-cream center, very creamy, very sweet — and it packs a punch. It's pretty boozy, as bourbon balls go."

And the spiked sweets are good business for Chavez-Graziano's company, Cellar Door Chocolates.