White House says 1 million jobs saved or created

WASHINGTON—White House economists say the Obama administration’s recovery efforts have saved or created more than a million jobs.

President Barack Obama has promised that his $787 billion stimulus plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs by the end of next year. In its first report to Congress, the Council on Economic Advisers says the number is more than 1 million, and the stimulus has been the driving force.

An official who has seen the report summarized it on condition of anonymity because it had not been released.

The U.S. economy has actually lost about 2.5 million jobs since the stimulus was signed in February. But the White House says that number would be far worse without the plan’s tax cuts and huge increases in state aid, Medicaid and unemployment.