The Christian Science Monitor - President Obama defended the government bailout of the US auto industry during a visit Thursday to a Ford Motor Co. plant here, noting that his plan to rebuild the US economy by doubling exports over the next five years requires a strong domestic auto industry able to compete for trade in the global marketplace.

AFP - Christina Romer, a key economic advisor to President Barack Obama who championed the use of stimulus programs to pull the US economy out of recession, will step down next month, the White House said Thursday.

AP - President Barack Obama says he is confident the nation will not suffer the "double dip" of back-to-back recessions.

Reuters - President Barack Obama is expected to renominate Peter Diamond to become a member of the Federal Reserve Board, a White House official said on Friday.

Reuters - Christina Romer, one of President Barack Obama%27s top economic advisers, said on Thursday she was stepping down, an exit that comes as the White House struggles to keep the recovery on track with congressional elections looming in November.

AP - Christina Romer, one of President Barack Obama%27s most pivotal economic advisers, is resigning, a change that comes as the White House struggles to show signs of clear economic gains to a hurting nation.

AP - President Barack Obama is hailing the seventh straight month of private job creation as a good sign for the economy. But he says the progress "needs to come faster."

AP - President Barack Obama will visit a small business and talk about job-creation Friday shortly after the government releases unemployment figures for July.