Treasury's Geithner Says Unemployment to Stay High, Even as Economy Grows.

In diplomatic speak, it's called "cautious optimism." That was the tone set by President Barack Obama's top economic advisers Tuesday as they briefed lawmakers on the nation's economic outlook this year and next.

In a joint statement, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and two other top White House aides said the nation's 9.7 percent jobless rate is "unacceptable by any metric" and could even rise a little in the coming months, CNN Money reported. But they also said the economy will add 100,000 jobs per month during the remainder of the year, and 200,000 a month in 2011. That should bring the unemployment rate down to just below 9 percent, they said.

Geithner was joined in testimony before the House Appropriations Committee by Budget Director Peter Orszag and Christina Romer, chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Obama's experts foresee 3 percent growth in the Gross Domestic Product this year, and 4.3 percent GDP growth in 2011. They expect inflation to stay low.

The White House team credited Obama's stimulus package with helping to revive the economy at a time when "the threat of a second Great Depression was frighteningly real."