US non-farm payrolls beat forecasts in December, rise by 256,000

(Sharecast News) - Hiring in the US picked up modestly at the end of 2024, but nevertheless came in well ahead of forecasts. According to the Department of Labor, in seasonally adjusted terms non-farm payrolls jumped by 256,000 in December.

That compared to a consensus forecast for 165,000.

Average hourly earnings increased at a pace of 0.3% month-on-month, as expected, but the rate of unemployment ticked lower by a tenth of a percentage point to 4.1%.

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