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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December | US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.8%, according to Labor Department figures. | The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.8%, according to Labor Department figures. |
| The jobs figure was higher than analysts' expectations of 240,000. | The jobs figure was higher than analysts' expectations of 240,000. |
| In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards. | In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards. |
| The fall in the jobless rate was largely due to a drop in the number of people seeking work. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008. | The fall in the jobless rate was largely due to a drop in the number of people seeking work. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008. |
| The strongest jobs growth was in professional and business services, construction, healthcare and food services, according to the data released by the US Labor Department. | The strongest jobs growth was in professional and business services, construction, healthcare and food services, according to the data released by the US Labor Department. |
| However, there was little improvement in December for part-time workers wishing to work more hours, and average hourly earnings fell by 5 cents after rising 6 cents in November. | |
| Over the whole of 2014, job creation averaged 246,000 a month. | Over the whole of 2014, job creation averaged 246,000 a month. |
| Rates prospects | |
| The figures highlight the contrast between the US economy which continues to pick up pace and that of the eurozone which this week slid into deflation. | |
| Whilst eurozone policymakers are considering expanding their stimulus measures to include government bond-buying, or quantitative easing, the US jobs data will encourage expectations of an interest rate rise later this year. | |
| "This is probably a good enough number to allow the Fed to stay on course in terms of adjusting policy, but it probably won't cause them to change their timing from mid-year," said Peter Cecchini, chief market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York. |