Unemployment fell in the USA at the end of last year.
The unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 4.4 percent in December, the US Department of Labor announced on Friday in Washington. Economists had expected an average rate of 4.5 percent. In November the rate was a revised 4.5 percent, after a value of 4.6 percent had previously been reported.
USA: Employment rises less than expected in December
The number of employees in the USA continued to rise in December. 50,000 jobs were added outside of agriculture, as the Labor Department announced on Friday in Washington. Economists had expected an average of 70,000 new jobs. In addition, the November value was revised downwards from an original increase of 64,000 to 56,000.
USA: Wages rise in December
In the US, wage growth accelerated in December as expected. Average hourly wages rose by 0.3 percent compared to the previous month, as the US Department of Labor announced on Friday in Washington. Economists had on average expected this, after a revised increase of 0.2 percent (previously 0.1 percent) in November.
Year-on-year, wages increased by 3.8 percent in December. An increase of 3.6 percent was expected here.
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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX)