Republican Congress Paying Off Already

Only two months after the election, businesses are feeling confident enough to start hiring. And the unemployment rate fell to 9.4%.

The U.S. economy created far fewer jobs that expected in December, suggesting the Federal Reserve will complete its asset buying program, but the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest in more than 1-1/2 years.

AP

Non-farm payrolls increased 103,000, the Labor Department said on Friday, below economists' expectations for 175,000.

Private hiring rose 113,000, while government employment fell 10,000.

However, overall employment for October and November was revised to show 70,000 more job gains than previously reported.