Non-farm Payrolls: US Labor Market unexpectedly strengthened

Today, the United States presented important statistics on the Non-farm Payrolls labor market. According to the report, the number of jobs outside the agricultural sector increased by 263 thousand in November. This indicator exceeded the forecasts of analysts who expected growth of only 200 thousand. 

Key points of the report:

• The number of jobs in the non-agricultural sector increased by 263 thousand (consensus forecast: 200 thousand).

• In the private sector, the growth amounted to 221 thousand jobs (consensus forecast: 190 thousand). 

• The unemployment rate remained at the level of last month's data of 3.7% (consensus forecast: 3.7%).

• The average hourly wage rate m/m increased by 0.6% (consensus forecast: 0.3%). On an annualized basis, the indicator came out at 5.1%, analysts expected 4.6%. 

S&P 500 futures reacted to the fresh report by falling by 1.5%, while the dollar index, on the contrary, sharply strengthened by 1%. The released report reflects the gradual recovery of the United States labor market and supports the Fed on the path of further rate hikes.

The next meeting of the Federal Reserve on the key rate will be held on December 14. It is expected that the regulator will raise the rate again, by 50 bps. At previous meetings, the increase step was 75 bps.