The economy added 200,000 payroll jobs in December as the unemployment rate fell to 8.5%.  The ISM index rose 1.2 points to 53.9 in December; the ISM services index rose 0.6 points to 52.6.  Auto sales declined 0.6% in December.  Construction spending was up 1.2% in November.  Factory orders rose 1.8% in November.  Initial jobless claims fell 15,000 to a level of 372,000 for the week ended 12/31.

• The economy added 200,000 payroll jobs in December as the unemployment rate declined to 8.5% (from a revised level of 8.7% in November).  Private sector job gains totaled 212,000 while government jobs declined by 12,000.  The size of the labor force declined by 50,000 while the labor force participation rate held steady at a 27-year low of 64.0%. 
• The ISM index rose 1.2 points to 53.9 in December.
• The ISM services index edged up 0.6 points to 52.6 in December.
• Auto sales declined 0.6% in December, to an annual rate of 13.56 million units.  Sales were up 8.4% from a year ago
• Construction spending increased 1.2% in November.
• Factory orders rose 1.8% in November.
• Initial jobless declined 15,000 to 372,000 for the week ended December 31^st.