US companies added 213,000 workers to payrolls this month, according to the ADP National Employment Report. Although the monthly increase is below December's strong 263,000 gain, the latest number still reflect a healthy expansion for the labor market. The release goes a long way in dismissing concern that a new recession is imminent. Today's report (and Monday's encouraging data from the Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December) follows the cautious but upbeat analysis of the US business cycle published earlier this month.
"The labor market has continued its pattern of strong