Economic indicators

The University of Michigan's preliminary December consumer sentiment index reading was 96.8, compared to the final November 98.5 and the preliminary November 97.8, according to market sources.

The value of wholesale inventories fell 0.5% in October, revised down from the 0.4% decline in the advance estimate, while wholesale sales saw a 0.7% increase, data released Friday by the U.S. Commerce Department showed.

Non-farm payrolls rose 228,000 in November and were up 221,000 for private jobs alone, both ahead of expectations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday.

WASHINGTON -- Nonfarm payrolls rose 228,000 in November and were up 221,000 for private jobs alone, both ahead of expectations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday.

Consumer credit increased by $20.5 billion in October to $3.802 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday.

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 2,000 to 236,000 in the December 2 week.

About 4,700,900 online job postings appeared on leading internet job boards in November, an increase of 137,100 from October.

Third quarter nonfarm productivity was unrevised at 3.0% and below the 3.3% gain expected.

Private-sector employment increased by 190,000 in November, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $35 billion of four-week bills at a 1.180% high yield, a price of 99.908222.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $20 billion of 364-day bills at a 1.650% high yield, a price of 98.331667.

The U.S. services sector continued to expand in November although at a slower pace than in the previous month as the non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 57.4 versus to 60.1 in October, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday

The U.S. international trade gap widened to $48.7 billion in October, a larger gap than the $47.5 billion deficit expected and following a revised wider $44.9 billion gap in September.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills rose on Monday, as the three-months incurred a 1.290% high rate, up from 1. 285% the previous week, and the six-months incurred a 1.450% high rate, up from 1. 435% in the prior week.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $35 billion of four-week discount bills on Tuesday.

Factory orders fell 0.1% in October, a smaller decline than the expected 0.3% drop.

The New York economy is expanding with “across the board increases,” and employment at its best level in more than two years, the Institute for Supply Management-New York’s Report on Business index, released Monday, indicated.

Construction spending was up 1.4% in October, well above expectations, fueled by a 3.9% jump in public construction.

The overall economy grew for the 102nd straight time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday. Suppliers reported strength in sales.

The Chicago Business Barometer fell to 63.9 in November from 66.2 in October.