Economics

Jobs Galore Give US Consumers Firepower to Fight Off Recession

  • Early 2023 numbers on jobs, services show resilient consumers
  • Businesses from GM to United Airlines point to strong demand
US Added 517,000 Jobs in January, Far Exceeding Forecasts
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Don’t count the US consumer out just yet.

Two sets of data out Friday raised hopes that the pullback in household spending at the end of last year was just a blip. In the first month of 2023, Americans ramped up purchases of services — everything from restaurant meals to health care — while businesses went on a surprise hiring spree.