Well, the ADP Monthly Survey estimates that 522,000 jobs were lost in January, and while the Institute of Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index rose, it’s still below 50, 42.9, which means more contraction on the way.
These aren’t official government figures, but those figures, due out Friday, are expected to be grim:
In its report on Friday, the Labor Department is expected to show 525,000 jobs were lost throughout the economy in January and the jobless rate is expected to rise to 7.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the dollar is up on expectation of further Euro zone rate cuts, and oil was down 46¢, continuing its love affair with the $40/bbl price.