- Sal Guatieri, a senior economist in Toronto at BMO Capital Markets
US job growth accelerated at a much faster pace than expected in October following two consecutive months of tepid gains, setting the stage for the December rate hike. Nonfarm payrolls surged 271,000 last month, the biggest increase since December 2014, according to the Labor Department. The number was well above economists expectations of 182,000 new jobs. Payrolls data for August and September were revised to show 12,000 more jobs added than previously reported. The strong rebound in payroll creation in October lifted the three-month average to 187,000. The US unemployment rate declined to 5.0%, the lowest level in more than seven years.
The employment report joined October's robust services sector and auto sales data in reinforcing views that economic growth will regain steam in the fourth quarter after slowing down sharply to a 1.5% annual pace in the July-September period. The services sector added 241,000 jobs in October, with large gains in retail, health and leisure. Fed policy makers will see one more employment report released in December, about two weeks prior to their final meeting this year. However, given the strong rebound in payrolls in October, few rate setters should doubt that the economy's readiness for a rate hike.
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