The unemployment rate in the United States was unchanged in December at 7.8 per cent, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics said Friday, based on its monthly household survey, dpa reported. A separate survey of employers found that payrolls grew by 155,000 last month. Growth was reported in the health care, food service, construction and manufacturing industries. The rate of hiring accelerated slightly from November's addition of 146,000 jobs. December hiring was in line with Wall Street expectations. A Bloomberg news survey of 79 economists produced a median forecast of 153,000 jobs added. -- SPA
