U.S. businesses maintained a steady pace of hiring in October, adding a solid but unspectacular 182,000 jobs, according to a survey released Wednesday. Payrolls processor ADP also revised September private-sector job creation down to 190,000 from an originally reported 200,000. U.S. consumers are spending at healthy levels, encouraged by increased job security, low energy prices, and improved household finances. But manufacturers have been hurt by economic weakness overseas and a strong U.S. dollar. ADP reported that factories cut 2,000 jobs last month in addition to a loss of 17,000 positions in September. The ADP report was released ahead of the U.S. government's more comprehensive job-creation report Friday. Economists expect the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in October for a third consecutive month and employers added 180,000 jobs, well above the monthly average of 139,000 jobs for September and August.
