MarketPulse Summary: US Non-Farm Payrolls Report

Date: January 9, 2026

In the latest release of the US Non-Farm Payrolls, the economy added 50,000 jobs in December, which is a slight miss compared to the expected 60,000. This report is particularly significant as it follows a period of data disruption due to the Bureau of Labor Statistics shutdown.

The unemployment rate has decreased to 4.4%, which is better than the anticipated 4.5% and lower than the previous month's rate. The unrounded figures indicate an unemployment rate of 4.375% compared to 4.564% in the prior month. However, the participation rate has seen a slight decline.

Average hourly earnings increased by 0.3% month-over-month and 3.8% year-over-year, surpassing expectations for the annual figure. This data suggests that there are fewer reasons for the Federal Reserve to consider cutting interest rates at the upcoming meeting at the end of January.

Market reactions to the report have been somewhat counterintuitive, with the US Dollar experiencing a decline while Gold prices rallied. Traders are advised to monitor the market closely, especially as the Supreme Court is set to make a decision regarding tariffs at 10:00 A.M., which could further influence market dynamics.

Overall, the report indicates a mixed picture of the labor market, with some positive signs in earnings but a disappointing job creation figure that may complicate the Fed's policy decisions moving forward.