Jan 3, 2019

Private sector adds whopping 271,000 jobs in December

Courtenay Brown

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The private sector added 271,000 jobs in December, according to ADP's national employment report released on Thursday — significantly more than the 178,000 that economists expected.

Why it matters: It's good news ahead of Friday’s jobs report. November's miss in ADP's report, coupled with the Labor Department's weaker-than-expected payrolls in November, stoked concerns that job growth was beginning to retreat from its strong pace. "At the current pace of job growth, low unemployment will get even lower," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said in the release.

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Jacob Knutson

Pope Francis delivers Palm Sunday sermon to empty St. Peter’s Basilica

Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis called on listeners in his Palm Sunday sermon — on the first day of Holy Week — to "reach out to those who are suffering and those most in need" during the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: Francis delivered his message inside an empty St. Peter’s Basilica, broadcasting it over the internet to churches around the world.

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 a.m. ET: 1,213,927 — Total deaths: 65,652 — Total recoveries: 252,391 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 a.m. ET: 312,245 — Total deaths: 8,503 — Total recoveries: 15,021 — Map.
  3. Public health latest: CDC launches national trackers and recommends face coverings in public. Federal government will cover costs of COVID-19 treatment for uninsured. The virus is hitting poor, minority communities harder and upending childbirth.
  4. 2020 latest: "We have no contingency plan," Trump said on the 2020 Republican National Convention. "We're having the convention at the end of August."
  5. Business updates: Restaurants step up for health care workers. Employees are pressuring companies to provide protections during coronavirus.
  6. Oil latest: Monday meeting among oil-producing countries to discuss supply curbs is reportedly being delayed amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
  7. Education update: Many college-age students won't get coronavirus relief checks.
  8. 1 🏀 thing: The WNBA postpones start of training camps and season.
  9. What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health. Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  10. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Keep ReadingArrowUpdated 49 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Sara Fischer

Virus vices take a toll on Americans

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Americans are doubling down on their worst habits to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the coronavirus pandemic.

Why it matters: The pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on health of the American people, in part due to the habits they will pick up during the weeks and months they are forced to stay home.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Health