The Wall Street Journal commented on the USA's non-farm data, stating that the country added 256,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate slightly declined. This is much higher than a previous survey result, where economists estimated that non-farm employment in December would be 155,000. The unemployment rate of 4.1% is also better than the expected 4.2%. The unemployment rate is close to the level that Federal Reserve officials believe is sustainable in the long term. Federal Reserve Chairman Powell mentioned that he believes there is no need for the labor market to cool down further. After an increase in the unemployment rate in the first half of 2024, it seems to have stabilized since this summer, easing concerns about a potential economic deterioration from last fall.