Labor Market
US Labor Market Defies Gravity: January Payrolls Surge to 130,000 Amidst Washington Gridlock
The United States labor market displayed unexpected resilience in January 2026, adding 130,000 nonfarm payrolls and comfortably outpacing economist projections of a mere 75,000. This "upside shock" came at a critical juncture, as the nation grappled with a partial government shutdown and a broader cooling trend