The latest economic figures have provided further evidence that the US economy - and in particular the labour market - is improving.
A report said the pace of growth in the dominant US services sector picked up slightly in December.
The Institute for Supply Management said its services index rose to 52.6 last month from 52 in November. Though this was short of economists' forecasts for 53, it was still above the 50 mark which indicates expansion. The report's employment component rose to 49.4 from 48.9 in November.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department said new US claims for unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 372,000. The previous week's figure was revised up to 387,000 from the previously reported 381,000. Economists had forecast that claims would fall to 375,000.
Claims have now fallen in four of the last five weeks, and the four-week moving average - a better measure of trends - fell 3,250 to 376,500, the lowest level since June 2008.
An improving jobs market has boosted the view that the US economy wrapped up 2011 on better footing, leaving it well positioned to deal with the fall-out from Europe's debt crisis and budgetary tightening at home.
A separate report showed that US private employers added 325,000 jobs in December, easily beating economists' expectations.
Economists had forecast that the report from payrolls processor ADP would show a gain of 178,000 jobs.
ADP's November figure was revised down, however, to a 204,000 increase from the previously reported 206,000.
