The pace of US job growth rebounded in November after a drop in the prior month, but the unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, indicating the labour market continues to show signs of softening.
Expectations the Federal Reserve was unlikely to cut rates in January remained largely unchanged.
US non-farm payrolls increased by 64,000 jobs in November, after a drop of 105,000 in October as more than 150,000 federal employees who took deferred buyouts departed, Labor Department data showed today.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 50,000 jobs added last month.
The US unemployment rate was 4.4% in September.
A separate report from the Commerce Department showed retail sales were flat in October, just below the estimate of economists polled by Reuters calling for a rise of 0.1% and followed a downwardly revised 0.1% gain in September.
Both reports were delayed by the 43-day government shutdown
