Private sector added almost 300,000 jobs last month

The private sector added 297,000 jobs in December -- far more than economists expected -- according to a just-released private report. That's a big increase from November's figure of 92,000.

The news is the latest in a string of signs that the stalled economy is at last picking up. And the jobs count strongly suggests that Thursday's official government jobs report -- which includes both private and public sector jobs -- will also be encouraging.

We'll be watching closely.

(Photo: AP/Steve Sheppard)