(Reuters) – The number of U.S. private-sector jobs surged in December at a rate three times stronger than forecast, the most bullish signal in months that a recovery in the world’s biggest economy is shifting up a gear. Private employers added 297,000 jobs last month, payrolls processing company ADP Employer Services said on Wednesday. It was the largest gain on ADP records dating to 2000. The data came two days ahead of the government’s more comprehensive employment report for December, the world’s most closely watched economic indicator, and led many economists to raise their payrolls forecasts.
