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from 7 percent to 6.7 percent -- its lowest point in more than five years.
• Friday's weak report from the Labor Department was particularly surprising because it followed a flurry of data that had pointed to a robust economy: U.S. companies are selling record levels of goods overseas. Americans are spending more on big purchases like cars and appliances. Layoffs have dwindled. Consumer confidence is up and debt levels are down. Builders broke ground in November on the most new homes in five years.
• "The disappointing jobs report flies in the face of most recent economic data, which are pointing to a pretty strong fourth quarter," said Sal Guatieri, an economist at BMO Capital Markets.
• ___
Will my identity be stolen? Answers to questions about the Target data breach
• NEW YORK (AP) -- Target's massive pre-Christmas security breach may have affected more than 70 million people.
• The incident could turn out to be one of the largest data breaches on record for a retailer, surpassing an incident uncovered in 2007 that saw more than 90 million records pilfered from TJX Cos. Inc.
• Target Corp. disclosed last month that about 40 million credit and debit cards may have been affected by the breach that occurred between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. But according to new information released Friday, those criminals also stole personal information -- including names, phone numbers as well as email and mailing addresses -- from as many as 70 million customers who could have shopped at stores outside of that timeframe.
• Some overlap exists between the two data sets.
• Here's what you need to know if you think your data was compromised:
• ___
US and allies planning a peace conference for Syria that few believe will succeed
• WASHINGTON (AP) -- In its last-ditch attempt to get moderate Syrian opposition groups to the negotiating table, the Obama administration faces the prospect that a no-show wouldn't be such a bad thing.
• With less than two weeks to go before a long-planned peace conference in Switzerland, the main Western-backed moderate political group seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad has still not decided if it will attend. It's the latest frustration (Continued on page 27)
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