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Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 238 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 115 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Fourteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 14 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 156 reported decreases, and 16 had no change. The national unemployment rate in December was 9.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.7 percent a year earlier.

Traditionally Yahoo! Small Business sees a major uptick in entrepreneurs starting their own online business in the first quarter of the New Year. As 2011 kicks off, Yahoo! Small Business explores the New Year’s surge and the reasons and barriers to starting a new business.

An estimated 18.6 percent of used cars sold by franchise dealers in 2010 were certified, up slightly from the 17.8 percent reported in 2009, according to sales figures released today by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the U.S. oil & gas industry outpaced the overall U.S. deal market, boosted by improving macro-economic conditions, stabilizing commodity prices and increased corporate confidence, according to PwC US. The huge supply of shale gas in the continental U.S. was a key driver for increased M&A activity in 2010 and will continue to fuel the industry's movement towards upstream assets as the climate for deepwater investments in the Gulf continues to remain uncertain.

Online advertised vacancies rose 438,000 in January to 4,273,000 according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine™ (HWOL) Data Series released.

From March to June 2010 the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments increased to 6.9 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over this period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments were 6.2 million. Job losses have steadily decreased from a recent high of 8.5 million in December 2008 to the lowest level since the series began in September 1992.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the 18th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 20th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

Employers took 1,483 mass layoff actions in December involving 137,992 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in December decreased by 96 from the prior month, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 10,808. The number of events reached its lowest level since April 2008. In December, 319 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 35,977 initial claims; both figures declined over the month.

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending December 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Both wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.4 percent.

Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.97 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.