The American private sector added about 242,000 jobs in February, according to figures issued moments ago by the ADP, after adding about 119,000 jobs in the revised January reading, while expectations were for the addition of 197,000 jobs, while the annual wage rate increased by 7.2%.

In the details, the commodity production sector lost about 52,000 jobs, after the construction sector lost about 16,000 jobs, and the manufacturing sector added 43,000 jobs, while the services sector, which includes trade, transportation, utilities, activities, and information sectors, added about 190,000 jobs.