U.S. economy added 50K jobs last month

(CNN)– The U.S. economy added about 50-thousand jobs last month.

That’s the estimate released Friday, Jan. 9 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s down from the 64-thousand jobs that were added in November.

The number also falls short of the 55-thousand new jobs economists were expecting.

Analysts blame trade and immigration policy, inflation, and high interest rates for fueling uncertainty that led employers to hire fewer workers.

But the report also reflects a job market that is stable enough to give investors hope the federal reserve will cut interest rates this year.