Messy October jobs report muddied by strikes and storms ahead of Election Day

The US economy added a mere 12,000 jobs in October, influenced by the effects of hurricanes and strikes that complicated data collection efforts for the government's employment report. This report serves as the final significant economic data release prior to Election Day in the United States. The figures were anticipated to reflect volatility due to disruptions caused by significant weather events and industrial strikes. With the economy as the predominant concern for voters, the low job addition figure may be leveraged politically, potentially benefiting the opposition party, while encouraging data might support the sitting administration's campaign.