by Daniel Costello

In a sign the labor market may be ready to expand, businesses added 52,000 temporary workers last month, more than the number of new workers in any other category.

If employers remain confident that the recent economic upturn can be sustained, they are likely to add permanent employees soon.

The pattern is different than in past recessions. In the early 1990s and in 2001, employers added temps for only three months before stepping up the hiring of permanent workers. Temp hiring has risen for four months already even though the economy is growing.

 

Dubai World, the troubled state-owned conglomerate set to ask creditors for a standstill on restructuring some $22 billion in debt, may still repay lenders in full, a local newspaper reports.

The National daily says two top Dubai officials, on a confidence-building mission to Britain and the United States in recent days, told financial leaders in London that repaying all bank loans in full "was discussed as a medium-term possibility."

The move would help restore at least some sense of credibility to the Middle East financial center, and could help ensure the region's financial troubles don't spill over to other weak markets around the world.

The e-commerce industry posted its first nearly $1 billion day, ever. Online research firm comScore reported on December 15 e-commerce sales hit $913 million.

The surge held put holiday online sales up 4 percent to almost $24.8 million through the week ending December 18.

E-commerce will almost certainly have an outstanding year, which was not expected several weeks ago. Sales in nearly every category have risen online, and this week's major snowstorm on the East Coast over the last holiday shopping weekend is likely to boost online sales more.