U.S. posts solid job gains

The U.S. economy added 214,000 jobs in October, as the national unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 percent, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That is the lowest unemployment rate recorded since July 2008.

On the down side, average hourly pay rose only three cents, to $24.57.

Employers have added at least 200,000 jobs for nine consecutive months, the longest streak of that kind since 1995. More people are also looking for work: nearly 63 percent of all U.S. residents either have a job or are looking for one, according to the data.