The rise in the employment component, combined with the drop in new jobless claims reported earlier today, suggests that employment conditions remain good at the start of the year.
The drop in August is just a pullback from that earlier surge in spending.
It's a good decline in prices for a change. It appears the big drop in energy prices during November has brought the overall inflation rate down considerably.
The jobless claims drop shows good strength in the labor market at the end of the year. It shows that the economy has recovered after the hurricanes and is heading into the new year with good momentum and good job prospects.