Since our last update in December data points related to the economy remain positive overall. Employment and GDP Gains Continue Momentum… In January the economy added 200,000 new jobs following up the 148,000 jobs added in December.  The unemployment rate remained at 4.1% for the fourth consecutive month.  The first estimate of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 2.6%, down from 3.2% in the third quarter, a mild disappointment as expectations in December were for growth of over 3.0%.  However, within the fourth quarter GDP figure consumer spending grew at 3.8% which was the fastest rate of growth […]