On the heels of disappointing news from Challenger, Gray & Christmas about planned lay-offs in September, ADP issued equally bleak news.

Private-sector employment decreased by 39,000 from August to September on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report . The estimated change of employment from July to August was revised up from the previously reported decline of 10,000 to an increase of 10,000. The decline in private employment in September confirms a pause in the economic recovery already evident in other data

Friday’s unemployment numbers are not likely to show any improvement based on the Challenger Gray and ADP stats

Douglas A. McIntyre