US DATA: Jan Challenger planned job cuts 53,486, the largest monthly
total since Sept’11. This was 28% above the 41,785 in Dec and +39% YOY
vs 38,519 in Jan’11 (a record low for any Jan). “It is not unusual to
see a job-cut surge to start the year” Challenger says, and the Jan’12
cuts were led by retailers and financial firms.