--Pending home sales jump 10.4%; best gain since November 2010
--Survey shows private businesses added 206,000 jobs in November
--Third-quarter productivity revised down to 2.3% gain
WASHINGTON -- The number of U.S. consumers signing contracts to purchase homes surged in October to the highest level this year, while a survey of business hiring grew far more than expected, in two unexpected positive signs for the overall economy.
The National Association of Realtors' seasonally adjusted index for pending sales of existing homes increased 10.4% on a monthly basis to 93.3, the highest reading since November 2010, the industry group said Wednesday.