WASHINGTON (AP) — In an unusual move, President Donald Trump posted a graph Thursday night on social media that reflected jobs data from December that weren’t supposed to be released until the Labor Department issued the monthly employment report Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. eastern.
The monthly jobs numbers are a closely guarded secret because they can cause sharp swings in financial markets when released. Friday's report, in fact, contributed to a rise in stock prices and a slight decline in bond yields. It showed a small drop in the unemployment rate, to 4.4%, and a modest job gain, reassuring economists that hiring hasn't fallen off a cliff after the economy shed jobs in August and October.
Early copies of the report are kept under lock and key at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which compiles the data. White House economic officials receive an advance copy each month on Thursday afternoon and sign agreements to keep the numbers confidential, though they also write up a summary for the president. Trump posted a graphic from the summary Thursday night.
“I don’t know if they posted them,” Trump told reporters Friday afternoon. “They gave me some numbers. When people give me things, I post them.”
Erica Groshen, a former BLS commissioner, said that early disclosures can technically be punished by fines and even jail time, though previous breaches typically have been met with a slap on the wrist.
Trump posted a graphic Thursday night that showed businesses had added 654,000 positions since January, while government agencies — at the federal, state, and local levels — had cut 181,000 jobs.
Those data reflected hiring in December as well as revisions to previous months that weren't supposed to be revealed until Friday morning.
Trump also said “the numbers were amazing,” though overall job gains last year were just 584,000, the smallest annual increase outside of a recession since 2003. In 2024, just over 2 million jobs were added.
President Donald Trump laughs during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
CHICAGO (AP) — Connor Bedard is back. The rest of the Chicago Blackhawks, well, that's a day-to-day situation at the moment.
Bedard played Friday night against Washington in his first game since he hurt his right shoulder on a draw during a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 12. But the Blackhawks were hit hard by an illness that swept through their locker room, leaving them without their top two goaltenders.
The 20-year-old Bedard recorded four shots on goal while skating for more than 17 minutes in a 5-1 loss to the Capitals. He didn't take any faceoffs, and coach Jeff Blashill said that is the plan for the foreseeable future.
“I thought he played solid," Blashill said. "I thought he got better as the game went along, which is probably to be expected. I think part of it is trying to feel out what's going to hurt and what's not. So I know he felt probably more comfortable at the end than he did at the beginning.”
Bedard ranked among the NHL leaders with 19 goals and 25 assists at the time of the injury. The Blackhawks went 5-6-1 while he was out.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft got a big ovation from the United Center crowd when he was announced with the starting lineup.
“I felt fine,” Bedard said. “I think it was kind of one of those games where the puck was kind of bouncing around a little bit, tough to get a lot of crisp pucks."
Bedard returned at an opportune time for a team that had to scramble to fill out their lineup for the matchup with the Capitals.
Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom, along with forward Ilya Mikheyev, defenseman Louis Crevier and forward Sam Lafferty, were scratched. Blashill missed the morning skate, but he was behind the bench for the game.
Bedard was activated from injured reserve, and defenseman Kevin Korchinski and goaltender Drew Commesso were recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League. Commesso made 19 saves in his second career NHL start, while Dave Nozzolillo served as his emergency backup. Korchinski, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft, skated for almost 14 minutes in his first game with Chicago since April 15.
The Blackhawks play again on Saturday night in Nashville.
“I do not know how I am going to deal with the goalies for tomorrow,” he said. “I don't know for sure who's available to me yet.”
Bedard and fellow center Frank Nazar were shelved during a stretch of 10 losses in 12 games for Chicago. But the Blackhawks had won a season-high four in a row before the loss to the Capitals.
Nazar, who turns 22 on Wednesday, is skating again, but there has been no word on when he might return to the lineup. He was hit in the face by a puck during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.
Bedard also missed part of his rookie season with a broken jaw, but he played in all 82 games last year.
“No one wants to have anything happen, but it's part of the game,” Bedard said after Friday's morning skate. “You just got to try to take that time to get better.”
Bedard's fast start moved him into contention for a spot on Team Canada for the Winter Olympics. But he was left off the roster when it was announced last week.
Bedard still could make the trip to Italy if he is needed as an injury replacement.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard attends warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Hockey fans hold a sign as Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
