"Mediocre job growth points to slow grind for U.S. economy"
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers kept their pace of hiring steady in December, falling short of the levels needed to bring down a still lofty unemployment rate and pointing to lackluster economic growth in 2013.
"The U.S. economy is just muddling through," said Tom di Galoma, managing director at Navigate Advisors in Stamford, Connecticut.
"Most economists expect the U.S. economy will be held back this year by tax hikes as well as by weak spending by households and businesses".
"There is nothing here to suggest th