Jobs numbers released this morning far exceeded forecasts, with the U.S. economy generating 146,000 jobs in November. This lowered the jobless rate to 7.7%, a four year low. Economists had expected the unemployment numbers to surge on the heels of Superstorm Sandy and the continuing inability of Washington to come to an agreement about the fiscal cliff. The latest monthly jobs data is one more sign that the U.S. economy is starting to hold its own after four years of tenuous-at-best recovery. Consumer finances are much improved as Americans have been focused on paying down debt for the past several years, and many analysts believe that reducing the uncertainty in Washington would be the shot in the arm the economy needs. Visit NBCNews to read the report on today’s new numbers and economic indicators.