U.S. newspaper help-wanted ads down in January

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The number of help-wanted ads
in U.S. newspapers fell in January, a private research group
said on Thursday.

The Conference Board said its gauge measuring help-wanted
ad volume in the United States was 32 in January, down from an
upwardly revised 34 in December. It was 38 a year ago.

"The forward indicators of labor market activity suggest
moderate economic growth will continue to deliver new jobs into
the late winter and early spring months," said Ken Goldstein,
labor economist at the Conference Board, in a statement.

Help-wanted ads were up in eight of the nine U.S. regions
in the last three months, with the largest increase in New
England, the Conference Board said. The ads in that region rose
35.8 percent

The research firm surveys help-wanted ad volume at 51
newspapers across the country each month.