Analysts cautioned against reading too much into the numbers, which will be revised and reflect only one month's performance.

WSJ: Economy Adds 88,000 Jobs

On Tuesday, we get the latest reading on retail sales which should be helped by the record Black Friday numbers.

FORBES: The Week Ahead: Don't Give Up on Stocks Just Yet

The numbers make for compelling reading of course.

FORBES: A Weak Russia Is A Dangerous Russia For BP

Next Tuesday, we get the latest reading on new-home sales, followed by the latest durable-goods numbers on Wednesday.

FORBES: The Week Ahead: Strong Stocks Surprise Investors

Wednesday will bring the latest numbers on durable-goods orders, followed Thursday by the final reading on second-quarter GDP, jobless claims, and pending home sales.

FORBES: The Week Ahead: Is the Majority Wrong?

Unemployment numbers actually got worse in the latest reading.

FORBES: Bernanke Meddles, Bondholders Flee

The statistics on the numbers going to university to study computing make sobering reading.

BBC: Coding - the new Latin

The Chicago purchasing managers index startled markets on November 27th by surging from 45.9 in October to 54.3 in November. (Any reading over 50 suggests that manufacturing activity is expanding, while a reading of less than 50 suggests recession.) Unfortunately, the equivalent national numbers, released on December 2nd, showed a less perky jump from 48.5 in October to 49.2 in November, leaving it in recession for the third consecutive month (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Is America's remarkably resilient economy over the worst?

The numbers the White House put out yesterday looked at fourth graders where, between 2003 and 2005, reading and math scores have increased.

NPR: Fact-Checking the State of the Union Speech