Hiring in the U.S. increased more than forecast in October as employers looked past slowing global growth and political gridlock. In the last jobs report before next week’s election, a net 171,000 workers were added to payrolls after a 148,000 gain in September that was more than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 91 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an advance of 125,000. The jobless rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent as more people entered the labor force. Faster job growth may help explain recent gains in consumer sentiment, laying the ... (full story)