In addition, business inventories increased more than forecast, overshadowing an unexpected drop in retail sales.
The Eurozone, which saw an unexpected drop in Sentix investor confidence, wasn't looking too well.
In the UK positive Halifax house price figures and car sales outweighed an unexpected drop in industrial production.
Crude oil rose as an unexpected drop in inventories caused concern about a possible shortage of heating oil this winter.
The euro dropped after a business survey showed an unexpected drop in confidence last month in the economy of Germany.
Retail stocks were among the day's top decliners after Macy's reported an unexpected drop in sales, which it attributed to hesitation by consumers to spend on nonessential items.
The minister appeared to be particularly angered by coverage given earlier this week to unemployment figures after there was an unexpected drop in Britain's jobless.
The principal, Maria Mamo Vacacela, told NY1, which first reported the scheduling problem, that the chaos stemmed from an unexpected drop in enrollment.
[C6.] The cellphone maker Nokia reported an unexpected drop in fourth-quarter profit and said the prices of handsets might fall.
Germany's trade surplus has risen to its second highest level in more than 60 years after an unexpected drop in imports in December.
One thinktank warned that as few as six electric cars in one neighbourhood could risk a "brownout" – an unexpected drop in voltage.
