It's been an extended happy hour at U.S. bars and restaurants, which led hiring gains last month.
U.S. dining establishments added 58,700 jobs in February, the Labor Department said Friday. It was a sign that solid job growth — more than 3 million positions added over the past 12 months — is causing more consumers to splurge on lunches, lattes and dinners.
The additional spending should help power overall economic growth, given that consumers account for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.