Private sector adds 217,000 jobs in February: ADP

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private employers added 217,000 jobs in February, beating analysts' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected a rise of 175,000 in February. The January figure was revised higher to 189,000 from 187,000.

That report is expected to show a rise in overall nonfarm payrolls of 185,000 last month and a rise of 190,000 in private payrolls.

Economists often refer to the ADP report to fine-tune their expectations for the payrolls numbers, though it is not always accurate in predicting the outcome. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr)