Market Wire: US Job Growth Smashes Expectations, Dollar Rises
528,000 jobs were created in the United States last month – far above expectations, and sufficient to compel a larger rate increase at the next Federal Reserve meeting. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in July, and the participation rate moved down to 62.1 percent. Overall payroll employment has now exceeded pre-pandemic levels – hardly indicative of an economy toppling into recession. Average hourly earnings rose 0.5 percent month-over-month, accelerating from 0.3 percent in June. Ahead of the release, investors were positioned for a 250,000-job gain, with...