US labour market hits a wall, forcing dramatic revision in September hiking odds
The US job creation engine went into reverse last month, sharply lowering expectations for a rate hike at the Federal Reserve’s September meeting. According to an update just published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23,000 jobs were lost in July—representing a massive undershoot relative to the 80,000-consensus forecast—while the previous two months were revised down by a total 103,000 positions, bringing the three-month average pace down to 20,000, from 111,000 ahead of the release. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% from 4.2% in June, aligning with a continued drop in the participation rate. The number of jobs needed...