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13 stories from Planck Standard. Latest: September 4, 2026.
WatchThe Labor Department also erased July's reported job losses, revising the month from a 23,000 decline to a 21,000 gain. Wages are still running behind inflation.
A July payrolls report that came in more than 100,000 jobs below expectations convinced traders the Federal Reserve is done raising rates. The Nasdaq gained 4.86% on the week — the strongest five days for major indexes since mid-April.
WatchEconomists had penciled in 83,000 new jobs. Instead payrolls shrank for the first time in five months, wage growth fell to 0.1%, and the share of Americans in the workforce hit its lowest level since February 2021.
The sharp slowdown from May's gains rattled economists and revived worries about the labor market, with wage growth trailing inflation for a third straight month.
Hiring nearly doubled economists' expectations as restaurants, bars and hotels led the way — but wage growth trailed inflation, squeezing workers even as the labor market held firm.
With energy prices climbing on the Gulf crisis and the labor market holding steady, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack signaled the central bank may soon need to tighten rather than cut.
S&P 500 falls more than 2.6% in its worst single-day drop of 2026, ending nine consecutive weeks of gains as investors worry about Federal Reserve action.
Labor market maintains steady hiring pace as employers navigate rising costs and consumer spending constraints from persistent price increases.
Labor market shows continued resilience with solid job growth even as businesses grapple with global energy disruptions caused by Middle East conflict.
Economists expected only 65,000 new jobs as Challenger tracked 83,387 announced cuts, with one in three layoffs blamed on artificial intelligence for the second straight month.
WatchFriday's Bureau of Labor Statistics report blew past expectations of 60,000 jobs, with health care, construction, and transportation leading gains even as slowing wage growth and a falling participation rate temper the optimism.
Economy added 178,000 positions in March, exceeding expectations as conflict drives oil prices higher and creates new economic uncertainties.
Employment growth exceeded expectations and demonstrated labor market resilience as the conflict with Iran began driving up oil prices.