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As U.S. strengthens, sluggish wages explain Fed's caution
The U.S. Federal Reserve's policy statement, unchanged for the last four months, will probably stay that way until at least September for one main reason: slow wage growth. Everything from job growth and inflation to manufacturing and retail sales are stronger now that U.S. economic growth has rebounded from a brutal winter. Some employers are even complaining about a lack of skilled workers, and surveys are showing businesses boosting compensation or planning to do so. Yet Fed officials, who gather for a policy meeting July 29-30, are in no rush to talk about hiking interest rates because wage gains remain ... (full story)