Strong U.S. wage growth boosts chances of Fed rate hikes An acceleration in U.S. wage growth reinforces the Federal Reserve's view that inflation is poised to rebound and could lead the central bank to raise rates more this year than many investors expect.
While average hourly earnings were flat in December, they were sharply higher than a year earlier and rose at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter, according to Reuters calculations of Labor Department data released on Friday.
Wage growth remains tepid compared to before the 2007-09 recession, but an upward trend is now more clearly coming into view, supporting the outlook within the Fed that four quarter-point rate hikes could be needed this year.
The average hourly wage rose 2.2 percent in 2015, up from 2.1 percent the prior two years and 1.9 percent in 2012. Wage growth was particularly strong in the second half of 2015, which could increase confidence the persistently low inflation could rise toward the Fed's 2 percent target this year.
Also boosting the case for raising rates, Friday's data showed U.S. job growth accelerated in the fourth quarter despite trouble in manufacturing caused by a weak global economy, while more workers flooded into the workforce and the jobless rate held at a 7-1/2 year low at 5 percent.
"With the Fed feeling confirmed in its baseline scenario, the next rate increase is only a matter of time. We expect the Fed to move at the March meeting," said Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) economist Christoph Balz.
Investors had been doubting the Fed's resolve to raise interest rates, betting on fewer increases this year. But signs of strength in the U.S. economy is changing that view.
- Free trading apps
- Over 8,000 signals for copying
- Economic news for exploring financial markets
You agree to website policy and terms of use
Fed's Stanley Fischer speaking on CNBC
That last comment is hawkish but the rest is pretty much standard fare
Not a believer in the "trend is your friend" motto then