31.   On Friday, the U.S. reported a stronger-than-expected growth in average hourly earnings for March.

32.   One reason for leaving rates alone back then may have been the two-cent decline in average hourly earnings in July, which reversed an upward trend.

33.   Program participants also had slightly higher employment rates, average weekly work hours and hourly earnings.

34.   Shortly before the meeting, the Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy added more jobs than expected in December and hourly earnings continued to rise.

35.   Some investors said the smaller-than-expected gain in hourly earnings calmed concern that the tight labor market will push consumer prices higher.

36.   Some say the six-cent rise seen in the average hourly earnings component of the August employment report is a warning that wage pressures are on their way.

37.   Some investors said the smaller-than-expected gain in hourly earnings calmed concern the tight labor market will push consumer prices higher.

38.   Still, a rise in hourly earnings and hiring in certain sectors, combined with the slight change in unemployment, may have saved investors from steeper losses.

39.   Still, investors are expected to draw direction from the overall numbers and information on any gains in average hourly earnings.

40.   Stocks initially gained because average hourly earnings were unchanged in July from June, while average weekly earnings declined.