61.   Still, the report curbed anxieties about wage pressures that the job report had rekindled.

62.   That is one reason why the Fed is raising interest rates to slow the economy before wage pressures become inflationary.

63.   The bond market reacts favorably to job cuts because they are an indicator that wage pressure, and thus inflation, will remain in control.

64.   The employment-cost index, the best overall measure of wage pressure, rose sharply at the end of last year.

65.   The employment cost index released tomorrow will be watched closely for signs wage pressures are fueling inflation.

66.   The Fed this week said it would keep interest rates steady, but the central bank expressed continuing worries that wage pressures could generate inflationary pressures.

67.   The larger-than-expected drop, which points to possible wage pressures and inflation down the road, triggered a sell-off in U.S. Treasury bonds.

68.   The new numbers included a report that showed surprisingly high unemployment claims, easing market fears of wage pressures from a tight labor market.

69.   The report also suggested that wage pressure remained moderate and that the Federal Reserve would be inclined to leave monetary policy steady for now.

70.   The report also assuaged concern that wage pressures could trigger inflation.