WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a healthy number of jobs last month, yet slowed their hiring enough to potentially help the Federal Reserve in its fight to reduce raging inflation. Inflation did fall to an 8.5% annual rate in July from 9.1% in June, mostly as gas prices steadily dropped. Wage growth weakened a bit last month, too, which could also serve the Fed’s inflation fight. Powell warned that the Fed’s inflation fight would likely cause pain for Americans in the form of a weaker economy and job losses. Friday’s jobs figures and a report earlier this week that showed the number of job openings rose in July suggest that the Fed’s rate hikes so far haven’t restored much balance.

---