The Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday is also expected to show wage gains remaining elevated. Eighteen months after the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates, the labor market is only gradually easing. Labor market resilience, which is underpinning demand in the economy, raises the risk that the U.S. central bank could hike rates again by year end. Nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 170,000 jobs last month after rising 187,000 in August. Wage growth likely remained solid, with average hourly earnings forecast to have risen 0.3% after climbing 0.2% in August.

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Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Nick Bunker, Nonfarm, payrolls, Veronica Clark, Clark, Megan Way, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Labor, Federal Reserve, Citigroup, United Auto Workers, UAW, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Hollywood, Babson College, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, y WASHINGTON, Tampa , Florida, Payrolls, New York, Washington ., Wellesley , Massachusetts