The U.S. economy added 156,000 new jobs in August, falling short of the 170,000 or greater increase in non-farm jobs predicted by economists polled by MarketWatch and other news outlets. The unemployment rate edged up from 4.3 percent to 4.4 percent, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The hiring figures marked a slowdown from July, although the latest report cut the estimate of jobs created that month to 189,000 from 209,000. The June gain was reduced from 231,000 to 210,000. The August figures don't include any impact from Hurricane Harvey. Average wages increased by 3 cents to $26.39 an hour.
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