Economic Overview - Investors are closely monitoring employment data as a key economic indicator and a potential signal for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates [2] - The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, exceeding economists' expectations, while the unemployment rate remained stable [4] - The average hourly wage growth was 3.7% over the past 12 months, slightly lower than previous levels [4] Employment Market Dynamics - Nearly 90% of new jobs in the past two and a half years have been concentrated in three sectors: government, leisure and hospitality, and private education and healthcare [7] - Job openings in June decreased to 7.437 million, below the expected 7.5 million, indicating a slowdown in labor demand [7] - The ratio of job openings to unemployed individuals remains at 1.1, consistent with pre-pandemic levels [7] Consumer Confidence and Labor Market Sentiment - Consumer confidence rose in July due to easing concerns about the overall economy and labor market [9] - The percentage of respondents perceiving job scarcity reached a four-year high of 18.9%, while the perception of abundant job opportunities increased slightly [9] - The labor participation rate continues to decline, and temporary job positions are decreasing, signaling caution in the labor market [9] Future Projections - If non-farm payrolls increase between 120,000 and 180,000 with a rising unemployment rate, it may slightly increase the likelihood of a Fed rate cut in September [11] - A significant drop in non-farm payrolls below 100,000, coupled with rising unemployment and stagnant wage growth, could confirm signals for a rate cut [11] - Gold may benefit from these conditions as a traditional safe-haven asset, potentially recovering above $3,300 [11]