Dollar Sags as Strong U.S. Jobs Report Masks Flat Wages

The dollar fell against the euro and the yen Friday after an otherwise buoyant U.S. December jobs report showed wages sagging even as the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent.

The greenback reversed course from recent gains as the slowdown in wage growth in December to 1.7 percent year-on-year, barely keeping up with inflation, pointed to some frailty in consumer spending power.

Analysts also took that as a possible pointer to the Federal Reserve taking its time on raising interest rates this year, against some expectations prior to the report that an initial hike from the zero level could come as early as April.

At 2200 GMT, the dollar traded at $1.1842 per euro, and 118.46 yen.

"Wage data was actually the most discouraging aspect of this report, insofar as real wage growth has fallen, another sign that inflation pressures are abating," said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.

"The Fed has stated its desire to see wage growth accelerate before it tightens policy; but it was also made clear in the December (meeting) minutes this week that rate hikes could occur even if inflation is floundering."

2200 GMT Friday Thursday

EUR/USD 1.1842 1.1795

EUR/JPY 140.29 141.15

EUR/CHF 1.2010 1.2009

EUR/GBP 0.7810 0.7817

USD/JPY 118.46 119.65

USD/CHF 1.0143 1.0181

GBP/USD 1.5161 1.5090