IS THIS THE REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE? … Friday’s job report saw 209,000 new jobs added during July which was well above expectations. Hourly earnings also saw a July again of 0.3% which attracted the most attention. That, however, leaves the year over year rise in wages at a relatively flat 2.5%. That’s higher than the inflation rate, but well below what we should be seeing at this point in the economic expansion. Chart 8 shows the unemployment rate falling below its 2007 low of 4.4% to the lowest level in sixteen years (2001).