A slowdown in hiring over the last three months could open the door for Federal Reserve officials to entertain [cutting rates at their next meeting](

Surprisingly weak July hiring data released on Friday highlighted a fractious Federal Reserve debate over whether the central bank should have cut interest rates when it met this week, as it offered some support to those who’d favored an easing in borrowing costs.

U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July and the May and June numbers were revised sharply lower, boosting the chances of a September rate cut.