Average hourly wages were up 3.8 per cent year-over-year, the second-best result in 10 years. The number of hours worked was up 3.4 per cent year-over-year, the fastest pace in seven quarters. (The Logic)

Talking point: The strong economic numbers come ahead of the Bank of Canada’s decision next week on whether to change the interest rate. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are taking steps to increase the money supply and encourage lending and investment over the next few months, but Canada’s central bank will buck that trend and keep rates on hold at least through this year, according to a survey of 40 economists conducted earlier this week. Nearly every economic indicator has shown that Canada’s economy has been growing strongly in recent months. Even those indicators that appear negative, like June’s 2,200-person job loss, are part of broader positive trends; the first six months of 2019 were the strongest run of job creation to start a year since 2002. But not everyone is benefitting from the rosy economy. Many of the new jobs are in low- and mid-paying positions, and the share of below-average-wage jobs is steadily increasing.