Payroll numbers expected to show US economic recovery gathering strength

Economists forecast that nonfarm payrolls increased by 223,000 last month, matching June's job gains

The number of US jobs probably rose at a healthy pace in July and wages likely rebounded in data due on Friday, providing further signs of an improving economy that could allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in September.

A Reuters survey of economists forecast that nonfarm payrolls increased by 223,000 last month, matching June's job gains, a number which would be slightly above the monthly average for the first half of the year.