Fed Easing Debate Intensifies Following Report of Weak Hiring

A report U.S. companies hired fewer workers than forecast last month intensified a debate among economists over whether Federal Reserve policy makers will take an incremental step next week toward providing more stimulus.

U.S. central bankers said in June that more monetary stimulus “might become appropriate” if the economic outlook “were to worsen appreciably,” according to minutes of their meeting. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said last month the Fed may at some point maintain stimulus by reinvesting the proceeds from maturing bonds.