[Nick Timiraos: August Jobs Report Clears the Way for Fed Rate Hike] According to a report by Jinse Finance on September 4, 'Fed whisperer' Nick Timiraos pointed out that ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on September 15-16, Fed officials have made it clear that inflation data will be the most critical factor in deciding whether to raise interest rates. Previously, the Fed has kept rates unchanged throughout this year. Even though the strong August jobs report does not alter this decision-making framework, it does clear one obstacle to a rate hike. If the August jobs data had continued to weaken following July's negative growth, the argument against tightening monetary policy might have been more convincing: Why raise rates when there are no signs of growth in the labor market? However, after Friday's jobs report reversed July's negative growth and pushed the six-month average hiring growth rate to its highest level in more than two years, this argument no longer holds.