Small-business hiring showed a slowdown for the sixth consecutive month in August but hourly earnings continue to gain momentum, a report from human resources firm Paychex said Tuesday.

The Small Business Jobs Index declined 0.02 percent from last month and 0.74 percent from a year earlier. Small-business wages continue to rise, reaching a 3 percent, or 76 cents, annual growth rate in August and a 3.27 percent three-month annualized growth rate, Paychex said.

“There was little change in August, signifying the index’s dip below 100 in July was not a fluke,” said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit. “Earnings continued to accelerate, with the growth rate now up 3.00 percent from a year ago.”

Paychex said national hourly earnings in August were $25.98, a 7-cent increase from July.

via CNBC