Wire Embargo Until — 1996-04-12

Real average weekly earnings fell 0.5 percent from February to March after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Average weekly earnings were about unchanged as an increase of 0.3 percent in average hourly earnings was offset by a decrease of 0.3 percent in average weekly hours, which was primarily a result of a strike in the auto manufacturing industry and subsequent plant shutdowns. The decline stemmed from a 0.5 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Data on average weekly earnings are collected from the payroll reports of private nonfarm establishments. Earnings of both full- time and part-time workers holding production or nonsupervisory jobs are included. Real average weekly earnings are calculated by adjusting earnings in current dollars for changes in the CPI-W.