Employment Cost Index-June 2001 — 2001-07-26

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for June 2001 was 153.8 (June 1989=100), an increase of 3.9 percent from June 2000, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The Employment Cost Index (ECI) measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers (nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 0.9 percent during the March-June 2001 period, following a gain of 1.1 percent in December 2000-March 2001. Wages and salaries increased 1.0 percent during the March-June 2001 period, identical to the change in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 1.0 percent during the June 2001 quarter, following a 1.3 percent increase in the March 2001 quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.