Employment Cost Index-September 2002 — 2002-10-31

The Employment Cost Index for total compensation increased 3.7 percent for the year ended September 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The Employment Cost Index (ECI), a component of the National Compensation Survey, measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits, for nonfarm private and State and local government workers. Seasonally adjusted, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers (nonfarm private industry and State and local government) rose 0.8 percent from June to September 2002, following a gain of 1.0 percent in March-June 2002. Wages and salaries increased 0.5 percent during the September quarter, after a 1.0 percent gain in the June quarter. Benefit costs rose 1.4 percent during the June-September period, following a 1.3 percent increase in the March-June quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.