Wire Embargo Until — 2000-03-17

Real average weekly earnings decreased by 0.5 percent from January to February after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This was due to a decrease of 0.3 percent in average weekly hours and an increase of 0.5 percent in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This was partially offset by a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings. 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. Average weekly earnings rose by 3.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, between February of 1999 and 2000. After deflation by CPI-W, average weekly earnings were unchanged.