Employment Cost Index-June 2000 — 2000-07-27

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for June 2000 was 148.0 (June 1989=100), an increase of 4.4 percent from June 1999, 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 1.0 percent during the March-June 2000 period, following a gain of 1.4 percent in December 1999-March 2000. Wages and salaries increased 1.0 percent during the March-June 2000 period, following a 1.1 percent increase in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 1.1 percent during the June 2000 quarter, falling from the 2.0 percent increase in the March 2000 quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.