Release Is Embargoed Until — 1997-10-28

The Employment Cost Index (ECI), for September 1997 was 134.1 (June 1989=100), an increase of 3.0 percent from September 1996, the U.S. Department of Labor�s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The ECI measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted On a seasonally adjusted basis, compensation costs for civilian workers (private industry plus state and local governments) rose 0.8 percent during the June-September 1997 period, the same as the March-June 1997 increase. Wages and salaries increased 0.9 percent from June to September, following a gain of 0.8 percent in the March-June quarter. Benefit costs increased 0.4 percent during the June-September quarter; in the March-June quarter, the increase was 0.6 percent. Table A. Percent changes in Employment Cost Index for civilian workers and private industry Seasonally adjusted 3-months ended Unadjusted 12-months ended Sep. 1997 Compensation Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.