In This Release Is Embargoed — 2001-10-19

Real average weekly earnings were unchanged from August to September after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. A 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings and 0.3 percent rise in average weekly hours were offset by a 0.5 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 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 3.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, from September 2000 to September 2001. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings rose 0.8 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $497.35 in September 2001, compared with $479.21 a year earlier.