December 2008 Real Earnings — 2009-01-16

Real average weekly earnings rose by 0.6 percent from November to December after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This gain stemmed from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings and a 0.9 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which were partially offset by a 0.6 percent decrease in average weekly hours. 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 2.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2007 to December 2008. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings increased by 2.9 percent.