In This Release Is Embargoed — 2001-06-15

Real average weekly earnings rose 0.2 percent from April to May after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. A 0.3 percent gain in average hourly earnings and a 0.3 percent increase in average weekly hours were partly offset by a 0.3 percent rise 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 by 4.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, from May 2000 to May 2001. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings increased by 0.4 percent.