Employment Cost Index-March 2000 — 2000-04-27

The Employment Cost Index for March 2000 was 146.5 (June 1989=100), not seasonally adjusted, an increase of 4.3 percent from March 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 1.4 percent during the December 1999-March 2000 period, following a gain of 1.0 percent in September-December 1999. Wages and salaries increased 1.1 percent during the December 1999-March 2000 period; in the September-December 1999 period, it was 0.9 percent. Benefit costs rose 2.0 percent during the March 2000 quarter, following a 1.2 percent increase in the December 1999 quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.