Wire Embargo Until — 1996-07-16

Real average weekly earnings rose by 2.2 percent from May to June after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The large gain stemmed from an unusual combination of substantial growth in both average weekly hours (1.5 percent) and average hourly earnings (0.8 percent). This was partially offset by a 0.1 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 4.5 percent between June of 1995 and 1996 as a result of a 3.6 percent increase in average hourly earnings and a 0.9 percent increase in average weekly hours.