Employment Cost Index-December 1999 — 2000-01-28

The Employment Cost Index for December 1999 was 144.6 (June 1989=100), not seasonally adjusted, an increase of 3.4 percent from December 1998, 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 1.1 percent during the September-December 1999 period, following a gain of 0.8 percent in June-September. Wages and salaries increased 0.9 percent during the September-December 1999 period, the same increase as in the previous quarter. Benefit costs rose 1.3 percent during the December 1999 quarter, up from a 0.8 percent increase in the September 1999 quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec.