December 2009 Real Earnings — 2010-01-15

Real average hourly earnings did not change from November to December, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers was offset by a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Real average weekly earnings was unchanged over the month, seasonally adjusted. This stems from no change in real average hourly earnings and in average weekly hours. Since reaching a recent high point in December 2008, real average weekly earnings have fallen by 1.6 percent. Real average hourly earnings fell 1.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2008 to December 2009. A 0.3 percent decline in average weekly hours combined with the decrease in real average hourly earnings resulted in a 1.6 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period. Real Earnings for January 2010 is scheduled to be released on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.