Employment Cost Index-December 2000 — 2001-01-25

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for December 2000 was 150.6 (June 1989=100), an increase of 4.1 percent from December 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 0.8 percent during the September-December 2000 period, following a gain of 0.9 percent in June-September 2000. Wages and salaries increased 0.7 percent during the September-December period, following a 0.8 percent increase in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 0.8 percent during the December quarter, following a 1.0 percent increase in the September quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec.