Wire Embargo Until — 1999-02-19

Real average weekly earnings decreased by 0.1 percent from December to January after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This decline was due to a 0.3 percent decrease in average weekly hours and a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). These were partially offset by a 0.5 percent increase in average hourly earnings. 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 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, between January of 1998 and 1999. After adjustment for inflation, average weekly earnings grew by 1.4 percent.