April 2011 Real Earnings — 2011-05-13

Real average hourly earnings for all employees declined 0.3 percent from March to April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decrease stemmed from a 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings, which was more than offset by a 0.4 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Real average weekly earnings declined 0.3 percent over the month, as a result of the decrease in real average hourly earnings combined with the average workweek remaining unchanged. Since reaching a recent peak in October 2010, real average weekly earnings have fallen by 1.7 percent. Real average hourly earnings fell by 1.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, from April 2010 to April 2011. A 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours combined with the decrease in real average hourly earnings resulted in a 0.6 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period.