Wire Embargo Until — 1999-06-16

Real average weekly earnings increased by 0.7 percent from April to May after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This was due to a 0.3 percent increase in average weekly hours and a 0.4 percent gain in average hourly earnings. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was unchanged. 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 3.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, between May of 1998 and 1999. After deflation by CPI-W, average weekly earnings grew by 0.9 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $456.72 in May 1999, compared with $439.77 a year earlier.