Employment Cost Index -- March 1996 — 1996-04-30

The Employment Cost Index (ECI) increased 0.9 percent before seasonal adjustment in the 3 months ended in March 1996, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The March 1996 ECI level of 128.5 (June 1989=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in March 1995. The ECI measures changes in compensation costs, including wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. On a seasonally adjusted basis, ECI compensation costs rose 0.7 percent in the December 1995-March 1996 period, compared with 0.8 percent in the September-December 1995 period. (See table A below.) ECI wages and salaries rose 1.0 percent in the December 1995-March 1996 period, up from 0.7 percent in the September-December 1995 period. Benefit costs decreased 0.1 percent for the quarter compared with an increase of 1.0 percent for the September-December 1995 quarter. Table A. Percent changes in Employment Cost Index for civilian workers Unadjusted Compensation Seasonally adjusted 3-months ended 12-months component June Sep. Dec. Mar.