September 2014 Employment Cost Index — 2014-10-31

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending September 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.8 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent. Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2014. In September 2013, the increase in compensation costs was 1.9 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2014, compared with 1.6 percent in September 2013. Benefit costs increased 2.4 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2014, compared with a 2.2 percent increase for the 12-month period ending September 2013. Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.3 percent over the year. In September 2013 the increase was 1.9 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.3 percent for the current 12-month period ending September 2014.