May 2011 Real Earnings — 2011-06-15

Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.1 percent from April to May, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This change stemmed from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings, partially offset by a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Real average weekly earnings rose 0.1 percent over the month, as a result of the increase in real average hourly earnings combined with the unchanged average workweek. Since reaching a recent peak in October 2010, real average weekly earnings have fallen by 1.4 percent. Real average hourly earnings fell 1.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, from May 2010 to May 2011. A 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours combined with the decrease in real average hourly earnings resulted in a 1.0 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period. Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees rose 0.1 percent from April to May, seasonally adjusted.