Wire Embargo Until — 1997-10-16

Real average weekly earnings decreased by 0.3 percent from August to September after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The loss stemmed from a 0.3 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Before deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings were little changed as a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings was offset by a similar decrease in average weekly hours. 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.