Employment Cost Index-September 2000 — 2000-10-26

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for September 2000 was 149.5 (June 1989=100), an increase of 4.3 percent from September 1999, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The Employment Cost Index (ECI) measures changes in compensation costs, which include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers (nonfarm private industry plus State and local government) was 0.9 percent during the June-September 2000 period, following a gain of 1.0 percent in March-June 2000. Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent during the June-September period, following a 1.0 percent increase in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 1.0 percent during the September quarter, following a 1.1 percent increase in the June quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep.