(202) 691-5902 In This Release Is Embargoed — 2007-10-31

Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent from June to September 2007, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This was about the same as the 0.9 percent increase for the March to June period. Both components of compensation-wages and salaries and benefits-rose the same amount, 0.8 percent. In the previous quarter, wages and salaries also increased 0.8 percent and benefits increased 1.3 percent. The Employment Cost Index (ECI), a component of the National Compensation Survey, measures quarterly changes in compensation costs for civilian workers (nonfarm private industry and state and local government workers). For private industry, compensation costs rose 0.8 percent from June to September 2007, compared to 0.9 percent for the prior quarter, while state and local government costs increased 0.8 percent, compared to 1.1 percent for the quarter ended June 2007. (See tables A and 1.) Table A.