Wire Embargo Until — 1996-03-15

Real average weekly earnings rose 2.1 percent from January to February after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This rise stemmed from a 2.4 percent increase in average weekly hours, which was largely a rebound from January's weather-related decline. The average weekly hours increase was partially offset by a decrease of 0.1 percent in average hourly earnings and a 0.2 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 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.