Employment Cost Index-March 2001 — 2001-04-26

The Employment Cost Index (not seasonally adjusted) for March 2001 was 152.5 (June 1989=100), an increase of 4.1 percent from March 2000, 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 1.1 percent during the December 2000-March 2001 period, following a gain of 0.9 percent in September-December 2000. Wages and salaries increased 1.0 percent during the December 2000-March 2001 period, following a 0.8 percent increase in the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 1.3 percent during the March 2001 quarter, following a 1.0 percent increase in the December 2000 quarter. Table A. 3-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted June Sep. Dec. Mar. June Sep. Dec. Mar.