Employment Cost Index --June 1995 — 1995-07-25

The Employment Cost Index (ECI) increased 0.6 percent before seasonal adjustment in the 3 months ended in June 1995, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The June 1995 ECI level of 125.6 (June 1989=100) was 2.9 percent higher than in June 1994. The ECI measures changes in compensation costs, including wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. On a seasonally adjusted basis, ECI compensation costs rose 0.7 percent in the March-June 1995 period, about the same as the 0.6 percent gain in the December 1994-March 1995 period. (See table A below.) ECI wages and salaries also rose 0.7 percent in the March-June 1995 period, about the same as the 0.8 percent increase for the December 1994-March 1995 period. Benefit costs rose 0.7 percent, up from 0.2 percent in December 1994-March 1995, but in line with in creases over the past several years. Seasonally adjusted 3-months ended Unadj. Compensation ---------------------------------------------- 12-mos. component Sep. Dec. Mar.