Employment Cost Index -- June 1996 — 1996-07-30

The Employment Cost Index (ECI) increased 0.7 percent before seasonal adjustment in the 3 months ended in June 1996, the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The June 1996 ECI level of 129.2 (June 1989=100) was 2.9 percent higher than in June 1995. 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 0.8 percent in the March-June 1996 period, the same as the December 1995-March 1996 period. (See table A below.) ECI wages and salaries rose 0.9 percent in the March 1996-June 1996 period, about the same as the 1.0 percent increase for the December 1995-March 1996 period. Benefit costs increased 0.7 percent for the quarter compared with no change for the December 1995-March 1996 quarter. Table A. Percent changes in Employment Cost Index for civilian workers Unadjusted Compensation Seasonally adjusted 3-months ended 12-months component Sep. Dec. Mar.