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EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—SEPTEMBER 2008
Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent from June to September 2008,
seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, the same as
the increase for the last two quarters. Both components of compensation—wages and salaries and benefits—
registered increases that were the same as the previous quarter. Wages and salaries rose 0.7 percent and benefits
rose 0.6 percent. The Employment Cost Index (ECI), a product of the National Compensation Survey, measures
quarterly changes in compensation costs for civilian workers (nonfarm private industry and state and local
government workers).
Table A. 3-month percent changes in the Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted
Compensation
Dec.
Mar.
June
Sep.
Dec.
Mar.
June
Sep.
component
2006
2007
2007
2007
2007
2008
2008
2008
Civilian workers
Compensation costs
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.7
Wages and salaries
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
Benefit costs
1.0
0.2
1.3
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.6
Private industry
Compensation costs
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.6
Wages and salaries
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.6
Benefit costs
0.9
-0.3
1.1
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.6
State and local government
Compensation costs
1.1
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.6
0.9
0.9
Wages and salaries
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.9
1.0
Benefit costs
1.5
1.7
1.6
0.9
1.2
0.3
1.1
0.7
Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted
Compensation costs for private industry rose 0.6 percent from June to September 2008, the same as the
increase for the prior quarter. In state and local government, the increase was 0.9 percent, a