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EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX—JUNE 2008
Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent from March to June 2008, seasonally
adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, the same as the
increase from December 2007 to March 2008. Wages and salaries rose 0.7 percent and benefits rose 0.6
percent. In the previous quarter, wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent and benefits increased 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
Sep.
Dec.
Mar.
June
Sep.
Dec.
Mar.
June
component
2006
2006
2007
2007
2007
2007
2008
2008
Civilian workers
Compensation costs
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
Wages and salaries
0.9
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
Benefit costs
1.0
1.0
0.2
1.3
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.6
Private industry
Compensation costs
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.6
Wages and salaries
0.9
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
Benefit costs
0.9
0.9
-0.3
1.1
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.5
State and local government
Compensation costs
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.6
0.9
Wages and salaries
1.3
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.9
Benefit costs
1.6
1.5
1.7
1.6
0.9
1.2
0.3
1.1
Quarterly changes, seasonally adjusted
Compensation costs for private industry rose 0.6 percent from March to June 2008; for the prior quarter
the increase was 0.8 percent. In state and local government, the increase was 0.9 percent compared to 0.6
percent in the