Real Earnings
Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/ces/ Technical information: (202) 691-6555 USDL 08-1309 Media contact: 691-5902 TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:30 AM EDT, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 REAL EARNINGS IN AUGUST 2008 Real average weekly earnings rose by 0.6 percent from July to August after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This increase stemmed from a 0.4 percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.2 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Average weekly hours were unchanged. Data on average weekly earnings are collected from the payroll reports of private nonfarm establishments. Earnings of both full-time and part-time workers holding production or nonsupervisory jobs are included. Real average weekly earnings are calculated by adjusting earnings in current dollars for changes in the CPI-W. Average weekly earnings rose by 3.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, from August 2007 to August 2008. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings decreased by 2.5 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $611.90 in August 2008, compared with $592.28 a year earlier. _____________________________ Real Earnings for September 2008 will be released on Thursday, October 16, 2008.
- Tables A and B. Composition of change in real earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls and Percent change in earnings from the same month a year ago for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted
- Table 1. Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls in current and constant dollars by industry
- Table 2. Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted
- Real Earnings technical note
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Last Modified Date: September 16, 2008