November 01, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Highest increase in wages and salaries in West

The Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries in private industry rose 4.1 percent in the West region in the 12 months ended September 2001. This was the highest increase among the nation's four regions.

[Chart data—TXT]

In the Northeast, wages and salaries were up 3.6 percent from September 2000 to September 2001. The South and Midwest both registered increases of 3.4 percent.

In each region, the increase in wages and salaries during the 12-month period ended September 2001 was smaller than the increase in the previous 12 months.

In the nation as a whole, wages and salaries for private industry workers rose 3.6 percent for the year ended September 2001, compared with 4.1 percent for the year ended September 2000.

These data are from the BLS Employment Cost Trends program. Compensation costs (also known as employment costs) include wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits. Learn more in "Employment Cost Index—September 2001," news release USDL 01-369.