Is the ECI sensitive to the method of aggregation? (ABSTRACT), Monthly Labor Review Online, June 1997

Is the ECI sensitive to the method of aggregation?

Michael K. Lettau
Economist, Compensation Research and Program Development Group, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mark A. Loewenstein
Economist, Compensation Research and Program Development Group, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Aaron T. Cushner
Computer Programmer, Compensation Research and Program Development Group, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Research by Bureau of Labor Statistics economists indicates that the Employment Cost Index (ECI) is not particularly sensitive to the methodology used in constructing the index. Also, because changes in the price of labor can be due to shifts in supply, demand, or both, caution should be used when applying standard index number analysis to the ECI. The two aggregation issues discussed in this article are: how the various job quotes within a given cell should be combined to obtain a cell average and the way cell averages are aggregated to obtain the actual index.

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