February 04, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Wages and salaries increase fastest in Midwest over the year

The Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries in private industry rose 3.6 percent in the Midwest region in the 12 months ended December 2002. This was the largest increase among the nation’s four regions.

[Chart data—TXT]

In the Northeast and in the West, wages and salaries were up 2.6 percent from December 2001 to December 2002. In the South, the increase was 2.2 percent. 

In the nation as a whole, wages and salaries for private industry workers rose 2.7 percent in the twelve months ended December 2002.

These data are from the BLS Compensation Cost Trends program. The above data are not seasonally adjusted.  Learn more in "Employment Cost Index—December 2002" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 03-32.