April 29, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Compensation costs up in first quarter

The 3-month increase in compensation costs for civilian workers was 0.8 percent during the December 2001-March 2002 period. This followed a gain of 1.0 percent in September-December 2001.

[Chart data—TXT]

Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent during the December 2001-March 2002 period, following a 0.9 percent increase during the previous 3-month period. Benefit costs rose 1.0 percent during the March quarter, following a 1.2 percent gain in the December quarter.

The 3-month increase in compensation costs for private industry workers was 0.9 percent. and compensation costs for State and local government workers increased 0.7 percent during the December 2001-March 2002 period.

These data are from the Employment Cost Trends program. Civilian workers include nonfarm private industry plus State and local government. See USDL 02-239, "Employment Cost Index—March 2002," (PDF) (TXT) for more information on changes in compensation costs.