February 11, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Wages and salaries increase fastest in West over the year

The Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries in private industry rose 4.6 percent in the West region in the 12 months ended December 2001. This was the largest increase among the nation’s four regions.

[Chart data—TXT]

In the Northeast, wages and salaries were up 3.9 percent from December 2000 to December 2001. In the Midwest, the increase was 3.4 percent and in the South, the increase was 3.3 percent. 

In the nation as a whole, wages and salaries for private industry workers rose 3.8 percent in the twelve months ended December 2001.

These data are from the BLS Employment Cost Trends program. The above data are not seasonally adjusted. Learn more in "Employment Cost Index—December 2001," news release USDL 02-46.