Economic News Release

 Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/ces/
 Technical information: (202) 691-6555     USDL 09-0813
 Media contact:               691-5902
 
                                           TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
                                           IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
                                           UNTIL 8:30 AM EDT, WEDNESDAY,
                                           JULY 15, 2009
  
                          REAL EARNINGS IN JUNE 2009
 
     Real average weekly earnings fell by 1.2 percent from May to June after 
seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  This decrease stemmed from a 0.3 
percent decrease in average weekly hours and a 0.9 increase in the Consumer Price 
Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  Average hourly earnings 
were unchanged. 
  
     Data on average weekly earnings are collected from the payroll reports of 
private nonfarm establishments.  Earnings of both full-time and part-time workers 
holding production or nonsupervisory jobs are included.  Real average weekly 
earnings are calculated by adjusting earnings in current dollars for changes in the 
CPI-W.

     Average weekly earnings rose by 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, from June 
2008 to June 2009.  After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings increased 
by 2.6 percent.  Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average 
weekly earnings were $609.37 in June 2009, compared with $613.80 a year earlier.
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     Real Earnings for July 2009 will be released on Friday, August 14, 2009.