ECI for June Up 0.7 Percent

Total compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7 percent from March to June 2005, seasonally adjusted, the same increase as  occurred between December 2004 and March 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  Benefit costs between March and June rose 0.8 percent, compared with the gain for wages  and salaries of 0.6 percent. 

Increases in benefit costs accounted for over 35 percent of the rise  in compensation costs for civilian workers from March to June 2005.  Among  private industry workers, benefit costs contributed nearly 35 percent of  compensation gains during the quarter; compared with nearly 60 percent  from December 2004 to March 2005.  Health insurance costs constituted  about 10 percent of the compensation gains during the quarter.  Among  State and local government workers, benefit costs comprised nearly one- half of compensation cost gains during the March to June period, virtually  unchanged from the December to March quarter.  Health insurance costs  represented nearly one-third of the gain in compensation costs from March  to June 2005.

Details at BLS Press Release.

- Joe Hodnicki