Average hourly earnings for U.S. workers move 0.1% higher

RP news wires

Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.1 percent from March to April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on May 19. This increase stems from a 0.1 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) while average hourly earnings remained unchanged.

Real average weekly earnings rose 0.4 percent over the month, as a result of a 0.3 percent increase in the average work week combining with the increase in real average hourly earnings. Over the past six months, real average weekly earnings have risen by 1.2 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, from April 2009 to April 2010. The decline in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours, resulted in essentially no change in real average weekly earnings during this period.

Production and non-supervisory employees
Real average hourly earnings for production and non-supervisory employees increased 0.3 percent from March to April, seasonally adjusted. A 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings was partially offset by a 0.1 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings rose 0.7 percent over the month, as a 0.3 percent increase in the average work week was combined with the increase in real average hourly earnings. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, real average weekly earnings rose by 1.5 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, from April 2009 to April 2010. The decline in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.9 percent increase in the average work week, resulted in a 0.4 percent increase in real average weekly earnings during this period. 

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