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Compensation Costs Little Changed from Prior Quarter
According to a BLS news release, state and local employers saw the highest increase in total compensation costs during the third quarter of 1.4%, compared to a 1.1% increase in the second quarter of 2006. Wages and salaries accounted for the total increase, rising 1.4% for the quarter ending September 2006, compared to a 0.9% increase in the second quarter. Increases in benefit costs for government employers were unchanged from the prior quarter at 1.5%.
For civilian employers, total compensation costs increased 1% in the third quarter of 2006, compared to an increase of 0.9% in the second quarter, the news release said. Costs for wages and salaries increased 0.9%, unchanged from the previous quarter, while costs for benefits rose 1.1%, compared to a second quarter increase of 0.8%.
Private industry employers saw a total compensation cost increase of 0.9% in the third quarter. Increases in costs for wages and salaries was lower than for the second quarter at 0.8%, compared to 0.9% for the quarter ending June 2006. Costs for benefits increased 1% versus a 0.7% increase in the second quarter.
Annual compensation costs for civilian workers increased 3.3% for the year ended September 2006, compared with a 3% over-the-year increase for September 2005. Compensation costs in private industry rose 3% in the year ended September 2006, compared with a 2.9% increase in September 2005. For state and local governments, compensation costs increased 4.1% for the year ended September 2006, compared with the over-the-year gain of 3.9% in September 2005.
The complete BLS news release is here .