Real Earnings
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TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 8:30 AM EST, WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 17, 2004
REAL EARNINGS IN OCTOBER 2004
Real average weekly earnings fell by 0.4 percent from September to October
after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. A 0.3 percent
increase in average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.6 percent rise
in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
Average weekly hours 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 2.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, from
October 2003 to October 2004. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly
earnings decreased by 0.4 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and
inflation, average weekly earnings were $535.39 in October 2004, compared with
$519.65 a year earlier.
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Real Earnings for November 2004 will be released on Friday, December 17,
2004.
Last Modified Date: November 17, 2004