Employment Cost Index Increases 0.4% in 2Q

The U.S. second-quarter employment cost index rose 0.4% for overall compensation costs to civilian workers, the Labor Department reported Friday.

For civilian workers, wages and salaries rose 0.4% in the quarter, while the benefits components grew 0.3%.

For the year ending June 2009, compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.8%, down from 3.1% in the previous year. Wages and salaries rose 1.8% in the year, off from 3.2%, while benefit costs grew 1.8%, down from a 2.9% jump in the 12 months ending June 2008.

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