<H3>• U.S. Employment Cost Index – December 2013</H3>

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Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending December 2013. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.6 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.6 percent. Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2013, essentially unchanged from the December 2012 increase of 1.9 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.9 percent for the current 12-month period. In December 2012 the increase was 1.7 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2013. In December 2012 the increase was 2.4 percent. Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.0 percent over the year. In December 2012 the increase was 1.8 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the current 12-month period. In December 2012 the increase was 1.7 percent. The increase in the cost of benefits was 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2013, essentially unchanged from the December 2012 increase of 2.0 percent. Employer costs for health benefits increased 3.0 percent over the year. In December 2012 the increase was 2.1 percent. Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2013, unchanged from December 2012. Wages and salaries increased 1.1 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2013, unchanged from December 2012. Prior values for this series, which began in June 1982, ranged from 0.9 percent to 8.5 percent. Benefit costs increased 3.3 percent in December 2013. In December 2012, the increase was 3.4 percent. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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