MNI ANALYSIS: 3Q ECI Rises To +0.7%; Wages +0.7%, Benefits +0.8%>

By Holly Stokes and Sara Haire

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Employment Cost Index rose in the third 

quarter to see an expected 0.7% increase, up from the 0.5% gain in 

second quarter, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday 

showed. 

     Benefits growth also sped to a 0.8% rise in the third quarter after 

a 0.6% gain in the second quarter. Benefits were up 2.4% year/year, a 

slower pace than the 2.5% year/year rate in second quarter, but a faster 

pace than third quarter of 2016. The benefits year/year growth is 

continuing to trend upwards. 

     Wage and salary growth rose to a 0.7% gain from the 0.5% in the 

second quarter and the year/year pace also saw a rise to 2.5% after 2.3% 

in the previous quarter. 

     While the quarter/quarter pace of growth for compensation for all 

civilian workers rose a bit in the most recent quarter, the 

year-over-year rate saw a rise to 2.5% from 2.4%, suggesting steady 

compensation growth. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

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