TEXT
Table A.  Composition of change in real earnings (production or
Table 1.  Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private
Table 2. Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls1/, seasonally adjusted
Table 3.  Revised seasonally adjusted average hourly and weekly earnings of


 
 
 Technical information: (202) 606-6555     USDL 94-450
 Media contact:               606-5902
 
                                           WIRE EMBARGO UNTIL
                                           10:00 A.M. (EDT) TUESDAY,
                                           SEPTEMBER 13, 1994
 
 
 
                      REAL EARNINGS IN AUGUST 1994
 
     Real average weekly earnings fell 0.8 percent from July
 to August after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data
 released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
 of Labor.  This drop stemmed from a 0.6 percent decline in
 average weekly hours coupled with a 0.4 percent rise in the Consumer
 Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
 These movements were partially offset by a 0.2 percent increase in
 average hourly earnings.
 
     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 2.4 percent between August
 of 1993 and 1994 as a result of a 2.4 percent increase in average hourly
 earnings; average weekly hours were unchanged over the year.  After
 adjustment for a 2.9 percent gain in the CPI-W over the same period,
 real average weekly earnings fell by 0.4 percent.  Before adjustment
 for seasonal change and deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings
 were $387.50 in August 1994, compared with $378.38 a year earlier.
 
 
                    _____________________________
 
 
      Real Earnings for September 1994 will be released on Friday,
 October 14, 1994.
 
 
Table A.  Composition of change in real earnings (production or
nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls)
________________________________________________________________
             |         |         |         |   The   |  Real
      Year   |Average  | Average |Average  |Consumer |average
      and    | hourly  |  weekly | weekly  |  Price  | weekly
     month   |earnings |  hours  |earnings |Index 1/ |earnings
                                                  _
             |         |         |         |         |
________________________________________________________________
 
    Percent change from preceding month, seasonally adjusted
 
________________________________________________________________
1993:        |         |         |         |         |
   Aug.      |   0.4   |   0.3   |   0.7   |   0.1   |   0.5
   Sept.     |    .2   |   -.6   |   -.4   |    .1   |   -.5
   Oct.      |    .4   |    .3   |    .7   |    .4   |    .3
   Nov.      |    .2   |    .3   |    .5   |    .2   |    .3
   Dec.      |    .2   |   -.3   |   -.1   |    .1   |   -.2
1994:        |         |         |         |         |
   Jan.      |    .5   |    .9   |   1.4   |    .1   |   1.4
   Feb.      |    .1   |  -1.4   |  -1.3   |    .2   |  -1.5
   Mar.      |   -.1   |    .9   |    .8   |    .3   |    .4
   Apr.      |    .3   |    .3   |    .6   |    .1   |    .4
   May       |    .4   |    .3   |    .6   |    .1   |    .5
   June      |   -.1   |   -.6   |   -.7   |    .3   |  -1.0
   July p    |    .3   |    .3   |    .6   |    .4   |    .2
   Aug. p    |    .2   |   -.6   |   -.4   |    .4   |   -.8
             |         |         |         |         |
________________________________________________________________
 
           Percent change from same month a year ago
 
________________________________________________________________
1993:        |         |         |         |         |
   Aug.      |   2.2   |   0.6   |   2.8   |   2.6   |   0.1
   Sept.     |   2.4   |    .6   |   3.0   |   2.5   |    .5
   Oct.      |   2.5   |    .6   |   3.1   |   2.7   |    .5
   Nov.      |   2.3   |    .0   |   2.3   |   2.6   |   -.2
   Dec.      |   2.6   |    .6   |   3.2   |   2.5   |    .7
1994:        |         |         |         |         |
   Jan.      |   2.8   |    .9   |   3.7   |   2.4   |   1.3
   Feb.      |   2.8   |   -.3   |   2.5   |   2.3   |    .1
   Mar.      |   2.3   |   1.2   |   3.5   |   2.3   |   1.2
   Apr.      |   2.6   |    .9   |   3.5   |   2.2   |   1.3
   May       |   2.5   |    .3   |   2.8   |   2.1   |    .7
   June      |   2.5   |    .6   |   3.1   |   2.4   |    .6
   July p    |   2.7   |    .3   |   3.0   |   2.6   |    .3
   Aug. p    |   2.4   |    .0   |   2.4   |   2.9   |   -.4
             |         |         |         |         |
________________________________________________________________
  1/ The deflator for the           for Urban Wage Earners and
  _
constant dollar series present-     Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
ed in this release is derived
                                      _
from the Consumer Price Index         p = preliminary.
 
Table 1.  Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private
      nonfarm payrolls in current and constant dollars1/ by industry
_______________________________________________________________________
                             |                                        |
                             |                 Average                |
 
                             |             hourly earnings            |
         Industry            |                                        |
                              _________________________________________
                             | Aug.  | July  | Aug.  |Percent change  |
                             | 1993  | 1994p | 1994p |Aug. 1993 -     |
                             |       |       |       |Aug. 1994       |
_______________________________________________________________________
                             |       |       |       |                |
Total private: 2/            |       |       |       |                |
               _
  Current dollars............|$10.78 |$11.04 |$11.04 |       2.4      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  7.33 |  7.34 |  7.30 |       -.4      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Mining:                     |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 14.44 | 14.70 | 14.66 |       1.5      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  9.82 |  9.77 |  9.70 |      -1.2      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Construction:               |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 14.45 | 14.72 | 14.77 |       2.2      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  9.83 |  9.78 |  9.77 |       -.6      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Manufacturing:              |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 11.70 | 12.05 | 12.03 |       2.8      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  7.96 |  8.01 |  7.96 |        .0      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Transportation and          |       |       |       |                |
    public utilities:        |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 13.62 | 13.82 | 13.86 |       1.8      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  9.27 |  9.18 |  9.17 |      -1.1      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Wholesale trade:            |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 11.75 | 11.99 | 11.96 |       1.8      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  7.99 |  7.97 |  7.91 |      -1.0      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Retail trade:               |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............|  7.24 |  7.44 |  7.42 |       2.5      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  4.93 |  4.94 |  4.91 |       -.4      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Finance, insurance,         |       |       |       |                |
    and real estate:         |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 11.39 | 11.71 | 11.74 |       3.1      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  7.75 |  7.78 |  7.76 |        .1      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
 Services:                   |       |       |       |                |
  Current dollars............| 10.66 | 10.92 | 10.92 |       2.4      |
  Constant (1982) dollars....|  7.25 |  7.26 |  7.22 |       -.4      |
                             |       |       |       |                |
                             |       |       |       |                |
_______________________________________________________________________
 
 
_________________________________________________________________________
                             |
                             |                  Average
 
                             |              weekly earnings
         Industry            |
                             ____________________________________________
                             | Aug.   | July   | Aug.   |Percent change
                             | 1993   | 1994p  | 1994p  |Aug. 1993 -
                             |        |        |        |Aug. 1994
_________________________________________________________________________
                             |        |        |        |
Total private: 2/            |        |        |        |
               _
  Current dollars............|$378.38 |$385.30 |$387.50 |       2.4
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 257.40 | 256.01 | 256.28 |       -.4
                             |        |        |        |
 Mining:                     |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 648.36 | 660.03 | 668.50 |       3.1
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 441.06 | 438.56 | 442.13 |        .2
                             |        |        |        |
 Construction:               |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 572.22 | 585.86 | 587.85 |       2.7
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 389.27 | 389.28 | 388.79 |       -.1
                             |        |        |        |
 Manufacturing:              |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 485.55 | 500.08 | 506.46 |       4.3
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 330.31 | 332.28 | 334.96 |       1.4
                             |        |        |        |
 Transportation and          |        |        |        |
    public utilities:        |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 548.89 | 556.95 | 559.94 |       2.0
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 373.39 | 370.07 | 370.33 |       -.8
                             |        |        |        |
 Wholesale trade:            |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 451.20 | 460.42 | 458.07 |       1.5
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 306.94 | 305.93 | 302.96 |      -1.3
                             |        |        |        |
 Retail trade:               |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 215.03 | 220.97 | 221.12 |       2.8
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 146.28 | 146.82 | 146.24 |       (3)
                             |        |        |        |
 Finance, insurance,         |        |        |        |
    and real estate:         |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 414.60 | 418.05 | 417.94 |        .8
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 282.04 | 277.77 | 276.42 |      -2.0
                             |        |        |        |
 Services:                   |        |        |        |
  Current dollars............| 352.85 | 358.18 | 358.18 |       1.5
  Constant (1982) dollars....| 240.03 | 237.99 | 236.89 |      -1.3
                             |        |        |        |
                             |        |        |        |
_________________________________________________________________________
 
 
     1/ The deflator for te constant dollar series presented     and public utilities, trade, finance, insurance,
     _
in this release is derivedfrom the Consumer Price Index for      and real estate, and services.  Included in this
Urban Wage Earners and Cleical Workers (CPI-W).                  group are approximately four-fifths of all jobs
     2/ Data relate to theearnings of production and related     on private industry payrolls.
     _
workers in mining and manuacturing; construction workers in           3/ Less than 0.05 percent.
                                                                      _
construction; and nonsuperisory workers in transportation             p = preliminary.
 
 
Table 2. Earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls1/, seasonally adjusted
                                                                                     _
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                            |                                       |
                            |                 1993                  |                             1994
         Earnings           |                                       |
                             _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
                            | Aug.  | Sept. | Oct.  | Nov.  | Dec.  | Jan.  | Feb.  | Mar.  | Apr.  | May   | June  |July p |Aug. p
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
Average hourly earnings:    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
  Current dollars...........| $10.86| $10.88| $10.92| $10.94| $10.96| $11.02| $11.03| $11.02| $11.05| $11.09| $11.08| $11.11| $11.13
  Constant (1982) dollars2/.|   7.39|   7.40|   7.39|   7.39|   7.40|   7.43|   7.42|   7.39|   7.40|   7.42|   7.39|   7.38|   7.36
                         _
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
Average weekly earnings:    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
  Current dollars...........| 375.76| 374.27| 376.74| 378.52| 378.12| 383.50| 378.33| 381.29| 383.44| 385.93| 383.37| 385.52| 383.99
  Constant (1982) dollars2/.| 255.62| 254.43| 255.07| 255.76| 255.14| 258.60| 254.60| 255.73| 256.83| 258.15| 255.58| 255.99| 253.96
                         _
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
                            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
     1/ See footnote 2, table 1.                                     Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
     _
     2/ The deflator for the constant dollar series presented             p = preliminary.
     _
in this release is derived from the Consumer Price Index for
 
 
Table 3.  Revised seasonally adjusted average hourly and weekly earnings of
production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls1/ in
constant (1982) dollars
 
___________________________________________________________________________
               |
               |                  Average hourly earnings
     Year      |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
               |  Jan.   |  Feb.   |  Mar.   |  Apr.   |   May   |  June
               |         |         |         |         |         |
___________________________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
1989...........|  $7.68  |  $7.67  |  $7.65  |  $7.63  |  $7.59  |  $7.59
1990...........|   7.55  |   7.57  |   7.56  |   7.57  |   7.58  |   7.56
1991...........|   7.42  |   7.43  |   7.44  |   7.45  |   7.45  |   7.47
1992...........|   7.43  |   7.44  |   7.43  |   7.42  |   7.42  |   7.42
1993...........|   7.40  |   7.38  |   7.40  |   7.38  |   7.38  |   7.38
1994...........|   7.43  |   7.42  |   7.39  |   7.40p |    -    |    -
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
               |  July   |  Aug.   |  Sept.  |  Oct.   |  Nov.   |  Dec.
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
1989...........|   7.62  |   7.62  |   7.63  |   7.63  |   7.62  |   7.62
1990...........|   7.56  |   7.49  |   7.48  |   7.44  |   7.43  |   7.43
1991...........|   7.46  |   7.47  |   7.47  |   7.46  |   7.43  |   7.44
1992...........|   7.41  |   7.42  |   7.40  |   7.40  |   7.41  |   7.38
1993...........|   7.38  |   7.39  |   7.40  |   7.39  |   7.39  |   7.40
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |
               |                  Average weekly earnings
               |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
               |  Jan.   |  Feb.   |  Mar.   |  Apr.   |   May   |  June
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
1989...........| $267.26 | $264.66 | $264.77 | $265.56 | $261.76 | $261.95
1990...........|  260.61 |  261.26 |  260.85 |  262.00 |  261.38 |  261.59
1991...........|  253.69 |  254.19 |  254.57 |  254.08 |  254.83 |  257.75
1992...........|  254.69 |  256.79 |  256.44 |  254.40 |  256.08 |  254.60
1993...........|  254.50 |  254.03 |  252.97 |  253.76 |  256.22 |  253.83
1994...........|  258.60 |  254.60 |  255.73 |  256.83p|    -    |    -
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
               |  July   |  Aug.   |  Sept.  |  Oct.   |  Nov.   |  Dec.
               |         |         |         |         |         |
                ___________________________________________________________
               |         |         |         |         |         |
1989...........|  263.78 |  262.75 |  263.22 |  264.09 |  262.78 |  262.07
1990...........|  261.65 |  257.81 |  258.67 |  254.42 |  254.92 |  256.42
1991...........|  255.14 |  256.08 |  256.83 |  255.71 |  254.86 |  256.10
1992...........|  254.12 |  256.10 |  253.85 |  254.59 |  256.32 |  253.10
1993...........|  254.46 |  255.62 |  254.43 |  255.07 |  255.76 |  255.14
               |         |         |         |         |         |
___________________________________________________________________________
 
   1/  Data relate to the earnings of production and related workers in
mining and manufacturing; construction workers in construction; and
nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and services.
   -  Data not available.
   NOTE:  These data have been revised to reflect the March 1993 employment
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors.