Real Average Weekly Earnings Fall For Second Month, by 0.4 Percent

Inflation-adjusted average weekly earnings of nonsupervisory and production workers fell in September for the second straight month, the Labor Department reported Oct. 16.

The 0.4 percent decline in private sector real weekly earnings, which followed a 0.8 percent drop in August, largely reflected higher inflation, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by DOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W)—jumped 0.7 percent for the second month in a row in September. (See story in this section.)

Before adjustment for inflation, average hourly earnings rose 0.3 percent last month, while the ...