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ECI measures changes in labor costs for wages and salaries along with non-cash fringe benefits in non-farm private industry and state and local governments.

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The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a quarterly economic series detailing the changes in the costs of labor for businesses in the United States economy. The ECI is prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in the U.S. Department of Labor.

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An index used to monitor inflation. The Employment Cost Index measures the relative changes in wages, benefits, and bonuses for a specific group of occupations. The reason the ECI is thought to be an indicator of inflation is that as wages increase, the added cost is often passed to consumers shortly thereafter in the form of higher prices (which is inflation). In combination with the productivity report, the ECI can reveal whether the increased cost of labor is justified or not. The ECI is released on the last business day of January, April, July and October at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

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National Compensation Survey - Employment Cost Trends produces quarterly indexes measuring change over time in labor costs (ECI) and quarterly data measuring level of average costs per hour worked (ECEC).

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* Importance (A-F): This release merits a B+.
* Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
* Release Time: 8:30 ET, near the end of the first month of the quarter for the prior quarter.
* Raw Data Available At: http://stats.bls.gov

In Brief

Since the employment cost index was mentioned by Fed Chairman Greenspan in July 1996, it has risen into the upper echelon of economic reports in the eyes of the bond market. Its lagging nature still leaves it as a less timely indicator of employment cost trends than the monthly hourly earnings data in the employment report. But the ECI does add something to this picture: an adjustment for shifting employment between industries, and a look at benefit costs. These additions are interesting, but typically do not alter the view of the employment cost picture which was left by hourly earnings. ECI will be much less closely watched during periods when wage inflation is not a serious market concern.

The market focusses on the quarter/quarter and year/year changes in each of three categories: total employment costs, wages and salaries, and benefit costs. The figures are sometimes skewed by large year-end bonuses in the financial industry; analysts often exclude the sales commission component of wages and salaries to adjust for this factor.
In Depth

Purpose
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is designed to measure the change in the cost of labor.

Composition
The ECI compensation series includes wages and salaries and employer costs for employee benefits. The sum of the change in these two components equals the change in total compensation.

Usefulness
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland aptly describes this aspect of the employment cost index thus: "The ECI is the best measure of compensation (wages and benefits) growth available." Briefing.com adds this extension: The usefulness of the ECI lies in its ability to tell us whether wage and/or benefit-cost growth appears excessive and whether compensation is growing faster than inflation.

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An index used to monitor inflation. The Employment Cost Index measures the relative changes in wages, benefits, and bonuses for a specific group of occupations. The reason the ECI is thought to be an indicator of inflation is that as wages increase, the added cost is often passed to consumers shortly thereafter in the form of higher prices (which is inflation). In combination with the productivity report, the ECI can reveal whether the increased cost of labor is justified or not. The ECI is released on the last business day of January, April, July and October at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

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National Compensation Survey - Employment Cost Trends produces quarterly indexes measuring change over time in labor costs (ECI) and quarterly data measuring level of average costs per hour worked (ECEC).

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Each year, quarterly to be exact, international labor organizations provide a detailed report called the employment cost index that measures the growth of compensation and the cost of civilian labor by individual industries. The employment cost index, also commonly called the ECI, is used by companies to measure the change in the cost of labor based on variable factors. The employment cost index is sometimes referred to as the “weighted average hourly cost of an hour of labor.”

The employment cost index is actually based on a random survey of company payrolls in the final month of each quarter. The data is pulled from employer payroll records provided by quarterly mandated employer wage statements and reports. This data is displayed according to industry and no direct or confidential information is provided about the companies or employees.

The purpose of the employment cost index is to evaluate if certain types of jobs are more costly which gives companies the opportunity to adjust wages and other key benefits for the civilian working population. The employment cost index provides evidence of the cost of each hour of labor that is performed by the civilian workforce. On average, the employment cost index is a good indicator if a business is profitable based on the findings of the report.

Another use for the employment cost index is as a gauge for the overall economy. If the wage costs are on the low side while stock prices are on the mid to high level, this indicates that the economy is in good standing in any given region or industry. If the employment cost index rises above the profitability rates, the economy is suffering and businesses have either the choice to reduce their workforce or lower pay rates to stay afloat.

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The Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures changes in the total compensation paid for labor. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which releases a monthly CPI report, also publishes ECI figures every three months.

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The Employment Cost Index, or ECI, is a quantitative measure of proliferation of wages and other employee compensation. The Employment Cost Index is an average figure calculated in units of one hour of labor. In addition to reflecting current employee wages, the Employment Cost Index also provides data on other forms of compensation, such as employee benefits, bonuses, and entitlement programs. By taking into account all given occupations and industry trends, the Employment Cost Index provides a good assessment of wage movements, as they relate to the cost of living and market conditions. The Employment Cost Index is also an important indicator of potential inflation. The Employment Cost Index is a quarterly report issued by the U.S. department of Labor.

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An index used to monitor inflation. The Employment Cost Index measures the relative changes in wages, benefits, and bonuses for a specific group of occupations. The reason the ECI is thought to be an indicator of inflation is that as wages increase, the added cost is often passed to consumers shortly thereafter in the form of higher prices (which is inflation). In combination with the productivity report, the ECI can reveal whether the increased cost of labor is justified or not. The ECI is released on the last business day of January, April, July and October at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

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quarterly economic series detailing the changes in the costs of labor for businesses in the United States economy. The ECI is prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Abbreviated as ECI, refers to a quarterly report from the U.S. Department of Labor quantifying changes in employee compensation in the form of wages and benefits. Calculated based on a fixed basket of occupations. Considered by some investors to be an indicator of inflation.

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The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a quarterly economic series detailing the changes in the costs of labor for businesses in the United States economy. The ECI is prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in the U.S. Department of Labor.

It is a widely watched series by the financial sector, yet the ECI gets less press coverage than the more commonly quoted Consumer Price Index (CPI)], which is also prepared by the BLS. While the CPI is a measure of inflation in consumer prices, the ECI is vital in that it gives an indication of whether employment cost changes are rising or falling, thus measuring inflation of wages, and employer-paid benefits. Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan said of the ECI, "The Employment Cost Index is indispensable to understanding America's economy. It ensures the accuracy of the statistics on employers' compensation costs that we rely on for economic policy making and for successful business planning." In making decisions to adjust the prime interest rate, the Federal Reserve often cites shifts in the ECI as having an effect on their decision-making process. The index is also used in determining annual US government-employee salary adjustments through across-the-board General Schedule adjustments.

Wikipedia.org

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A quarterly report from the U.S. Department of Labor that measures the growth of employees' compensation (wages and benefits). The index is based on a survey of employer payrolls in the final month of each quarter. The ECI tracks movement in the cost of labor, including wages, fringe benefits and bonuses for employees at all levels of a company.

Source: www.investopedia.com