Description:

The ECI provides information about employees’ compensation in regards to wages and benefits across all industries. Fringe benefits and bonuses are included in the ECI and all levels of an organization are studied. The Bureau of Labor questions over 500 public organizations and over 3,000 private companies.

Released:

Quarterly from the U.S. Department of Labor

Key Point:

The ECI tracks the cost of labor and is considered a precursor for possible inflation in the future. Firms generally pass on higher labor costs to the end consumer by raising prices; however this occurs after labor costs have increased. This lag effect between higher wages and higher prices is a key inflationary gauge always monitored by economists.

Release site: Click here