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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

■

U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
January 1982

^
^

In this issue:
Articles on prices, collective bargaining,
and State labor legislation in 1981


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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Raymond J. Donovan, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Janet L. Norwood, Commissioner

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January cover:

Detail from Carting Snow from the Streets, 1867,
an engraving by Stanley Fox,
from New York in the Nineteenth Century:
321 Engravings from Harper’s Weekly and Other
Contemporary Sources, by John Grafton.
Cover design by Richard L. Mathews,
Division of Audio-Visual Communications Services,
U.S. Department of Labor.


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Washington

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Henry Lowenstern, Editor-in-Chief
Robert W. Fisher, Executive Editor

The spendable earnings series: has it outlived its usefulness?
Questions are raised about its accuracy, relevance, and concepts; statistical evidence
indicates the series has been seriously deficient in tracking ‘spendable’ earnings

Large meat, grain supplies cut recent food price increases
Food prices helped to hold down the overall rate of inflation in the first half
of 1981, although a resurgence took place during the third quarter

Douglas R. LeRoy

16

Scheduled wage increases and cost-of-living provisions in 1982
Deferred increases will average 6.3 percent, more than in any year since 1971,
and are payable to 4.3 million workers; cost-of-living clauses cover 3.4 million

George Ruben

21

Organized labor in 1981: a shifting of priorities
The quickened pace of wage-and-benefit concessions and employment declines
in major industries left the movement with little to celebrate during its centennial

Richard R. Nelson

29

State labor legislation enacted in 1981
The minimum wage was raised in 26 jurisdictions, sometimes above the Federal rate;
more attention was paid to protecting ‘whistleblowers’ and workers in plant closings

repo rts

J. A. Bunn, J. E. Triplett
R. Bednarzik, R. Tiller


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43
45

Reconciling the c p i and the p c e Deflator: an update
Area labor market response to national unemployment patterns

DEPARTMENTS

2
43
53
54
61

Labor month in review
Research summaries
Major agreements expiring next month
Book reviews
Current labor statistics

RESEARCH LIBRARY
Federal Reserve Bank
of St. Louis

Labor M onth
In Review
JOB SAFETY. Job-related injuries and

illnesses declined in 1980. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics’ annual survey, con­
ducted in 1981, shows that 1 injury or
illness occurred for every 12 workers in
the private economy during 1980. The
ratio was 1 out of 11 in each of the
previous 4 years.
The latest survey also shows that in­
cidence rates and total cases fell for the
first time in 5 years. The incidence rate
fell from 9.5 injuries and illnesses per
100 full-time workers in 1979 to 8.7 in
1980. About 10 percent of the 0.8
decline in the incidence rate was the
result of a decrease in total hours work­
ed between 1979 and 1980.
In 1980, work-related deaths in units
with 11 or more employees also
fell—from 4,950 in 1979 to 4,400 in
1980. The fatality rate fell from 8.6 per
100,000 workers in 1979 to 7.7 in 1980.
Over the 2-year period from 1979 to
1980, 30 percent of all occupational
fatalities were associated with the opera­
tion of cars and trucks. (See page 49 for
a report on job-related deaths.)
Occupational injuries. Occupational in­
juries occurred at a rate of 8.5 per 100
full-time workers during 1980—down
from 9.2 in 1979.
Among industry divisions, only
agriculture, forestry, and fishing showed
a slight increase in the incidence of in­
juries. Rates for the remaining seven in­
dustry divisions fell.
Of the 69 major industry groups, in­
cidence rates decreased in 57, increased
in 9, and 3 remained at the 1979 level.
Incidence rates for injuries involving lost
workdays decreased in 48, increased in
9, and were unchanged in 12 of the 69 in­
dustries.
The severity of injuries is reflected in
the incidence rate of lost workdays. In
1980, there were 63.7 lost workdays per
100 full-time workers due to in­
jury—down from 66.2 in 1979. Mining
was the only industry division to show
an increase in the lost workdays rate; it
had the highest rate of lost workdays
among all industry divisions. Since 1977,
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the lost workdays incidence rate in min­
ing has been more than twice the na­
tional average.
Injury incidence rates in estab­
lishments with fewer than 50 or more
than 1,000 workers were lower than in
mid-size establishments. Rates con­
tinued to be highest in establish­
ments with 100 to 249 employees.
About 6.0 million work-related in­
juries occurred in 1979 compared with
nearly 5.5 million in 1980—a decline of
about half a million cases. Both lost
workday injuries and nonfatal injuries
without lost workdays decreased. As in
1979, 45 percent of all injuries involved
lost worktime.
There were 1.7 million fewer days lost
due to occupational injuries in 1980 than
in 1979. The 40.9 million workdays lost
in 1980 represent lost work time
equivalent to a full year’s work for near­
ly 163,600 employees.

The incidence of occupational illnesses
measured by the annual survey refers to
the number of new illness cases occur­
ring during a year and does not measure
continuing conditions of illness reported
in previous surveys. Illnesses are record­
ed only for the year in which they are
recognized and diagnosed as workrelated.
Nearly 130,200 occupational illnesses
were recognized in 1980; the number
recognized in 1979 was 148,000. During
this period, the number of illnesses
decreased in 7 of the 8 industry divi­
sions; cases increased in agriculture,
forestry, and fishing.
As in previous years, skin diseases or
disorders continued to account for the
majority of all illnesses—about 4 of
every 10 cases. This is largely because
they are more readily observable than
other illnesses.
of survey. The An­
nual Survey of Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses is a Federal/State
cooperative program in which State
agencies participate with the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor. Response to the 1980 survey
was mandatory. The sample consisted of
280,000 units in the private sector.

Background

The re­
cording and reporting of illnesses con­
tinue to present measurement problems,
since employers (and physicians) often
are unable to recognize some illnesses as
work-related. The annual survey in­
cludes data only on the incidence of visi­
ble illnesses of workers. To the extent
that occupational illnesses are unrec­
ognized and, therefore, unreported, the
survey estimates understate their occur­
rence.
Occupational illnesses include any ab­
normal condition or disorder, other than
one resulting from an occupational in­
jury, caused by exposure to environmen­
tal factors associated with employment.
O ccupational

illnesses.

The occupational injury and illness
data reported through the annual survey
are based on the records which
employers maintain under the Occupa­
tional Safety and Health Act of 1970.
A bls bulletin with full survey details
is planned for publication later this
year.
□

Rebasing of price indexes delayed

Because of severe budget constraints, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not
been able to carry out by January 1982 the Government directive to rebase the
Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index to the new Federal
1977=100 reference base. Postponement is required because of the direct pro­
duction work necessary to prepare the data and the information services to ex­
plain the change. No alternative date for adopting the 1977 reference base has
been set.

V.

)o 5

JSr y v _ 3

.

h3s

The spendable earnings series:
has it outlived its usefulness?
Enough questions have been raised about accuracy,
relevance, and concepts to suggest that
this is a series whose time is up;
statistical evidence indicates that the measure
has been seriously deficient in tracking \spendable earnings
’

P a u l O. F l a im

Are American workers “better oif ’ now than they were
5 or 10 years ago? That is, considering wage and in­
flation trends, have workers been making further gains
or losing ground in terms of the purchasing power of
their earnings?
The answers to this question can vary considerably,
depending on what statistical series is used to determine
the basic trends in gross earnings and on what calcula­
tions and assumptions are made in translating the sta­
tistics on gross earnings into estimates of purchasing
power.
One of the statistics most often used to depict the
trend in purchasing power of American workers has
been the “real spendable weekly earnings of workers
with three dependents.” This series, published monthly
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was initiated about
four decades ago. Its initial purpose was to keep track
of the purchasing power of factory workers by taking
into account changes in consumer prices as well as de­
ductions from pay for Federal income taxes and social
security contributions. In the early 1960’s, the scope of
the series was expanded to all production and
Paul O. Flaim is chief of the Division of Labor Force Studies, Bureau
of Labor Statistics.


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nonsupervisory workers in the private nonfarm econo­
my. The following tabulation shows the trend in this se­
ries (in 1977 dollars) over the 1950-80 period:
1950
1955
I960
1965
1970
1975
1980

.................................................................................
$131.08
....................................... . . ...................................
143.46
......................................................................................
149.20
......................................................................................
166.28
.................................................................................
163.65
......................................................................................
164.02
......................................................................................
151.65

According to the tabulation, real spendable weekly
earnings grew steadily and significantly from 1950 to
1965, were stagnant until 1975, and then dipped consid­
erably over the next 5 years. Why this change in trend?
Is it possible that, after making considerable progress
over the 1950-65 period, the average American worker
lost ground in terms of purchasing power over the next
15 years?
As will be shown in this article, the change in the
trend of the spendable earnings series in the mid-1960’s
did not stem from any sudden change in the earnings of
individual workers. Rather, it reflects demographic and
social changes which began at about that time and
which greatly altered the composition of the labor force
over the next 15 years.
3

r\,
ji

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • The Spendable Earnings Series
Comparisons with other earnings and income series
indicate that the majority of American workers have
made further progress in terms of purchasing power
over the 1965-80 period, even though they may indeed
have suffered a dip after 1975 when inflation intensified.
These comparisons also show that workers who are
likely to have three dependents earn— and take home—
much more than is indicated by the “spendable earn­
ings” series.

More representative in early days
Computation of the spendable earnings series began
in 1939. Records do not show why the series was start­
ed, but it should be recalled that the Social Security Act
had gone into effect in 1937, and the need must have
soon arisen to measure the effects of the deduction for
social security as well as those for Federal income taxes
on the take-home pay of typical factory workers.
To measure the impact of Federal income taxes, two
series were started, one for workers assumed to have
three dependents (a nonworking wife and two children)
and one for those assumed to have no dependents. It is
important to note, however, that both series were based
on the same earnings average— that for all production
workers in manufacturing. In subsequent years, the se­
ries for workers with three dependents became the more
prominent and widely quoted of the two, presumably
because of the greater interest in the earnings situation
of a family’s principal breadwinner.
Of course, in 1939, and even in the years immediately
following World War II (although not necessarily dur­
ing the war), the factory labor force was much more
male dominated than is now the case. In fact, this was
also true in other industries, as the labor force partici­
pation rate for women, especially wives, was extremely
low. Thus, the use of the earnings average for all facto­
ry production workers to represent the earnings of a
factory worker with three dependents was not unsound
in the early days of the series.
And the fact that no allowance was made for deduc­
tions for State and local taxes in translating the gross
earnings of factory workers into “spendable” (or after­
tax) earnings also was not a significant omission in
those years. It was only after World War II that State
and local income taxes began to take a significant and
growing portion of a worker’s earnings, a trend that
continued at least until the recent advent of “Proposi­
tion 13” and similar measures designed to limit local
tax burdens.
The deductions for social security and Federal in­
come taxes were also extremely low in the early days of
the spendable earnings series. In 1939, for example, a
factory worker whose gross weekly earnings equaled the
average for the industry-—$23.86 — took home $23.62 if
he had three dependents and $23.58 if he had no depen­
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dents. In either case, the total deductions barely
exceeded 1 percent, a far cry from the situation in 1980,
when comparable deductions totaled 14 percent for a
worker with three dependents and 22 percent for one
with no dependents. And this does not take into ac­
count any deductions for State and local taxes.
All things considered, the spendable earnings series,
as constructed in its early days, gave a reasonable ap­
proximation of the take-home pay of a worker with
three dependents. This was particularly true when the
series was limited to the manufacturing industry, where
men (many with three or more dependents) made up a
majority of the work force. But, the situation has
changed radically since those early days, and there has
been mounting evidence that the series has become less
representative of the earnings situation of workers with
three dependents.

Growing problems and criticisms
In 1964, the coverage of the spendable earnings se­
ries, previously limited to production workers in manu­
facturing, was expanded to include production and
nonsupervisory workers in all private nonfarm establish­
ments. In retrospect, this change made the series much
more susceptible to the effects of the pervasive demo­
graphic and social changes which, over the next 15
years, greatly altered the makeup of the American work
force.
The mid-1960’s marked the beginning of a large and
sustained increase in labor force participation among
women age 20 to 40. It was also during that time that
the leading edge of the huge post-World War II babyboom generation reached age 18 and began to enter the
job market. Suddenly, women and teenagers began to
account for most of the year-to-year gains in the work
force. Many of these new workers took only part-time
jobs, but even if working full time (as most of them
eventually did), they were generally paid much less per
week than men who had been at their jobs for many
years. Thus, as women and teenagers increased their
proportion of the work force, the average weekly earn-

‘Spendable earnings’ discontinued
Since the preparation of this article, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics has announced the termination of the
“spendable earnings series” with the publication, in Jan­
uary 1982, of the data for December 1981.
Discontinuation of the series was a specific recommen­
dation of the National Commission on Employment
and Unemployment Statistics and was endorsed by the
Secretary of Labor in his final report to the Congress
on the recommendations of the Commission, dated Oc­
tober 26, 1981.

ings for all production and nonsupervisory workers
(which formed the base of the spendable earnings series)
no longer grew as fast, even though there was no
change in the earnings trends for individual workers.
By the early 1970’s, some economists were already
arguing that, because of the change in the composition
of the labor force and other developments, the spend­
able earnings series no longer provided a reliable indica­
tion of the true trend in earnings. For example, in 1972,
George Perry of the Brookings Institution called the se­
ries “most misleading” for having signaled a halt in in­
creases in real wages when, in his view, none had
occurred.
Perry noted that the failure of the series to show any
further growth during the late 1960’s was due primarily
to (1) a change in the mix of workers; (2) a related de­
cline in hours worked; (3) an increase in deductions for
Federal income taxes (the reference being to the surtax
of 1968); and (4) the use of what he claimed to be an
inappropriate deflator to measure the impact of price
changes on earnings.1
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reacted to this criti­
cism in various ways. First, it endeavored to explain
more specifically what the spendable earnings series did
and did not represent. It emphasized that the series, as
related to workers with three dependents, applied only
to those whose gross earnings were equal to the average
for all production and nonsupervisory workers. The Bu­
reau also sought, through several analytical efforts, to
place the spendable earnings series in proper perspective
by comparing its levels and trends to those of other
earnings and income series.2 And, as the 1970’s pro­
gressed, it developed alternative measures of earnings
from payroll data which would be less affected by
changes in the mix of workers— the Hourly Earnings
Index and the Employment Cost Index.3 And finally, it
expanded the collection and publication of demographically oriented earnings data through the Current Popu­
lation Survey ( c p s ) .4
Despite these and other efforts to shed more light sn
earnings and thus reduce the misuse of the spendable
earnings series, this statistic has continued to be criti­
cized. In 1979, the National Commission on Employ­
ment and Unemployment Statistics reported that the
series “ . . . is misleading because it is not the earnings
figure associated with a married male with three depen­
dents; it is simply an average of all workers’ earnings
with deductions for Federal income tax liabilities and
social security adjusted for inflation. This hybrid figure
does not measure what it purports to measure.” 5
And in 1980, Geoffrey Moore, former Commissioner
of Labor Statistics, was also critical of the series. Moore
said that although the Bureau had endeavored to ex­
plain what the series did and did not do, “These statis­
tics have become one of the most misleading series

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published by the Federal Government. They are subject
to a large and increasing downward bias.”6

Comparisons with other data
Was the criticism of the spendable earnings series
sound? If so, to what extent has the series been
understating the level and trend in earnings of a worker
with three dependents? These questions are addressed in
the following comparisons of the data underlying the
spendable earnings series with data from other sources.
Current Population Survey (CPS). The earnings data
obtained through the CPS, while subject to some limita­
tions, are more suitable for tracking the earnings of
specific groups of workers than are the data obtained
from establishment surveys. This is because the CPS data
are obtained separately for individual workers in the
sample and can be linked with the information on mari­
tal status, family situation, and other characteristics of
these individuals. From 1967 to 1978, data on weekly
earnings were obtained through the CPS in May of each
year. Beginning in 1979 they have been collected
monthly (although from only one-quarter of the sample)
and are published quarterly. These data are most useful
in determining the accuracy of the spendable earnings
series.
The earnings level which underlies the establishmentbased series on the spendable earnings of workers with
three dependents is compared below with CPS data on
the earnings of workers who actually have three depen­
dents. For this purpose, the CPS data are limited to a
universe of husbands in full-time wage and salary jobs
who have a wife and two children under age 18. Using
the weekly earnings data for this universe, two separate
arithmetic means were constructed, one for production
and nonsupervisory workers in the private nonfarm sec­
tor (the same universe as that used in computing the es­
tablishment-based earnings averages.) and one for the
entire economy, including supervisory and nonpro­
duction personnel as well as rank-and-file workers. Fol­
lowing are CPS averages, based on data culled from the
microtapes for March, May, and October 1979, which
are compared with the average (mean) weekly earnings
for the same 3 months based on data from the estab­
lishment survey:
Mean gross weekly earnings

Establishment-based avera g e.....................
CPS-based averages:
Men in full-time production and
nonsupervisory jobs in private
nonfarm sector who have a wife
and two children under age 18 . . . .
Men in all full-time wage and salary
jobs who have a wife and two
children under age 18 ........................

$219

316

357

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • The Spendable Earnings Series
From the data, it is clear that average weekly earn­
ings from the establishment survey used to compute the
spendable weekly earnings for workers with three de­
pendents has, at least in recent years, fallen far short of
the actual earnings of this group of workers. According
to the CPS, these workers earn 44 percent more than the
establishment-based average if the comparison is re­
stricted to full-time private production and nonsupervisory jobs, and 63 percent more if the CPS universe is
expanded to all full-time wage and salary jobs.7
The establishment-based series is much lower than
the CPS figures because the former is an average for all
workers, whether in full- or part-time jobs, and regard­
less of age, sex, marital status, and family makeup. As
noted earlier, among this amorphous group of workers
has been a rapidly increasing proportion of women and
youth whose weekly earnings are much lower than
those of men of prime working age.8 In contrast, the
two CPS averages are limited, almost by definition, to
the earnings of men of prime working age.
While the preceding comparisons establish that the
actual earnings levels for workers with three dependents
differ radically from the average earnings of all produc­
tion and nonsupervisory workers, it is perhaps even
more useful to compare the trends in earnings of these
two widely different universes. Table 1 relates trends in
the establishment-based mean gross weekly earnings
with trends in median weekly earnings for the most im­
portant groups of workers as reported in the CPS. The
data are for 1967 (the first year for which data on week­
ly earnings were collected in the CPS) and 1980.
Both measures exhibited roughly the same percentage
increase (or decrease in constant or real dollars) for uni­
verses that include full- and part-time workers. This in­
dicates that the measures have been equally sensitive to
the changes in the composition of the work force in
terms of its full-time and part-time components and in
terms of the demographic mix within these components.
Table 1. Weekly earnings in 1967 and 1980, as measured
in the establishment survey and in the Current Population
Survey ( c p s )
Percent change
May
1967

Annual
average
1980

Establishment-based:
Mean weekly earnings for all
production and nonsuper­
visory workers on private nonfarm
payrolls ........................................

$100.55

$235.10

133.8

-5.9

CPS-based:
Median weekly earnings for —
All wage and salary workers . . . .
Full-time wage and salary workers
Men, 25 and over ....................
Women, 25 and over ...............
Men, 16 to 24 years..................
Women, 16 to 24 years ...........

100.00
109.00
131.00
79.00
97.00
74.00

232.00
266.00
346.00
217.00
214.00
171.00

132.0
144.0
164.1
174.7
120.6
131.1

-6.9
-1.8
6.1
11.3
-11.2
-6.8

Series

6


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In current
dollars

In constant
(real)
dollars

Most important, however, is what the CPS data show in
terms of the earnings trends for full-time workers, and
particularly for those 25 years and over. Whereas the
earnings for all wage and salary workers declined by 6.9
percent in real terms over the 1967-80 period, those for
full-time workers 25 years and over, who still make up
the majority of the work force, show increases of 6.1
percent for men and 11.3 percent for women. Only for
younger men and women (16 to 24) do the CPS data in­
dicate a significant decline in real weekly earnings. This
decline has been widely attributed to the rapid expan­
sion of this young age group and to the keen competi­
tion that its members face upon entering the labor
force.9
These data from the CPS highlight the importance of
looking at the earnings trends of specific demographic
groups. One is led to conclude from the d ata— the
spendable earnings series notwithstanding— that the av­
erage worker with three dependents did not experience
a decline in real earnings over the 1967-80 period. In
fact, the data suggest that for these workers, who in
most cases are in the 25 and over age group, earnings
are most likely to have increased.
Per-capita income. A comparison of the trend in spend­
able earnings with the trend in “real per-capita dispos­
able personal income” 10 reveals an even more striking
divergence than do the above comparisons with CPS
data. Chart 1 traces the course of the two series from
the late 1940’s to the end of the 1970’s. Both series
followed a similar upward trend until the mid-1960’s,
then each veered from its previous course, with the dis­
posable income series rising faster than before and the
spendable earnings series becoming very stagnant. Both
series had accumulated gains of approximately 40 per­
cent from 1947 to 1965. Over the next 15 years, the
per-capita income series posted a further gain of 60 per­
centage points and by 1980 was slightly more than
twice its 1947 level. In contrast, the spendable earnings
series did not show any sustained growth after 1965,
and in 1980, it actually dipped well below its mid1960’s level.
Several reasons for the sharp divergence between
these two series were identified and quantified by Paul
Ryscavage in 1979." However, before examining those
reasons, it is important to note the major definitional
differences between the two series— spendable earnings
relate to the average after-tax earnings of a specific
group of workers; per-capita income relates to the aver­
age after-tax income from all sources accruing to all
Americans, regardless of age or labor force status.
A paradox of the post-1965 divergence between the
two series is that some of the factors which have given
upward impetus to one acted as a drag on the other.
For example, the increases in labor force participation

Chart 1. Trends in real per capita disposable personal income and real spendable
weekly earnings of a worker with three dependents, 1947-80
Index (1947=100)
210

1947

49

51

53

55

57

59

61

63

65

67

69

71

73

75

77

79

80

SOURCE: Real per capita disposable personal income series, U.S. Department of Commerce.

of women and youth since the mid-1960’s have added
significantly to the aggregate earnings of American
workers, and this, coupled with a decline in the rate of
growth of the American population— primarily reflect­
ing a drop in the birth rate12— has resulted in higher in­
creases in per-capita income. But the impact on average
weekly earnings has been just the opposite. Because
many of the women and youth who joined the labor
force since the mid-1960’s work only part time, and be­
cause most are paid less than men even if working full
time, their inflow into the labor force has kept average
weekly earnings from rising as much as it would have
had they not entered the labor force.
In other words, greater aggregate earnings has meant
higher per-capita income but lower earnings per worker.
Following is an illustration of this apparent anomaly:
In a hypothetical family of four persons, the father
is, initially, the only worker, earning $200 a week.
This is the total family income, yielding a per-capita
income of $50 a week. Suppose now that the father
receives a 10-percent increase in pay, raising his earn­
ings to $220 a week, and that the mother joins the
work force, earning $80 a week in a part-time job.
Total family income now rises to $300 a week and
per-capita income jumps to $75. But look what hap­
pens to average weekly earnings per worker— it de­

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clines from $200 to $150. And if one of the children
were to join the work force, per-capita income would
increase again, while average earnings per worker
would probably drop further.
The greater role of women and youth in the labor
force has not been the sole cause for the sharp diver­
gence between the disposable income and the spendable
earnings series. The growing role of income transfer
payments has also given a boost to the disposable in­
come series. In addition, the disposable income series is
translated into dollars of constant purchasing power us­
ing the Personal Consumption Expenditures ( p c e ) defla­
tor. Hence, adjustments of the personal income series
for inflation have been somewhat less severe than those
which would have occurred had the Consumer Price In­
dex been used as a deflator, as is done in the spendable
earnings series.13 But the main factors in the post-1965
parting of the series are those illustrated by the hypo­
thetical family. In other words, much of the stagnation
of the spendable earnings series is attributable to events
which have resulted in increases in per-capita income.

Other issues
The statistical evidence and analogies presented in
this article confirm that the series on spendable earnings
for workers with three dependents has been under7

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • The Spendable Earnings Series
estimating both the level and trend in the earnings of
such workers. But underestimation is not the only issue
surrounding the series; there are also problems of con­
ceptual and operational nature.
In a narrow sense, spendable earnings can be defined
as “take-home pay,” that is gross pay minus all deduc­
tions. In a broader sense, spendable earnings may be
defined as take-home pay plus those amounts which, al­
though deducted from one’s pay, are funneled into pro­
grams which are of direct benefit to the worker or his
or her family (medical insurance, for example). This
concept could also be stretched to cover deductions
earmarked for a fund on which the worker or the work­
er’s family have a high probability of drawing for future
consumption (for example, social security). However,
the same principle would certainly not apply as strongly
to that portion of earnings which are deducted (or
which the worker must eventually pay out) for Federal,
State, and local taxes, inasmuch as tax monies may be
spent on projects which do not necessarily bring direct
or indirect benefits to the persons from whose pay the
deductions are made. Yet another complication arises
from the treatment of the nonpecuniary benefits that
many workers now receive (paid vacations, health insur­
ance, dental insurance, and so forth). Clearly, the line
between what is “spendable” and what is “not spend­
able” in terms of one’s earnings is not at all obvious
and raises many issues. Following is a discussion of
some of these issues in light of the procedures which
have been used to translate gross earnings into spend­
able earnings.
Deductions (or liabilities) for State and local taxes
have not been considered in the spendable earnings
computation. While these taxes were not very significant
when the series was launched, they have grown rapidly
in the post-World War II period. For example, in 1950,
the average taxpayer paid less than 5 cents to State and
local governments for each dollar paid to the Federal
Government. But by 1980— “Proposition 13” and simi­
lar measures notwithstanding— the total personal in­
come taxes paid to States and local municipalities had
grown to 18 percent of the amount paid to the Federal
Government.14 And because the recently enacted reduc­
tions in Federal tax rates do not appear likely to be ac­
companied by similar declines in State and local rates,
the above ratio is almost certain to grow in the future.
Thus, in addition to the crucial measuring problems,
the fact that deductions for State and local taxes are ig­
nored in translating gross earnings into spendable earn­
ings raises a further question concerning the relevance
of the spendable earnings series. Unfortunately, estimat­
ing such taxes at the national level would be exceeding­
ly difficult, given that some States collect no personal
income taxes and that most others have varying rates.
Computation would be difficult even if the establish­
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ment-based earnings data were accompanied by current­
ly nonexistent information on the family situation of
each worker.
Even the computation of Federal income taxes, as
used to construct the spendable earnings series, is based
on questionable assumptions. For example, weekly earn­
ings are annualized to compute the tax liabilities, and it
is thus .assumed that the average production worker
works 52 weeks a year. Yet, we know that this is not
the case. It is also assumed that the worker with three
dependents for whom the tax burden is calculated has a
nonworking wife and is, thus, the sole worker in the
family. While this may have been the case 30 or 40
years ago, it is clearly not the rule today. At least half
of the wives of men in production and nonsupervisory
jobs are now working.15 Another assumption is that the
worker with three dependents would always take the
“standard deduction” in computing Federal taxes. Al­
though the proportion of taxpayers taking the standard
deduction (rather than submitting an itemized list) has
indeed been growing, there are still millions who do in
fact itemize deductions, thereby paying a lower tax than
they would had they taken the standard deduction. In­
ternal Revenue Service statistics for 1978 (the last year
for which such data are available) show that deductions
were itemized in 40 percent of the returns with adjusted
gross income ranging from $15,000 to $20,000— a
bracket that would include many of the workers with
three dependents. And, the higher the earnings brack­
ets, the higher the percentage of returns with itemized
deductions.16
A final question of conceptual nature is whether it is
proper to treat a worker’s contributions to social securi­
ty as a tax. According to the U.S. Treasury Depart­
ment, a tax is a “compulsory payment for which no
special benefit is received in return.” 17 Could this be said
of social security contributions? Although compulsory
for most wage and salary workers, these contributions
are made with definite expectations of benefits to be re­
ceived in the future. These contributions do, of course,
reduce the portion of earnings that is immediately
spendable, but so do deductions for medical insurance,
life insurance, and so on, and these have not been con­
sidered as reducing spendable earnings.

Can ‘spendable’ earnings be measured?
Could an accurate computation of the “spendable”
portion of the earnings of workers with three depen­
dents (or any other number of dependents) be made if
there were a reliable measure of the gross or pretax
earnings of such workers?
Unfortunately, it is doubtful that a more useful and
accurate spendable earnings series could be constructed
from alternative sources of data, such as those from the
CPS. The CPS provides valuable information on the earn-

ings of individual workers and on the makeup of their
families, and this information could be used to make
more appropriate calculations of the tax burden of these
workers. But the CPS data are subject to other limita­
tions: they could not be used to construct a monthly se­
ries, as they are collected from only one-fourth of the
household sample each month and must be accumulat­
ed for several months before their statistical reliability
reaches acceptable standards. Perhaps the best role that
the CPS earnings data can play is to provide reliable
measures— based, perhaps, on annual averages— of the
year-to-year and long-term movement in the earnings of
specific groups of workers. More accurate estimation of
the Federal tax burden of workers may also be
attempted annually with CPS data. But even with the
additional information accompanying the CPS data, it

would be most difficult to accurately estimate State and
local taxes— and this would remain a glaring deficiency
in any meaningful measurement of spendable earnings.

1George L. Perry, “Real Spendable Weekly Earnings,” B ro o k in g s
(Washington, The Brookings Institution,
1972), pp. 779-87. As some economists do now, Perry was suggesting
even in 1972 that the “personal consumption expenditures deflator”
used in conjunction with the national accounts would have been a
more accurate and objective measure of the impact of inflation on
earnings than the Consumer Price Index.
2Among the M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w articles on this subject
published in the early 1970’s are Paul M. Schwab, “Two measures of
purchasing power contrasted,” April 1971, pp. 3-14; Jack Alterman,
“Compensation per man-hour and take-home pay,” June 1971, pp. 25
-34; Thomas W. Gavett, “Measures of changes in real wages and
earnings,” February 1972, pp. 48-53; and Robert L. Stein and Paul
M. Ryscavage, “Measuring annual earnings of household heads in
production jobs,” April 1974, pp. 3-11.
3For a technical description of both of these series, see B L S M e a ­
su re s o f C o m p e n sa tio n , Bulletin 1941 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1977).
4 Data on weekly earnings from the CPS were collected in May of
each year from 1967 to 1978 (with the exception of 1968). Data on
hourly earnings were collected each May from 1973 to 1978. Begin­
ning in 1979, both weekly and hourly earnings data have been collect­
ed each month, with the weekly earnings data being published
quarterly. For a detailed description of these data, see “Weekly and
Hourly Earnings Data from the Current Population Survey,” S p e c ia l
L a b o r F o rce R e p o r t 1 9 5 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1977), and T ech ­

employees, and even these data are not available separately for the
production and nonsupervisory universe. But the decline in average
weekly hours for this universe— from 38.8 in 1965 to 35.3 in 1980—
is ample evidence of the increase in the number of part-time workers.

P a p e rs on E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity

n ic a l D e sc rip tio n o f th e Q u a r te r ly D a ta on W e e k ly E a rn in g s f r o m th e
C u r r e n t P o p u la tio n S u rv e y , Report 601 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,

1980).
5National Commission on Employment and Unemployment Statis­
tics, C o u n tin g th e L a b o r F orce (U.S. Government Printing Office,
1979), pp. 206-08.
6 Geoffrey H. Moore, “Inflation and Statistics,” in C o n te m p o r a ry
E c o n o m ic P r o b le m s {American Enterprise Institute, 1980), pp. 167-91.
7It should be noted that relative to the total number of workers,
the number whose family includes a wife and two children under age
18 is relatively small. In the months for which the CPS data were
studied there were, on average, 3.2 million such men with full-time
production and nonsupervisory jobs in the private nonfarm sector.
The average for the entire economy was 6 million.
8The only data on the demographic composition of the work force
available from the establishment survey relate to the number of female


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IN s u m m a r y , statistical evidence proves that, because
of the gradual change in the mix of workers, the spend­
able earnings series has become severely downward bi­
ased. Crucial questions also emerge regarding the
formula used to translate gross earnings into spendable
earnings. The fact that deductions for State and local
taxes have been ignored in the computation process
looms as an omission of growing importance and one
that is likely to become even more important in the fu­
ture, given current fiscal trends. In other words, enough
questions can be raised about the series to conclude
that it has probably outlived its usefulness.
□

"For a detailed discussion of this hypothesis, see James P. Smith
and Finis Welch, “No Time to be Young: The Economic Prospects
for Large Cohorts in the United States,” P o p u la tio n a n d E c o n o m ic R e ­
view, March 1981, pp. 71-83; Irving Leveson, G e n e ra tio n a l C ro w d in g :
E co n o m ic , S o c ia l a n d D e m o g ra p h ic E ffe c ts o f C h a n g e s in R e la tiv e C o ­
h o r t S iz e (N.Y., Hudson Institute, 1980); and Richard B. Freeman,

“The Effect of Generational Crowding on the Labor Market for
Young Male Workers,” P r o c ee d in g s o f th e A m e r ic a n S ta tis tic a l A ss o c ia ­
tion, 1 9 7 9 , pp. 46-49.
10 Data on “per-capita income” are from the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
" Paul M. Ryscavage, “The divergent measures of purchasing pow­
er,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , August 1979, pp. 25-30.
12The results of the 1980 census indicate that the rate of growth of
the population may not have declined quite as much during the
1970’s as had been previously thought. According to the Bureau of
the Census, the actual population count for April 1980 was about 4.8
million higher than the estimate that had been carried forward from
the 1970 census. The exact implications of this for the per-capita in­
come series are not yet known, but the addition of 4.8 million persons
to the denominator used in the computation of the series should, oth­
er things equal, result in downward revision of about 2 percent in the
1980 levels of the series.
13 For a distinction between the Consumer Price Index and the Per­
sonal Consumption Expenditures deflator, see Jack E. Triplett, “Rec­
onciling the CPI and the PCE Deflator,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w ,
September 1981, pp. 3-15.
14S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t B u sin ess, April 1981 (U.S. Department of Com­
merce), p. 17.
15 An examination of CPS microdata for March 1980 revealed that
of the husbands in four-person families who were in production and
nonsupervisory jobs during 1980, about 60 percent had a wife who
also worked during the year.
16See 1 9 7 8 S ta tis tic s o f I n c o m e : I n d iv id u a l T a x R etu rn s, Publication
79 (U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, 1981), p.
53.
17 Quotation from T h e W a ll S tr e e t J o u rn a l, Sept. 19, 1979.

9

Large supplies of meats, grains
cut recent food price increases
Food prices helped to hold down the overall rate
o f inflation during the first half of 1981,
although a resurgence took place in the third quarter;
weather conditions and long-term production decisions
are major factors in agricultural markets
W il l ia m T h o m a s , Jo h n W e t m o r e ,
and

A

ndrew

C lem

Food price increases accelerated to double-digit rates in
1978 and 1979, slowed somewhat through early 1980,
then rose sharply during the second half of the year be­
cause of a severe summer drought. Price hikes were
much more moderate through the first half of 1981, pri­
marily reflecting the large output and lower feed costs
of meat and poultry producers. However, increases ac­
celerated again during June-September 1981, spurred
by an upturn in meat prices.
The Consumer Price Index ( c p i ) for food rose at a
4.5-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the
first 6 months of 1980, then surged at a 16.3-percent
pace for the rest of the year. In the first half of 1981,
however, food prices at retail edged up at a 1.0-percent
annual rate. Price increases accelerated from June to
September, as the CPI for foods recorded a 10.9-percent
yearly rate of advance. (See table 1.) At the producer
level, food prices declined somewhat in the first half of
1980, then rebounded at a 16.9-percent annual rate dur­
ing the second half. From December 1980 to September
1981, the Producer Price Index for finished consumer
William Thomas, John Wetmore, and Andrew Clem are economists in
the Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Craig Howell, an economist in the same office, assisted in the prepara­
tion of this article.


10
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foods slowed to a 3.0-percent yearly pace.
Food prices constitute 17.3 percent of the CPI for all
items and 23.1 percent of the Producer Price Index for
finished goods. Historically, food prices have been more
volatile than other prices, alternately rising rapidly and
contributing to inflation, then stabilizing or falling and
thus moderating inflation. Food prices rose faster than
non-food prices at both the retail and producer levels
during 1978. Since the second quarter of 1979, they
have risen more slowly than other prices in every quar­
ter except for the third quarter of 1980 and, for the PPI
only, the third quarter of 1981, when non-food produc­
er prices showed their smallest increase since fourthquarter 1972.
The following discussion focuses on some of the most
significant price movements for foods and food-related
commodities during the last 2 years. In some cases, we
will refer to earlier periods to facilitate an understand­
ing of the fundamental market forces underlying food
price changes. Because many agricultural products nor­
mally follow multi-year production and marketing cy­
cles, a longer term perspective enhances trend analysis.
Seasonally adjusted data are used as a rule; however,
unadjusted figures are cited where there is no stable sea­
sonal pattern of price movement.

Beef prices react to competition, weather
Beef and veal prices rose more than 20 percent in
both 1978 and 1979. After declining at a seasonally ad­
justed 10.1-percent annual pace in the first half of 1980,
the CPI for beef and veal climbed at a 22.8-percent rate
from June to December. The index then fell at an
annualized 14 percent through the first half of 1981. By
the end of the third quarter, however, retail prices for
beef and veal had turned up significantly, reflecting a
surge in producer prices.
Processors’ prices for beef and veal declined in 4 of
the 5 quarters from December 1979 through March
1981; the exception was the third quarter of 1980, when
searing summer heat damaged pastures and slowed cat­
tle weight gains. Generally falling prices in 1980 and
early 1981 reflected the large-scale liquidation of stock
by cattle owners in the face of climbing interest rates
and intense price competition from pork and poultry
producers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that
the typical cattle production cycle lasts about 10 years
— 6 years of supply increases and 4 years of declines.
Because it takes 28 months from the time a choice beef
animal is bred to the time it is ready for sale, cattle pro­
ducers cannot adjust to changing price and profit condi­
tions as rapidly as poultry and pork producers. The last
Table 1. Changes in retail and producer prices for
selected foods, September 1979-81
Percent change
Commodity
and index

Relative
importance,
Dec.
1980

Sept.
1979
to
Sept.
1980

Sept.
1980
to
Sept.
1981

Compound annual rate,
seasonally adjusted except as
noted, for 3 months ended —
1980

1981

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Consumer foods:'
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

100.0
100.0

10.1
8.5

6.5
3.3

19.7
31.0

13.1
4.3

2.1
1.6

-0.1
.5

10.9
7.0

Beef and veal:
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

9.8
12.1

9.2
3.6

-.1
-4.6

48.8
35.0

1.4
-11.6

-19.4
-30.6

-8.2
10.7

32.6
21.5

Pork:2
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

4.7
6.5

7.8
12.6

6.9
6.6

87.2
171.7

12.0
-2.7

-12.5
-21.9

-.7
23.6

34.2
37.6

Poultry:
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

2.3
3.3

17.4
31.9

-2.7
-16.5

89.0
262.0

10.3
-15.3

13.0
-18.6 -11.7
-22.7 -9.8 -17.7

Sugar and sweets:3
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

2.9
4.8

28.0
57.2

.1
-27.7

33.8
21.2

39.5
-1 .9

8.0
-11.1 -25.0
-37.6 -28.6 -37.5

Roasted coffee:2
CPI ....................
PPI ....................

.8
3.6

0
-6.2

-19.0
-11.6

-5.7
-20.2

-30.0
-21.0

-27.7 -6.8
-1.8 -22.7

-8.8
1.9

'Includes Items not listed. The CPI includes prices of food away from home, which
accounts for about 31 percent of the food index. The PPI for finished consumer foods does
not reflect restaurant prices.
2 Not seasonally adjusted in the CPI.
3 “ Sugar and confectionery” in the PPI. Not seasonally adjusted In the PPI.
N ote : Monthly data for the PPI have been revised through May 1981 to reflect the avail­
ability of late reports and corrections by respondents. For this reason, some of the figures
shown above and elsewhere in this report may differ from those previously published.


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full cattle cycle began in the late 1960’s, when cattle
producers were encouraged by rising beef prices to
boost production. This expansion resulted in a record
U.S. stock of 132 million cattle in 1975. The subsequent
liquidation of large cattle herds greatly affected the
1980-81 supply.
In 1980, beef production was 1 percent above yearearlier levels, the first over-the-year advance since 1976.
(See table 2.) This resulted from a 0.4-percent increase
in cattle slaughter and, more importantly, a record-set­
ting average dressed beef carcass weight1of 635 pounds.
Dressed slaughter weights were relatively large in the
first half of 1980, averaging nearly 643 pounds. Because
the market for fed cattle was slow, many of these ani­
mals were over-finished when they were finally sold. At
the same time, favorable weather conditions contributed
to relatively heavy weights for nonfed slaughter cattle.
The average dressed weight in the second half of 1980
fell to 628 pounds, in large part because of the drought,
but had recovered to nearly 645 pounds by September
1981.
The pattern of price change for live cattle was about
the same as that cited earlier for beef and veal at the
processor level. Prices fell during most of 1980, except
during the summer when the heat drove up grain and
feed prices. Record interest rates further increased pro­
duction costs late in the year. However, a glut of pork
and poultry prevented beef prices from rising enough to
cover these cost increases. Feedlot owners also operated
at a loss during the year, despite falling prices for the
cattle they purchased for fattening.
During the first half of 1981, an unusually high aver­
age dressed weight of nearly 644 pounds held beef pro­
duction above the corresponding 1980 level. And, while
the slaughter of fed animals declined slightly from 12.1
million head in 1980 to 11.9 million in 1981, there was
a sharp rise, from 1 million to 1.6 million, in nonfed
slaughter as a result of inadequate grazing capacity.
Large supplies of other red meats and poultry, coupled
with a sluggish economy, also contributed to lower
prices for cattle during the first quarter. However, dur­
ing the second quarter of 1981, the prices of slaughter
animals turned up as supplies of both hogs and cattle
declined, and demand by beef packers improved.

Pork prices follow beef trends
Like beef and veal prices, retail pork prices fell in the
first half of 1980, climbed rapidly in the second half,
and declined through May 1981 before turning up in
the third quarter. They decreased sharply during peri­
ods of abundant supplies even though consumers were
substituting pork for more costly beef. Prices surged in
m id-1980, when intense summer heat resulted in slow
weight gains and a large number of hog deaths.
The pork market in 1980-81 was very volatile, gener11

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Large Meat, Grain Supplies Cut Recent Food Price Increases
ally characterized by large supplies and increased pro­
duction costs. During the 1970’s, most years had been
profitable for pork producers; the pork production cycle
(9 to 10 months) is considerably shorter than the cattle
cycle, and permits more rapid adjustments to changing
market conditions. But while the domestic inventory of
hogs and pigs shrank for the first time in 4 years, the
64.5 million head count as of December 1980 was still
relatively large. Thereafter, pork production remained
high despite operating losses. At the same time, burden­
some interest rates discouraged storage of meat, adding
to already ample supplies.
The changing character of the industry in recent
years has greatly influenced prices, as well as breeding
and marketing decisions. There appear to be divergent
interests between large producers, with temperaturecontrolled piggeries and other sophisticated equipment,
and smaller farmers, who face more severe credit and
cost problems. The relatively high fixed capital costs in­
curred by larger producers constitute an incentive for
them to maintain output even in the face of higher op­
erating costs. During 1977, producers with 500 or more
hogs accounted for 35.3 percent of total production; by
1980, this share had increased to 42.3 percent. Future
retail pork prices will also be greatly influenced by
those packers who are marketing boxes of vacuumpacked chunks; this practice, pioneered by beef packers,
reduces the need for butchers in retail outlets.

Poultry producers have flexibility
The poultry component of the CPI declined at a sea­
sonally adjusted annual rate of 8.5 percent in the first
half of 1980, then turned up at a 44.4-percent yearly
pace in the second half. The 1980 summer heat affected
chickens much more than other livestock, and millions
of chickens died. During he first half of 1981, retail
poultry prices decreased at a 15.2-percent annual rate,
but rebounded at an annualized 13 percent over the
quarter ended September 1981.
The poultry production period is even shorter than

Table 2. Annual commercial production of beef, pork,
and chicken broilers, 1971-81
[In millions of pounds]
Year
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981’

....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
..................

Beef

Pork

Broilers

21,697
22,218
21,088
22,844
23,673
25,667
24,986
24,010
21,261
21,470
22,006

14,606
13,460
12,578
13,583
11,314
12,219
13,051
13,209
15,270
16,431
15,452

7,724
8,147
8,025
8,126
8,127
9,067
9,418
10,129
11,219
11,334
11,997

1Data are preliminary.
S ource :

U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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the pork cycle. Because the time from fertilization to
market-ready chicken is only about 11 weeks, poultry
farmers can respond quickly to changing market condi­
tions. However, in anticipation of a cutback in pork
supplies, poultry producers have expanded operations in
recent years, even in the face of unfavorable prices. For
example, during the spring of 1981, producers estimated
th a t they were losing as much as 12 cents per chicken
sold, largely because of earlier increases in the costs of
grains and energy. Nonetheless, broiler production in
the first half of 1981 was 4 percent above that for the
same period in 1980.

Grains, oilseeds, and animal feeds
Prices for grains and feeds turned down in 1981, fol­
lowing 3 years of general increase. Even soybean prices,
which had displayed no clear trend in recent years, be­
gan to fall sharply in late 1980 and continued to edge
down in most subsequent months. (See table 3.) This
widespread easing of crop prices reflected both short­
term influences, such as good weather and weak export
demand, as well as long-term cyclical factors.
The 1970’s witnessed a tremendous expansion of
world trade in grains and oilseeds. The share of U.S.
farm cash receipts accounted for by exports grew from
an average of 13.9 percent in the 1960’s to 22.1 percent
during the 1970’s. By 1980, this proportion was ap­
proaching 30 percent. As a result, farm prices have be­
come increasingly sensitive to conditions abroad.
Export demand boosts prices. During the summer of
1972, the Soviet Union purchased massive amounts of
American grain to alleviate a drought-related shortage.
Wheat prices climbed rapidly as a result, and by Janu­
ary 1974 were 4 times their June 1972 level. The reac­
tion in the corn market was more delayed; prices began
to rise in late 1972, then tripled over the next 2 years.
The declining exchange value of the U.S. dollar during
this time further stimulated foreign demand for grains
and soybeans, and consequent price increases.
The explosion of grain prices during 1972-74 pushed
up prices for bread, animal feeds, livestock, and meats;
this ultimately translated into a substantial increase in
the overall rate of inflation. As a result, U.S. farm poli­
cy, which historically had been directed toward limiting
acreage planted, disposing of chronic surpluses, and
supporting prices, was modified to encourage farmers to
maximize crop production. This move and the incentive
of higher crop prices did lead to bigger domestic har­
vests. Soon, however, harvests abroad also improved,
grain markets were swamped with excess supplies, and
wheat and corn prices tumbled from late 1974 through
the summer of 1977. During the latter year, the govern­
ment reinstated price supports, and initiated a new pro­
gram to help farmers purchase their own grain storage

Table 3.

Changes in producer prices for grains, feeds, and livestock, 1979-81
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —

Percent change
Grouping

Sept. 1979
to
Sept. 1980

Sept. 1980
to
Sept. 1981

1981

1980
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Grains:
W heat...............................................................................................................
Corn' ...............................................................................................................
Soybeans ........................................................................................................

3.5
26.4
17.4

-5.1
-20.2
-19.0

36.0
194.8
374.6

-0.6
-3.7
-25.2

-4.3
- .3
-35.7

-1.1
0
-9.1

-13.9
-57.9
-1.6

Feeds:
Grain by-product fe e d s ....................................................................................
Vegetable cake and meal feeds .....................................................................
Formula fe e d s ..................................................................................................
Miscellaneous feeds except pet food1 ............................................................

7.1
25.0
7.0
( 2)

-13.4
-13.8
-8.3
-12.7

106.9
436.1
88.4
351.2

-14.1
-19.4
-4 .6
-13.2

-40.0
-39.7
-24.6
-36.9

48.8
14.0
5.0
4.4

-26.5
-.4
-6.3
1.6

Livestock:
Cattle ...............................................................................................................
H o gs.................................................................................................................
Live poultry ......................................................................................................

.7
20.6
38.9

-5.5
6.0
-18.4

44.0
299.8
303.6

-14.2
-7.2
1.4

-33.4
-50.2
-32.7

36.4
150.7
-8.2

2.2
8.7
-29.0

'Not seasonally adjusted.

facilities. It was hoped that by enabling farmers to
withhold their crops from the market in times of low
prices, the new program would help to stabilize prices
and farm earnings in the future.
The recent years. Wheat and corn prices reversed their
slide and began to rise substantially in late 1977, as
poor overseas harvests and the declining value of the
dollar again boosted sales and commodity prices. In re­
sponse, farmers devoted more acreage to wheat and
corn during 1978-81. (See table 4.)
For the most part, soybean prices moved indepen­
dently of grain prices during the second half of the
1970’s. Because U.S. soybean exports faced increased
competition from Brazilian products, the large upward
trend in corn and wheat prices during 1978-80 was not
followed by soybeans.
Prices for grains and oilseeds turned down somewhat
in late 1979 and early 1980 because of good harvests.
However, the drought in m id-1980 caused severe dam­
age to corn and soybean crops; total production and
per-acre yields for both were nearly one-fifth below
year-earlier levels. During third-quarter 1980, prices for
corn advanced 31 percent and for soybeans, 47.6 per­
cent. Because most of the winter wheat crop (which ac­
counts for about 70 percent of total annual wheat
production) had already been harvested by summer,
and the remaining spring wheat fields were not affected
as badly by the drought, wheat prices rose considerably
less than those for other grains and oilseeds.
The sharp increase in animal feed prices during the
third quarter of 1980 reflected both reduced harvests of
the commodities from which they are manufactured and
the damage caused to pasture lands by the intense sum­
mer heat. However, feed prices turned down in late
1980 and early 1981, in part because the relatively mild
winter in livestock feeding areas dampened demand.

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2 Data not available.

From late 1980 through the spring of 1981, prices for
wheat and corn generally receded. A reduction in ex­
port demand resulted from the appreciation of the U.S.
dollar in currency markets. At the same time, excep­
tionally high interest rates, which discouraged specula­
tion in grain markets and induced firms to minimize
their holdings of grain, lessened domestic demand. Soy­
bean prices likewise decreased over this period, for simi­
lar reasons. However, the rate of descent was much
steeper than that for grains, because bumper harvests in
Brazil glutted the world market. A further negative im­
pact on grain, soybean, and feed prices was the abovementioned weakened demand for animal feeds.
Weather was relatively moderate during the summer
of 1981, and rain was sufficient to permit steady
growth. Prices for grains, oilseeds, and feeds plummeted
as harvest estimates were raised throughout the sum­
mer. The latest statistics available indicate record pro­
duction of wheat and corn, reflecting both increased
area planted and higher yields per acre. Corn prices fell
very sharply during the third quarter; wheat prices also
declined, although not as rapidly. The soybean harvest
was greater than in 1980, although smaller than in
1979, and prices edged down only slightly from June to
September. Nevertheless, by the close of third-quarter
1981, prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans were almost
as low as those prevailing before the 1980 summer
drought.

Sugar prices reflect changing consumption patterns
The United States imports over a third of its sugar.
A complex series of price supports and loan programs,
combined with tariffs and duties, normally keeps do­
mestic sugar prices above world prices. But because
these supports constitute a floor rather than a ceiling,
any large increases in world prices are quickly reflected
in domestic markets.
13

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Large Meat, Grain Supplies Cut Recent Food Price Increases

Table 4.

Selected production statistics for wheat, corn, and soybeans, 1976-81
Total production
(million bushels)

Yield
(bushels per acre)

Area harvested
(million acres)

Area planted
(million acres)

Year
Wheat

Corn

Soybeans

Wheat

Corn

Soybeans

Wheat

Corn

Soybeans

Wheat

Corn

Soybeans

80.4
75.4
66.0
71.4
80.4
88.8

84.6
84.3
81.7
81.4
84.1
84.3

50.3
59.0
64.7
71.6
70.1
68.1

70.9
66.7
56.5
62.5
70.9
80.7

71.5
71.6
71.9
72.4
73.1
74.1

49.4
57.8
63.7
70.6
67.9
66.9

30.3
30.7
3Î.4
34.2
33.4
34.1

88.0
90.8
101.0
109.7
91.0
109.2

26.1
30.6
29.4
32.1
26.8
31.0

2,149
2,046
1,776
2,134
2,370
2,750

6,289
6,505
7,268
7,939
6,648
8,097

1,289
1,767
1,869
2,268
1,817
2,076

1976 ..............................................
1977 ..............................................
1978 ..............................................
1979 ..............................................
1980 ..............................................
19811 ............................................
1Data are preliminary.
S ource :

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Agricultural Outlook, October 1981.

Twice in the last decade world sugar prices have
soared, only to plummet almost as rapidly. The princi­
pal cause of the 1974 run-up in prices was a failure of
production to keep pace with demand; in 1980, the ma­
jor factor was a sharp drop in production. Because sug­
ar is a key ingredient in many processed foods, it has a
broader impact on food prices than its direct consump­
tion would indicate.
World sugar consumption grew every year for two
decades prior to 1974 because of general population
growth, and rising living standards in many Third
World countries. However, sugar production increased
more erratically. Despite record output in 1973 and
1974,2 world stocks were lower at the end of the crop
year in 1974 than in 1970. More significantly, stocks as
a percentage of consumption fell sharply from 29.3 per­
cent to 21.9 percent over the 1970-74 period. (See table
5.)
The shrinkage of stocks relative to consumption led
to a doubling of world raw sugar prices from June 1971
to June 1973 to their highest level since 1964. Prices ex­
ploded in 1974, quintupling by year’s end. Domestic
prices rose more slowly at first as duties were lowered,
but then climbed with world prices. However, by late
1974 it was clear that 1975 sugar production would not
be as low as originally feared and total world consump­
tion had declined for the first time in decades. As a re­
sult, prices fell sharply during the first half of 1975,
although they remained above the 1973 level.
World production set new records each year from
1976 to 1978, and stocks became more closely aligned
with consumption. Thus, a slight decline in production
in 1979 did not seriously affect prices. In 1980, howev­
er, there was a sharp drop in output, reflecting poor
harvests in several countries (most notably Cuba and
the Soviet Union), and prices for raw sugar soared.
World prices tripled from their 1979 level; domestic
prices only doubled, however, owing to decreases in the
level of import fees. In 1981, the world crop was slight­
ly larger, but stocks fell again, this time to their lowest
level since 1976 (the lowest since 1974 when expressed
as a fraction of consumption).
Even so, a number of factors caused prices to start
Digitized for
14 FRASER
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falling by the end of 1980. World consumption declined
in response to higher prices and increased use of sugar
substitutes. At the same time, high interest rates and
predictions of sizable output in 1982 discouraged specu­
lation and the holding of large inventories, and many
commercial users allowed their own buffer stocks to run
down. Prices fell throughout the first three quarters of
1981, finally reaching early-1980 levels. Domestic prices
followed the world price downward until import fees
were resumed in mid-September.
As previously indicated, a peculiarity of the sugar
market is the fact that close substitutes are available,
the most important of which are corn syrups. Because
the capacity to produce substitutes is fixed in the short
run, their prices tend to rise and fall in tandem with
that of sugar. However, the increased use of other
sweeteners is apparently contributing to a long-term de­
cline in per capita sugar consumption in some industri­
alized nations, such as the United States, Canada, and
Japan, although consumption is still increasing in the
Third World.

World markets determine cocoa prices
Because the United States imports all of its cocoa
beans, the domestic price is determined by the world
price. A small number of tropical countries are respon­
sible for most of the world supply. The International
Cocoa Agreement, designed to control supplies and
prices, does not include either the Ivory Coast— cur­
rently the world’s largest exporter— or the United
States— the world’s largest importer. Consequently,
world prices depend primarily on market conditions.
World production of cocoa beans fluctuated widely
over the last 10 years. Harvests were especially small in
1973 and 1977,3 boosting prices to new highs from
which they never fully retreated. Production increased
sharply from 1978 through 1981, with new records set
in each of the last 2 years. As a result, prices declined
sporadically from their late 1977 peak. Over the same
period, consumption lagged behind production, and
surpluses were recorded in every year since 1978; in
particular, U.S. per capita consumption fell by almost a
fourth from 1972 through 1977, and remained near the

1977 level through 1980. Over the years, periods of high
cocoa prices have encouraged a gradual switch to choc­
olate substitutes. Consumption was further discouraged
during 1980 by the rapid rise in the price of sugar, an
important ingredient in most products containing
cocoa.
Cocoa bean prices fell during most of 1980. Stocks
reached record levels in 1981, and by June prices had
fallen to their lowest level since 1976. The 1982 harvest,
forecast to be large, may lead to the fifth consecutive
year of surpluses, despite recent increases in per capita
consumption in response to lower prices for both sugar
and cocoa. Nevertheless, speculation regarding renewed
efforts by the International Cocoa Agreement signato­
ries to support prices caused an upturn in prices in the
third quarter of 1981.

Coffee price trends
The United States imports virtually all of its coffee,
75 percent of which comes from Latin America. There­
fore, the domestic price at the producer level follows
the world price. Although there is an International Cof­
fee Agreement, it is generally regarded as ineffective in
moderating price swings as the supply situation chang­
es. Consumers do not often see the effects of world
price developments immediately because of long time
lags as green coffee beans move from stockpiles to
roasters. And the frequent use of coffee as a loss leader
in retail stores also helps to divorce consumer price
trends from producer price movements.
World coffee prices showed only moderate fluctu­
ations during the early 1970’s. However, in m id-1975, a
number of developments adversely affected the world
coffee crop. Most notable were a severe frost in coffeeproducing regions of Brazil, which reduced that nation’s
1976 output by 60 percent,4 and civil war in Angola,
which resulted in a long-term 75-percent drop in pro­

Table 5. Selected global sugar statistics, annual world
production, consumption, and stocks of sugar, selected
years, 1965-82
[Million metric tons, raw value]

Crop year1

Production

Consumption

Ending
stocks

Ending stocks
as a percent
of consumption

1965 .................................

64.5

58.3

16.6

28.5

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974

.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................

71.2
70.7
71.4
75.1
80.0

71.1
73.5
74.9
77.7
80.0

20.8
19.0
17.0
17.3
17.5

29.3
25.9
22.7
22.3
21.9

1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................

78.5
81.7
86.3
92.5
91.2

77.0
79.2
81.9
86.2
89.6

19.1
21.2
25.0
29.8
30.6

24.8
26.8
30.5
34.6
34.2

1980 .................................
1981 .................................
19822 ...............................

84.2
86.8
95.8

89.5
88.4
92.0

23.6
21.3
25.1

26.4
24.1
27.3

1Crop year September through August, but Includes the sugar harvests of several South­
ern Hemisphere countries which begin before September.
2 Data are preliminary.
S ource :

U.S. Department of Agriculture.

duction. With supplies curtailed, coffee prices registered
sharp increases until 1977, then declined until another,
much less severe Brazilian frost in 1979 caused a brief
surge. Prices fell to the 1979 pre-frost level during 1980
and the first half of 1981, as supplies again became
plentiful. Another frost in Brazil during July 1981, al­
though potentially severe, will not affect production and
prices until the 1982 harvest.
Domestic per capita coffee consumption declined by
nearly 40 percent from 1962 through 1981, while soft
drinks, tea, and juices increased in popularity. Coffee
consumption dropped sharply in 1977 because of high
prices, recovered for 2 years, then resumed its down­
ward trend in 1980. By 1981, it had reached its lowest
level since records were started in 1950.
□

FOOTNOTES

' A glossary of some of the technical terms used in this section:
— D ressed
b e e f c a rc a ss
w eig h t represents the weight of
slaughtered animals after removal of hides, hoofs, and internal
organs.
— F e d or f e e d e r c a ttle are animals given a diet of grains and for­
mula feeds while in feedlots to enhance meat quality prior to
marketing.


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— N o n f e d c a ttle , commonly called grass-fed cattle, are those that
graze in crop fields already harvested or in pastures.
— O v e r -fin is h e d c a ttle are fed cattle with a high fat-to-meat ratio.
2Crop years ending August 31.
3Crop years ending September 30.
4 Crop year beginning July 1.

15

Scheduled wage increases and
cost-of-living provisions in 1982
Deferred increases will average 6.3 percent,
more than in any year since 1971,
and are payable to 4.3 million workers;
approximately 3.4 million may receive
cost-of-living adjustments
D o u g la s R. L e R o y

In 1982, about 4.3 million workers in private industry
are scheduled to receive wage increases under major
collective bargaining agreements1that were negotiated in
earlier years. These “deferred” increases will average 6.3
percent— the highest average recorded since 1971 (7.7
percent). About 3.4 million workers covered by agree­
ments that will be in effect during part or all of 1982
may anticipate wage changes from cost-of-living adjust­
ment clauses. Some 2.3 million of these workers will
also receive deferred increases. About 3.7 million work­
ers will be covered by contracts expiring or with provi­
sions for reopening in 1982, making this a relatively
heavy bargaining year.2
This article focuses on deferred wage increases and
cost-of-living adjustments ( c o l a ) provided by the ma­
jor agreements that will remain in effect through 1982.
The analysis of deferred increases does not include con­
tracts covering 1.2 million workers which expired before
1982, but had not been renegotiated or for which data
were not available at this writing.3

Deferred wage increases
Deferred wage increases are those that are imple­
mented in one calendar year but had been negotiated in
Douglas R. LeRoy is an economist in the Office of Wages and Indus­
trial Relations, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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16
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

an earlier year, usually as part of a multiyear agree­
ment. They include general wage adjustments covering
all workers, and changes which affect only a portion of
the bargaining unit such as those that alter skill differ­
entials or premiums.
The comparatively large mean deferred wage increase
in 1982 results from increases negotiated during 1981,
which averaged 8.5 percent and covered 1.3 million
workers. Deferred increases from contracts negotiated
during 1980, which covered 2.9 million workers, aver­
aged 5.1 percent.
The proportion of workers with cost-of-living provi­
sions in their contracts influences the size of average de­
ferred increases— contracts with COLA clauses generally
provide smaller deferred wage increases than those
without. Cost-of-living provisions covered only 21 per­
cent of the workers under settlements reached in 1981,
compared with 61 percent of those under 1980 settle­
ments. Workers covered by 1981 agreements with COLA
will receive average deferred increases of 5.9 percent in
1982, compared with 9.3 percent for those without such
clauses.
The size of deferred increases varies significantly by
industry and prevalence of COLA. For example, the larg­
est increases, in both cents-per-hour and percentage
terms, will occur in the construction industry, where
COLA clauses are rare. About 1 million construction

workers are scheduled to receive average deferred wage
increases of 10.6 percent or $1.52 per hour in 1982.4
The 159,000 construction workers covered by contracts
with COLA clauses will receive deferred increases averag­
ing 7.5 percent, compared with 11.2 percent for the
869,000 workers under contracts without cost-of-living
provisions.
The metalworking industries, where COLA clauses
cover 90 percent of the workers, have deferred increases
averaging only 3.1 percent, or 32.1 cents per hour, for 1
Table 1.

million workers in 1982. (See tables 1 and 2.) For the
2.7 million workers with COLA coverage, the average de­
ferred increase is 2.7 percent, compared with 6.6 per­
cent for the remaining 92,000 workers.
Table 3 shows distributions of workers receiving de­
ferred payments by month during 1982. In August, the
month with the greatest concentration, 1.2 million
workers, 80 percent of whom are in the steel manufac­
turing and telephone communications industries, are
scheduled for increases.

Workers receiving deferred wage increases in 1982, by major industry group and size of increase

[Workers in thousands]
Manufacturing

Average hourly
increases

Total ...........................

Nonmanufacturing

Selected Industries
All private
Number of
nonagricultural
Lumber
contracts
Paper and
Stone,
industries
Total1 Food and
and
kindred
allied
clay,
wood
products
products
glass
products
996

4,295

1,481

87

Under 15 cents .........
15 and under 2 0 .........
20 and under 2 5 .........
25 and under 3 0 .........
30 and under 3 5 .........

41
39
44
124
67

92
125
135
117
299

49
106
78
485
238

10

3
4

2
2
8

35 and
40 and
45 and
50 and
60 and

4 0 .........
4 5 .........
5 0 .........
6 0 .........
7 0 .........

35
30
20
115
59

106
88
36
375
222

56
38
16
153
103

6

1

1
20
15

1
12

62
1

70 and under 8 0 .........
80 and under 9 0 .........
90 and under 100 . . . .
100 and under 110 . . .
110 and under 120 . . .
120 and o v e r .............

62
38
33
50
28
211

248
103
257
152
84
801

73
32
29
18

13
10
1
3

13
7
7

3
2

60

55

73

Selected industries

Metal­
working

Total2

Contract
construction

Transportation,
communications,
gas, and electric
utilities

Warehousing,
wholesale and
retail trade

1,002

2,814

1,027

974

444

38
86
75
449
202

43
20
56
687
61

2
4

15
14
42
646
33

2
1
4
32

27
18
11
38
21

50
50
20
222
119

10
6
28
5

14
4
18
1
1

175
71
228
135
83
795

Services

147

CENTS PER HOUR

under
under
under
under
under

Mean increase...........
With cost-of-living
clauses...............
Without cost-of-living
clauses...............
Median increase.........

4

6

37
21
1

1

74.0

40.0

57.4

40.9

32.9

43.6

111.8
51.1

59.8
30.3

64.3
60.0

72.0

72.0
70.0

10

8
42
2

23
13
10
9
110
61

2
12
31
3
39
31

47
33
29
94
28
741

4
14
32
13
44
41

120
24
8
14
8
3

4

15

3
3
10

67.5

55.0

32.1

91.8

151.7

48.5

63.1

66.2

29.9

54.0

298

48.1

116.6

33.3

55.6

97.8

69.0
70.6

62.9
55.0

55.5
28.7

124.4
75.0

158.1
150.0

124.8
28.5

67.4
62.5

64.1
50.5

4

107
657
102
18
21

58
753
76
55
155

6
17
8
3
64

22
719
43
3
15

7
9
18
41
64

2
8
12

3
48
4

16
39
32
5
3
2

96
301
441
238
117
135
389

48
61
161
93
87
119
361

2
38
33
74
10
2
14

42
152
36
40
19
8
8

4
48
52
10
1
6
5

PERCENT3
Under 2 percent.........
2 and under 3 ...........
3 and under 4 ...........
4 and under 5 ...........
5 and under 6 ...........

64
171
77
44
59

175
1,441
235
98
207

116
688
159
43
51

5
7
4
4
8

6 and under 7 ...........
7 and under 8 ...........
8 and under 9 ...........
9 and under 1 0 ...........
10 and under 1 1 .........
11 and under 1 2 .........
12 and over ...............

73
114
127
85
39
44
99

160
495
565
268
124
139
389

64
194
124
31
7
5

12
19
13
14

Mean increase...........
With cost-of-living
clauses...............
Without cost-of-living
clauses...............
Median increase.........

2
10

7
51
1

20
20
2

1
2

6.3

4.2

6.8

3.7

3.2

4.9

9.2
6.0

7.0
2.9

7.7
7.4

7.1

7.1
7.0

7.3

6.7

3.1

7.4

10.6

4.0

7.1

8.0

2.7

6.5

2.7

4.2

7.5

3.1

6.1

7.6

7.5
8.0

7.8
7.2

6.6
2.7

9.7
7.7

11.2
10.9

8.2
2.7

10.6
7.5

8.1
8.2

11ncludes workers in the following industry groups for which separate data are not shown: to­
bacco (22,000); textiles (12,500); apparel (18,000); furniture (13,000); printing (37,000); petro­
leum refining (2,000); chemicals (32,000); rubber (4,000); leather (33,000); instruments (25,000);
and miscellaneous manufacturing (6,000),
2 Includes 199,000 workers in mining industry for which separate data are not shown be­
cause of concerns on the confidentiality of earnings data, and 23,000 workers in the financial,
insurance and real estate industries.
3 Percent of straight-time average hourly earnings.


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4
9

N ote : Workers are distributed according to the average adjustment for all workers in each
bargaining unit considered. Deferred wage increases include guaranteed minimum adjustments
under cost-of-living clauses. Only bargaining units in the private, nonagricultural economy cov­
ering 1,000 workers or more are considered in this table. Because of rounding, sums of individ­
ual items may not equal totals, Dashes indicate there are no workers having wage increases
that fall within that stated range.

17

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Scheduled Wage Increases and Cost-of-Living Provisions in 1982
In general, multiple year contracts tend to provide
higher wage changes in the initial years than in subse­
quent years. For instance, 3-year agreements negotiated
in 1981 provided average adjustments of 11.3 percent
during the first year, 8.3 percent in the second year, and
6.8 percent in the third.

Cost-of-living adjustments
Fifty-six percent of workers covered by major agree­
ments have cost-of-living protection. Two-thirds of the
workers with COLA clauses will have at least one review
during 1982.5 (See table 4.) COLA provisions are
designed to help workers recover purchasing power lost
through price increases. The number of workers receiv­

Table 2.

Prevalence of cost-of-living adjustment

(c o la )

ing COLA increases and the proportion of purchasing
power actually recovered under individual bargaining
agreements depend on the specific formula used to re­
late wage and price increases, the timing of COLA re­
views, and possible “caps” limiting the amount of COLA
payments. Through the first 9 months of 1981, cost-ofliving adjustments returned about three-quarters of the
rise in the Consumer Price Index ( c p i ).
The number of workers affected by COLA clauses has
been decreasing since 1977, largely because of employ­
ment declines in industries where such clauses are com­
mon. The slightly larger than proportionate drop in
COLA coverage in 1978, resulted from the elimination of
the COLA provision from the bituminous coal contract.

clauses in major collective bargaining agreements, October 1981

[Workers in thousands]
Contracts with COLA clauses

All contracts

2-digit standard
industry
classification
(SIC)

Percent of
workers covered by
COLA clauses

Industry

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

10
11
12
15
16

Total ..................................................................
Metal mining ..............................................................
Anthracite m ining.......................................................
Bituminous coal and lignite m ining.............................
Building construction general contractors..................
Construction other than building construction ...........

9,027
39
2
160
668
451

1,912
14
1
1
168
115

5,080
35
2

735
11
1

56.3
89.5
100.0

49
102

9
14

7.4
22.5

17
20
21
22
23

Construction-special trade contractors......................
Food and kindred products........................................
Tobacco manufacturing ............................................
Textile mill products...................................................
Apparel and other finished products ........................

421
305
23
50
475

193
99
8
20
52

36
94
20
3
148

20
33
6
2
6

8.6
31.0
85.9
6.4
31.1

24
25
26
27
28

Lumber and wood products, except furniture ...........
Furniture and fix tu re s .................................................
Paper and allied products..........................................
Printing, publishing and allied industries ....................
Chemicals and allied products...................................

66
28
88
64
79

15
17
62
30
39

2
8
2
32
30

1
6
1
12
13

2.4
28.9
2.3
50.6
38.7

29
30
31
32
33

Petroleum refining and related industries ..................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics ..........................
Leather and leather products ...................................
Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products ...............
Primary metals industries ..........................................

36
83
35
87
483

18
15
14
36
113

76

11

91.5

70
459

26
99

80.2
95.0

34
35
36
37
38

Fabricated metal products ........................................
Machinery, except electrical ......................................
Electrical machinery equipment and supplies ...........
Transportation equipment..........................................
Instruments and related products .............................

106
269
438
1,149
46

58
84
99
103
14

83
249
413
1,004
25

42
72
81
80
5

78.1
92.5
94.3
87.4
53.8

39
40
41
42
44

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ....................
Railroad transportation...............................................
Local and urban transit...............................................
Motor freight transportation........................................
Water transportation...................................................

22
399
17
474
90

12
18
3
19
19

3
399
16
468
34

2
18
2
17
7

14.8
100.0
93.5
98.8
38.2

45
48
49
50
51

Transportation by air .................................................
Communications .......................................................
Electric, gas, and sanitary services ...........................
Wholesale trade — durables ......................................
Wholesale trade — nondurables ...............................

181
742
227
26
22

42
45
76
17
8

126
707
48
6
6

22
32
13
3
3

69.9
95.2
21.2
22.9
24.5

53
54
55
56
58

Retail trade — general merchandise..........................
Food store s................................................................
Automotive dealers and service stations ..................
Apparel and accessory stores....................................
Eating and drinking places ........................................

84
525
13
8
68

23
99
9
5
22

25
203
1

4
36
1

29.8
38.8
9.7

59
60-65
70-89

Miscellaneous retail stores ........................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ...........................
Services .....................................................................

17
105
353

6
19
81

8
61
23

3
9
11

46.0
58.5
6.5

N ote : Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals, and percentages may
not reflect shown ratios.

18 FRASER
Digitized for
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Dashes indicate absence of cost-of-living coverage,

The following tabulation shows the total number of
workers and those under cost-of-living clauses (in mil­
lions) on January 1, 1971-82:6

Table 3. Workers receiving deferred increases in 1982 in
bargaining units covering 1,000 workers or more, by
month
[Workers in thousands]

W o rkers
Y ea r

W orkers

W ith
COLA

A ll

Y ea r

3.0
4.3
4.1
4.0
5.3
6.0

10.8
10.6
10.4
10.2
10.3
10.1

1977 .......... .
1978 ............
1979 ............
1980 ...........,
1 9 8 1 ............
1982 ...........

1 9 7 1 .............
1972 .............
1973 .............
1974 .............
1975 .............
1976 .............

Effective month

W ith
COLA

A ll

6.0
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.3
5.1

9.8
9.6
9.5
9.3
9.1
9.0

.
.
.
.
.
.

Five unions account for 57 percent of the workers
under major agreements with COLA clauses. The Auto­
mobile Workers represent 962,000; the Communications
Workers, 609,000; the Teamsters, 513,000; the Steel­
workers, 486,000; and the Machinists, 310,000. Each of
the remaining unions represents fewer than 200,000
workers with cost-of-living provisions.
Adjustment formula. The most common rate of adjust­
ment is 1 cent per hour for each 0.3-point rise in the
CPI. Members of the Steel Industry Coordinating Com­
mittee7 and companies which follow the steel contract
pattern use this formula.
In addition, the 1979 Automobile Workers agree­
ments provided COLA payments at this rate using a
combined U.S.-Canadian index for the first 2 years, but
changed the formula to 1 cent for each 0.26-point rise
at the beginning of the 1981 contract year. COLA clauses

Table 4.

T o ta l........................................
January ..........................................
February ........................................
March ............................................
A p ril.................................................

Principal industries affected

Workers
covered

14,295
331
169
276

Construction
Metalworking
Metalworking, trade

M a y .................................................
June ..............................................
J u ly .................................................
A ugust............................................
September......................................
O ctobe r..........................................

Construction, metalworking, food
stores
Construction
Mining, construction
Construction, utilities, food stores
Primary metals, communications
Mining, food stores
Transportation equipment

November ......................................
December ......................................

Construction
Mining

275
455
795
547
1,204
339
292
133
254

1This total is smaller than the sum of individual items because 775,000 workers will re­
ceive more than one increase. This total is based on data available as of Oct. 1,1981, and
thus may understate the number of workers receiving deferred Increases for the entire year.

in rubber industry contracts provide 1 cent for each
0.26-point increase in the CPI beginning in 1 981, the
second year of the agreements. The Bell System operat­
ing companies and manufacturing firms that follow
their contract pattern specify changes of 55 cents per
week plus 0.65 percent of each employee’s weekly rate
for each 1-percent movement in the CPI.
Timing, “caps”, and indexes. COLA clauses provide re­
views of changes in the CPI at regular intervals to deter-

Timing of 1982 cost-of-living reviews in major contracts, by year of contract expiration and frequency of review

[Workers In thousands]
First quarter
Type of contract, by expiration and frequency
of cost-of-living review

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Full year1

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

Number of
contracts

Workers
covered

358
282
53
23

2,187
1,846
240
101

338
274
28
36

2,044
1,839
72
133

344
249
39
56

1,969
1,008
154
807

290
234
34
22

1,124
892
91
141

532
289
75
143
25

3,439
1,866
316
1,203
55

87
53
29
5

1,123
960
138
24

47
43
2
2

960
942
14
4

30
16
13
1

158
107
48
3

3
2
0
1

4
3
0
1

103
53
31
11
8

1,177
960
152
47
18

271
229
24
18

1,064
885
102
77

291
231
26
34

1,084
897
58
129

314
233
26
55

1,811
901
106
803

287
232
34
21

1,120
890
91
140

429
236
44
132
17

2,262
905
164
1,156
37

All contracts
T o ta l..............................................................
Q uarterly...................................................................
Semiannual ..............................................................
Annual.......................................................................
Other2 .......................................................................
Contracts expiring in 19823
T o ta l..............................................................
Q uarterly..................................................................
Semiannual ..............................................................
Annual.......................................................................
Other2 .......................................................................
Contracts expiring in later years
T o ta l..............................................................
Q uarterly..................................................................
Semiannual ..............................................................
Annual.......................................................................
Other2 .......................................................................

11ncludes only those reviews through the termination of the present agreements; does not
assume the continuation of existing reviews after contract expiration dates.
2 Includes monthly, combinations of annual and quarterly, combinations of annual and


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semiannual, and reviews dependent on levels of the Consumer Price Index,
3Contracts that have at least one review in the year.
n ote. o ashes indicate data not available

19

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Scheduled Wage Increases and Cost-of-Living Provisions in 1982
mine if there are to be wage adjustments. Quarterly
reviews are the most common; they cover 2.1 million
workers, including those in the steel and automobile in­
dustries. Annual reviews affect 1.6 million workers,
most notably in communications— Bell System agree­
ments provide for reviews in August 1982. Semiannual
reviews cover nearly 1.3 million workers, including
more than 400,000 workers each in the railroad and
trucking industries; in both industries, the frequency of
review was changed from annual to semiannual in the
1978 and 1979 agreements.
“Caps” , or maximum limits may also affect the
amounts of cost-of-living adjustments. Slightly more
than 1.1 million workers have such caps in their con­
tracts. Currently, the largest single group with limits on
COLA adjustments are the 400,000 workers in the rail­
road industry.
In addition, the amounts of cost-of-living increases
are affected by the index used in the formulas. Con­
tracts covering about 80 percent of the workers under

provisions use the b l s Consumer Price Index,
U.S. “all cities” average. About 265,000 workers are
under contracts with clauses using individual city index­
es. Automobile industry contracts, covering 695,000
workers, use a combination of the U.S. and Canadian
indexes because bargaining units in both countries are
involved.
Minimums or “guaranteed COLA” , which provide a
“floor” for the size of wage change under the provision,
cover 547,000 workers. These amounts are negotiated at
the time the contract is agreed upon and do not depend
upon CPI movements. Therefore, they are included in
our tabulations as specified wage changes.

COLA

i v e n t h e c u r r e n t economic climate, it is possible
that some of the increases discussed above will not be
implemented as scheduled. During 1981, there were a
number of contract reopenings that provided for sus­
pension of COLA provisions, wage decreases, or delays
in instituting previously negotiated increases.
□

G

FOOTNOTES
' Major collective bargaining units are those which cover 1,000
workers or more in the private nonfarm sector.
For an analysis of the bargaining schedule for 1982, see Mary
Anne Andrews and David Schlein, “Bargaining calendar will be
heavy in 1982,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , December 1981, pp. 20-30.
'These units include 870,000 workers covered by 185 agreements
which expired or reopened prior to Oct. 1, 1981, but for whom settle­
ments were not reached or for which information was not available in
time to be included in these tabulations. About half of these workers
were in railroad industry agreements. Another 284,000 workers were
covered by 108 agreements expiring or reopening between Oct. 1 and
Dec. 31, 1981, after the closing date for this article.
4 About 481,000 construction workers will receive deferred increases
under settlements in which the parties agreed to a total wage and


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benefit package, with the final allocation between wages and benefits
to be determined by the union. Because the final division was not
known at the time this article was prepared, the entire package has
been treated as a wage increase and may be overstated.
' For more detailed information about cost-of-living provisions off­
setting inflation, see Victor J. Sheifer, “Cost-of-living adjustment:
keeping up with inflation?” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , June 1979, pp. 14—
17.
"The data for 1982 are based on information available as of Oct. 1,
1981.
7The firms are Allegheny Ludlum Industries, Inc.; Armco Steel
Corp.; Bethlehem Steel Corp.; Inland Steel Co.; Jones and Laughlin
Steel Corp.; National Steel Corp.; Republic Steel Corp.; United States
Steel Corp.; and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.

Organized labor in 1981:
a shifting of priorities
The quickened pace of wage-and-benefit concessions
and employment declines in major industries left
organized labor with little to celebrate in its 100th year;
these factors made labor and management more aware
of the cooperation needed to resolve mutual problems
G

eorge

R uben

The organized labor movement was 100 years old in
1981, but the celebration was muted by continuing diffi­
culties in attracting workers to the movement, by em­
ployment cutbacks in some heavily unionized industries,
and by disagreements with the Reagan Administration
over social and economic policies. Opposition to Ad­
ministration policies culminated in a September “Soli­
darity Day” rally of 400,000 workers in Washington,
D.C., to publicize labor’s grievances. And, in a break
with tradition, the A F L -ciO did not invite the President
to attend its annual convention. Shortly afterwards, in
December, President Reagan met with AFL-CIO Presi­
dent Lane Kirkland and other labor leaders in an effort
to improve relations, with mixed results. Kirkland
agreed to help in attaining closer consultation on labor
matters, but said that organized labor would continue
to oppose the President’s economic program.
The steel industry rebounded somewhat from its 1980
operating losses, but economic difficulties continued in
the automobile and automobile parts, trucking, rubber,
construction, and airline transportation industries. One
consequence was an increase in the number of settle­
ments calling for employee “sacrifices” — wage-and-benefit reductions or deferrals. The only beneficial aspect of
these somber developments was an increased awareness
by labor and management of the need to cooperate in
countering mutual problems, such as foreign competiGeorge Ruben is co-editor of C u r r e n t W a g e
publication of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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D e v e lo p m e n ts ,

a monthly

tion, energy shortages, and plant and product obsoles­
cence. In some cases, this cooperative spirit was
manifested by the establishment of formal bipartite
committees that would continue after immediate diffi­
culties are resolved.
There was some moderation in the inflation rate, but
the unemployment rate increased as the economy en­
tered a recession in the second half of the year. The vol­
untary program of wage and price restraints, initiated
by the previous Administration, was ended in January.
President Reagan said the program was “totally ineffec­
tive in controlling inflation” and that it “imposed un­
necessary burdens on labor and industry.” The Council
on Wage and Price Stability, administrator of the pro­
gram, generally agreed with the President’s assessment,
but said that the program had been successful in “pre­
venting a bad situation from becoming even worse.”

Auto industry’s problems continue
Although 1981 was a “nonbargaining year” for the
major automobile manufacturers, at Chrysler Corp., the
Auto Workers and other unions agreed to wage-andbenefit concessions to aid the beleaguered company.
General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and American
Motors Corp. also pressed the Auto Workers to reopen
their contracts, contending that immediate reductions in
labor costs were needed to compete effectively with
Chrysler and foreign manufacturers. The union
maintained that these companies were in better financial
condition than Chrysler and would have to await the
21

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Organized Labor in 1981
1982 contract bargaining to present their demands.
However, late in the year, the Auto Workers agreed to
start the 1982 bargaining earlier than usual. Union pres­
ident Douglas Fraser said the decision was impelled by
the deteriorating condition of the industry. General Mo­
tors and Ford (and Chrysler) contracts expire in Sep­
tember 1982 and American M otors’ contract, in 1983.
In December of 1980, Chrysler submitted a wage
concession plan to the Auto Workers and the other
unions to enable the company to qualify for another
$400 million in Federal aid under the Chrysler Corpora­
tion Loan Guarantee Act of 1979. The company lost
$1.77 billion in 1980, and $1.1 billion in 1979. Lee A.
Iacocca, chairman of Chrysler’s board of directors, pre­
dicted that Chrysler would be bankrupt in February
1981 without an infusion of money. This impelled inten­
sive negotiations in which Auto Workers’ members
agreed to $622 million in wage-and-benefit reductions,
in addition to the $446 million in reductions (from the
General Motors and Ford settlement pattern) the union
had accepted in November 1979 and January 1980. The
severity of the concessions could be reduced as a result
of the company’s commitment to negotiate profit-shar­
ing and stock-ownership plans.
The wage concession plan approved by the Chrysler
Loan Guarantee Board specified that Chrysler “take all
possible steps” to get additional capital. This led to
some merger talks between Ford and Chrysler, but
Ford directors decided that a merger was contrary to
“the best interests of Ford and its stockholders.”
Some Auto Workers locals bargained with General
Motors and Ford on the issue of “excessive” labor
costs. In addition, the union engaged in unscheduled
bargaining with several parts suppliers who sought pay
concessions because of operating losses attributed to the
automobile sales slump:
• At Ford’s steelmaking operation in Dearborn, Mich.,
the Auto Workers agreed to an 86-cent-an-hour cut
in earnings of incentive employees. This averted a
planned cessation of steel sales to outside users,
which would have resulted in the termination of
3,200 of the plant’s 5,000 hourly workers. Ford said
the pay cut was necessary because its “contractual”
labor costs was 30 percent higher than those of com­
peting steel companies.
• Ford gained efficiency-increasing changes in work
rules at several plants, including Livonia and Sterling
Heights, Mich., and at a stamping plant in Cleveland,
Ohio, and it was seeking changes at a number of oth­
er locations. The work rule changes included the
scheduling of overtime work and the ratios of inspec­
tors and machine set-up workers to production work­
ers. After the concessions, Ford announced a
$1-billion project to convert the two Michigan plants
22

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to produce transmissions. A company official said
that the changes in work rules had enabled the two
plants to underbid Tokyo Kogo (which is 25 percent
owned by Ford) for the production contract.
• Possible closing of a General Motors roller bearing
plant in Clark, N.J., was averted when employees
agreed to purchase the operation. The employees also
agreed to a 25-percent reduction in compensation,
which would be partly offset by a distribution of stock
shares to employees and by possible monthly and
semiannual payments based on the plant’s output.
As the year closed, there was no relief in sight for the
auto industry, as sales continued at a substantially low­
er rate than in 1980. Ford, Chrysler, and General Mo­
tors reported a combined loss of more than $950
million for the third quarter. The situation was particu­
larly acute at Chrysler, where the loss was $149 million,
instead of the $38 million the company had forecast in
the survival plan approved by the loan guarantee board.

Steel industry rebounds
Most of the Nation’s steel producers operated at a pro­
fit during 1981, after suffering losses in 1980. At U.S.
Steel Corp., the turnaround was attributed to the closing
of inefficient plants and the revamping of others, and to
the completion of some required antipollution measures.
The biggest question in the industry’s relationship with
the United Steelworkers was the status of the Experimen­
tal Negotiating Agreement. The agreement, which pro­
hibited the union from striking over economic issues in
return for a “floor” under each wage and benefit settle­
ment, was first negotiated in 1973 and was renewed in
each subsequent settlement, but not in 1980. This means
that the union can strike when the current 3-year wageand-benefit contract expires in 1983, and that any 1983
settlement would not be subject to the economic floor.
The delay on the fate of the Experimental Negotiating
Agreement apparently resulted from management’s con­
cern that the floor under economic settlements might be
too high a price to pay for the operating economies re­
sulting from a strike-free relationship. Specifically, man­
agement was concerned that the required minimum
increase in compensation in each contract year (an
amount equal to 3 percent of average straight-time hourly
earnings) and the required retention of an uncapped costof-living clause had helped to widen a labor cost disparity
with foreign producers. Despite these misgivings, the
parties did conduct intermittent talks on the agreement.
Even though the fate of the Experimental Negotiating
Agreement was uncertain, there were instances of a co­
operative approach to mutual problems. The latest ef­
fort consisted of Labor-Management Participation
Teams set up in the plants of five companies under pro­
visions of the 1980 agreement. The aim of the experi-

mental teams is to increase productivity and improve
working conditions through better communication and
cooperation between supervisors and employees.
In addition, the Steelworkers pressed for reactivation
of the Steel Tripartite Advisory Committee that had
been established in 1978 to seek solutions to problems
of capital formation, trade, technology, environment,
and community assistance. President Carter had an­
nounced a national steel policy based on recommenda­
tions of the committee, but some aspects were not
enacted prior to the end of his term of office.
Despite improved performance in 1981, several major
companies were planning to sue some European steel
producers for allegedly engaging in unfair practices,
such as selling in the United States at prices below their
production costs. The Department of Commerce initiat­
ed unfair trade charges against 5 countries, asserting
that they had subsidized steel produced for export to
the United States.

Analysis of ‘new’ contracts
Postal Service— change in approach. In terms of the
number of workers involved, the major 1981 settle­
ments involved the U.S. Postal Service, which bargained
with four unions representing 600,000 employees. The
talks were scheduled to start in April, 3 months before
expirations of the current agreements. The Postal Ser­
vice refused to start then because the unions, departing
from past procedures, requested separate bargaining.
The bargaining approach involved one set of negotia­
tions for the two largest unions, the American Postal
Workers (representing 300,000 workers) and the Na­
tional Association of Letter Carriers (195,000), and an­
other set for the Rural Letter Carriers (63,000) and the
Mail Handlers Division of the Laborers union (39,000).
The Postal Service asked the National Labor Relations
Board to order the unions to bargain jointly, but the
board upheld the unions’ bargaining approach.
The Postal Workers and the National Association of
Letter Carriers settled about 16 hours after the July ter­
mination date of their contracts. There was no walkout,
although the unions’ members had agreed to strike if
they had no contract upon expiration of the existing
one. The Rural Letter Carriers union, whose members
(like the Mail Handlers) did not authorize a strike, set­
tled several hours earlier on essentially the same terms
as the two largest unions.
The 3-year contracts provided for $300 increases in
annual salaries in July of each year, a $150 “contract
signing bonus,” a $350 cash payment each year, and
possible payments under a new productivity plan. There
was no change in the cost-of-living formula.
The Mail Handlers contended that the other unions
had accepted inadequate pay, health, and safety provi­
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through continued bargaining. This failed and the
parties were in arbitration at yearend.
Airlines— controllers fired. A strike by 15,000 members
of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association
( pa t c o ) began on August 3, after they rejected an offer
valued at $40 million a year from the Federal Aviation
Administration. The accord would have raised control­
lers’ annual earnings by 6.6 percent, or about $2,300.
(This would have been in addition to the 4.8-percent in­
crease PATCO members, and other Federal white-collar
employees, were scheduled to receive in October.) Part
of the increase would have resulted from a new “re­
sponsibility differential” giving the controllers time-andone-half pay for the 37th, 38th, 39th, and 40th hours
worked in a week; the balance would have come from
increasing premium pay to 15 percent, from 10 percent,
for hours worked between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and from
eliminating a requirement that premium pay for Sunday
and holiday work count toward the $1,927.40 statutory
limit on biweekly pay. The rejected accord also would
have given employees a greater voice in developing op­
erating rules and in selecting new equipment.
Reportedly, the workers turned down the proposed
agreement and walked out because they wanted a larger
pay increase, accelerated retirement to counter the prob­
lem of job stress, and a shorter workweek.
President Reagan warned that strikers who did not
return to work by 3 p.m. on August 5 would be fired
for violating the no-strike law applicable to Federal em­
ployees. Despite this ultimatum, only a few hundred
strikers returned to work; the Administration then be­
gan the procedures necessary to terminate the workers,
took steps to decertify PATCO as the workers’ bar­
gaining representative, and began the long process of
training replacements for the dismissed workers. In Oc­
tober, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, (which
oversees labor relations in the Government), decertified
the union; PATCO’s appeal is presently in Federal court.
The walkout did not draw heavy support from other
unions; one apparent reason was that they may not
have wanted to be involved in an illegal stoppage. But
it did spawn a variety of opinions about the rights of
public employees. Labor mediator Theodore W. Kheel
said that the strike pointed out the “inherent, irresolv­
able conflict between giving public workers the right to
bargain on one hand, and declaring strikes by such
workers illegal on the other.” (Federal employees are
generally not permitted to bargain on wages and bene­
fits, but the Federal Aviation Administration had
agreed to bargain with pa tc o because of concern over
the stress and equipment problems faced by controllers.
Any resulting settlement could have been implemented
only by congressional action.)
As the year ended, the strikers’ appeal was still be23

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Organized Labor in 1981
fore the courts, the Administration had submitted the
rejected settlement to the Congress for enactment, and
labor and consumer leaders were filing a suit alleging
that the Administration’s refusal to rehire the strikers
was disrupting air travel and endangering public health
and safety.
Railroads— 39-month contracts. The procedure leading
to settlements for nearly half a million railroad workers
began early in the year, when the 13 unions served the
required notices on the carriers specifying their de­
mands for changes in wages, benefits, and work rules.
However, intensive negotiations started in August, after
the unions and the carriers agreed on proposed changes
in the Railroad Retirement Act and sent them to the
Congress for action.
In mid-November, six unions and the National Rail­
way Labor Conference, the industry bargaining arm,
settled on a 39-month contract for 240,000 workers.
Reportedly, the accord provided for a total pay increase
of 32.5 percent plus improvements in health and welfare
benefits. The union gave up its demand for a liberalized
cost-of-living pay adjustment clause because, according
to Railroad and Airline Clerks president Richard
Kilroy, “it wasn’t the time to be saber rattling,” refer­
ring to the recession and President Reagan’s response to
the strike by air traffic controllers. The members of the
six unions will continue to receive semiannual adjust­
ments calculated at 1 cent for each 0.3-point movement
in the b l s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earn­
ers and Clerical Workers (1967=100). As before, pairs
of adjustments are limited to the amount resulting from
an 8-percent rise in the index.
In an earlier settlement, the Consolidated Rail
Corp.’s union-represented employees had agreed to lim­
its on wage increases intended to save the deficit-ridden
carrier $600 million. Employees not represented by
unions gave up a proportionate sum of $57 million.
The Conrail settlement with the various unions pro­
vided that employees receive the same wage-and-benefit
terms as each union’s “national” settlement, except that
all wage increases to be effective before January 1, 1982,
would be paid only to the extent that their sum
exceeded a 10-percent increase. Increases effective on or
after January 1, 1982, would be paid to Conrail em­
ployees, but only to the extent that their sum exceeded
a 12-percent pay increase.
The wage limit goal for Conrail employees was speci­
fied in the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981, which
also provided for additional Federal financial aid to
Conrail (Conrail was formed in 1976 to take over the
freight operations of six bankrupt railroads); for a possi­
ble employee purchase of Conrail in 1984 if two fi­
nancial tests are passed in 1983 (if Conrail does not
pass both tests, the Secretary of Transportation would
be permitted to sell Conrail in parts); and for Conrail
24


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to reduce its 17,000 miles of track and its number of
employees, with affected workers receiving severance
payments financed by a designated part of the Federal
aid. In a hopeful note, Conrail announced a third-quar­
ter profit of $64.9 million, only the third profitable
quarter in its history. In the third quarter of 1980, Con­
rail had lost $88.1 million.
As noted, the delay in reaching a national rail accord
occurred because the parties were busy formulating pro­
posed amendments to the Railroad Retirement Act.
The Railway Labor Executives Association, composed
of leaders of the 21 rail unions, reported that the fund
was nearly exhausted because of the size of cost-of-liv­
ing adjustments, and because there were more than a
million current beneficiaries and only abput 560,000 ac­
tive employees.
The resulting legislation provided for a number of
changes designed to help close the gap between fund in­
come and benefit payments. One change reduced the so­
cial security payment to retirees eligible for both social
security and railroad retirement benefits as a result of
service performed under both systems prior to 1975.
The reduction varies according to the amount of money
allocated by the Congress for a particular fiscal year;
for the fiscal year beginning October 1981, the reduc­
tion would be about $23 a month, or 21 percent.
The employer and employee financing rate for “Tier
1” benefits (similar to social security benefits) remained
at the same level as the rate for workers covered by so­
cial security, but the employer payment rate for “Tier
II” benefits (similar to usual pensions in other indus­
tries) was raised to 11.75 percent of the first $1,850 of
monthly earnings, from 9.5 percent. In addition, em­
ployees began contributing to Tier II benefits at a rate
equal to 2 percent of the monthly earnings base.
Coal mining— 63-day strike. The United Mine Workers
and, the Bituminous Coal Operators’ Associationi(BCOA)
had predicted a peaceful renewal of their con­
tract, although their last five collective bargaining settle­
ments were preceded by strikes. Some of the factors in­
fluencing the goal of a strike-free settlement were the
desire to demonstrate that their mines could be relied on
to help alleviate the energy shortage; production declines
in BCOA mines and accelerated production in western
surface mines where the UMW has had limited organizing
success; and concern over the possible fragmentation of
the 130-member BCOA that could result from a stoppage.
To decrease the chance of a strike, talks were started 6
months before the March expiration of the existing con­
tract. The first settlement, on March 23, was rejected by
the rank-and-file and a resulting strike lasted 63 days,
ending when the operators agreed to modify certain pro­
visions of the rejected contract.
One disputed point was resolved when the operators
agreed to continue paying royalties to the miners’ benefit

funds on coal purchased for resale. The miners had con­
tended that elimination of the royalty payment would
lead to widespread purchase of coal from nonunion
mines. The cost of this concession was partly offset by
providing that current and future widows of miners who
retired prior to December 6, 1974, would receive a
$95-a-month pension beginning in March 1982, instead
of the $100 a month that would have been effective 2
months earlier under the rejected contract.
The Arbitration Review Board was terminated. The
board was established by the previous contract to make
precedent-setting decisions on grievances. However, the
parties agreed that existing precedents would be used to
settle future grievances. The union had viewed the
board as pro-management; explaining that the union
had prevailed in only 8 of the 72 decisions in the
board’s 3 years of existence.
The approved contract also prohibited operators from
contracting out work or leasing coal lands or operations
if it deprived UMW members of work they had normally
performed in the past. (The 1978 contract had required
contractors and lessees to employ only UMW members,
but this provision had been invalidated by a 1980 court
decision.) Wage and benefit improvements included
$3.60 an hour in “set” wage increases, including $1.50
in quarterly increases designated as cost-of-living ad­
justments but not contingent on the movement of the
Consumer Price Index; increases in pensions for current
and future retirees; adoption of dental coverage for min­
ers and their dependents and increases in life insurance
and sickness and accident benefits for miners.
The parties agreed to establish a joint committee to
decide if each company should be permitted to maintain
its own pension plan providing a standardized schedule
of benefits, instead of the existing common plan funded
by all companies.
Despite the duration of the walkout there was no ma­
jor impact on coal users, who had built up larger than
normal stockpiles in anticipation of a stoppage.

Pay and benefit concessions
The wage concession accords at Chrysler and Conrail
drew the most attention, but there also were concession
accords in other industries, including airline transporta­
tion, rubber, trucking, and meatpacking. Clearly, in­
stances of worker concessions in 1981 exceeded the
number in 1980 which, in turn, exceeded the number in
1979. However, the number of workers affected in 1981
was relatively small, compared with the number of
workers covered by 1981 settlements that provided for
improvements in wages and other contract provisions.
Airlines. The Nation’s airlines continued to be buffeted
by operating losses attributed to high fuel costs and
cost competition resulting from deregulation of the in­
dustry. In addition, the air traffic controllers strike was


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expected to restrict air traffic for at least 2 years. As a
result of these events, some unions agreed to wage con­
cessions to aid their employers.
The concessions varied. The accord between United
Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association provided
for the pilots to receive a 29-percent pay increase over
the 26-month contract term. In return, the pilots agreed
to a number of changes in operating rules to improve
productivity, such as a 7.5 hour increase in maximum
credited monthly flying hours; a reduction in the num­
ber of nonflying hours credited as flying hours; use of
two pilots on Boeing 737 aircraft; and a straight salary
instead of the previous complex pay formula that was
based on such things as the speed and weight of the air­
craft and whether the flight was at night or over water.
Most of the other concession agreements generally
provided for a 10-percent pay decrease extending for
specified periods. At the end of that period, pay scales
would be restored to the prereduction level and raised
by the amount of any pay increases that had been
scheduled to go into effect during the period.
Trucking. In September, the Teamsters union an­
nounced that it would accede to the industry’s request
for early bargaining on renewal of the current 3-year
agreement, scheduled to expire in March 1982. Union
president Roy Williams indicated that the union “could
live with” a freeze on specified pay increases in the new
contract if fringe benefits and cost-of-living allowances
were maintained. At the time, 117,000 members of the
union were on layoff in the trucking industry, compared
with 60,000 a year earlier.
In 1980, the Teamsters turned down an industry re­
quest to reopen bargaining on the labor-cost issue.
Since then, some local unions have agreed to pay cuts
or changes in work rules to aid their employers. One
example was Yellow Freight Systems of St. Louis,
where changes in work rules included a ban on premi­
um pay for nonovertime weekend work. This change
was expected to save the company $265,000 over a
1-year period.
System 99, a California-based trucking firm tried a
different approach. About 1,500 of its employees partic­
ipated in a voluntary plan under which they received
only 85 percent of their usual pay. The company will
pay the withheld amount in monthly steps beginning in
May 1982 if its income exceeds basic expenses.
Rubber. Rubber workers continued to experience diffi­
culties in 1981, and agreed to wage or work rule con­
cessions to help assure continuation of their jobs.
Problems plaguing the industry included increased pro­
duction of lighter cars and radial tires contributing to
longer tire wear, a reduction in driving resulting from
higher fuel costs, and obsolete plants.
The first concession accord involved a Firestone Tire
25

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Organized Labor in 1981
and Rubber Co. plant in Memphis, Tenn., which pro­
duces bias ply tires. The changes included a “restructur­
ing” of jobs that would result in lower pay rates for non­
incentive employees (incumbents were guaranteed their
current rates); a requirement that maintenance workers
perform some work outside their normal trade, in ex­
change for increased pay when they became proficient in
the new duties; and adoption of a 7-day-a-week operation,
with straight-time pay for nonovertime weekend work.
A majority of the 13 Rubber Workers’ locals that
bargain with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. approved a
concession accord at a plant in Topeka, Kans., after
first rejecting it. One change called for straight-time pay
for nonovertime weekend work. Goodyear said it would
now be able to operate the plant more efficiently and
proceed with plans to convert the plant from produc­
tion of bias-ply tires to production of radial truck tires.
The conversion may mean that Goodyear will not close
down a 44-year-old plant in Jackson, Mich., which also
produces bias-ply tires. Goodyear said it did not need
two plants producing the same type of tires.
Meatpacking. The industry most severely hit by produc­
tion cutbacks, plant closings, and employee pay conces­
sions in recent years has been meatpacking. Cutbacks
have been limited to the “old line” meatpackers, who
experienced serious difficulties in competing with new
companies which usually have lower paid nonunion la­
bor and modern single-story plants located in animal
producing areas, and which use techniques such as sell­
ing precut boxed meat.
Examples of concessions in the industry include a
Swift & Co. plant in Rochelle, 111., that was closed,
then purchased by Dubuque Packing Co. and reopened
with, according to employees, a 60-percent cut in com­
pensation and Dubuque Packing Co., which reversed its
decision to close a plant in LeMars, Iowa, after employ­
ees agreed to a 2-year freeze on wages and benefits.
Similar concessions and bargaining were also under­
way with other companies. Virtually all of the
production workers at the “old-line” companies (Ar­
mour and Co., Swift & Co., Wilson & Co., Cudahy Co.,
for example) are covered by agreements with the United
Food and Commercial Workers that expire in 1982.

Union wage increases, strikes
M ajor collective bargaining settlements (those cover­
ing 1,000 employees or more) reached in private
industry during the first 9 months of 1981 provided
wage adjustments averaging 11.5 percent for the first
year of the contract and 9.3 percent a year over the life
of the contract. The average adjustment when the same
parties bargained previously (on average about 32
months earlier), was 9.2 percent in the first contract
year and 7.8 percent over the life of the agreement. Set­
Digitized for
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tlem ent data exclude wage changes that occurred under
cost-of-living adjustm ent (c o l a ) clauses.

During the first 9 months of 1981 settlements covered
1.5 million workers in 418 major collective bargaining
units. Approximately 9 million workers in about 2,000
units are included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ ma­
jor collective bargaining series.
Because measures of wage settlements exclude possi­
ble COLA changes, they tend to be lower in settlements
with COLA clauses. First-year negotiated adjustments
averaged 7.9 percent in agreements with COLA clauses,
compared with 12.4 percent in those without; wage ad­
justments over the life of the agreements were 6.4 per­
cent and 10.0 percent, respectively. Agreements with
COLA clauses had an average duration of 33.6 months;
those without averaged 30.6 months.
COLA clauses covered 306,000 workers or 21 percent of
those under settlements concluded during the first 9
months of 1981. About 45,000 workers were covered by
seven agreements which introduced COLA clauses or
reestablished a COLA provision that had been dropped
earlier. COLA clauses were dropped in nine agreements,
covering 28,000 workers. When benefits were combined
with wages (in settlements for 5,000 workers or more)
the average adjustment was 11.8 percent in the first con­
tract year and 10.0 percent over the life of the agreement.
In a broader measure of wage change, about 7.7 mil­
lion workers received “effective” adjustments averaging
8.4 percent during the first 9 months of 1981. This data
series combines wage changes resulting from settlements
during the period with deferred increases resulting from
earlier settlements and increases under COLA clauses.
When the 8.4-percent increase was prorated over the 9
million workers under major agreements (including the
1.3 million who did not receive an increase during the
period), the average adjustment was 7.1 percent.
Fewer work stoppages. Labor-management disputes led
to about 3,563 work stoppages that either began in the
first 10 months of 1981 or began earlier and were car­
ried over into the period, according to preliminary esti­
mates. This was lower than for the comparable periods
of all recent years. Similarly, there were fewer workers
involved in strikes in the first 10 months than in the
comparable period of any recent year. The data are lim­
ited to stoppages involving six workers or more and
lasting a full shift or longer.

State of unions
Data for 1981 are not yet available, but union mem­
bership dropped to 20.9 percent of the labor force in
1980, from 24.7 percent 10 years earlier. Actually, the
number of union members increased from 21.2 million
to about 22.4 million over the period but this gain was
more than offset by the growth of the labor force.

The economic difficulties in some industries were evi­
dent from decreases in membership of certain unions
from 1978 to 1980. The Auto Workers led the declines
(down by 142,000 members), followed by the Steel­
workers (48,000), the Clothing and Textile Workers
(46,000), and the Teamsters (33,000). Percentagewise,
the most seriously affected were the Rubber Workers
(down 15.2 percent), Oil, Chemical and Atomic Work­
ers (14.4 percent), and the Auto Workers (9.5 percent).
The State, County and Municipal Employees gained the
most members over the 1978-80 period (78,000 or 7.6
percent), followed by the Food and Commercial Work­
ers (64,000 or 5.2 percent), and the American Federa­
tion of Teachers (49,000 or 9.8 percent).
In 1981, there was no major organizing break­
through, such as that which occurred in 1980 when the
Clothing and Textile Workers succeeded, after a 17-year
campaign, in organizing several of J.P. Stevens & Co.’s
75 textile mills. A cautious working relationship has de­
veloped between the parties in the wake of their 1980
agreement in which Stevens recognized the Clothing
and Textile Workers as bargaining agent at 10 of its
plants in return for the union’s promise to end its
consumer boycott and publicity campaign. The union
lost the one representation election held in 1981 at a
Steven’s denim manufacturing plant in South Carolina,
but contended that the loss was not significant because
it was the first election at the plant.
The Steelworkers union continued its 7-year cam­
paign to gain the right to represent workers at DuPont
Co. Currently, the Steelworkers represent workers at
one DuPont facility in Minnesota. In November, the
parties ended a dispute by agreeing that representation
elections would be conducted at 16 plants in December
1981. DuPont has about 100 plants, with about 70,000
production workers. About 40 percent of the workers
are represented by unions, usually local independent
unions.
Although several unions discussed merger possibilities
during the year, there was only one merger (the Ameri­
can Radio Association with the Masters, Mates, and Pi­
lots). This was not indicative of the pace of mergers in
recent years— eight mergers during 1980 and 1981
accounted for 13 percent of all mergers that have oc­
curred since the unification of the American Federation
of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations
in 1955.
In internal union affairs, the major event was the re­
affiliation of the Auto Workers with the a f l -c io . Auto
Workers’ president Douglas Fraser said the return
would “strengthen the trade union movement.” The
union left the federation in 1968 because of policy dif­
ferences between Auto Workers’ president Walter Reuther and AFL-CIO president George Meany.
There were several leadership changes— Teamsters’

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president Frank E. Fitzsimmons died and was
succeeded by Roy Williams; Railway Clerks’ president
Fred J. Kroll died and was succeeded by Richard I.
Kilroy; and Rubber Workers’ president Peter Bommarito retired and was succeeded by Milan Stone.

Labor laws and regulations
Although the economic and social policies of the new
Administration drew the most criticism from organized
labor, unions were also concerned about changes
planned or instituted in labor laws and regulations.
Davis-Bacon Act. The Administration announced plans
to modify the Davis-Bacon Act, which authorizes the
Department of Labor to set wage levels for workers on
federally-financed construction project based on the
prevailing area wages. Secretary of Labor Raymond
Donovan emphasized that the proposed changes would
significantly reduce the cost of construction projects.
This position was supported by a study conducted by
the Carter Administration’s Council of Economic Ad­
visers, and by a 1979 study by the General Accounting
Office (the investigative arm of the Congress) which
called for repeal of the act. Objecting to the proposal,
Robert Georgine, president of the AFL-ClO’s Building
and Construction Trades Department, argued that the
act prevents contractors from importing workers from
other communities to drive down labor costs to win
Federal contracts.
The proposed changes would set the pay rate for any
given trade on a project at the rate prevailing for at
least 50 percent of the workers in that trade in the area,
or if a majority were not paid the same rate, at the av­
erage for all employees in that trade (now, pay rates
can be based on the prevailing rates for as few as 30
percent of the workers in the area); permit contractors
to use one helper for every five journeypersons; prohibit
the use of urban wage data in setting rates on rural
projects; and reduce reporting requirements for contrac­
tors. A decision on these proposals is expected in 1982.
Service Contract Act. In a companion move, the depart­
ment proposed changes in the Service Contract Act,
which requires contractors servicing Federal agencies to
pay their employees the Federal minimum wage or the
prevailing local wage for the occupation, whichever is
higher.
The proposed changes called for exemption of a num­
ber of types of contracts, including those for research
and development and for maintenance and repair of
computers and scientific equipment. A final decision on
this proposal also is expected in 1982.
Job safety and health. With the change of administra­
tion came a change in the approach to the Occupational
27

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Organized Labor in 1981
Safety and Health Administration’s rule-setting and in­
spection methods. In accord with a presidental order
directing Federal agencies to assess the costs and bene­
fits of major regulations, OSHA began a review of its
standard for employee exposure to cotton dust. The
cost-benefit approach to rule setting drew sharp criti­
cism from labor leaders, particularly from the Clothing
and Textile Workers union. And in June, the Supreme
Court ruled that OSHA must protect workers against
toxic substances to the greatest extent possible, without
regard to the balance between cost and benefit.
Other actions taken by OSHA during the year includ­
ed a drive to eliminate unnecessary rules, a program to
permit worker-management teams to conduct safety in­
spections in firms that have good safety records (all
other firms would continue to be checked by OSHA or
State inspectors); issuance of a noise standard, replacing
the standard issued in the closing days of the Carter
Administration, and withdrawal of the “walkaround
pay” rule that required employers to compensate em­
ployees for time spent accompanying OSHA inspectors.
Home-work restrictions. A controversy that lasted
throughout the second half of the year erupted when
the Department of Labor announced proposals to lift
the ban on employers hiring people to perform certain
types of work in their homes. The proposal came after a
group of knitters in Vermont protested the Depart­
ment’s move to stop them from producing ski wear in
their homes. The general arguments of the Ladies G ar­
ment Workers, the Clothing and Textile Workers, and
many manufacturers were that the change would result
in a substantial increase in “sweatshop” operations that
would offer unregulated, unfair competition to firms
that use inplant labor.
The October decision lifted the ban on knitting
outerwear at home but continued the ban for women’s
apparel, jewelry, gloves and mittens, buttons and buck­
les, handkerchiefs, and embroideries.
Later, the two unions and a number of knitted
outerwear makers sued the department, contending the
decision was contrary to most of the comments and tes­
timony received on the issue and that the change would
foster unfair competition.
Anti-discrimination. The new Administration also
brought new approaches to enforcing Federal anti-job
discrimination laws. The Department of Labor pro­
posed some revisions of its anti-bias regulations cover­
ing companies that do business with the Federal
Government. One change would exempt companies
with fewer than 250 employees and a contract worth
less than $1 million from preparing a written plan for
hiring women and minorities. Currently, rules cover
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firms with 50 workers or more and a $50,000 contract.
Other changes would exempt employers from setting
goals and timetables for job groups in which women
and minorities equal at least 80 percent of their avail­
ability in the general work force; permit contractors
with 250 to 499 employees to file abbreviated affirm­
ative action plans; eliminate pre-award reviews of em­
ployers scheduled to receive Federal contracts of at
least $1 million; and reduce from 16 to 9 the number of
affirmative action steps required of construction con­
tractors and apply the steps, goals, and timetables only
to the larger contractors.

Equal employment opportunity
The year was marked by a surge of interest in the
“comparable worth” theory. In general, proponents of
the theory contend that women should be paid the
same as m en— even if their duties are different— if the
jobs are of comparable worth to society. Opponents
contend that implementation of the theory could severe­
ly disrupt the economy because of the extreme difficulty
of making precise comparisons of the worth of dissimi­
lar jobs.
Attention focused on the Supreme Court ruling on
the issue: the court held that a woman may not be paid
less for a job simply because she is a woman, and that
women who claim that their wage rates have been
undervalued because of sex discrimination may file suit
under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Previously, the only remedy was under the Equal Pay
Act of 1963, which requires equal pay for equal work.
Supporters of the theory described the Supreme Court
decision as a major step toward comparable worth;
their adversaries said the implications of the decision
were much more restricted.
Some major disputes concerning equal employment
opportunity were settled during the year. Sears Roe­
buck & Co. and the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission ( eeoc ) settled out of court on a series of
racial discrimination charges, ending an 8-year dispute.
The accord called for Sears facility managers to intensi­
fy their efforts to attract minority job applicants and to
document their efforts for the company’s group manag­
ers and the EEOC.
A Federal district judge revoked an order issued by
the Department of Labor in July 1980 that banned
Firestone Tire & Rubber Company from doing business
with the Federal Government because of alleged em­
ployment discrimination. The judge held that the de­
partment had relied on an erroneous internal
memorandum written by a Firestone employee. Fire­
stone actually did not lose any government business
during the period because it obtained stays of the de­
barment order pending a final judicial decision.
□

State labor legislation
enacted in 1981
The minimum wage was raised in 26 jurisdictions,
sometimes above the Federal rate; more attention
was paid to special protection for whistleblowers'
and unemployment from plant closings and layoffs,
as well as for veterans and disabled workers;
and one State repealed its prevailing wage law
‘

R ic h a r d R . N

elso n

State labor legislation passed in 1981 covered a wide
variety of subjects,1 including such traditional fields as
minimum wage, prevailing wage, child labor, job dis­
crimination, and regulation of private employment
agencies. At the same time, new interest was shown in
problems of “whistleblower” protection and of plant
closings and resulting mass layoffs.2
Minimum wage rates were increased in 26 jurisdic­
tions last year, primarily resulting from previously
adopted wage escalation schedules, although a few in­
creases were approved this year. Eighteen jurisdictions
have a minimum rate for some or all occupations equal
to or exceeding the $3.35-per-hour Federal standard
that took effect January 1, 1981, the last scheduled in­
crease prescribed by the 1977 amendments to the Fair
Labor Standards Act. Two more States will reach the
$3.35-an-hour rate during 1982.
In other minimum wage action, coverage in North
Carolina was extended to employers of three or more
rather than four or more as before; the minimum salary
level for exemption of executive, administrative, or pro­
fessional employees was increased in Maine; and in Ore­
gon, persons over age 65 were removed from a list of
those for whom a subminimum hourly wage rate may
be set.
Richard R. Nelson is a labor standards adviser in the Division of
State Employment Standards, Employment Standards Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor.


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Laws pertaining to wage garnishment or assignment
were enacted in 16 jurisdictions, with many setting lim­
its on the amount of earnings subject to assignment for
the payment of child support. Employees in Alaska, Il­
linois, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee, and Wyoming are
now protected from disciplinary action imposed as the
result of any garnishment or assignment, and existing
protections were expanded in Hawaii, and North Dako­
ta. Rhode Island made the wages of State and local
government employees subject to garnishment.
Again in 1981, as in the last two years, many bills
were introduced to repeal State prevailing wage laws.
Although bills were introduced in 14 States, only the
Utah law was repealed, an action taken over the Gov­
ernor’s veto. All the other repeal attempts failed, in­
cluding bills vetoed in Colorado and New Mexico; mea­
sures in California and Wisconsin, still in committee,
will be carried over to the 1982 legislative session.
Courts in Michigan and Missouri upheld the constitu­
tionality of the prevailing wage laws in those States,
both of which rely solely on collectively bargained rates
as the prevailing rates. Decisions on the same issue had
differed in previous years. The New Jersey law was up­
held and the Arizona rate determination methodology
was ruled invalid.
In other prevailing wage developments, Rhode Island
made wage-rate violators subject to an 18-month ban
on bidding for or being awarded a public contract. The
labor department in Montana was given subpoena pow29

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
er to compel the production of payroll records, and the
prevailing wage rate is to be included in bid specifica­
tions and contracts. New Jersey extended coverage of
its prevailing wage law to any construction by the New
Jersey Building Authority. Oklahoma mandated use of
Federal Davis-Bacon rates where available and required
payment of prevailing fringes. In Washington, wage
rates must now be posted at the job site.
A comprehensive law in Minnesota grants seasonal
farmworkers important new protection. These workers
now must be paid for a guaranteed number of hours;
are to be provided written pay statements itemizing de­
ductions from wages; and are to be informed, at the
time of recruitment, of the minimum duration of em­
ployment, and of working conditions, wages, and hous­
ing provision if any.
Similarly, in Oregon, a new amendment requires that
migrant workers be furnished with the names and
addresses of their employers, with notification of any la­
bor dispute at the work site, and with statements of
hours of work and rates of pay. Texas prohibited the
use of short-handled hoes in most agricultural labor.
Texas adopted a comprehensive new child labor law
setting 14 as the basic minimum age for employment,
requiring the Labor Commissioner to determine hazard­
ous occupations for workers under age 18. The law also
prescribes hours of work restrictions, and provides for
age certificates and the issuance of individual variances.
In other States, most of the changes in child labor law
involved the easing of either nightwork restrictions
(Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, and Oregon) or
of certificate requirements. New Jersey, Virginia, and
West Virginia passed laws permitting minors to partici­
pate in activities of volunteer fire departments or rescue
squads.
In a year designated as the International Year of Dis­
abled Persons, State interest in furthering equal oppor­
tunity for handicapped individuals was reflected in the
enactment of laws in 13 States, to provide new or
expanded employment rights or opportunities. Among
the more significant were a new equal-employment-forthe-handicapped law in Georgia; an amendment to the
Civil Rights Act in Oklahoma, adding discrimination
because of handicap to the list of unfair employment
practices; and an amendment to the Vermont
antidiscrimination law, prohibiting discrimination in
employment based on physical or mental condition.
Tennessee and Texas provided for alternate forms of
testing handicapped job applicants. Other States ex­
tended protection from discrimination to additional
classifications of handicapped individuals including
those with mental impairments and the aurally handi­
capped.
Other forms of employment discrimination were the
subject of legislation in 18 States. Among the more
Digitized for
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significant, public employees were made subject to the
Hawaii Fair Employment Practice law, and the prohibi­
tion against sex discrimination was defined to specifi­
cally include discrimination because of pregnancy and
related medical conditions. Connecticut also defined sex
discrimination to include matters relating to pregnancy
or related medical conditions, and also required that
employees be informed of substances involved in the
job which might cause birth defects, or be hazardous to
a worker’s reproductive system or to the fetus. Employ­
ment, transfers, or promotions may not be conditioned
on the sterilization of the employee. A new law in Alas­
ka prohibits sex discrimination in employment in public
education.
In an area of emerging interest, California established
a policy of “comparable worth” in setting salaries in
State government in jobs dominated by women, on the
basis of the value of the work performed. Resolutions
were passed in Hawaii urging all employers to adopt
this concept of equal pay for work of comparable value.
The antidiscrimination law in Vermont was amended
to prohibit age discrimination, and mandatory retire­
ment because of age was prohibited except for police
officers, firefighters, and tenured employees of colleges
and universities. The upper age limit in the ban on age
discrimination in employment was raised from 65 to 70
in Georgia and Oregon. Although Nevada, which for­
merly had no age limits, made the prohibition on age
discrimination inapplicable to those not between age 40
and 69.
Legislation for the benefit of veterans was enacted in
a number of States. These laws either provide preference
in public employment for veterans or their spouses, or
establish training programs or seminars to further em­
ployment opportunities.
There is extensive State interest in developing legisla­
tive remedies to alleviate the impact of plant closings on
workers and communities. Measures of this nature were
proposed in 19 legislatures this year but not adopted.
Although the proposals are not identical, they share one
or more features, such as advance notice, severance pay,
entitlement to retirement benefits, creation of a commu­
nity assistance fund and, sometimes, employee option to
purchase the plant. The only laws enacted in the past
are a 1975 Wisconsin statute requiring that the State la­
bor department be notified in advance of any closings,
and a Maine law, expanded this year, which requires
advance notification to the labor department, the em­
ployees, and the municipality, and severance pay to em­
ployees. Connecticut created a committee to study plant
relocation and mass layoffs and to make legislative rec­
ommendations to the 1982 General Assembly.
California prohibited awarding of State contracts to
contractors found to be in violation of a National La­
bor Relations Board order more than once in the pre-

ceding two years. Similar laws were enacted in Michi­
gan, Ohio, and Wisconsin in 1980 and in Connecticut in
1979. Among other labor relations laws, local public
employees in California were authorized to negotiate
agency shop agreements, collective bargaining rights
were extended to county employees in Maine, and
North Carolina prohibited strikes by public employees.
Twelve States enacted legislation affecting the regula­
tion of private employment agencies. Most significant
actions were in South Dakota, which repealed its law;
Montana, where maximum placement fees charged by
agencies will no longer be set by statute; and South
Carolina, where licensing and enforcement authority
were removed from the Department of Labor, and rulemaking, investigatory, and penalty provisions were de­
leted from the law. Licenses in South Carolina will now
be issued by the Secretary of State, and enforcement
will be by court action. Several amendments were made
in the Ohio law, including a ban on registration fees,
tightened restrictions on misleading advertising, and re­
quirements that applicant contracts be in writing and
placement fees refunded in certain circumstances. Maxi­
mum placement fees for jobs paying less than $13,000
annually are now set by statute.
Five States: Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio,
and Oregon, amended individual statutes in 1981 to
protect from employer retaliation an employee who re­
ports a violation of law or participates in an enforce­
ment proceeding. Michigan adopted a separate “Whis­
tleblowers’ Protection A ct” to afford such protection to
all employees in both the private and public sectors.
The following is a summary, by jurisdiction, of labor
legislation during 1981.
Alabama
W ages. Up to 40 percent of a parent’s weekly disposable earn­
ings are now subject to court-ordered garnishment for child
support.

Alaska
W ages. By prior law, which sets the minimum wage at 50
cents per hour above the Federal rate, the minimum wage rate
rose to $3.85 on January 1, 1981.
Orders for support of a minor child now have priority over
all other assignments or garnishments, and must contain an
income assignment order, with 50 percent of gross wages or
$100 a week, whichever is less, exempt from assignment. Em­
ployees may not be discharged on the basis of this assign­
ment.
C h ild labor. Restrictions for minors under 16 were relaxed to
permit work as early as 5 a.m. and until 9 p.m. Previously,
minors could not work before 6 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t op p o rtu n ity. Sex discrimination is now pro­
hibited in employment in public education. No difference is
allowed between the sexes in conditions of employment or ad­
vancement opportunities, and affirmative action procedures
are to be developed by the State Board of Education, which
will administer this law. Career counseling services must stress


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access to opportunities without regard to sex.

Arizona
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. The law regulating private em­
ployment agencies no longer applies to agencies which do not
charge a fee to job applicants.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. Among numerous limitations
placed on State agency competition with private enterprise,
the Department of Economic Security, which administers the
public employment service, is expressly prohibited from en­
gaging in activity not prescribed by Federal or State law or
Federal regulation, and may not participate in radio, televi­
sion, or newspaper advertising of specific job openings unless
prescribed by Federal law.
O th e r laws. Training programs receiving State assistance under
the Work-Site Education and Training Act must now ensure
training on a priority basis to Vietnam era veterans in addi­
tion to other groups previously specified.

Arkansas
W ages. The minimum wage rate was increased from $2.70 an
hour to $2.80 effective January 1, 1982 with a further increase
to $2.95 scheduled for January 1, 1983. In addition, the maxi­
mum tip credit allowance permitted was changed from a dol­
lar amount to 50 percent of the minimum wage.

California
W ages. Prior wage orders provided for an increase in the
minimum hourly wage rate from $3.10 to $3.35 effective Janu­
ary 1, 1981.
Compensation of prison inmates for productive work in
prisons was changed from a previous rate range of 2 cents to
35 cents an hour, to a rate not to exceed half the minimum
wage.
The prevailing wage law threshold amount was increased
from $500 to $1,000.
Ski establishment employers may arrange a regularly sched­
uled workweek of up to 56 hours without being in violation of
overtime pay regulations, provided employees receive premium
rates after 56 hours.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. A new measure, effective in
January 1982, established a policy of “comparable worth” in
setting salaries based on value of work for women-dominated
jobs in the State service. Also, the Department of Personnel
Administration is to examine comparable worth studies done
by other jurisdictions and make an annual report on them to
the legislature, and to the exclusive bargaining agent of State
employees prior to collective bargaining.
Compulsory retirement, otherwise prohibited for employees
who wish to and can continue working, will be permitted for
physicians who have attained age 70 and are employed by a
professional medical corporation with bylaws on compulsory
retirement.
The Fair Employment and Housing Commission was trans­
ferred from the Department of Fair Employment and Housing
to the State and Consumer Services Agency. Under the same
law, apprenticeship programs are no longer exempted from
the prohibited age limitations in the age discrimination law.
Prohibitions on sex discrimination in employment may not
affect the right of an employer to provide preferences for vet­
erans and their surviving spouses. The law also prohibits the
use of State funds to challenge this provision in court (an
existing regulation provides that veterans preference may not

31

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
be used as a basis for selection unless work performed during
military service is related to job performance, except where re­
quired by a constitutional provision authorizing such prefer­
ence in the civil service, or by Federal law). A similar new law
also allows employers to give special consideration to Vietnam
era veterans.

dren under Federal standards, but who qualify for the State
program, are to receive priority for employment and training
services under certain existing programs, and special pilot
projects to provide on-the-job training are to be developed for
these individuals. This act will become operative only if funds
are made available by the legislature.

W o rk er p riva cy. The law prohibiting employers from compel­
ling employees or applicants to take a lie detector or similar
test, now requires the employer, before requesting that the
test be taken, to advise the employee in writing of the prohibi­
tion against compulsion.
The Department of Justice was authorized to furnish re­
cords of convictions to nonprofit corporations or other
organizations, as specified by the Attorney General, involving
sex crimes of persons who apply for employment, or volun­
teers for positions involving supervisory or disciplinary power
over minors.

O th e r laws. State contracts are to contain a sworn statement
by the contractor that no more than one final finding of con­
tempt of court has been issued against the contractor within
the last 2 years because of failure to comply with a Federal
court order, enforcing a ruling of the National Labor Rela­
tions Board. In case of a false statement, the State may re­
scind the contract.
Public entities may not permit any peace officer to be
employed by a private sector employer as a security guard at
the site of a strike, lockout, picketing, or other labor dispute
which occurs in the same jurisdiction where the peace officer
is regularly employed or on loan.

Local public agencies and their unions may
now negotiate agency shop agreements. Religious or conscien­
tious objectors may alternatively be required to pay sums,
equaling union fees, to a nonreligious, nonlabor, charitable
fund.
A new law was enacted governing local public transporta­
tion labor disputes, except for those involving local public
agencies subject to other collective bargaining legislation. It
provides for the exchange of contract proposals and data be­
tween the parties and for mediation of disputes. Where a
strike or lockout appears likely, the Governor may appoint a
board to investigate the issues and make a written report. Any
strike or lockout during the period of investigation is prohib­
ited.

L a b o r relations.

G a r m e n t in d u stry. A late 1980 law requires all garment indus­
try manufacturers, jobbers, and contractors to register
annually with the State Labor Commissioner, beginning July
1, 1981, and to keep certain hour, wage, production, and con­
tract price records. Failure to register or doing business with
an unregistered contractor may result in penalties, including
fines and garment confiscation.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Agents for professional athletes
are now to be licensed and regulated by the Labor Commis­
sioner. Agents must deposit a $10,000 bond and may not en­
gage in certain practices.
Employment agencies which use a computer system as their
only means of procuring employment for clients, are no longer
limited to a nonrefundable fee of $20. However, the fee to be
charged for furnishing such services must be clearly stated in
the contract.

The Director of Corrections is au­
thorized to conduct demonstration industrial enterprises for
prerelease work training of inmates. Inmates may be paid
wages prevailing in comparable industries in the State, and
wage deductions may be made for room and board, the Cali­
fornia Victim Indemnity Fund, family support, savings, and
personal expenses.
A California Welfare Employment Skills Training Act, ad­
ministered by the Employment Development Department,
provides for a program to give Aid-to-Families-with-Dependent-Children recipients vocational training and job placement
assistance, so they may acquire marketable job skills.
Under the provisions of a new law, unemployed parents
who do not qualify for Aid-to-Families-with-Dependent-ChilE m p lo y m e n t a n d training.

Digitized for
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Colorado
W ages. Payment bonds must now be furnished on public
works contracts exceeding $50,000, rather than on those ex­
ceeding $10,000 as was previously required.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. The Division of Correctional
Industries was authorized to contract for the training or em­
ployment of offenders, with training to be in accordance with
standards set by the Department of Labor and Employment
whenever possible. Wages earned under the program are to be
used to compensate the offender’s victims, pay support to the
offender’s dependents, defray costs of confinement, and estab­
lish a trust fund for the offender payable upon release.
O c cu p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health . Coal mine inspections need
now be made only once rather than four times annually, and
inspections will be made only of mines in which an average of
less than 75 full-time workers were employed during the pre­
ceding calendar year. Mines of larger size are deemed to affect
interstate commerce and therefore are subject to Federal in­
spection.

Connecticut
W ages. By prior law, the hourly minimum wage increased
from $3.12 to $3.37 on January 1, 1981.
C h ild labor. Minors age 16 and 17 may now work until 11
p.m. (rather than 10 p.m.) on days preceding schooldays, in
restaurants or as ushers in nonprofit theaters.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Prohibited discrimination on
the basis of sex was defined to specifically include matters re­
lating to pregnancy, child bearing capacity, sterilization, fertil­
ity, or related medical conditions. Employers must inform
employees and job applicants of substances involved in the
job which may cause birth defects or be hazardous to a work­
er’s reproductive system or to a fetus. Employment, transfers,
or promotions may not be conditioned on the sterilization of
the employee.

The State Labor Relations Act was amended
to provide that an agent investigating complaints or violations
referred by the State Board of Labor Relations shall not dis­
close any confidential communication made during the investi­
gation, unless authorized by the party making such

L a b o r relations.

communication. Similarly, mediators appointed by the labor
commissioner are now subject to the same restrictions.
No private employer or employee organization, involved in
a labor dispute, may hire any member of a municipal police
department in the town in which the dispute is taking place,
for protection or other duties related to the dispute.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. The surety bond that each
employment agency must post was increased from $5,000 to
$7,500, and agency license fees increased from $75 to $150.
O c cu p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d health . Any employee who believes
there is a violation of the information and notice requirements
for employers using or producing carcinogens may now re­
quest an inspection by filing a written complaint with the La­
bor Commissioner who is authorized to investigate and to
assess civil penalties for violations. Retaliation against an em­
ployee for filing a complaint is prohibited.

The Department of Labor was au­
thorized to contract with local and regional boards of
education to provide full-time programs for adult basic educa­
tion for qualified Work Incentive Program registrants.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d train in g.

O th e r laws. A committee consisting of legislative, labor, man­
agement and municipal representatives was created to study
all aspects of plant relocation and mass layoffs, and to make
recommendations for legislation to reduce the hardships.

Delaware
C h ild labor. An 18- or 19-year-old child of a liquor store re­
tailer may be employed in the store, except in the sale or ser­
vice of liquors (20 is the minimum age otherwise applicable).

District of Columbia
W ages. Wage Order Number 12, applicable to occupations not
covered by other wage orders, was revised effective October
31, 1981 to increase the minimum wage rate for parking atten­
dants to $3.40 an hour, provided that at least 40 cents an
hour is received in tips; for car wash attendants to $3.50 pro­
vided that at least 15 cents an hour is received in tips; for day
labor ticket takers and ushers to $3.75; and for all other occu­
pations from $2.75 an hour to $3.90.
Wage Order Number 10, applicable to hotel, restaurant,
apartment building and allied occupations was also revised to
increase the minimum hourly rate from $2.80 to $3.80, effec­
tive January 2, 1982. Among other changes, the maximum tip
allowance against the minimum wage was increased from
$1.45 an hour to $1.95, and the minimum hourly rate for em­
ployees under the age of 18 was raised from $2.25 to $3.35.

Florida
The law providing for the licensing and regulation
of migrant labor camps, which was scheduled for repeal on
July 1, 1982 under sunset legislation, was extended to October
1, 1983.
A g ricu ltu re.

C h ild labor. Numerous changes were made in the child labor
law. Employment certificate provisions for children age 12
through 15 were repealed. Age certificates are authorized for
such children, as well as for 16- and 17-year-olds, although
employers may accept other forms of proof of age. Children
are no longer permitted to work during school hours in do­
mestic work or farm labor for their own parents. Nightwork
restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds were relaxed to allow
work until 1 a.m. on days preceding schooldays, although in­


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dividual variances had been allowed before.
Waivers of the child labor restrictions may be granted by
the Division of Labor, on a case-by-case basis, if in the best
interests of the child. High school graduates, minors who have
served in the Armed Forces, and legally emancipated minors
are exempted from coverage. Also, married minors and those
with court approved employment continue to be exempt.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t opportu n ity. The prohibition under the Hu­
man Rights Act, against mandatory retirement, will not apply
where individual applicants fail to meet bona fide job require­
ments. Nor will it apply where employment would require
changes in bona fide retirement or pension programs or
existing collective bargaining agreements during the life of the
contract or until October 1, 1983, whichever is first. Employ­
ers may require physical examinations of applicants and em­
ployees to determine job fitness.
L a b o r relations. The definition of public employees, for
collective bargaining purposes, was amended to exempt per­
sons in inspection positions in Federal-State fruit and vegeta­
ble inspection service, persons employed by the Public
Employees Relations Commission, and graduate and under­
graduate students enrolled and employed by the State Univer­
sity System.
O c c u p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d health . Among changes to the law
regulating elevators, annual safety inspection is now required,
except that those elevators covered by a safety maintenance
contract must be inspected every 2 years.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. A new Public Assistance Productiv­
ity Act provides for the Department of Health and Rehabili­
tative Services to plan, integrate, and coordinate employment
related services for public assistance recipients, and directs it
to help fund a privately administered demonstration pilot
project designed to reduce welfare costs and provide viable
work opportunities to AFDC recipients.
The Department of Corrections is to lease the facilities of
the prison industry program to a private nonprofit corpora­
tion organized solely for the purpose of operating the pro­
gram. Deductions are to be made from prisoner wages for
lodging, food, and other maintenance expenses, and for pay­
ments to dependents and crime victims.

Georgia
W ages. Employee pensions subject to the Federal Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( e r i s a ) are subject
to garnishment only for alimony or child support, and then
only when the benefits are currently due and payable or trans­
ferable to the pension plan’s member or beneficiary.
C h ild labor. The minimum age for employment was lowered
from 14 to 12. Formerly children 12 and 13 were permitted to
work only in stores (with permits) and in occupations exempt
at any age— agriculture, domestic service, and family employ­
ment. Prohibitions on specific occupations for minors under
16 were removed, and the Commissioner of Labor was given
rulemaking authority to declare occupations hazardous.
Changes were also made in the certificate provisions.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. The upper age limit in the ban
on age discrimination in employment was raised from 65 to
70.
A new equal-employment-for-the-handicapped law prohibits
discrimination based on physical or mental impairment (other

33

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
than drug or alcohol addiction) which substantially limits nor­
mal function. The law applies to both public or private em­
ployers of 15 or more persons, labor organizations,
employment agencies, and to apprenticeship and other train­
ing programs, and will be enforceable in the courts.
A 15-member Commission on Women’s Opportunities was
created to study statutes, regulations and agency practices, to
determine whether any distinction, exclusion, or preference is
made based on sex, affecting equal employment opportunities.
A report and recommendations are to be made to the Gover­
nor and the Legislature prior to the 1983 legislative session.
The Commission may not make a recommendation on the
merits of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
Veterans’ services are to be provided for surviving spouses
of veterans, rather than only to widows as before, and veter­
ans’ preference in employment in the State Department of
Veterans Service was also extended to widowers of veterans.

charge or discipline an employee as a result of such an assign­
ment.

Guam

Indiana

The minimum wage rose to S3.35 an hour on January
1, 1981, under a prior law which adopted the Federal Fair La­
bor Standards Act rates by reference.
A Child Support Employment Office was established in the
Department of Public Health and Social Services, and the
courts were authorized to order garnishment of wages or pen­
sions for child support.
W ages.

Hawaii
W ages. By prior law, the minimum wage rate was increased
from $3.10 to $3.35 an hour effective July 1, 1981.
Employment under the work release plan of a youth correc­
tional facility may now be at a wage less than the minimum
wage, provided that no more than five hours of a person’s
work week will be paid at the subminimum rate.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n ity. Employees of State and local
government are now subject to the Fair Employment Practice
law, and prohibition against sex discrimination was defined to
specifically include discrimination because of pregnancy,
childbirth, or related medical conditions. Investigation and en­
forcement authority and procedures are now spelled-out in
greater detail.
House and Senate resolutions were passed expressing con­
cern over inequities in the salaries of women, and urging all
employers to adopt the concept of equal pay for work of com­
parable value.
O th e r laws. The protection against suspension or discharge
from employment because of wage garnishment, employee
bankruptcy, or work injury, was extended to include an em­
ployee’s testimony or being subpoenaed to testify in proceed­
ings relating to any such suspension or discharge.
Another law specifically prohibited discrimination against
an employee, in addition to discharge or suspension, because
of garnishment, employee bankruptcy, or work injury.

Illinois
W ages. The requirement in the wage payment act that an em­
ployer notify the State Department of Labor of the amount of
wages to be withheld when the amount or legitimacy of the
deduction is in dispute, was amended to require the employer
to also state in writing the reasons for withholding payment.
Courts may require an assignment of wages to enforce an
order for child or spouse support. Employers may not dis­

34


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Migrant labor camps housing fewer than 10
migrant workers or four families must now meet certain speci­
fied safety and health standards and be open to inspection by
the Department of Public Health, although a license is not re­
quired.

A g ricu ltu re.

W o rk er p riva cy. Local governments and school districts may
obtain information on convictions from the Department of
Law Enforcement for use in evaluating the character and
qualifications of employees and job applicants.
O th e r laws. The identity of any State employee who reports
the violation of any law, rule, regulation, or mismanagement,
may not be revealed during an investigation, and no disciplin­
ary action may be taken against the employee.

E m p lo y m e n t a n d train in g. The Department of Commerce is to
establish an industrial training program to train and upgrade
the skills of potential employees of new or expanding indus­
tries.

Iowa
The law requiring that official meetings be
open to the public was amended. It now exempts meetings of
governmental bodies held to discuss strategy, involving nego­
tiations with employees not covered by collective bargaining
agreements.

L a b o r relations.

Louisiana
W ages. An individual may not be denied employment or
discharged because of a voluntary or involuntary assignment
of wages.
C h ild labor. School records will no longer be required as a
prerequisite for the issuance of street-trades permits or certifi­
cates for the employment of minors under 16 outside school
hours during the school term.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Among changes to the employ­
ment agency regulatory law, the Private Employment Service
Advisory Council was reconstituted to include three represen­
tatives from the industry, and one representative each from la­
bor and consumer interests.
O c cu p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d h ealth . Reprisals were prohibited
against employees who report or complain of possible envi­
ronmental violations. For infraction of the ban, in addition to
other available remedies, an employee may bring civil action
against the employer to recover triple damages and court
costs including attorney’s fees.

The Occupational Information Co­
ordinating Council and the Governor’s State Employment and
Training Council were transferred to the Department of La­
bor.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d train in g.

O th e r laws. A new law gives preference in the awarding of
nonconstruction public contracts to in-State vendors, over
vendors from those States which favor their resident vendors
over those from Louisiana. Public works construction contrac­
tors have been protected by a similar law.

Maine
The minimum wage rate was increased to $3.35 an
hour on January 1, 1981, under a prior law which provided
for matching State increases to the Federal rate, up to a maxi­
mum $4 rate.
The minirmlm qualifying salary for exemption from the
minimum wage law as an executive, administrative, or profes­
sional employee was increased from $150 to $175 a week.
The law permitting wage deductions to repay an employee’s
debt to the employer was restricted to a debt of benefit to the
employee, and banned deductions for such items as cash or
inventory shortages, dishonored checks or credit cards, dam­
age to the employer’s property, or merchandise purchased by
a customer.
W ages.

H ours. A law was enacted permitting State government em­
ployees to work alternative work schedules including flexible
hours, part-time work, and job sharing.

Nightwork restrictions were amended to permit
15-year-olds to work until 10 p.m., rather than 9 p.m. as be­
fore. The starting time of 7 a.m. was unchanged.
C h ild labor.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. In an effort to expand work
opportunities for handicapped citizens, the State Purchasing
Law now permits giving preference to goods or services pro­
duced by in-State sheltered workshops.
L a b o r relations. Collective bargaining rights, previously
granted to employees of municipalities, schools, and special
districts, were extended to county employees.
An employer may not cancel a group health insurance poli­
cy during a strike until the insured employees have been noti­
fied.
O c cu p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health . Penalties were established for
refusing to comply with the requirement that information be
provided to employees about the identities and hazards of
chemicals in the work area by such means as labels, chemical
identification lists, and education and training.
O th e r laws. The name of the Department of Manpower Affairs
was changed to the Department of Labor, and the name of
the Bureau of Labor was changed to Bureau of Labor Stan­
dards.
In addition to making severance payments to employees
and notifying the Director of the Bureau of Labor 60 days in
advance of relocating or terminating an establishment, em­
ployers of 100 or more persons must now also notify employ­
ees and municipal officers at least 60 days before relocating an
establishment outside the State.

Maryland
The minimum wage rate rose to $3.35 to match the
Federal rate under the existing State law which conforms to
the Fair Labor Standards Act rate by reference.
Those agricultural employees who are subject to the State
minimum wage are to be paid time-and-a-half their usual
hourly wage rate for work after 60 hours per week.
W ages.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Employment discrimination
against public school teachers because of handicap was pro­
hibited, unless the handicap adversely affects the person’s abil­
ity to perform the duties of the position.


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e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Private employment agencies
whose fees are completely employer-paid and that do not re­
quire job applicants to sign a contract are not subject to the
agency licensing and regulatory law.
P riva te

O c cu p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health . Temporary help firms may not
permit their employees to work in confined spaces such as
tanks, tunnels, vats, and sewers, without written authorization
of the Commissioner of Labor and Industry based upon a sat­
isfactory showing of adequate worker protection, or without
an approved variance.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. A State Use Industries Organiza­
tion was established to develop industries to provide full-time
work experience or rehabilitation programs for eligible prison
inmates.

Massachusetts
W ages. The minimum wage rose to $3.35 an hour on January
1, 1981, under provisions of a 1977 amendment.
C h ild labor. An exception was made to the hazardous occupa­
tions restrictions on minors under 18, permitting 16-and
17-year-old minors to be employed, consistent with Federal
law, if enrolled in State or local cooperative vocational train­
ing programs under specified circumstances. Formerly the ex­
ception applied only to agricultural training programs.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Conscientious objection to
abortion may not be grounds for dismissal, discrimination in
hiring, failure to promote, or withholding of pay.
A special commission was established to study the concerns
of Vietnam era veterans, including government programs and
practices relating to employment, re-employment, retraining,
and rehabilitation.
L a b o r relations. Among various changes involving the Board
of Conciliation and Arbitration, the Board is now an indepen­
dent agency, composed of a permanent chairperson who is au­
thorized to appoint one labor and one management repre­
sentative to the Board on a case-by-case basis.

Michigan
W ages. By prior law, the minimum wage increased from $3.10
an hour to $3.35 on January 1, 1981.
Constitutionality of the prevailing wage law, which relies
solely on collectively-bargained rates to determine prevailing
rates, was upheld by the State Court of Appeals. The appel­
late court reversed a lower court decision which had held the
statute to be an unconstitutional delegation of legislative au­
thority because of its method of rate determination.
C h ild labor. A minor may not work after sunset or 8 p.m.,
whichever is earlier, in an occupation that involves a cash
transaction, unless an adult is present.

Among changes to the civil
rights act for handicapped persons, coverage was extended to
the restored mentally ill; employers were specifically required
to accommodate handicapped persons unless it would impose
an undue hardship. A union may not, because of a member’s
handicap give inadequate representation in a grievance pro­
cess. Public contracts for the State or political subdivisions
must include a prohibition against discrimination because of a
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity.

35

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
handicap that is unrelated to the individual’s ability to per­
form a particular job, and the Civil Rights Commission was
given rulemaking authority.
O th e r laws. A “whistleblowers’ protection act” was passed,
prohibiting reprisal against public or private sector employees
who report, or are about to report, any violation of a State,
local, or Federal law, or who participate in an investigation,
hearing, inquiry or court action. An employer may not dis­
charge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against such an
employee. The employee may bring a civil action for injunc­
tion or damages or both, and the court may order reinstate­
ment, back pay, and other relief.
Coverage of the law on standards of conduct for State
employees was amended to include elected or appointed offi­
cials. New protections from adverse actions for public officers
or employees who report or are about to report violations
were added, and provision was made for bringing civil action
against violators.

Minnesota
W ages. By prior law, the minimum wage rose from $2.90 an
hour to $3.10 effective January 1, 1981. A further increase to
$3.35 is scheduled for January 1, 1982.
Employee payments for required uniforms, special clothing,
equipment, and certain travel expenses are to be subtracted
from wages paid in calculating whether minimum wage re­
quirements are met.
Overtime pay requirements will not apply to employers of
sugarbeet hand laborers who are paid on a piece-rate basis,
provided that the regular hourly rate of pay exceeds the mini­
mum wage rate by at least 40 cents. This provision was to ex­
pire December 13, 1981.

A new law requires employers using agents to
recruit out-of-State migrant workers to provide each worker,
at the time recruited, with a written employment statement of
the minimum duration of employment, working conditions,
wages, and housing provision if any. Workers are to receive a
minimum of 70 hours pay, at no less than the Federal mini­
mum wage, in any two consecutive weeks, unless work is un­
available due to weather conditions. Workers are also to
receive a written pay statement itemizing deductions from
wages. Workers may bring a civil action in case of violation.

A g ricu ltu re.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n ity. Individuals may now file equal
employment opportunity complaints directly in the district
court instead of seeking prior administrative resolution, and
the Commissioner of Human Rights was authorized to adopt
policies to determine the order in which charges are to be pro­
cessed. Reprisals against persons who have taken part in ac­
tions under this law were defined to include any form of
intimidation, retaliation, or harassment.
The enforcement provisions of the Human Rights Act were
amended. Penalty payments may now include damages for
mental anguish and suffering, and the maximum award of pu­
nitive damages was raised.
W o rk er p riv a cy . The law regulating the collection and dissemi­
nation of data by State agencies was amended to, among oth­
er things, classify labor relations information on specific labor
organizations, as nonpublic data, and to permit the dissemina­
tion of personnel data to unions when it is determined that
the information is needed for elections and other purposes.

36


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L a b o r relations. The definition of public employee under the
Public Employment Labor Relations Act was amended to ex­
clude part-time instructors in adult vocational education pro­
grams.
An exception was made to the State open meeting law
permitting public employers to hold closed meetings to deter­
mine strategy for labor negotiations. Such sessions must be
tape recorded and must be available to the public after negoti­
ations are completed and a contract signed.

Mississippi
H ours. Restrictions on hours of work for persons over age 16
were removed. Hours had been limited to 10 per day in can­
neries, workshops, mills, factories, or manufacturing establish­
ments. Night workers had been limited to 60 hours per week.
The law which prohibited a female from working more than
10 hours a day or 60 hours a week was repealed.

Missouri
W ages. In January 1981, the State Supreme Court upheld the
rate determination methodology, used by the Labor and In­
dustrial Relations Commission under the prevailing wage act.
H ou rs. The maximum 8-hour day in any mining, mechanical,
chemical manufacturing, or smelting business was amended to
allow additional hours with the employee’s consent.

Montana
W ages. The minimum wage was increased from $2.00 an hour
to $2.50 effective July 1, 1981 with a further increase to $2.75
scheduled for July 1, 1982. The minimum amount that may
be paid to seasonal farm workers on a monthly basis in lieu of
the minimum hourly rate was increased from $460 to $575 a
month on July 1, 1981, and to $635 a month beginning July
1, 1982.
The labor department was granted subpoena power to com­
pel the production of payroll records in case of public con­
tractor refusal. Also, bid specifications and contracts are now
to include the prevailing wage rates that are to be paid. Fail­
ure to do so relieves the contractor of his obligation to pay
the prevailing wage rate and places such obligation on the
contracting agency.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. The maximum placement fees
charged by private employment agencies will no longer be
regulated by statute, but will now be determined by the agen­
cies themselves. These fees were specifically made not subject
to disapproval by the Commissioner of the Department of La­
bor and Industry. Agents for professional athletes were specif­
ically exempted from the employment agency regulatory law.

Nevada
W ages. The prevailing wage law was amended to exclude con­
struction projects costing less than $4,000 as well as contracts
directly related to the normal operation of the government
agency or the normal maintenance of its property, and con­
tracts awarded to meet emergency situations resulting from
natural or man-made disasters.
Payment bonds must now be furnished on all public works
contracts exceeding $5,000, rather than on those exceeding
$2,000 as was previously required.
Employers may not discharge or take disciplinary action
against an employee because of court ordered wage assign­
ment for child support.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t opp o rtu n ity. Discriminatory actions based
on an employee’s age will not be considered unlawful if the
person is less than 40 or more than 69 years of age. Formerly
there were no age limits in the law.
The ban against unlawful job discrimination was extended
to cover the hearing impaired (in addition to visual or physi­
cal handicap and other bases). It is unlawful for an employer
to refuse to permit a hearing impaired employee to keep a
hearing dog with him or her.
The labor commissioner is authorized to approve and regu­
late 6-month to 2-year programs for training in actual em­
ployment for veterans in occupations which do not offer
programs of apprenticeship. Such programs must comply with
Federal and State equal employment opportunity laws.
W o rk er p riva cy. A separate polygraph examiners licensing and
regulatory law was enacted. Formerly, polygraph examiners
were regulated along with private investigators, patrolmen,
process servers and repossessors. The new law gives the exam­
inee the right to refuse to answer any question which would
tend to incriminate or degrade him. The person to be exam­
ined must be told of the purpose of the examination and con­
sent to it in writing. The examination must not be conducted
for the purpose of interfering with or preventing lawful activi­
ties of organized labor. Inquiries into the examinee’s religion,
political or labor organization affiliations, or sexual activities
are prohibited unless germane and made at the request of the
examinee.
Public agencies may request information from the FBI on
the personal history of any person who is an applicant for a
license or employment.
O c c u p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d health . Among amendments to the oc­
cupational safety and health law, a notice may be issued (in
lieu of a citation) in cases of violations which are not serious
and which the employer agrees to correct within a reasonable
time. Also, temporary variances from standards adopted un­
der the law will no longer be granted. Employers may still ap­
ply for permanent variances.
A comprehensive statute was enacted to control the
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of
hazardous waste, and a separate statute instituted controls
over the transport and disposal of radioactive, chemical, and
other hazardous materials.

New Hampshire
W ages. By prior enactment, the minimum wage rate rose to
$3.35 an hour on January 1, 1981 to match the Federal rate.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. The Commission on the Status
of Women which was to be terminated on July 1, 1981, under
sunset legislation, was extended to July 1, 1987.
O c c u p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d health . The law regulating the man­
agement of hazardous wastes was amended to, among other
things, require permits to transport such materials, and to
prohibit employers from retaliating against employees for re­
porting violations as required by law.
The State Civil Defense Agency was directed to initiate and
carry out a radiological emergency response plan for each nu­
clear electrical generating plant, in order to deal with the ef­
fect of nuclear incidents or accidents.

New Jersey
W ages.

The minimum wage rate was increased from $3.10 an


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hour to $3.35 effective January 1, 1981. The rates for minors,
whose minimum wage coverage is derived from wage orders
rather than statute, were also increased to $3.35, without any
youth differential based on age alone.
A New Jersey Building Authority was established to con­
struct and operate office buildings and related facilities to
meet the needs of State agencies. The Authority is to pay pre­
vailing wage rates, as determined by the labor commissioner,
to workers employed on its construction projects, and is to es­
tablish an affirmative action program for the hiring of minori­
ty workers.
C h ild labor. Activities of 16-to 18-year-olds in any Junior
Firemen’s Auxiliary were specifically exempted from hazard­
ous occupation restrictions in the child labor law. (Junior
firemen cannot be required to perform duties exposing them
to the same degree of hazard as regular members of a volun­
teer fire company). Restrictions on employment of minors un­
der 16 in theatrical productions were eased.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t opportu n ity. The law against discrimination
in employment was amended to include discrimination on the
basis of a person’s atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait,
including sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, or Tay-Sachs.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Temporary help service firms are
no longer subject to the private employment agency regulato­
ry law, provided that no fee is charged any employee. Such
firms may not prevent employees from accepting other em­
ployment, or knowingly send employees to places where
strikes or lockouts are in progress.

New M exico
W ages. By prior law, the minimum wage rate was increased
from $2.90 an hour to $3.35 effective July 1, 1981. The farm
rate rose to $3.10 on July 1, 1981, with a further increase to
$3.35 scheduled for July 1, 1982.
S c h o o l a tten d a n ce. A minor may be excused from compulsory
school attendance at age 16, with parental consent, if he or
she will be employed or engaged in an alternative form of ed­
ucation. Formerly the child could leave school on completion
of the 10th grade, at whatever age, after a consultation be­
tween child, school officials, and parent, with no employment
or other education requirement.
O th e r laws. The Human Rights Commission, the Labor and
Industrial Commission, and the Office of Labor Commission­
er, scheduled for termination under sunset legislation, were ex­
tended to July 1, 1987.

New York
W ages. By prior law, the minimum wage rate for nonagricultural workers was increased from $3.10 an hour to $3.35
on January 1, 1981.
The wage payment law was amended to require employers
to notify employees of the company policy on sick leave, vaca­
tion, personal leave, holidays, and hours, through written or
posted notice.
Employers must have the advance written consent of an
employee before depositing his or her pay directly in a bank
or other financial institution.
The labor commissioner, rather than the fiscal officer, will
now determine the rate of interest to be imposed by orders

37

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
directing the payment of wages or supplements, found to be
due under the minimum wage act or the wage payment law.
Provisions in the civil service law for media­
tion and arbitration of collective bargaining disputes by the
Public Employment Relations Board, due to expire July 1,
1981 were extended for 2 years.

L a b o r relations.

G a rm e n t in d u stry. A Garment Industry Job Retention Act
was enacted, directing the Industrial Commissioner to study
the garment manufacturing industry and the industrial
homework process, including the feasibility of registration or
licensing and bonding of employers in the garment industry.
The study will also deal with labor standards practices and vi­
olations, and the adequacy of health and safety conditions.
An advisory committee on garment manufacturing will be
appointed to assist in the study, consisting of representatives
of a cross section of the industry. Enforcement authority and
penalty provisions were strengthened in the industrial
homework law.
O c c u p a tio n a l s a fe ty a n d health . The transportation law and
the vehicle and traffic law were amended regarding the regula­
tion of the transportation of hazardous materials. Rules and
regulations are to cover transportation by highway, railroad
or water, and are to be no less protective than those
established by the Federal government. Hazardous materials
were defined, training and education programs are to be
established, and penalties were established for violation.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. A pilot project to improve and ex­
pand employment opportunities for senior citizens through
job development and placement efforts was established, to be
implemented and administered by the Industrial Commission­
er of the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Di­
rector of the State Office for the Aging.
O th e r laws. Contractors engaged in performing work or
services, or providing goods to the State in an amount exceed­
ing $5,000 are prohibited from participating in an internation­
al boycott in violation of Federal law. Contracts will not be
let to contractors who have previously participated in such
boycotts.

North Carolina
The minimum wage rate was increased from $2.90 an
hour to $3.10 effective January 1, 1982 with a further increase
to $3.35 scheduled for January 1, 1983. The law will now be
applicable to employers of three or more rather than four or
more as before.
Among other amendments to the wage and hour act, the
subminimum wage rate for full-time students, learners, ap­
prentices, and messengers will now be 90 percent of the basic
minimum rate rather than a fixed dollar amount. Also, chang­
es were made in some of the wage deduction provisions, and
in the exemptions from minimum wage, overtime, youth em­
ployment, and record-keeping requirements.
W ages.

H ours. A work-options program for State employees provid­
ing for flexible work hours, job sharing, and permanent parttime positions was established, to be administered by the State
Personnel Commission.

Among various changes in the youth employment
law, youths 14-and 15-years of age may now be employed
only in occupations permitted under the Fair Labor Standards
C h ild labor.

38 FRASER
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Act ( f l s a ) . Minors under 18 are still prohibited from working
in occupations declared hazardous under f l s a . However, now
the Commissioner of Labor may, after public hearing, declare
additional occupations to be prohibited. Youths under 18 may
not prepare or serve alcoholic beverages and youths under 16
may not be employed on the premises where such beverages
are served. FLSA-covered employers, who have been exempt
from all but the certificate provisions, will be subject to the
prohibitions on occupations declared detrimental by the Com­
missioner and to the alcoholic beverage restrictions.
W o rk er priva cy. The law restricting the dissemination of infor­
mation contained in city and county personnel records was
amended to, among other things, authorize the release of in­
formation concerning specific personnel actions when it is de­
termined in writing that the release is essential to maintaining
public confidence in the administration of city or county ser­
vices.

A new law was enacted prohibiting strikes by
public employees.
Any State employee may voluntarily authorize, in writing,
dues deductions for membership in a State employee’s associa­
tion, provided the association has at least 5,000 members and
does not engage in collective bargaining.

L a b o r relations.

North Dakota
W ages. Among other rights, persons with developmental
disabilities performing labor of economic benefit for a public
or private institution from which they are receiving treatment
or other services, are entitled to receive wages commensurate
with the value of the work performed and in accordance with
applicable Federal and State laws.
Employees may not be discharged because their wages have
been garnished for any reason (a prior law provides for pro­
tection against discharge as the result of wage assignment for
child support payments). Also, wage garnishment for support
payments will now be limited to 50 percent of disposable
earnings if another spouse or child is being supported or 60
percent if not.
Court-ordered wage assignments and orders to withhold
wages for child support payments are now subject to the limi­
tations on withholding set by Federal law.

Ohio
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Among several changes in the
Private Employment Agency Licensing Law, maximum place­
ment fees for jobs paying less than $13,000 annually are now
set by statute. Registration fees were banned, restrictions
designed to prevent misleading advertising were tightened,
contracts with job applicants must be in writing, and place­
ment fees must be refunded under specified circumstances.
O th e r laws. An employer may not discharge or threaten to
discharge any permanent employee who is summoned for jury
duty and who gives reasonable advance notice.
As part of a comprehensive surface mining control act, em­
ployers are prohibited from retaliating against employees filing
a complaint or participating in any proceedings under the law.

Oklahoma
W ages. Among amendments to the prevailing wage law, Fed­
eral Davis-Bacon rates will now be used where available, a
new procedure was adopted for rate determination in the ab­
sence of such rates, a Wage Appeals Board was established,

and fringe benefits were added to the definition of a prevailing
hourly rate Oi wages.
The required posting of a wage payment bond by coal mine
employers was repealed.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. The Civil Rights Act was
amended to add discrimination because of handicap to the list
of unfair employment practices. Such discrimination is prohib­
ited unless the action is related to a bona fide occupational
qualification. Handicapped person was defined to mean a per­
son who has a physical or mental impairment which substan­
tially limits the person’s major life activities, has a rec­
ord of such an impairment, or is regarded as having the
impairment.
L a b o r relations. Principals and assistant principals in school
districts with an average daily attendance of 15,000 or more
will now constitute a separate entity for purposes of collective
bargaining. An average daily attendance of 35,000 was
previously required.
O th e r laws. A new law permits municipal employees to partic­
ipate in political activities during off-duty hours if not in uni­
form, and if not prohibited from doing so by a Federal statute
or municipal charter. Municipal corporations may establish
employment requirements prohibiting employees from
filing as a candidate for public office while employed by the
municipality.

Oregon
W ages. As provided in a prior law, the minimum wage rate
was increased from $2.90 an hour to $3.10 effective January 1,
1981.
The Wage and Hour Commission may no longer set a
subminimum wage rate for persons over 65 years of age. Also,
authority to adopt rules prescribing procedures and require­
ments for issuance of special certificates authorizing employ­
ment of student-learners at subminimum wages was trans­
ferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission­
er of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Among other changes in the prevailing wage law, the labor
commissioner may now seek an injunction against employers
to prevent future failure to pay the prevailing wage or over­
time pay. Awarding agencies must notify the labor depart­
ment of contracts which are subject to the law. And the
commissioner may take Federally-determined rates into con­
sideration as part of the rate determination process. Also,
once a public works contract is executed, the prevailing wage
rate will not be subject to attack in any legal proceeding, and
an employer-employee agreement cannot serve as a defense for
paying less than the prevailing wage.

The labor commissioner or any person may seek
an injunction to prevent the use of unlicensed farm labor con­
tractors or to prevent anyone acting as a contractor from vio­
lating the law. Up to triple the $5,000 bond on deposit may
now be required of license applicants with previously
unsatisfied judgments. Workers must be furnished the names
and addressess of owners of operations where they will be
employed, and a notice of the existence of any labor dispute
at the worksite. In addition, with each wage payment, they
must receive a statement of hours worked and rate of pay, or,
if on piece rate, rate of pay and pieces done.
A g ricu ltu re.

C h ild labor. Nightwork restrictions were removed for children
under age 16 employed under a special permit issued by the
Wage and Hour Commission. Formerly, the permit prohibited


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work before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. (children without special
permits may not be employed before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m.).
A civil penalty of up to $1,000 may be imposed for each vi­
olation of the child labor law by employers who are not sub­
ject to f l s a . The penalties are payable to the labor
commissioner, to be used for reimbursement of enforcement
costs.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t opportu n ity. The maximum age for protec­
tion from age discrimination was increased from 65 to 70, and
an amendment prohibits employment agencies from discrimi­
nating on any covered basis in classification or referral for em­
ployment except in the case of a bona fide occupational
requirement.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Division or the Commission
for the Blind may refer severely handicapped persons as appli­
cants for vacancies in the State service. Such persons must be
interviewed provided they meet the standards necessary to
qualify for the position. The Personnel Division is to maintain
a record of all handicapped individuals hired, and the Voca­
tional Rehabilitation Division is to submit an annual statisti­
cal report on the employment progress of severely handi­
capped persons, along with recommendations for legislative
action.
All State boards, commissions, and advisory bodies are to
implement the State’s policy of being a leader in affirmative
action in making appointments. State agencies must submit
their affirmative action objectives and performance to both the
governor and legislature for review. They must also rate the
effectiveness of managers in achieving affirmative action objec­
tives.
W o rk er priva cy. The Department of State Police may now
make criminal offender information available to employers for
employment purposes, provided the employer has first advised
the employee or prospective employee that such information
might be sought.
The law prohibiting employers from requiring a lie detector
test as a condition of employment was expanded to include a
breathalyzer test to detect the presence of alcohol. However,
employers may require administration of such a test by a
third party if there are reasonable grounds to believe the indi­
vidual is under the influence of alcohol.
O c c u p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health. The Director of the Workers’
Compensation Department may require any public or private
sector employer of 10 or more employees to establish and ad­
minister a safety committee if the employer has a rate of lost
workday cases greater than that consistent with reasonable
workplace health and safety for employees of that particular
occupational classification.
The Workers’ Compensation Department may not issue or
enforce any occupational safety and health rules or standards
with respect to farms on which temporary labor camps are
not maintained and on which no more than 10 workers are
employed, except that inspections and enforcement proceed­
ings may be conducted in response to complaints relating to
an accident, or relating to the issuance of a citation.
All amusement rides must be inspected annually by the De­
partment of Commerce or a certified amusement ride inspec­
tor.
New procedures and requirements were enacted governing
the transportation of hazardous materials within the State. A
permit must be obtained to transport any material. Provision
was made for requirements for notification, record keeping, re­
porting, packaging, and emergency response, and a civil pen39

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
alty may be assessed by the circuit court upon complaint of
any person injured by a violation of the law.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Agencies no longer must enter
into written contracts with job applicants and prepare written
job referrals for placements in which the employer pays the fee.
The exemption from the law from employer-paid fee
agencies now applies if no referrals are made to positions pay­
ing less than $50,OCX) per year instead of $30,000 as before.
O th e r laws. Employers are prohibited from discharging, de­
moting, suspending, or otherwise retaliating against an
employee who has in good faith reported possible violations of
the laws regulating health care and residential facilities.
Employers may not restrict access by authorized persons,
including government officials, to any employer-provided em­
ployee housing, but may adopt reasonable rules concerning
use and occupancy, including hours of access. Retaliation is
prohibited against employees who report violations or confer
with or invite to residential areas any authorized or otherwise
invited person.

Pennsylvania
W ages. By previous enactment, the minimum wage was in­
creased from $3.10 an hour to $3.35 effective January 1, 1981.

Rhode Island
W ages. As provided for in a prior law, the minimum wage
rate was increased from $2.90 an hour to $3.10 effective July
1, 1981 with a future increase to $3.35 scheduled for July 1,
1982.
State overtime pay requirements no longer apply to motor
carrier employees whose maximum hours of work are regulat­
ed under the Federal Motor Carriers Act.
Guaranteed daily pay was reduced from 4 hours to 3 for
employees who report for duty with the employer’s permission
but who are not furnished work of that duration.
Violators of the prevailing wage law will not be allowed to
bid on or be awarded any public works contract for a period
of 18 months.
The wages of State and local government employees are
now subject to garnishment. Retirement benefits and contri­
butions will be exempt.
H ours. The law governing required meal periods was extended
to men in addition to women and children as before.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n ity. Back pay, in cases where un­
lawful employment practices are found, was defined to include
the economic value of all benefits and wage increases an em­
ployee would have been entitled to had an unfair employment
practice not been committed.
Discrimination in employment will now be prohibited based
on mental impairment as well as physical handicap. The defi­
nition of handicap was amended to refer to physical or mental
impairment which substantially limits major life activities.

prior sunset legislation, were continued, including the Labor
Relations Board, the Governors Committee on Employment
of the Handicapped, the Apprenticeship Council, and the
Commission for Human Rights.

South Carolina
L a b o r relations. Amendments to the public-sector law, relating
to permissible payroll deductions for contributions to eligible
charitable organizations and credit unions, were made specifi­
cally inapplicable to deductions for labor organizations.

Licensing and enforcement under
the employment agency law were removed from the Depart­
ment of Labor, and administrative authority to issue rules and
regulations, conduct investigations and hearings, suspend and
revoke licenses, and levy fines, was deleted. Licenses will now
be issued by the Secretary of State, and enforcement is by
court action.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies.

South Dakota
W ages. Parents may be directed to pay a specific portion of
wages indirectly, from the parent’s employer to the entitled
child, in child support cases.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. The law providing for the licens­
ing and regulation of private employment agencies was re­
pealed.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d train in g. The Department of Social Services
was directed to develop a workfare program to provide useful
public service work for unemployed individuals who receive
public assistance. Refusal to participate can result in the ter­
mination of aid.

Tennessee
W ages. Courts may require an assignment of wages as part of
an order to enforce child support, and employers may not dis­
charge or discipline an employee on the basis of the wage as­
signment.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Handicapped applicants for
State employment who are certified as unable to take a writ­
ten examination, may instead be given a work-test period dur­
ing their normal probation time.

The law governing payroll deductions for em­
ployee association dues for State employees was amended.
Among other things, it now provides that a State employee
who participates in, authorizes, or encourages a work stop­
page will be guilty of gross misconduct, and will permanently
forfeit the automatic deduction of membership dues previously
authorized.

L a b o r relations.

O th e r laws.

The prohibition against Sunday employment was

repealed.

Texas
Licensing requirements for labor agents were
amended to exclude farm labor contractors registered under
the Federal Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act.
The use of short handled hoes in performing agricultural la­
bor in commercial farming operations was prohibited, with
the exception of work in greenhouses or nurseries.

L a b o r relations.

The law giving certified public school teachers
the right to organize and bargain collectively was amended to
specifically include certified support personnel whose positions
require a professional certificate issued by the State Depart­
ment of Education. Supervisors above the rank of assistant
principal are excluded from coverage.

A g ricu ltu re.

O th e r laws. A number of State agencies scheduled to be
abolished between June 30, 1981 and June 30, 1985, under

C h ild labor. Effective January 1, 1982, the existing child labor
law will be replaced by a modernized law with several new

40


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features. Fourteen will be the basic minimum age for employ­
ment, with certain exceptions. Exempt employment includes
newspaper delivery, agricultural employment when school at­
tendance is not required, casual employment with parental
consent, parent-supervised work in a family business, and
work study participation. The labor commissioner will be re­
quired to declare occupations hazardous for minors under 18.
Other new provisions relate to hours of work restrictions, age
certificates, and granting the labor commissioner authority for
rulemaking, inspections, and the issuance of variances in hard­
ship cases.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Examiners in the public or pri­
vate sector who are testing handicapped adult job applicants
may use alternate forms of testing, including any procedure or
adaptation to help ensure the applicant’s best performance
possible, including oral or visual testing, use of readers or
tape recorders, removal of time limits, and use of multiple
testing sessions.
A Committee on Purchases of Products and Services of
Blind and Severely Disabled Persons was established, to facili­
tate the purchase by State agencies and political subdivisions
of goods and services produced by handicapped individuals.
The committee is authorized to adopt procedures, practices,
and standards used for similar Federal programs.

their widows and children, especially those in the outlying
areas of the State, by disseminating information on veteran’s
rights and benefits under State or Federal laws, on employ­
ment or reemployment of veterans, on preference for employ­
ment, and on emergency relief.
W o rk er priva cy. The polygraph regulatory law governing use
of equipment, and licensing of examiners was expanded to ap­
ply to all deception detection instruments, including voice
stress devices. All instruments must have prior approval of
the Department of Public Safety, and additional safeguards
were prescribed to protect the subject. Denial or termination
of employment may not be based on refusal to submit to any
such examination.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. The State Apprenticeship Council
will permit apprentices to substitute prior educational experi­
ence in a trade for supplemental instruction if the apprentice
passes an equivalency test administered by an accredited
school.

Vermont
Wages. By prior law, the minimum wage rate was raised to
$3.35 an hour effective January 1, 1981.

The anti-discrimination law
was amended to prohibit discrimination in employment based
on age (18 or older), or for physical or mental condition. A
separate provision which had provided some limited protec­
tion for physically handicapped persons was repealed. Manda­
tory retirement because of age is prohibited, except under a
police or firefighter retirement system, and except that institu­
tions of higher learning may retire a tenured employee at age
65 (70 after July 1, 1982).
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t opportu n ity.

Limitations were placed on the disclosure of
information obtained from a polygraph examination, and new
penalties were enacted in the event of violation.
A school district may obtain the criminal history record of
any applicant for employment from any law enforcement
agency, provided it has written authorization from the appli­
cant.
W o rk er p riva cy.

O c cu p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health . Effective January 1, 1983, all
State, county, and municipal full-time paid firefighters must be
provided with protective clothing meeting minimum stan­
dards, and as of January 1, 1982, all self-contained breathing
apparatus must be approved and certified, and tested at least
every 30 days.
O th e r laws. The right of employees to attend a precinct con­
vention of a political party without penalty was extended to
include any county, district, or State convention to which the
employee is a delegate. Employees need not be paid for any
such time lost.

Utah
An increase in the minimum wage to $2.75 an hour,
authorized by a 1978 administrative action, took effect on Jan­
uary 1, 1981, for the retail trade, public housekeeping, restau­
rant, laundry, cleaning, dyeing, and pressing industries in Salt
Lake, Weber, Utah, and Davis counties, and in all cities with
populations of 5,000 or more. The minimum wage for other
areas was raised to $2.50 an hour.
The prevailing wage law was repealed, over the governor’s
veto. A similar measure in 1979 was defeated when the gover­
nor’s veto was sustained.
The $400 limitation on wage claims considered preferred
debts of a business in receivership was raised to $1,000, and
the Industrial Commission may now award reasonable attor­
ney’s fees in addition to amounts due for wages.
W ages.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. Authority was given the Direc­
tor of the Department of Finance to contract with various
veteran’s organizations to provide assistance to veterans, and


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E m p lo y m e n t a n d training. The name of the Department of
Employment Security was changed to the Department of Em­
ployment and Training, and a new Comprehensive Employ­
ment and Training Office was created within it. The new office
will provide job training and employment opportunities for
economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or underemployed
persons through a system of Federal and State programs,
serving as a prime sponsor in accordance with the Compre­
hensive Employment and Training Act, so long as Federal
funding continues.

Virginia
C h ild labor. Minors participating in the activities of a volun­
teer rescue squad were exempted from the child labor law.
L a b o r relations. Collective bargaining contracts entered into
by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority must
hereafter prohibit strikes or lockouts. Binding arbitration to
settle a bargaining impasse was replaced with procedures for
mediation, and if mediation is unsuccessful, for advisory fact
finding.
O c c u p a tio n a l S a fe ty a n d H ea lth . The owner or operator of a
company constructing a shaft or slope coal mine is now re­
quired to provide classroom and on-the-job training for work­
ers hired on or after July 1, 1981, who have not had previous
training or comparable experience in similar mine construction
work.
Internal combustion engines will no longer be permitted un­
derground in any coal mine. They were previously allowed with
the written approval of the Chief of the Division of Mines.

41

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • State Labor Legislation Enacted in 1981
E m p lo y m e n t a n d train in g. The Apprenticeship Council was
transferred to the Department of Labor and Industry.
O th e r laws. An employer may not discharge a person sum­
moned to serve on jury duty, nor require the employee to use
sick leave or vacation time, provided the employer was given
reasonable notice of the summons.

Virgin Islands
W ages. As the result of a wage order, effective in 1979, the
minimum wage rate was automatically increased from $3.10
an hour to $3.35 on January 1, 1981 for non-tipped employ­
ees. A few individual occupational rates, established under
earlier wage orders, which are higher than the $3.35 rate re­
main in effect. The minimum rate for most agricultural em­
ployees rose from $2.87 to $3.17.

Washington
W ages. For public works contracts over $10,000, contractors
must now post at the job site a copy of a statement of intent
to pay prevailing wages, a copy of the rates determined for
each classification of workers, and the address and telephone
number of the Industrial Statistician of the Department of La­
bor and Industries where complaints or inquiries may be filed.
The exemption from wage garnishment was amended to
now include any amount that is exempt under Federal law in
addition to the prior exemption prescribed by State law,
whichever is greater.
E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n ity. The Department of Employ­
ment Security is to conduct employer awareness seminars to
ensure private-sector employer knowledge and support for vet­
erans’ employment programs. At least one seminar is to have
direct impact upon incarcerated veterans.

West Virginia
W ages. The minimum wage rate was increased from $2.75 an
hour to $3.05 effective January 1, 1982, and certain employees
of the legislature were exempted from coverage of the law.
The wage payment and collection law was extended to in­
clude fringe benefits in the same manner as wages. Employers
are to pay wages and fringes within 5 days after they are due
instead of 20 days before. Also, wage payment bonds will be
required of all employers engaged in construction work or
mining except for those who have been doing business in the
State for at least 5 consecutive years. The Commissioner of
Labor may waive or terminate the bond requirement upon de­
termining that an employer is of sufficient financial responsi­
bility to pay wages and fringe benefits.

Children age 16 to 18 may work for volunteer fire
departments if they have the proper training and written paren­
tal consent. They are not to operate fire-fighting vehicles, enter a
burning building, or engage in other dangerous activities unless
under the immediate supervision of a fire line officer.
C h ild labor.

E q u a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p ortu n ity. The Human Rights Act was
amended to prohibit discrimination in employment, public
accomodations, and housing on the basis of handicap, in addi­

tion to blindness, the only previous prohibition.
A new law prohibits forced retirement prior to age 70 of
college or university professors with unlimited tenure.
O c c u p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health. The Commissioner of Labor is
to establish and maintain a list of up to 600 chemical sub­
stances and materials which have been determined or are sus­
pected to be hazardous or toxic to the health of employees.
Employers of ten or more are to post a warning notice in the
work area where any such substance or material is used, and
all employers are to report incidents of over-exposure by em­
ployees within 10 days. The law does not apply to coal min­
ing or processing or any agricultural or horticultural activity.
A Hazardous Waste Management Act was passed to
provide for regulation of the storage, transportation, treat­
ment, and disposal of hazardous waste by the Department of
Natural Resources.
Coal mine operators must develop and submit for approval
of the Director of the Department of Mines, under regulations
to be established, a comprehensive safety program for each
mine. Employees of each mine must be given a chance to re­
view the plan and submit comments to the Director before its
submission.
All surface mine employees must now wear approved safety
helmets when working in areas of possible danger of head inju­
ry, unless operating machinery with adequate cab protection.
O th e r laws. The Department of Labor, scheduled to terminate
on July 1, 1981 under sunset legislation, was continued until
July 1, 1987.

Wisconsin
W ages. By prior administrative action, the nonfarm minimum
hourly wage rate was increased frdm $3 to $3.25 effective Jan­
uary 1, 1981. The farm rate was increased from $2.80 an hour
to $3.05.

Wyoming
W ages. Employees whose payroll records are maintained out­
side the State and who quit or are discharged must now be
paid within 72 hours of termination instead of 48 hours as be­
fore.
Assignment of up to 25 percent of a parent’s earnings is
permitted in cases where support payments are more than 60
days overdue. The employer may deduct an additional $2 for
each payment made for costs incurred in administering the as­
signment. An employee may not be discharged because of the
assignment.
P riva te e m p lo y m e n t agencies. Placement services of the Univer­
sity of Wyoming were specifically exempted from the private
employment agency regulatory law.
O c cu p a tio n a l sa fe ty a n d health . Controlled substances and per­
sons under their influence are now banned in or around
mines, aside from the previous ban on liquor.
The Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety,
scheduled to be abolished on July 1, 1981, under sunset legis­
lation, was continued for 6 years.
Q

FOOTNOTES

Unemployment insurance and worker compensation are not within
the scope of this article. Separate articles will appear on each of these
subjects in forthcoming issues of the M o n th ly L a b o r R eview .
Kentucky was the only State where the legislature did not meet in

Digitized for
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1981. Sessions were held in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, and Puerto
Rico, but no significant labor legislation was enacted in the concerns
covered by this article.

Research
Summaries

Reconciling the C PI and the
PCE Deflator: an update
J u l ie A. B u n n

and

Ja c k E. T riplett

In an article in the September 1981 issue of the Monthly
Labor R e v ie w a technique was developed for determin­
ing the effect of differences in index number construc­
tion on the measurement of inflation. The technique
permits a straightforward reconciliation of the Federal
government’s two major inflation measures— the Con­
sumer Price Index ( cpi ), published by the Bureau of La­
bor Statistics, and the Implicit Price Deflator for Per­
sonal Consumption Expenditures (PCE Deflator),
produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This
update advances the reconciliation to the third quarter
of 1981.
Differences between movements in the CPI and PCE in­
flation measures can be attributed to three factors: own­
er-occupied housing, different index weights, and “all
other” factors. By comparing alternative versions of the
indexes published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and
the Bureau of Economic Analysis (the Federal Govern­
ment currently publishes ten aggregate consumption ex­
penditure price measures), the difference between the
CPI and PCE measures can be decomposed into these
three categories.
For technical reasons, two reconciliations are neces­
sary.2 The first reconciliation addresses the question:
“What are the reasons the CPI and PCE price measures
show different rates of change from one period to the
next?” The second answers the question: “What ac­
counts for the cumulative divergence in the cpi and PCE
measures since 1972?”

Reconciling period-to-period changes
Table 1 shows the reconciliation of period to period
percent changes in the Consumer Price Index for All

a

Urban Consumers (CPI-u) and “PCE: Chain-Weight” in­
dex. The Implicit PCE Deflator, a Paasche-formula in­
dex, cannot be used for this reconciliation because
Paasche formulas lend themselves to statistical interpre­
tation only when referring back to the base year (in this
case, 1972).3
In most recent quarters, the CPI-U has recorded a
greater price change than the “PCE: Chain-Weight” in­
dex. The difference between the two seems to be dimin­
ishing from the historically high values of 1979-80. The
exception to this statement occurs in the third quarter
of 1981, in which the difference between the two surged
to 3.3 percentage points.
In nearly every case, the treatment of owner-occupied
housing accounts for most of the difference between the
CPI and PCE price measures. For example, alternative
treatments of housing accounted for 3.1 percentage
points of the total 3.3 point differential in 1981’s third

Table 1. "Reconciliation” of annual and quarterly percent
changes in the CPI-U and the Personal Consumption
Expenditure price measures, 1979 81
1980' 2
Difference

1979

1980

I

II

III

19812
IV

1

II

III

CPI-U3 .............................
PCE: Chain-Weight4 .........

11.3
9.3

13.5
10.6

16.5
12.5

13.1
9.7

7.7
9.5

12.9
10.1

10.8
10.3

7.5
6.5

12.0
8.7

Total difference5 .............
(CPI-U minus PCE:
Chain-Weight)

2.0

2.9

4.0

3.4

-1.8

2.8

0.5

1.0

3.3

Housing treatment6 ..
Weighting effect7 . . .
“ All other” effect8 . . .

1.7
0.3
0.0

2.3
0.4
0.2

3.2
0.7
0.1

3.2
0.2
0.0

-1.9
0.0
0.1

2.2
0.0
0.6

0.0
0.6
-0.1

0.2
0.0
0.8

3.1
-0.5
0.7

10wing to changes in seasonal adjustment factors, the 1980 quarterly figures may differ
slightly from those which appeared in table 3, p. 9, in the September 1981

Review.

MonthlyLabor

2 Seasonally adjusted annual rates.
3Annual and quarterly changes in the CPI-U are taken from tables provided by the Office
of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The changes are compiled
from 1967 based indexes.
4 Data for the “ PCE: Chain-Weight” were obtained from the Bureau of Economic Analysis
(BEA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The data incorporate revisions released by BEA in
April 1981.
5 CPl-U minus “ PCE: Chain-Weight” equals the sum of “ housing treatment” , “ weighting”
and “ all other” effects.
6 Change in CPI-U minus change in CPI-X1. See September 1981
p. 21, for fuller explanation. Source of CP.I-X1 data is same as footnote 3.
7 Change in “ PCE: 1972-Weight” minus change in “ PCE: Chain-Weight” . See September
1981
pp. 8-9, for fuller explanation. Data source for "PCE:
1972-Weight” changes is same as for footnote 4.
8 Change in CPI-X1 minus change in “ PCE: 1972-Weight” . See September 1981
p. 6, for fuller explanation.

MonthlyLaborReview,

Monthly Labor Review,

Julie A. Bunn is an economist in and Jack E. Triplett is Assistant
Commissioner of the Office of Research and Evaluation, Bureau of
Labor Statistics.


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LaborReview,

Monthly

43

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Research Summaries
quarter, and in quarters in which the total difference be­
tween the two price measures was low (1980—III, 1981—
I, 1981-11), so was the housing effect.
Note we estimated the housing treatment effect by
comparing the two BLS indexes which are published
monthly and which have different treatments of hous­
ing. In October, the BLS announced plans to change the
treatment of housing to more nearly approximate a
rental equivalence treatment in the CPI-U index, begin­
ning in January 1983.4
Weighting effects have behaved erratically and unpredictably over recent quarters. Generally, one expects
that the longer the interval between weights, the greater
the weighting effect in the price index. This expectation
has been true of most CPI-PCE comparisons in the past.5
However, the size of the weighting effect became notice­
ably smaller in the last half of 1980, and except for the
first quarter of 1981, has contributed very little to CPIPCE differences for over a year. In 1981 III, the index
with 1981 weights (actually 1981 II weights) showed
higher inflation than did the index with 1972 weights,
so the weighting effect was negative (minus 0.5 percent­
age points), a surprising result.
“All other” factors are the sum total of computation­
al and compilation differences in which the CPI and PCE
indexes differ (that is, everything other than the period
for which the weights were drawn, and the treatment of
owner-occupied housing). The “all other” effect has typ­

Table 2. "Reconciliation” of the CPI-U and the Personal
Consumption Expenditure price measures: cumulative
percent change from 1972 to the date shown (1979-81)
1981

1980'
Difference

1979

1980

I

II

III

IV

I

III

II

CPI-U (1972 = 100)2 . . . . 173.6 197.0 189.3 195.3 199.0 205.1 210.4 214.3 220.4
PCE Deflator (1972 = 100)3 162.3 178.9 172.9 177.0 180.7 184.9 188.5 191.5 195.7
(Current-Weight)
Total d ifference".............
(CPI-U minus PCE
Deflator)
Housing treatment5 .
Weighting effect6 . . .
“ All other” effect7 ..

11.3

18.1

16.4

18.3

18.3

20.2

21.9

22.8

24.7

7.0
3.7
0.6

11.7
5.4
1.0

10.6
4.9
0.9

12.3
5.1
0.9

11.8
5.6
0.9

13.1
5.9
1.2

13.3
7.3
1.3

13.7
7.4
1.7

15.5
7.1
2.1

1Owing to changes in seasonal adjustment factors, the 1980 quarterly figures may differ
slightly from those which appeared in table 4, p. 10, in the September 1981

MonthlyLabor

Review.

2Annual data for the CPI-U were computed by the Office of Research and Evaluation
(BLS) from unadjusted monthly data provided by the Office of Prices and Living Conditions
(BLS). The quarterly data for 1980 and 1981 were computed by the Office of Research and
Evaluation employing seasonally adjusted monthly data provided by the Office of Prices and
Living Conditions.
3 Data for the Implicit PCE Deflator, or “ PCE: Current-Weight” index, were provided by the
BEA. The data incorporate revisions released in April 1981.
"CPI-U minus PCE Deflator equals the sum of “ housing treatment” , “ weighting” and “ all
other” effects.
5 CPI-U minus CPI-X1. See September 1981
p. 5, for fuller expla­
nation. Data source for the CPI-X1 is the same as footnote 2.
6 "PCE: 1972-Weight” minus “ PCE: Current-Weight” . See September 1981
p. 6, for fuller explanation. Data source for the “ PCE: 1972-Weight" is same as
footnote 3.
7 CPI-X1 minus “ PCE: 1972-Weight” . See September 1981
p. 6,
for fuller explanation.

MonthlyLaborReview,

Review,

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MonthlyLabor

MonthlyLaborReview,

Table 3. Relative distribution of CPI-PCE reconciliation
factors, 1979-811

Percent

Index
points

Percent

18.1

100

23.1

100

11.7
5.4
1.0

65
30
6

14.2
7.3
1.7

61
32
7

Percent

Index
points

11.3

100

7.0
3.7
0.6

62
33
5

Total difference ..................
Housing treatment. . . .
Weighting effect .........
“ All other” effect.........

19812

1980

1979
Index
points

Factor

1Data based on table 2. _
2 Average of first three quarters.

ically been small in the past.6 The precise source of the
“all other” effect has not been identified, but seasonal
adjustment methods undoubtedly are important.

Reconciling cumulative changes
Table 2 shows the reconciliation of the CPI-U and the
Implicit Price Deflator (PCE: Current-Weight) index lev­
els, with 1972= 100. The cumulative effect created by dif­
ferences in owner-occupied housing treatment from
1972 to 1981 third quarter amounted to 15.5 index
points, which is roughly 13 percent of the inflation over
this interval, as measured by the CPI-U. As expected, the
cumulative effect of updating weights in the price mea­
sures increases in index points as the periods providing
the comparisons grow further apart. The 7.1 index
number difference for the third quarter of 1981, howev­
er, accounts for only roughly 7 percent of the measured
inflation from 1972 to that quarter (as recorded by the
PCE measures). When computed as a percentage of the
inflation that has occurred since 1972, both the housing
treatment and weighting effects have grown somewhat
larger in recent quarters.
As a percent of the total difference between the CPI-U
and PCE Deflator in any particular period, however, all
three categories have maintained roughly their same
proportions to the total difference. These proportions
are shown in table 3.
In summary, housing treatment continues to account
for most of the difference between the CPI and PCE infla­
tion measures. The effects of updating weights and “all
other” factors play a much less significant role.
□

--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------' Jack E. Triplett, “Reconciling the CPI and PCE Deflator,”
September 1981, pp. 3-15.

M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w ,

See

ib id .,

pp. 7, 13-14.

’ Ib id .
4 See “Labor Month in Review: CPI Changes,”
November 1981, p. 2.

view,

Triplett,
* I b id .,

op. cit.,

pp. 6-7, 9.

pp. 6 and 8.

M o n th ly L a b o r R e ­

Area labor market response to
national unemployment patterns
R o be r t W. B e d n a r z ik

and

R ic h a r d B. T iller

Unemployment varies widely among geographical areas
in the United States. In 1980, the rate of joblessness
ranged from a high of 8.2 percent in the North Central
region of the country to a low of 6.4 percent in the
South. (The unemployment rates in the two remaining
major census regions— the Northeast and the West —
were near the national rate of 7.1 percent.) The concern
of policymakers with the sensitivity of regional labor
markets to national economic conditions has generated
a number of time series studies of the impact of nation­
al fluctuations in unemployment on regional jobless
rates.1
Such studies measure regional sensitivity as the
change in regional unemployment rates relative to the
change in the national average rate. During recessionary
periods, differences in regional sensitivities to national
fluctuations imply that unemployment rates in some
areas will rise faster than the national average. Thus, de­
flationary policy measures targeted at selected national
economic aggregates may unintentionally impose a dis­
proportionately large share of the recessionary burden
on some regions. Conversely, during periods of national
full employment, differences in sensitivities mean that
some areas may experience far greater labor demand
pressures, and consequent wage inflation, than others.
Over the longer run, differences in the magnitude of
changes in area rates relative to the national average
may indicate growing structural imbalances (such as de­
terioration in the competitive position of industries in
certain regions) of which the policymaker should be
aware.
Heretofore, most research has focused only on shortrun relationships among unemployment series. We un­
dertook a study which used a time series model that
distinctly characterized the sensitivity of regional unem­
ployment to both short- and long-run fluctuations in
national unemployment during 1967-80.2 For our pur­
poses, the short run is defined as that period within
which business cycles occur. We used the National Bu­
reau of Economic Research designation of the length of
post-World-War II business cycles as a guide for defin­
ing the length of our cyclical component. Within our
sample period, these cycles ranged in length from ap-

Robert W. Bednarzik is an economist in the Division of Employment
and Unemployment Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Richard B.
Tiller is an economist in the Bureau’s Division of Local Area Unem­
ployment Statistics.


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proximately 2 to 7 years. The long run refers to periods
of more than 7 years.
Thus, we were able to explore several questions re­
quiring the separation of short-run (business cycle) from
long-run (secular) developments: Are there major geo­
graphical differences in the importance of short- and
long-run cycles in unemployment? How do various re­
gional and local labor markets differ in their sensitivity
to fluctuations in national unemployment? And, are
areas responsive to national business cycles also sensi­
tive to secular changes in the national unemployment
rate?
Subnational unemployment rate data were analyzed
using a spectral approach, whereby each series was bro­
ken down into its component cycles and trends to
determine which of these movements exerted the most in­
fluence on the original series. This method also permits
the estimation of the sensitivity of the components of
one series to the corresponding components of other se­
ries. For example, we can estimate the sensitivity of the
components of regional unemployment to the corre­
sponding components of the national unemployment
rate series. Thus, we can assess not only the impact of
aggregate national developments on regional labor mar­
kets but also the extent to which a region exhibits its
own independent business cycle or secular movements.
There has been longstanding argument as to whether
independent area business cycles can exist in a highly
interdependent economy such as ours.

Data and methodology
Our sample consisted of monthly unemployment data
from the Current Population Survey ( c p s ) covering the
period January 1967-June 1980 for census regions and
divisions, and for the 15 most populous States. (See ex­
hibit 1.) January 1967 is the earliest date for which such
information is available for subnational areas.3 Unem­
ployment estimates for previous studies of data for ear­
lier periods were based on counts of unemployment
insurance benefit claimants, inflated to represent total
unemployment for an area using the so-called “Hand­
book procedure.” However, this technique is known to
produce biased results, particularly for business cycle
analyses.4
In our model, regional unemployment rates were bro­
ken down into four major components:5 (1) a national
cyclical component, which measures short-run fluctua­
tions related to the national business cycle; (2) a region­
al cyclical component, reflecting short-run fluctuations
that are independent of the national business cycle; (3)
a national secular measure of long-run national trends;
and (4) a regional secular component, which tracks
long-run area developments that are independent of na­
tional trends.

45

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Research Summaries
Regional differences in joblessness generally reflect
both aggregate supply and demand considerations.
Specifically, the long-run trend of output and employ­
ment in a particular region is primarily determined by
supply, which is in turn governed by the growth of la­
bor, capital, and technology. Short-run fluctuations, on
the other hand, reflect the ups and downs in consumer
and business demand or, in some instances, temporary
capacity bottlenecks on the supply side.
Thus, we can roughly separate the forces that affect
regional unemployment rates into: (1) those caused by
changes in aggregate demand or by capacity con­
straints, which appear as short-run cycles in the region­
Exhibit 1. Regions and geographic divisions of the
United States
Northeast
New England
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts1
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
Middle Atlantic
New Jersey1
New York 1
Pennsylvania1

North Central
East North Central
Illinois1
Indiana'
Michigan 1
Ohio1
Wisconsin 1
West North Central
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri1
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota

South
South Atlantic
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida1
Georgia
Maryland
North Carolina'
South Carolina
Virginia'
West Virginia
East South Central
Alabama
Kentucky
Mississippi
Tennessee
West South Central
Arkansas
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Texas'

West
Mountain
Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming

Pacific
Alaska
California1
Hawaii
Oregon
Washington
'One of the 15 most populous States.
Digitized for
46 FRASER
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al unemployment rate series; and, (2) those that
originate largely on the supply side of the labor market
and are reflected as long-run trends. At the regional lev­
el, we can further distinguish between shifts in demand
and supply that originate within and outside the region.

Links between unemployment series
During 1967-69, the first 3 years of the sample peri­
od, the national unemployment rate was slightly below
4 percent. It then rose sharply, reaching nearly 6 per­
cent in 1971. Subsequently, joblessness remained be­
tween 4.5 and 6 percent until 1975, when it jumped to
9 percent. Thus, over the period studied, the national
rate was characterized by a long upward movement, as
well as by major short-run fluctuations. In fact, the
1967-80 period encompassed two complete business cy­
cles, including the most severe contraction in the post­
war era, and the first phase of a third cycle.
The secular rise in the national jobless series has
prompted economists to continually revise upward their
estimates of the national rate for “full employment.” A
number of labor supply factors have been offered as
possible explanations for this rise, including demograph­
ic changes in the composition of the labor force,
expanded income transfer programs, increases in the
minimum wage, and growth in the number of multi­
worker families. The quantitative importance of these
factors, however, remains to be established.6
Secular and cyclical forces. The relative importance of
cyclical and secular movements in each area unemploy­
ment series is shown in table 1. Columns 1 and 4 pro­
vide the proportions of the total combined variation in
national and regional unemployment due to secular and
cyclical forces, respectively. The national series (col­
umns 2 and 5) is given as a point of reference; its secu­
lar component accounts for 51 percent of the variation,
compared to 40 percent for the cyclical component.
This highlights the importance of the long-run trend in
the national unemployment rate. The national pattern
must, of course, be reflected in the regional unemploy­
ment rate series, because the former is a weighted aver­
age of the latter.
For all regions, 7 of the 9 divisions, and 11 of the 15
States, the secular component contributes more to vari­
ance than the cyclical component. However, there is
considerable difference among areas in the relative size
of the secular component, which ranges from a high of
57 percent in the Middle Atlantic division to a low of
37 percent in the Mountain and East South Central sec­
tions. The range for the 15 largest States is slightly wid­
er, from 58 percent for New York to 33 percent for
Indiana.
While generally smaller than the secular component,
the cyclical component nevertheless accounts for a sub-

Table 1. Variance decomposition of unemployment rates
by area, 1967-80
Percent of variance accounted for by
Area

1

Seasonal
comTotal National Regional Total National Regional ponent
Secular component2

(1)

(2)

(3)

Cyclical component2

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

-

2

United States . . . .

51

51

40

40

Northeast......................
New England ...........
Massachusetts . . .
Middle Atlantic .........
New Jersey .........
New Y o rk .............
Pennsylvania.........

57
56
57
57
57
58
52

57
50
52
56
55
56
48

0
6
5
2
1
1
4

38
38
36
38
37
39
38

37
35
33
36
34
36
35

1
3
4
2
3
3
3

2
2
2
2
2
1
4

North C e ntral...............
East North Central ..
Illinois....................
Indiana..................
Michigan...............
O h io ......................
W isconsin.............
West North Central ..
Missouri ...............

42
41
44
33
38
38
40
40
41

41
40
■ 41
28
37
37
40
39
40

1
1
3
5
2
1
1
1
1

41
42
38
45
42
43
34
34
32

39
40
34
35
39
41
32
31
28

2
2
4
10
3
3
2
3
4

6
6
6
6
6
6
8
11
9

South ...........................
South Atlantic...........
Florida ..................
North Carolina . . . .
Virginia..................
East South Central ..
West South Central..
Texas ....................

48
53
55
34
47
37
39
40

47
50
52
29
42
32
37
38

2
3
3
5
6
5
1
1

38
38
39
44
31
38
35
36

37
35
34
35
26
33
33
32

2
3
5
9
5
5
2
3

6
4
2
8
8
10
12
9

W e s t.............................
Mountain ..................
Pacific ......................
California .............

47
37
49
49

40
35
40
40

7
2
9
9

41
36
41
41

35
31
35
34

6
5
7
8

5
12
4
4

1The percentages for the secular, cyclical, and seasonal components of a series do not
add to 100 because there is other variation (principally random) not accounted for.
2The national and regional subcomponents may not add to the total because of rounding.

stantial portion of the variance. In fact, cyclical varia­
tion in joblessness in the East North Central division
and 3 of its 5 States— Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio—
was even greater than the secular variation. This was
also the case for North Carolina. Cyclical variation as a
percent of the total was smallest for Virginia and Mis­
souri.
Table 1 also indicates the relatively minor contribu­
tion of independent regional cycles to total variance.7
Column 6 provides the portion of the variance
accounted for by the independent cyclical component of
regional unemployment. In three States— Indiana,
North Carolina, and California— this component was 8
to 10 percent of the total variance in the unemployment
rate series, accounting for more variation than the sea­
sonal movements (column 7). In the remaining 12
States, the regional cyclical component was 5 percent or
less of the variance. Clearly, national fluctuations ac­
count for most of regional cyclical unemployment pat­
terns.
On the other hand, there is evidence that distinct
regional business cycles, although relatively small, do
exist. Some have asked how such cycles could develop.
In a highly interdependent economy such as ours, one
might expect economic impluses to be diffused rapidly,

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and that there would thus be strong conformity be­
tween regional and national business cycles. But, in
fact, these cycles may be normal by-products of a dy­
namic economy.
For example, it has been established that random
events in time series can generate wavelike movements
with business cycle properties.8 At the regional level,
unexpected changes in relative demands for goods and
services become shocks to the labor market, the effects
of which tend to persist because the supply of labor ad­
justs slowly to new conditions. However, these random
disturbances tend to cancel out in the aggregate. That
is, shocks in one region tend to be offset by
countershocks in other regions. For example, assume
there is a country with an area whose economy depends
upon the production of slide rules, while in another area
of the same country a new industry develops that pro­
duces pocket calculators. Suddenly, the demand for
slide rules falls and that for pocket calculators rises. It
is entirely possible that, at the national level, these
changes would be offsetting. But because it takes time
for an area to switch production emphasis (either to
producing more or less), local business cycles may per­
sist for a while, independent of national movements.
Only when such shocks accumulate in one direction are
national business cycles generated.
Of course, this also implies that the larger the region­
al economy, the less important will be independent re­
gional business cycles, because internal shocks tend to
average out. This hypothesis is supported by our obser­
vation that the smaller the area, the larger the indepen­
dent regional cyclical component — 3 percent for census
regions, 4 percent for census divisions, and 5 percent
for the 15 States.
The independent secular component of regional un­
employment (column 3 in table 1) is relatively weak.
And, on average, independent long-run regional fluctua­
tions account for only 3 percent of the total variation in
the State unemployment rates. California, at 9 percent,
is the one notable exception; Virginia followed at 6 per­
cent. Based on these statistics, it would appear that area
labor markets conform to long-run national develop­
ments, rather than manifesting their own distinctive sec­
ular trends.
Sensitivity o f regional to national unemployment. Our
technique also provides estimates of the sensitivity of
the components of regional unemployment to corre­
sponding components in the national series.9 These esti­
mates are presented in table 2. The larger the index
value, the greater is the amplitude of the national com­
ponent in the regional unemployment rate series. For a
secular index value greater than 1, this implies a tenden­
cy for a region’s unemployment rate to rise above that
of the Nation during a long-run upswing in the national
47

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Research Summaries
rate and to remain there for an extended period. This
was the case for the jobless pattern in the Northeast,
which was very sensitive to the national unemployment
rate trend. In the other three census regions, the index
was less than 1, indicating a tendency for the long-run
rise in the regional rate to be less than that in the na­
tional rate.
Of the nine census divisions, the Middle Atlantic and
New England States were the most sensitive to long-run
national patterns. The South Atlantic and East North
Central divisions have index values very close to 1, indi­
cating that the amplitude of the secular component of
their unemployment rates was roughly the same as that
of the corresponding national component. Among the
15 largest States, Massachusetts and New Jersey were
the most sensitive, as were the divisions in which they
are located. On the other hand, jobless patterns in Flor­
ida and Michigan were somewhat unique in that they
were much more sensitive to the national rate than were
their divisions. Texas and the West South Central area
ranked by far the lowest in degree of sensitivity to the
national rate.
Turning to the cyclical component (column 2, table
2), the jobless pattern in the Northeast was the most
sensitive to national business cycles, while those of the
South and the West were least sensitive. The North
Central index value, which is close to 1, suggests that
national business cycles tend to be transmitted to this
T a b le 2 .
A m p litu d e o f n a tio n a l s e c u la r a n d c y c lic a l
c o m p o n e n t s in a r e a j o b l e s s s e r i e s , a n d m e a n
u n e m p lo y m e n t r a te , 1 9 6 7 -8 0

Secular
(1)

Cyclical
(2)

Mean
unemployment
rate
(3)

United States ....................

1.00

1.00

5.7

Northeast...................................
New England ........................
Massachusetts ..................
Middle Atlantic ......................
New Jersey ......................
New Y o rk ...........................
Pennsylvania......................

1.50
1.50
1.73
1.50
1.72
1.63
1.15

1.38
1.42
1.56
1.37
1.53
1.48
1.11

6.2
6.0
6.2
6.2
6.9
6.5
5.8

North Central.............................
East North Central ...............
Illinois.................................
Indiana...............................
Michigan.............................
Ohio...................................
Wisconsin...........................
West North Central...............
Missouri .............................

.87
.99
.89
.84
1.35
.93
.81
.60
.83

.99
1.15
.93
1.17
1.66
1.15
.83
.61
.79

5.2
5.7
5.0
5.4
7.9
5.7
4.5
4.0
4.6

South ........................................
South Atlantic........................
Florida ...............................
North Carolina....................
Virginia...............................
East South Central ...............
West South Central...............
Texas .................................

.81
1.04
1.50
.72
.76
.66
.53
.52

.82
.99
1.37
.98
68
.81
.57
.54

5.2
5.2
5.9
4.9
4.4
5.4
4.9
4.5

W e s t..........................................
Mountain ...............................
Pacific ...................................
California ..........................

.79
.60
.86
.86

.84
.65
.91
.90

6.8
5.6
7.2
7.2

Index value
Area

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region with unchanged amplitude. However, this essen­
tially results from the counterbalancing unemployment
relationship between its two divisions: Jobless patterns
in the East North Central division were very sensitive
to national business cycles, while those in the West
North Central division were not.
There is a broad range of sensitivity to the national
business cycle in the jobless patterns of the 15 largest
States; indexes ranged from a high of 1.66 in Michigan
to a low of 0.54 in Texas. Index values dropped off rap­
idly, with Massachusetts and New Jersey following
Michigan. At the lower end of the sensitivity spectrum,
Virginia was the only State relatively close to Texas.
Generally, if an area was sensitive to national secular
patterns, it was also sensitive to national business cy­
cles. Indiana was the only clear-cut exception, being re­
sponsive only to national secular developments.

Interpretation of results
There is no unified theory of the determinants of a
region’s response to national cycles and trends. Dif­
ferences in industry mix, local multiplier effects (propen­
sities of residents to spend their income outside their
home region), competitive market strengths, layoff poli­
cies,10 unemployment insurance benefit levels,11 labor
force composition, growth,12 and inflationary impacts13
have all been cited as likely causes of the variance in re­
gional jobless patterns.
Our findings indicate that the unemployment patterns
in the New England and Middle Atlantic divisions and
selected States in the East North Central division were
affected more strongly than those in other areas by na­
tional economic trends over the period under study.
Most States in these divisions tend to be highly sensi­
tive to both short- and long-run national developments.
These divisions comprise what geographers call the
“manufacturing belt” — an area characterized by cycli­
cally sensitive durable goods industries. For example,
Michigan, which is dominated by the automobile indus­
try, exhibited the highest cyclical sensitivity among the
States studied.
At the same time, long-run structural factors may
have resulted in a deterioration in the competitive posi­
tion of the manufacturing belt, in which most of the
older central cities are located. Aging capital and rising
energy prices appear to have rendered these areas less
viable for manufacturing.
In contrast, California was neither cycle- nor secularsensitive, exhibiting the most independence from nation­
al patterns. In fact, there was some evidence that Cali­
fornia may have a cycle of its own.
With few exceptions, independent regional cycles,
although in evidence, contributed very little to regional
fluctuations. And systematic leads or lags in regional
unemployment rates relative to the national rate could

not be detected. Apparently, national aggregate supply
and demand disturbances are quickly transmitted
throughout the economy, and both short- and long-run
changes in regional labor market conditions conform
closely to national developments. Regions do differ,
however, in the degree of their sensitivity to changing
national conditions. But generally, areas that are re­
sponsive to national secular trends are also sensitive to
national business cycles.
□

unemployment series, a clearly visible long-run cycle was left that ap­
pears to have peaked in most series in 1975.
The spectral decomposition of a series is analogous to an analysis
of variance problem. The importance of each component of the series
can be assessed in terms of its contribution to the total variance of
the series. A measure of the proportion of variance in Ur(f) (fth fre­
quency component of regional series) not accounted for by UR(f) (fth
frequency component in national series) is equal to l-[Var V(f)/Var
Ur(f)], where Var V(f) is equal to the variance of the residual compo­
nent of Ur(f) and Var Ur(f) is equal to the variance of the fth frequen­
cy component of regional unemployment.
J. H. McCulloch, “The Monte Carlo Cycle in Business Activity,”
September 1975, pp. 303-21.

E c o n o m ic I n q u ir y ,

--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------1Frank Brechling’s “Trends and Cycles in British Regional Unem­
ployment,” O x fo r d E c o n o m ic P a p e r s, March 1967, pp. 1-22, is fore­
most among these studies. A number of European and Canadian
studies followed Brechling’s approach; see, for example, C.P. Harris
and A.P. Thirwall, “Interregional Variations in Cyclical Sensitivity to
Unemployment in the UK 1949-1964,” B u lle tin O x fo r d U n iv e rs ity I n ­
s titu te o f E c o n o m ic s a n d S ta tis tic s , February 1968, pp. 55-56; J.J. Van
Duijn, “The Cyclical Sensitivity to Unemployment of Dutch Prov­
inces,” R e g io n a l S c ie n c e a n d U rb a n E c o n o m ic s, May 1975, pp. 107—
32; and L.J. King and G.L. Clark, “Regional Unemployment Patterns
and the Spatial Dimensions of Macro-Economic Policy: The Canadian
Experience 1966-1975,” R e g io n a l S tu d ie s , 1978, pp. 283-96. Similar
U.S. studies include Robert M. Fearn, “Cyclical, Seasonal, and Struc­
tural Factors in Area Unemployment Rates,” I n d u s tr ia l a n d L a b o r
R e la tio n s R e v ie w , April 1975, pp. 424-31, and Thomas Hyclak and
David Lynch, “An Empirical Analysis of State Unemployment Rates
in the 1970’s,” J o u r n a l o f R e g io n a l S c ie n c e , No. 3, 1980, pp. 377-86.
Richard B. Tiller and Robert W. Bednarzik, “A Detailed Analysis
of Regional and State Unemployment Patterns in the U.S.: 1967—
1980,” unpublished paper presented at the Atlantic Economic Society
meetings, October 1981.
During the first 3 years of our sample period, the national unem­
ployment rate, while lower than for earlier years in the decade, was
near full employment (4 percent). In subsequent years, the unemploy­
ment rate at full employment was redefined substantially upward.
Thus, although our sample starts at a somewhat lower than average
national jobless rate, the distortion effects on our estimate of the secu­
lar component of unemployment rates should be small.
4 See Richard Tiller, “An Exploratory Time Series Analysis of Er­
rors in Area Estimates of Unemployment,” P ro c ee d in g s o f th e B u sin ess
a n d E c o n o m ic S ta tis tic s S e c tio n o f T h e A m e r ic a n S ta tis tic a l A ss o c ia tio n ,

1979, pp. 165-69, for more detail.
This is done using spectral analysis, which is a time series analysis
technique in the frequency domain whereby a series is decomposed
into uncorrelated (random) components according to frequencies.
“Frequency” simply refers to the fraction of a cycle completed in a
given period. The spectrum at a particular frequency represents the
contribution of that frequency to the total variation of the series. This
method of analysis is quite general in that it does not require strong
assumptions concerning the properties of the series being decomposed.
A more complete description of the procedures used to develop the
discussion in this article is available from the authors upon request.
See, for example, Paul O. Flaim, “The effect of demographic
changes on the Nation’s jobless rate,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e ­
v ie w , March 1979, pp. 13-23, and Joseph Antos and others, “What is
the current equivalent to unemployment rates of the past?” M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w , March 1979, pp. 36—
46, Some economists argue that
the long-run rate of unemployment will fall because the birth cohorts
of the baby boom are now moving into age groups characterized by
more stable work experience; in this regard, see Michael L. Wachter,
“The Demographic Impact on Unemployment: Past Experience and
the Outlook for the Future,” in D e m o g ra p h ic T r e n d s a n d F u ll E m p lo y ­
m e n t (Washington, National Commission for Manpower Policy,
1976), pp. 27-98. Some of our preliminary analysis tends to lend evi­
dence for the view that the long-run rate may be falling. When busi­
ness cycle frequencies were eliminated from the national and regional


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This results from an extension of spectral analysis to the bivariate,
called cross-spectral analysis. Specifically, a gain statistic (which com­
pares the amplitude of the regional jobless series to that of the nation­
al series) is generated and, as such, is similar to a regression slope
coefficient.
Lynn E. Browne, “Regional Industry Mix and the Business Cy­
cle,” N e w E n g la n d E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , November-December 1978, pp.
35-53.
1 John Barron and Wesley Mellow, “Interstate Differences in Un­
employment Insurance,” N a tio n a l T a x J o u r n a l, April 1981, pp. 105—
14.
Philip L. Rones, “Moving to the sun: regional job growth, 1968
to 1978,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , March 1980, pp. 12-19.
Benjamin H. Stevens and Glynnis A. Trainer, “Differential Re­
gional Impacts of Inflation with Special Reference to Recent Experi­
ence in the Northeastern U.S.,” in P.B. Carbin and M. Sabrin, eds.,
A m e r ic a n G e o g ra p h ic a l S o c ie ty 's F irst S y m p o s iu m on G e o g ra p h ic a l A s ­
p e c ts o f I n fla tio n a r y Processes, P a r t T w o (Pleasantville, N.Y., Redgrave

Publishing Co., 1976), pp. 54-65.

Occupational deaths declined
in 1980, BLS survey finds
Bureau of Labor Statistics survey results show that
4,400 work-connected deaths occurred during 1980 in
private sector workplaces employing 11 workers or
m ore.1 (See table 1.) This was 11 percent less than the
4,950 deaths in 1979. The corresponding fatality rate
per 100,000 employees dropped from 8.6 in 1979 to 7.7
in 1980.2
Employers participating in the Bureau’s Annual Sur­
vey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses were asked to
supply specific information about all deaths caused by
hazards in the work environment, that is, the object or
event most closely associated with the circumstances of
the fatality. Fatality percentage estimates by cause have
been calculated for both the 1979 and 1980 surveys
combined rather than for each year separately, as large
sampling errors at the industry division level preclude
precise comparisons based on year-to-year changes.
Some key survey results:
• Thirty percent of all occupational fatalities were asso­
ciated with the operation of over-the-road motor ve­
hicles. (See table 2.)
49

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Research Summaries

Table 1. Occupational injury and illness fatalities and employment for employers with 11 employees or more by industry,
1979 and 1980
Annual average employment1

Industry

Number
(thou­
sands)

Private s e c to r.....................................................................

61,660

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ...................................................
Mining.............................................................................................
Construction ..................................................................................
Manufacturing ................................................................................
Transportation and public utilities...................................................
Wholesale and retail trade ............................................................

876
890
3,138
20,325
4,637
14,938
3,905
12,951

Services .........................................................................................

Fatalities

Number
(thou­
sands)

Percent

100

61,677

1

943
944
3,141
19,630
4,665
14,474
4,078
13,802

1

5
33
8

24
6
21

1 Annual average employment for nonagricultural Industries is based on the employment and
earnings survey conducted by BLS, In cooperation with State agencies. The employment esti­
mate for the services division is adjusted to exclude the nonfarm portion of agricultural services
and nonclassifiable establishments. The employment estimates have been adjusted based on
County Business Patterns to exclude establishments with fewer than 11 employees. Annual av­
erage employment for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing division is a composite of data from

• Deaths from heart attacks (11 percent) accounted for
about 1 of 9 cases.
• Industrial vehicles or equipment were linked to 10
percent of the deaths, and falls accounted for 9 per­
cent.
• The remaining 40 percent of the deaths were largely
caused by electrocutions (8 percent), aircraft crashes
(5 percent), objects other than vehicles or equipment
striking workers (5 percent), or gun shots (4 percent).
• Heart attack cases were concentrated about equally
in manufacturing and trade industries at approxi­
mately 20 percent of the total. (See table 3.)

1980

1979

1980

1979

4,950

100

100

4,400
140
460
830
1,080
810
580
150
350

2

110

2

2

490
960

10

19

1 ,1 0 0

22

5
32

19
19

915
930
85
360

8

23
7
22

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

2

7

100

3
10

19
25
18
13
3
8

State unemployment insurance programs and estimates of hired farmworkers engaged in agri­
cultural production provided by the Department of Agriculture. The agricultural production
employment estimate as originally published by the Department of Agriculture Is adjusted to ex­
clude employment on farms with fewer than 11 employees.
N ote :

Because of rounding, components may not add to totals.

Falls continued to take a heavy toll in the construc­
tion industry (48 percent of deaths) as do cases where
employees are caught in, under, or between objects oth­
er than vehicles or equipment (47 percent).
The 4,400 work injury and illness fatalities in 1980
for units with 11 employees or more represent all
deaths reported resulting from an occupational injury
or illness that occurred in 1980, regardless of the length
of time between the injury and death or the length of
the illness resulting in death. Of these, about 500 were
related to illness.
Slight decreases in employment and fatalities oc-

Table 2. Causes of fatalities resulting from occupational injury and illness in 1979 and 19801in units with 11 employees or
more, private sector, by industry, distribution by industry
[In percent]

Total3

Agriculture,
forestry,
and fishing

Mining —
oil and gas
extraction
only

Total ....................................................................................

100

100

100

Over-the-road motor vehicles..........................................................
Heart attacks ..................................................................................
Industrial vehicles or equipment .....................................................
F a lls ..................................................................................................
Electrocutions ..................................................................................
Aircraft crashes................................................................................
Struck by objects other than vehicles or equipment ......................
Plant machinery operations..............................................................
Gun s n o ts .........................................................................................
Caught in, under, or between objects other than vehicles or
equipm ent....................................................................................

30

Cause2

Explosions.........................................................................................
Gas inhalations ................................................................................
All other ...........................................................................................

100

100

100

22
12

6

6

10

1

4

11

20

16
9
15

10

5

18
9
12

9

4

Services

100

29
16

2

53
24
4
5

3
4

1
11

9
3

48
14
2

8
8

8

8

2

1

2

1

1

12

1

2

0

2

1

0

( 5)

1

3

17

1

6

0

8

1

3
3

1

1

6

4

1

1

5

2

1

6

2

2

0

2

2

2

2

3

4
4
4

1

1

0

( 5)

1

( 5)
3

0

1

1

16

2

2

1

2

4

2

4

3

' It is impossible to estimate year-to-year changes precisely because at the industry division
level sampling errors are large. Therefore, the results are for both years rather than a comparison between them.
2 Cause is defined as the object or event associated with the fatality.
3 Excludes coal, metal and nonmetal mining, and railroads for which data are not available.

50 FRASER
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Finance,
insurance,
and real
estate

9
15

20

8

100

Wholesale
and retail
trade

4
5

10

5
5
4
4

100

Transportation
and public
utilities4

46
9
5
4
9

28
15

21

11

9

Construction Manufacturing

4

Excludes railroads,
Less than 1 percent.
Note: Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.

4

5

( 5)

Table 3. Causes of fatalities resulting from occupational injury and illness in 1971 and 19801in units with 11 employees or
more, private sector, by industry, distribution by cause
[In percent]

Cause2

Over-the-road motor vehicles . . .
Heart attacks .............................
Industrial vehicles or equipment .
F a lls ............................................
Electrocutions .............................
Aircraft crashes...........................
Struck by objects other than
vehicles or equipment.............
Plant machinery operations.........
Gun s h o ts ...................................
Caught in, under, or between
objects other than vehicles
or equipm ent...........................
F ires............................................
Explosions...................................
Gas inhalation.............................
All other ......................................

Total3

Agriculture,
forestry,
and fishing

100

3
4

100

6

100

Mining oil and
gas extraction
only

Construction

4
5

16
22

40
56
47
59
24

100

4

11

100

5

6

28

100

1

1

6

100

(5)

0

1

100

1

6

100

2

11

1

2

47

100

5

100

2

5
4

28

100

3

2

22

100

2

5

12

100

1 1t Is impossible to estimate year-to-year changes precisely because at the industry division
level sampling errors are large. Therefore, the results are for both years rather than a comparison between them.
2 Cause is defined as the object or event associated with the fatality.

curred in manufacturing industries during 1979 and
1980. (See table 1). Construction employment remained
constant in 1980 at 5 percent of the total as did the
percentage of deaths at 19 percent; however, the num­
ber of fatalities decreased 14 percent. Another industry
which showed a substantial decrease in deaths was
wholesale and retail trade, which dropped 38 percent,
while employment declined only slightly. Agriculture,
forestry, and fishing; mining; and the services industries
recorded some increases in employment and relatively
minor fluctuations in their proportion of fatalities.

Industry characteristics
The following is a summary by industry of the ob­
jects or events associated with fatalities.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Almost half of all
deaths in this industry involved vehicles— 28 percent
highway cars and trucks and 20 percent industrial types
of vehicles or equipment such as tractors, logging
equipment, and so forth. Heart attacks accounted for
15 percent and the worker being struck by objects, such
as falling trees, for 8 percent.
Mining— oil and gas extraction only. Over-the-road and
industrial vehicles were traced to more than 2 of 5
deaths in this section of the mining industry. Electrocu­
tions were the cause of 15 percent of the fatalities and
heart attacks, for 10 percent.
Construction. Falls continue to be the major cause of
death in the construction industry— 22 percent of all
cases. Vehicles, both highway and industrial, were
charged with almost one-third of the deaths; electrocu­

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11

17
30
48
30
5

11

Manufacturing

6

Transportation
and public
utilities4

Wholesale
and retail
trade

Finance
insurance
and real estate

Services

33
27

28
15
9
7

22

20

19

40

11

6

40
79
7

13

8

( 5)

1

2

8

0

3

11

70

1

5
13

11

26

5

21

6

11

1

6

2

7
9
5

4
3
7

( 5)

5

12

7
16

7

11

0

1

0

5

7
3

0

1

0

12

1

5
29

Excludes coal, metal and nonmetal mining, and railroads for which data are not available,
Excludes railroads,
|_ess than 1 percent.
N ote : Because of rounding, percentages may not add to
.

3
4

5

100

tions accounted for 12 percent, and heart attacks, 9 per­
cent.
Manufacturing. Vehicles (industrial and highway) were
blamed for 30 percent of the deaths, and the operation
of plant machinery resulted in 12 percent.
Transportation and public utilities. As in past years,
highway motor vehicle accidents were connected with
close to one-half of all occupational deaths and aircraft,
for 11 percent. Heart attacks were responsible for an
additional 9 percent, as were electrocutions primarily in
the public utilities.
•

Wholesale and retail trade. Of all deaths caused by gun
shot, 7 of 10 were in this industry. However, 48 percent
of the deaths were because of car and truck accidents
and 14 percent were traceable to heart attacks.
Finance, insurance, and real estate. Over three-fourths of
all fatalities in this industry were attributed to motor
vehicles (53 percent) and heart attacks (24 percent).
Eleven percent were caused by aircraft crashes.
Services. Following the same pattern as other industries,
almost one-third of the fatalities that occurred were
connected with over-the-road motor vehicles, while
heart attacks made up 16 percent. However, 16 percent
of deaths in this industry were caused by objects or
events not specified in the tables. These come under “all
other” causes and include, for example, contact with
toxic substances, drowning, and freezing or extreme
cold among the many other causes of occupational
death.
51

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Research Summaries

Background of survey
The Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Survey is a
Federal and State program in which reports are received
and processed by State agencies participating with b l s .
The occupational fatality data reported through the an­
nual survey are based on the records which employers
maintain under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970. Excluded from coverage under the act are
working conditions which come under other Federal
safety and health laws.
The survey covers units in private industries. Exclud­
ed are the self-employed; farmers with fewer than 11

employees; private households; and employees in Feder­
al, State, and local government agencies. In a separate
reporting system, agencies of the Federal Government
are filing reports comparable with those of private in­
dustry with the Secretary of Labor.
The 1980 survey, to which a response was mandatory,
involved a sample of 220,000 units with 11 employees
or more. Estimates based on a sample may differ from
figures that would have been obtained had a complete
census of establishments been possible using the same
schedules and procedures. A relative standard error is
calculated for the estimates generated from the Annual
Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
□

FOOTNOTES

1Since 1977, the fatality data have been published only for units
with 11 employees or more because the reductions of the survey sam­
ples affected primarily employers with fewer than 11 employees. The
reductions were in response to Presidential directives on reducing the
paperwork burden of employers selected to participate in statistical
surveys. Data for occupational fatalities in coal, metal, and nonmetal


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mining and railroads were provided by the Mine Safety and Health
Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and by the Federal
Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation;
however, data were not provided on the objects or events which re­
sulted in on-the-job deaths for these industrial activities.
: The change may be attributed to sampling error.

A note on communications
The Monthly Labor Review welcomes communications that supple­
ment, challenge, or expand on research published in its pages. To be
considered for publication, communications should be factual and an­
alytical, not polemical in tone. Communications should be addressed
to the Editor-in-Chief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.

M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of collective bargaining agreements expiring in February is based on contracts on
file in the Bureau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering
1,000 workers or more.
Number of
workers

Union 1

Industry

Employer and location

....................................

1,800

Food products ..........................
Communication..........................
Machinery ..................................

Food and Commercial W o rk e rs..........
Electrical Workers (1BEW) ..................
Machinists ...............................................

1,300
1,050
2,100

Eugene Area Food Agreement (Oregon): .........................................................

Retail trade

...............................

Food and Commercial W o rk e rs..........

1,000

Health Manpower Management, Inc. (M innesota)..........................................

H o sp ita ls....................................

Service Employees ..................................

5,000

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. (St. Louis, M o .) ..............................................................

Food products

Campbell Soup Co. (Camden, N .J .) ....................................................................
Central Telephone Co. of F lo r id a ......................................................................
Cessna Aircraft Co. (Hutchinson, K a n s .) .........................................................

..........................

Teamsters (Ind.)

4,150
2,000
................

2,000

....................................

1,200

..................

Transit Union ..........................................

1,200

Regional Transportation District (Denver, Colo.) ..........................................
Retail Apparel Merchants Association (New Y o r k ) .......................................
Rockwell International Corp. (Newport Beach, C a lif .) ..................................
Rockwell International Corp., Collins Radio Group (Dallas, T e x .).............

T ran sit..........................................
Retail trade ...............................
Electrical products.....................
Electrical products.....................

Transit Union ..........................................
Clothing and Textile Workers .............
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ..................
Electrical Workers (IUE) .....................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ..................

1,500
2,500
1,200
2,500
5,200

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (C alifornia).......................................................

Utilities .......................................

Electrical Workers (IBEW) ..................

2,400
39,000

Walt Disney Productions Disneyland (Anaheim, Calif.) ...............................

Amusem ents...............................

Service Employees; Food and Commercial Workers; Hotel and Restaurant
Employees; Bakery, Confectionary
and Tobacco Workers; and Teamsters
(Ind.)

1,800

Marine Towing & Transportation Employers’ Association (New Jersey and
New York)
M TL, Inc. (Honolulu, H aw a ii)...........................................................................

Water transportation ...............

Longshoremen’s Association

T ran sit..........................................

Teamsters (Ind.)

National Airlines, Inc. (In terstate)'....................................................................

Air Transportation

Government activity

Louisiana Charity Hospital

.................................................................................

1 Affiliated with A F L -C IO except where noted as independent (Ind.).
: Industry area (group of companies signing same contract).


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H o sp ita ls....................................

Union or employee organization

American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees

' Information is from newspaper report.

3,000

/

Book Reviews
Frontline report on the Depression
One Third o f a Nation: Lorena Hickok Reports on the
Great Depression. Edited by Richard Lowitt and
Maurine Beasley. Champaign, 111., University of Il­
linois Press, 1981. 365 pp. $18.95.
In July 1933, Harry Hopkins, administrator of the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration, asked Lorena
Hickok to travel the country and report her observa­
tions on economic conditions and relief activities. “I
don’t want statistics from you. I don’t want the socialworker angle. I just want your own reaction, as an or­
dinary citizen . . . . Tell me what you see and hear. All
of it,” Hopkins said. ‘‘Don’t ever pull your punches.”
For the next year and a half, Hickok crossed the
country, writing some 120 reports to Hopkins. Mean­
while, she corresponded almost daily with Eleanor Roo­
sevelt. Richard Lowitt (Iowa State University) and
Maurine Beasley (University of Maryland) present some
80 letters to Hopkins and 13 to Roosevelt, all from the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park, N.Y.,
which give an extensive, pointed, and moving account
of the national situation.
Hickok had climbed to the top of the Associated
Press as one of the foremost women reporters, following
a precarious childhood. The AP assigned her to cover
Eleanor Roosevelt during the 1932 Presidential cam­
paign and she became her confidante and unofficial
press adviser. In succeeding years, she traveled with the
First Lady through New England and eastern Canada,
through the West, and to the Caribbean. Indeed, this
friendship had strained her relations with the AP, lead­
ing her to resign in June 1933. The editors explain, “No
doubt the job [for Hopkins] was arranged through Mrs.
Roosevelt.”
In her travels, Hickok encountered farm strikers and
entered California in the aftermath of the San Francisco
General Strike. She witnessed the effects of the wind
and cold in the Northern Plains, the drought in the
Western Plains, and the heat of California’s Imperial
Valley. And she wrote dramatically of both the poverty
suffered and the dilemmas posed by the large black and
Mexican populations in the South and Southwest.
With a keen reporter’s eye, she sought the story from
several angles, talking with local, State, and Federal of­
ficials as well as businessmen, farmers, journalists, and
Digitized54
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ordinary people from all walks of life— often playing
“dumb” to encourage her informants. Then she wrote
hard-hitting memos to Hopkins. Of the relief situation
in Florida, she said, “It seems to me that I’ve seen
more greed in this State than anywhere else I’ve been.
The whole attitude, both of communities and individu­
als, seems to be: ‘It’s Government money! Come on,
let’s get our share!’ ”
And she posed a crucial question for all such emer­
gency programs— how to provide enough assistance
without eroding confidence and social relations. She
quoted a Republican county chairman in Pennsylvania,
“W hat’s the use of going back to work if you’re worse
off than you were before?” In Syracuse, N.Y., she noted
that a man with a large family could get $16 a week on
relief while the average minimum wage in private indus­
try was $14.
Yet, she wrote of the great privation endured. “ ‘Do
you and your husband and the children all sleep in this
bed?’ the investigator asked. ‘We have to,’ she replied
simply, ‘to keep warm.’ It was 5 degrees above zero in
Bottineau County yesterday.”
But she reserved some of her strongest remarks for
victims in the broad middle class. For example, she
feared the creation of “A whole stranded generation” of
workers 40 or 45 or older considered too old for many
industries. “Add that whole generation to the list of
people who aren’t going to get their jobs back because
of technological advances, and— well, you’ve got some­
thing.”
Yet, she stayed alert to sparks of the human spirit:
“They say miners are lazy, but it seems to me you
could hardly call a family lazy that would clear and dig
up with a pitchfork and spade four acres of land on a
mountainside so steep that you could probably not
drive a team of horses with a plow up there even if you
had them.”
Her sympathies definitely lay with the victims— she
entitled her own uncompleted attempt to collect and
publish her letters, “The Unsung Heroes of the
Depression” and dedicated it to the “ ‘chislers’ and the
‘shovel-leaners’ who have been living on the taxpayers’
money.” And her observations hit with the impact of
Studs Terkel’s Hard Times, another book which person­
alizes and humanizes the political histories. Yet, she re­
affirms the essential conservatism of most Americans she

met. In something of a rebuke to the revisionists, she
quotes the president of the Nebraska Farmers’ Union:
“We’re from Missouri. We don’t like Mr. Wallace
much, b u t— we’re willing to wait awhile and see what
happens.”
Two major biases or prejudices are evident. In writ­
ing of the South and Southwest, Hickok described the
poverty— approaching peonage— experienced by blacks
and Mexican-Americans, but her primary concern lay
with the white or Anglo “white-collar” middle class.
Apparently she spent little time with either blacks or
Mexicans. On another level, Hickok traveled mostly
through rural areas, and most of her comments empha­
sized agricultural problems. Although she visited New
York, Philadelphia, and other large cities, her observa­
tions focused on the immediate need for housing, food,
and work. She apparently made little effort to talk to
many industrial workers or to the more radical labor
organizers.
Hickok’s assignment, after all, was to report on eco­
nomic conditions and the effectiveness of various relief
programs. She accomplished this in excellent fashion,
providing perceptive personal, administrative, and socio­
logical comment. These reports provide graphic descrip­
tions of the country before the “safety nets” were raised
and of the difficulties encountered in erecting them.
They are especially pertinent reading at a time when the
country is reassessing the role of government developed
during the Depression, for they tell it all— the good
and the gruesome, the greed and the grace.
— W il lia m T. M o ye
Historian
Bureau of Labor Statistics

The future of work
Working in the Twenty-First Century. Edited by C.
Stewart Sheppard and Donald C. Carroll. New
York, Philip Morris, Inc., 1980. 235 pp., bibliogra­
phy. $18.95, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Because work is the primary connection to life for
most persons, this collection of thoughtful essays is an
attempt to project what life will be like in the coming
century. This book focuses on likely patterns of person­
al value changes, the effects of these on domestic, eco­
nomic, and social institutions, and how the amalgam of
all can be affected by the emerging trends in global, po­
litical, and economic activities.
The Business schools of the Universities of Pennsyl­
vania and Virginia cosponsored a symposium to analyze
the future. Fifteen knowledgeable persons from busi­
ness, labor, and the sciences, both social and technical,

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were invited to present papers which form the substance
of this excellent book. The authors are generally opti­
mistic but they don’t evade the projected threats and
pitfalls even though the dangers pointed to are some­
times contradictory in accordance with their doctrinal
beliefs.
In considering individual values, Suzanne Keller,
from a university, enlarges on a theme by Kenneth
Boulding, who sees us moving from a “cowboy econo­
my” — reckless, violent and romantic— where incremen­
tal production and consumption become almost ends in
themselves, to a “spaceship economy” in which produc­
tion and consumption have value only in relation to
protecting people and resources. She maintains that
while most people can accommodate the idea of techno­
logical change, they are less comfortable with changes
in social institutions and customs. Another academi­
cian, James O’Toole, sees today’s growing erosion of re­
sponsibility as a trend which must be shifted to secure a
safe passage into the next century. A pervasive march
toward cradle to grave entitlements, not only among
the unionized work force, but also in the managerial
ranks, has sapped, he says, the long-run health of the
U.S. economy. He gleans some hope for increasing our
acceptance of responsibility in recent northern plant
closings where groups of middle-managers and workers
have taken over under austere conditions to attempt a
rescue of jobs and output.
A spate of authors has raised questions about the
new technology. How will it help our society, how will
it impinge on the worker, what does it portend for the
national ecology? One author says that biosciences and
advanced information handling will continue our shift
from the industrial to the post-industrial society, bring­
ing many improvements in life and the need for a high­
ly sophisticated work force. William Lucy of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees ( a f sc m e ) points to the preponderance of
jobs in services over manufacturing and indicates a con­
tinuation of that trend, which, he avers, means a grow­
ing group of less skilled, alienated workers in lowerpaying jobs, in which any one person is easily replaced.
Further, he states that antiunionism is on the rise.
Highly sophisticated consultants are placed in establish­
ments to foment clever obstructions where union devel­
opment might arise. There is also intensive lobbying
against prolabor legislation in the Congress.
Theodore Kheel believes, nevertheless, that collective
bargaining will be with us during the 21st century, and,
if we maintain our system of free enterprise, basic nego­
tiations on conditions of employment will be little
changed. He says that unionization in the private sector
will remain at about the same level as now, public sec­
tor unionization may continue its growth for a while,
mergers of unions will continue for more economical
55

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Book Reviews
operations, and their political lobbying will continue to
grow in seeking favorable labor legislation. The Ma­
chinists’ William Winpisinger sees unions influencing
corporate decisions by the use of pension fund pay­
ments and, alarmed by the growth of multinational
companies, predicts that initial attempts will be made to
settle industrial relations disputes on a global basis.
Jerome Rosow discusses a University of Michigan
survey which indicates a steady decline in worker satis­
faction, and states that this “cannot be isolated from
the steady decline in the Nation’s productivity growth
rate.’’ He says that to correct this problem in the fu­
ture, alternative work patterns like flexitime, part-time
shared jobs, and increased worker participation in deci­
sions that affect their jobs will require increasing atten­
tion.
James Jordon, an industrial vice president for labor
relations, believes that, in the future, plant layoffs will
be an obsolete way of controlling variable costs. Given
a year or more of training per worker, who in some
plants control millions of dollars in capital equipment,
new ways to assure job security will become a manage­
ment goal. On balance, however, he cannot see any sud­
den future shifts that will greatly change the present
status of either management or unions. Ian Wilson, a
General Electric consultant, in one of the very few ref­
erences to poverty in the book, assumes that there will
be fewer people in poverty in the coming century be­
cause over the past five generations— since 1800— per
capita income has doubled each 30 odd years, and de­
spite some possible slowing will likely continue to grow.
This increasing affluence will bring greater education, a
labor force with more subtle methods at its command
for seeking its new values and demands, and an in­
creased emphasis on social, ego, and self-fulfillment
needs.
George Vojta, a Citibank vice president, is one of
several spokesmen identifying the growing debate on
whether future life and work should be based on no­
tions of efficiency or equality. He is a reasoned propo­
nent of free enterprise, which he believes can more
efficiently use national resources than can government
enterprise because in Schumpeter’s terms private enter­
prise, under pressure to survive, is more likely to de­
stroy old systems and replace with new, while
government dominated enterprise, not undergoing simi­
lar pressures, often goes the way of Britain, Italy, or the
Communist nations. In contrast to William Lucy, Vojta
maintains that service jobs will be outpaced by skilled
professional, technical, and managerial job growth, and
that while the individual productivity of these skilled
workers will not markedly increase, the new technology
they will direct will yield increasing productivity and
opportunity in the service sector.
Only at the risk of its own domestic and international
56


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stability can the United States ignore the needs of the
developing countries, says Cecilio Morales, an officer of
the Inter-American Development Bank. He identifies
the gap between industrial and developing countries in
the fact that the industrial countries now have almost
the entire world stock of infrastructure, technical know­
how, and scientific research capacity. At the same time,
high levels of unemployment and poverty in the Third
World foster local political instabilities and subsequent
international peril points. In the new century, he natu­
rally sees the need for increasing developmental lending,
but more important, and even more painful to the Unit­
ed States and Europe, he foresees the need to shift
many of their soft-goods industries to those developing
nations that offer more natural advantages.
This modest volume is a first-rate repository of semi­
nal ideas for those in business, government, or labor
who have the will and courage to look ahead to the
next 100 years. All will not agree with these previsions
of life and work, but few will lightly cast aside these
thoughts.
— K e n n e t h G. V a n A u k e n , J r .
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Want to get ahead? Consider your generation
Birth and Fortune: The Impact o f Numbers on Personal
Welfare. By Richard A. Easterlin. New York, Ba­
sic Books, Inc., 1980. 205 pp. $11.95.
Is the American malaise identified by former Presi­
dent Carter a temporary blemish or a permanent scar?
Economist Richard A. Easterlin believes it is tempo­
rary, the result of 1950’s baby-boom children desperate­
ly competing for good jobs, career promotions, housing,
and living space. The national mood will change when
the 1970’s baby-bust generation comes of age after
1985.
Birth and Fortune is the best-written introduction to
the theory that population changes affect and are affect­
ed by our sense of economic well-being. After World
War II, “government policies stabilizing demand and
capping immigration set the stage for the leading role
that generation size today plays in determining a co­
hort’s economic welfare.” Your cohort or generation
now determines, inter alia, your economic future; your
chances of marrying, having children, and staying mar­
ried; and your vulnerability to psychological stress and
mental illness. Although “other important influences”
are also at work, a “baby-boom generation finds the go­
ing comparatively tough. Correspondingly, a baby-bust
generation will find life relatively easy.”

The book is divided into four parts. The first two
chapters summarize the argument and the second three
discuss the implications of demographic waves on the
family. Part three outlines the economic effects of popu­
lation changes and the final two chapters contain pre­
dictions.
Demographic wave theory argues that the relative size
of your generation (or cohort) blesses or burdens you
throughout your lifetime. In the United States, the
lucky was born during the 1930’s. Its children are the
unlucky ones born in the 1950’s. The “baby-bust”
of the 1960’s and 1970’s will make life easy for
the youth of the 1980’s and 1990’s, but the 1980’s baby
boom expected because of these good times will in­
crease competition again after 2005. And so it goes. Ev­
ery 20 years, a new lucky or unlucky generation comes
of age.
Generation size shows up in decisions to marry and
have children. A couple’s economic prospects depend
on their potential earnings and their material aspira­
tions. Because “people generally find mates from within
the same economic class,” Easterlin approximates earn­
ings potential by comparing the actual income of a
young man to his parents’ income. As the young man’s
income rises relative to his parents’ income, he (and
other young adults) “will feel less economic pressure
and hence freer to marry and have children.” Using
crude approximations, Easterlin finds, not surprisingly,
rising relative incomes for young men during the 1946
to 1957 baby boom and declining relative incomes to
explain the baby bust since (except for the 1965-69
Vietnam-era boom).
But what about the effects of the pill and women’s
liberation? Easterlin’s not too convincing explanation
asserts: “that traditional sex-role attitudes predominate
in the population,” that improved contraception tech­
niques primarily permit young couples to respond faster
to changing economic pressures; and that women still
hold largely “female” jobs. Thus, “traditional sex roles
will persist.” Contraception and liberation only accentu­
ate trends dictated by economics.
Easterlin believes that the social forces reshaping
American life reinforce more important generation-size
effects. The discussion of divorce is illustrative. The
“typical” male finds his success linked to his work.
“The woman’s sense of personal fullfillment . . . in con­
trast, depends much more on her sense as a parent than
as a worker.” Couples from large and small generations
“retain the same notions about their respective roles,”
but marital strains and divorce are more common in a
large generation.
Large generations do more than break up families
and reduce levels of social well-being. They also aggra­
vate inflation, the final nail in the picture that “creates a
general feeling of deterioration in society.”

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How do large generations contribute to stagflation?
Easterlin believes that employers hire older experienced
workers and younger workers in fixed proportions.
When experienced workers are available, employers can
hire both old and young and increase production. But
large generations lead to a labor market mismatch that
impairs traditional Keynesian demand management.
When experienced workers are not available, employers
stop adding new plants and machines because the em­
ployer “cannot staff it with young, inexperienced work­
ers.”
Large generations increase the natural or noninflationary unemployment rate in three ways. First,
young persons traditionally have higher unemployment
rates because searching for a first or new job takes
longer without experience. As the youth share of the to­
tal work force rises, the unemployment rate creeps up
because the “age composition” has changed. There is
also a second, reinforcing “age-specific” effect. Because
youth and older persons are hired from separate labor
queues, more youth increases competition for available
jobs and raises the youth unemployment rate. Third,
the labor-market problems of young men encourage
young women to seek jobs, further increasing competi­
tion and raising the youth and total unemployment
rate. It is estimated that these labor force changes have
added “about 1.5 percentage points” to the noninflationary unemployment rate since 1960.
What does our demographic future hold? Easterlin
sees “American society as possibly subject to waves of
good times and bad.” Declining birth rates (1940-60)
make life easy and encourage baby booms. Competition
increases when baby booms enter the work force (196080), discouraging births. But the baby-bust generation
that comes of age between 1980 and 2000 can look for­
ward to “the good news . . . that things will get bet­
ter.” Good times, especially in the 1990’s, will prompt
another baby boom that will once again increase com­
petition and provoke bad times after 2000. The United
States is driven by 20-year fertility cycles, more impor­
tant than the politicians that will alternately claim and
disclaim responsibility for them.
Demographic wave theory argues that the typical
couple’s outlook depends on its earnings prospects rela­
tive to past actual earnings of parents. The all-impor­
tant male spouse’s earnings prospects depend on the
share of inexperienced youth workers in the total labor
force. This youth share is a result of fertility decisions
made 20 years earlier.
Is Easterlin’s study of one baby boom and bust cycle
from 1940 to 1980 really indicative of the future?
Easterlin reasserts his belief in the persistence of tradi­
tional sex roles, the simple youth share analysis and ba­
sic American optimism. However, attitude and struc­
tural changes may mute the coming baby boom. But
57

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Book Reviews
Easterlin still believes that the baby boom and bust of
the last 40 years show that “American life is now sub­
ject to a sizable self-generating cycle in economic and
social conditions.”
Is Easterlin correct to say that the theory will remain
valid even if parts of it turn out to be wrong? I believe
Easterlin underestimates the social and labor market ef­
fects of 1970’s insecurities and attitude changes. More
important, he draws too sharp a distinction between
pre- and post-1940 developments. For example, the
800,000 legal immigrants and refugees admitted to the
United States in 1980 are as many as were admitted
during the peak 1900-14 immigration waves. To these
legal immigrants must be added an unknown number of
illegal immigrants— perhaps 300,000 to 500,000 annual­
ly. Thus, immigration alone could maintain population
growth rates and discourage the expected baby boom.
Some observers look to the 1985 labor force entrance
of baby-bust youth with trepidation. They argue that
the American economy is ill-prepared to adjust to the
labor force shrinkage necessary to spur Easterlin’s baby
boom. Many want temporary alien workers—
guestworkers— to smooth out labor force growth. If the
United States obeys these guestworker advocates, it
may kill the incentive that would automatically correct
this labor force swing.
— P h ilip L. M a r t in
Associate Professor
University of California, Davis

Publications received
Agriculture and natural resources
Musser, Wesley N. and Kostas G. Stamoulis, “Evaluating the
Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 with Firm Quadratic
Risk Programming,” A m eric a n J o u r n a l o f A g ric u ltu ra l
E co n o m ics, August 1981, pp. 447-56.
Schultz, Theodore W., “Knowledge Is Power in Agriculture,”
C h allen ge, September-October 1981, pp. 4-12.
Seligman, Clive and Lawrence J. Baker, Issue eds., “Energy
Conservation,” T he J o u r n a l o f S o c ia l Issues, Spring 1981,
pp. 1-171.

Economic and social statistics
“Assessment of Federal Support for the Committee on Na­
tional Statistics,” S ta tis tic a l R ep o rter, August 1981, pp.
437-51.
Hausman, Jerry A., Bronwyn Hall, Zvi Griliches, E c o n o m etric
M o d e ls f o r C o u n t D a ta w ith an A p p lic a tio n to th e P a te n ts
R & D R ela tio n sh ip . Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of

Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 57 pp. (Technical Work­
ing Paper Series, 17.) $1.50.
Organization of American States, R e p o rt o f T he

Session o f
th e C o m m itte e on I m p ro v e m e n t o f N a tio n a l S ta tis tic s
( c o i n s ) H e ld in C aracas,
V enezuela, Oct. 2 3 -3 0 , 1979.

Digitized for 58
FRASER
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X Iv

Washington, General Secretariat of the Organization of
American States, Inter-American Statistical Institute,
1981, 160 pp. $9.

Education
Cohen, Gaynor, “Culture and Educational Achievement,”
H a r v a r d E d u c a tio n a l R eview , May 1981, pp. 270-85.
Venti, Steven and David A. Wise, T est Scores, E d u c a tio n a l
O pportu n ities, a n d I n d iv id u a l C hoice. Cambridge, Mass.,
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 50
pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 710.) $1.50.

Economic growth and development
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, E s­
sa y s in C o n te m p o ra ry P roblem s, D e m a n d ,
a n d P o pu lation . Washington, 1981, 350 pp.

P ro d u ctivity,

$17.25, cloth;

$9.25, paper.
Sternlieb, George and David Listokin, eds., N e w Tools f o r
E c o n o m ic D e ve lo p m e n t: T he E n terp rise Z on e, D e ve lo p m e n t
B a n k , a n d RFC . New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers-The State

University of New Jersey, Center for Urban Policy Re­
search, 1981, 231 pp., bibliography. $12.50, paper.

Health and safety
Deutsch, Steven, ed., “Theme Issue: Occupational Safety and
Health,” L a b o r S tu d ie s Jou rn al, Spring 1981, pp. 3-160.
Patrick, Pamela K. S., H e a lth C a re W o rk er B u rn o u t: W h a t I t
Is, W h a t to D o A b o u t It. Chicago, 111., Inquiry Books,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Associations, 1981, 139 pp.
$11.95, paper.

Industrial relations
Brown, Charles, T he F e d e r a l A tta c k on L a b o r M a r k e t D is c r im ­
in ation : The M o u se T h a t R o a r e d ? Cambridge, Mass., Na­
tional Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 59 pp.
( n b e r Working Paper Series, 669.) $1.50.
DeBrock, Lawrence M. and Alvin E. Roth, “Strike Two:
Labor-Management Negotiations in Major League Base­
ball,” T he B e ll J o u r n a l o f E con om ics, Autumn 1981, pp.
413-25.
Ichniowski, Casey, H a ve A n g e ls D o n e M o re? T he S te e l In d u s ­
tr y C o n sen t D ecree. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau
of Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 54 pp. ( n b e r Working
Paper Series, 674.) $1.50.
Latta, Geoffrey W., “Union Organization Among Engineers:
A Current Assessment,” I n d u s tr ia l a n d L a b o r R e la tio n s
R eview , October 1981, pp. 29-42.
Meyer, Herbert E., “The Decline of Strikes,” F ortu ne, Nov. 2,
1981, beginning on p. 66.

International economics
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, P ro ­
p o sed

R evisio n s

o f th e

F oreign

C o rru p t P ra c tic es A ct.

Washington, 1981, 37 pp. (Legislative Analysis, 29, 97th
Cong., 1st sess.)
Crockett, Andrew D., “Stabilization Policies in Developing
Countries: Some Policy Considerations,” I n te rn a tio n a l
M o n e ta ry F u n d S t a f f P apers, March 1981, pp. 54-79.
Fairlamb, David, “Protectionism on Rise in Europe,” D u n 's
B u sin ess M on th , October 1981, beginning on p. 94.
Galenson, Walter, T he In te rn a tio n a l L a b o r O rg a n iza tio n : A n

Madison, Wis., The Board of Regents of
the University of Wisconsin System, 1981, 351 pp.
$21.50, cloth; $7.75, paper, The University of Wisconsin
Press, Madison.

A m e r ic a n View.

Khan, Mohsin S. and Malcolm D. Knight, “Stabilization Pro­
grams in Developing Countries: A Formal Framework,”
I n te rn a tio n a l M o n e ta r y F u n d S t a f f P apers, March 1981,
pp. 1-53.
Laker, John F., “Fiscal Proxies for Devaluation: A General
Review,” In te rn a tio n a l M o n e ta r y F u n d S t a f f Papers,
March 1981, pp. 118-43.
Ruble, Blair A., S o viet T ra d e U nions: T h eir D e v e lo p m e n t in th e
1970s. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1981, 190
pp., bibliography. $29.50.
Sachs, Jeffrey D., “The Current Account and Macroeconomic
Adjustment in the 1970s,” B ro o k in g s P a p ers on E co n o m ic
A c tiv ity 1, 1981, pp. 201-82.
Steinherr, Alfred, “Effectiveness of Exchange Rate Policy for
Trade Account Adjustment,” I n te rn a tio n a l M o n e ta ry
F u n d S t a f f P apers, March 1981, pp. 199-224.
Timmer, C. Peter, “China and the World Grain Market,”
C h allen ge, September-October 1981, pp. 13-21.
Wallich, Henry C., “ l d c Debt— To Worry or Not to Wor­
ry,” C h allen ge, September-October 1981, pp. 28-34.

Labor force
Applebaum, Eileen, B a c k to W ork: D e te r m in a n ts o f W om en 's
S u cc e ssfu l R e -en try. Boston, Mass., Auburn House Pub­
lishing Co., 1981, 141 pp. $19.95.
Barron, John M. and Wesley Mellow, “Changes in Labor
Force Status Among the Unemployed,” T he J o u r n a l o f
H u m a n R esou rces, Summer 1981, pp. 427-41.
Ferber, Marianne A. and Bonnie G. Birnbaum, “Labor Force
Participation Patterns and Earnings of Women Clerical
Workers,” T he J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R esou rces, Summer
1981, pp. 416-26.
Great Britain, Department of Employment, L a b o u r F orce I n ­
f o r m a tio n f r o m th e N a tio n a l D w e llin g a n d H o u sin g S u rvey.
By Ann Barber. (67 pp., Research Paper, 21); Q u a lita tiv e
R esea rch A m o n g H o m e w o rk e rs. By Arnold Cragg and

Tim Dawson. (42 pp., Research Paper, 17). London, En­
gland, 1981.
Herzog, Henry W., Jr. and Alan M. Schlottmann, “Labor
Force Migration and Allocative Efficiency in the United
States: The Roles of Information and Psychic Costs,”
E c o n o m ic In q u iry, July 1981, pp. 459-75.
Miller, W.H., B u ild in g a S k ille d W orkforce: A C ase S tu d y o f
E m p lo y m e n t a n d T ra in in g P ra c tic es in an O il P la tfo rm
C o n stru ctio n Y ard. Edinburgh, Scotland, Manpower Ser­

vices Commission, Manpower Intelligence and Planning
Division, 1981, 45 pp.
Moore, Willial J., Douglas K. Pearce, R. Mark Wilson, “The
Regulation of Occupations and the Earnings of Women,”
T he J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R esou rces, Summer 1981, pp. 36683.
Ragan, James F., Jr. and Sharon P. Smith, “The Impact of Dif­
ferences in Turnover Rates on Male/Female Pay Dif­
ferentials,” The J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R esources, Summer
1981, pp. 343-65.

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U.S. Department of Labor, Job O ption s f o r W om en in th e 80's.
Washington, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the
Secretary, Women’s Bureau, 1981, 22 pp. (Pamplet 18.)
$1.75, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.

Management and organization theory
Carter, Michael F., “Comparable Worth: An Idea Whose
Time Has Come?” P erso n n el Jou rn al, October 1981, pp.
792-94.
McGregor, Georgette F. and Joseph A. Robinson, T he C o m ­
m u n ic a tio n M a trix : W ays o f W in n in g w ith W ords. New
York, a m a c o m , A division of American Management
Associations, 1981, $15.95.
Merkle, Ned, D o's a n d D o n 'ts o f P en sion F u n d M a n a g em e n t.
New York, a m a c o m , A division of American Manage­
ment Associations, 1981, 55 pp. $5, a m a members; $7.50,
nonmembers.
Ross, Joyce D., “A Definition of Human Resources Manage­
ment,” P erso n n el Jou rn al, October 1981, pp. 781-83.
Ulery, John D., J o b D escrip tio n s in M a n u fa c tu rin g In d u stries.
New York, a m a c o m , A division of American Manage­
ment Associations, 1981, 161 pp. $21.95.
Vardaman, George T., M a k in g S u ccessfu l P resen tation s. New
York, a m a c o m , A division of American Management
Associations, 1981, 271 pp. $18.95.
Walker, Alfred J., “Management Selection Systems that Meet
the Challenges of the ’80s,” P erso n n el Jou rn a l, October
1981, beginning on p. 775.

Monetary and fiscal policy
Blinder, Alan S., “Monetarism Is Obsolete,” C h allen ge, Sep­
tember-October 1981, pp. 35^11.
Frederic W. Cook and Co., F u tu re V alue In ce n tive P lan s: S u r ­
vey o f E x e c u tiv e P la n s a n d T ren ds A m o n g th e 2 0 0 L a rg e st
I n d u s tr ia l C om pan ies. New York, Frederic W. Cook &

Co., Inc., 1981, 16 pp.
Hester, Donald D., “Innovations and Monetary Control,”
B ro o k in g s P a p ers on E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity 1, 1981, pp. 141 —
99.
Summers, Lawrence H., “Taxation and Corporate Investment:
A q-Theory Approach,” B ro o k in g s P a p ers on E co n o m ic
A c tiv ity 1, 1981, pp. 67-140.

Prices and living conditions
Community Council of Greater New York, A n n u a l P rice S u r ­
v ey — F a m ily B u d g e t Costs, O c to b er 1980. 21st ed. New
York, Community Council of Greater New York, Re­
search and Program Planning Information Department,
1981, 63 pp. $8.
Cornell, Bradford, “Relative Vs. Absolute Price Changes: An
Empirical Study,” E c o n o m ic In q u iry, July 1981, pp. 50614.
Flaherty, M. Therese, “Prices Versus Quantities and Vertical
Financial Integration,” T he B e ll J o u r n a l o f E con om ics,
Autumn 1981, pp. 507-25.
Wilson, Marilyn, “Inflation Fears— and Facts,” D u n 's B u si­
ness M on th , October 1981, pp. 36-40.

Productivity and technological change
Baily, Martin Neil, “Productivity and the Services of Capital

59

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Book Renews
and Labor,” B ro o k in g s P a p ers on E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity 1,
1981, pp. 1-65.

Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.,
1981, 41 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 763.) $1.50.

Great Britain, Department of Employment, In te r-p la n t C o m ­
p a riso n s o f P ro d u c tiv ity a n d E arn in gs. By John M. Ball
and N. K. Skeoch. London, England, Department of
Employment, Unit for Manpower Studies, 1981, 138 pp.
(Government Economic Service Working Paper, 38, De­
partment of Employment Working Paper, 3.)

Kingson, Eric R., “Involuntary Early Retirement,” T he Journ a l l The Institute for Socioeconomic Studies, Autumn
1981, pp. 27-39.

Urban affairs
Downs, Anthony, N eig h b o rh o o d s a n d U rban D e velo p m en t.
Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1981, 189 pp.
$22.95, cloth; $8.95, paper.
Viton, Philip A., “On Competition and Product Differen­
tiation in Urban Transportation: The San Francisco Bay
Area,” The B e ll J o u r n a l o f E con om ics, Autumn 1981, pp.
362-79.

Wages and compensation
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, P ro ­
p o sa ls f o r a S u b m in im u m W age f o r Youth. Washington,
1981, 68 pp. (Legislative Analysis 28, 97th Cong., 1st
sess.)

Mitchell, Olivia S. and Gary S. Fields, The E ffects o f P en sion s
a n d E a rn in g s on R e tire m e n t: A R e view E ssay. Cambridge,
Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.,
1981, 60 pp. (N B E R Working Paper Series, 772.) $1.50.
Myles, Jghn, “The Trillion Dollar Misunderstanding,” W o rk ­
in g P a p ers M a g a zin e, July-August 1981, pp. 22-31.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
T he W elfare S ta te in C risis: OECD C o n feren ce on S o c ia l
P olicies in th e 1980's, Paris, Oct. 2 0 -2 3 , 1981. Washing­

ton, 1981, 274 pp. Available from
Information Center, Washington.

OECD

Publications and

Packwood, Bob, “Long-Term Care: Public and Private Sector
Policy Options,” The J o u r n a l/T h e Institute for Socioeco­
nomic Studies, Autumn 1981, pp. 13-26.
Price, Daniel N., “Federal Civil Service Adult Survivor Annu­
itants and Social Security, December 1975,” S o c ia l
S e c u rity B u lletin , August 1981, pp. 3-14.

Ellig, Bruce R., E x e c u tiv e C o m p e n sa tio n — A T o ta l P a y P er­
spective. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1982,
343 pp. $24.95.

Pusic, Eugen, “Social Planning, Social Policy, and Political
Change,” S o c ia l S ervice R eview , September 1981, pp. 411—
18.

Freeman, Richard B., Wayne Gray, Casey Ichniowski, L o w

Skidmore, Felicity, ed., S o c ia l S e c u rity F inan cing. Cambridge,
Mass., The MIT Press, 1981, 295 pp. $30.

C o st S tu d e n t L a b o r: T he Use a n d E ffe cts o f the
S u b m in im u m
W age P rovision s f o r F u ll-tim e S tu d en ts.

Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re­
search, Inc., 1981, 57 pp. ( n b e r Technical Paper Series,
765.) $1.50.
Geringer, Wendy M„ “Identification and Evaluation of Data
Necessary to Establish ‘Equitable’ Pay Scales for Federal
Government Employees,” P u b lic P erso n n el M a n a g e m e n t
J o u rn al, Summer 1981, pp. 207-16.

Stoesz, David, “A Wake for the Welfare State: Social Welfare
and the Neoconservative Challenge,” S o c ia l S ervice R e ­
view, September 1981, pp. 398-410.
Turner, John A., “Inflation and the Accumulation of Assets
in Private Pension Funds,” E c o n o m ic In q u iry, July 1981,
pp. 410-25.

Worker training and development

Perham, John, “Flexible Benefits Are Spreading Fast,” D u n 's
B u sin ess M o n th , September 1981, pp. 82-85.

“Average Salaries . . . and Why They’re Not So Average,”
O c c u p a tio n a l O u tlo o k Q u a rterly, Fall 1981, pp. 24-25.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, E a rn in g s a n d O th e r C h a ra c ­
teristics o f O rg a n ize d W orkers, M a y 1980. Prepared by
Larry T. Adams. Washington, 1981, 70 pp. (Bulletin
2105.) $4.25, Superintendent of Documents, Washington
20402.

Briggs, Vernon M., Jr. and Felician F. Foltman, eds., A p p re n ­

--------- I n d u s tr y W age S u rvey: B an kin g, F e b ru a ry 1980. Pre­
pared by Carl F. Prieser. Washington, 1981, 90 pp. (Bul­
letin 2099.) $4.50, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington 20402.

Welfare programs and social insurance
Andrews, David, Y o u r R ig h ts to S o c ia l S e c u rity B en efits. New
York, Andrews Publishing Co., 1981, 186 pp. $4.95, pa­
per, Facts on File, Inc., New York.
Bethell, Tom, “Social Security: Permit for Idleness?” T he
J o u r n a l I T h e Institute for Socioeconomic Studies, Au­
tumn 1981, pp. 40-51.
Chambers, Donald E., “Another Look at Poverty Lines in
England and the United States,” S o c ia l S ervice R eview ,
September 1981, pp. 472-83.
Gustman, Alan L. and Thomas L. Steinmeier, P a r tia l R e tir e ­
m e n t a n d th e A n a ly sis o f R e tir e m e n t B eh avior. Cambridge,

Digitized 60
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ticesh ip R esea rch : E m e r g in g F in d in g s a n d F u tu re T rends.

Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University, New York State School
of Industrial and Labor Relations, 1981, 227 pp. $7.50,
paper.
Cain, Pamela S. and Donald J. Treiman, “The Dictionary of
Occupational Titles as a Source of Occupational Data,”
A m e r ic a n S o cio lo g ica l R eview , June 1981, pp. 253-78.
Flanders, Russell B. and Neale Baxter, “The Sweat of Their
Brows: A Look Back Over Occupational Information and
Career Counseling,” O c c u p a tio n a l O u tlo o k Q u a rterly, Fall
1981, pp. 8-11.
Griffin, John, “Legal Assistants,” O c c u p a tio n a l O u tlo o k Q u a r­
terly, Fall 1981, pp. 12-15.
Martin, Gail M., “Prepping Up for a Campus Visit,” O ccu p a ­
tio n a l O u tlo o k Q u a rterly, Fall 1981, pp. 2-7.
--------- “You’re a What? Color Consultant,” O c cu p a tio n a l
O u tlo o k Q u a rterly, Fall 1981, pp. 30-31.
Novak, Kathy, “Cosmetologists Evaluate Their Schools: An
Exploratory Study,” O c c u p a tio n a l O u tlo o k Q u a rterly, Fall
1981, pp. 26-27.
□

Current
Labor Statistics

Notes on Current Labor Statistics

.....................................................................................................................................

Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series

..........................................................................

Employment data from household survey. Definitions and notes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

.............................................................
Employment status of noninstitutional population, selected years, 1950-80 ................................................................
Employment status by sex, age, and race, seasonally adjusted ........................................................................................
Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted ........................................................................................................
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted . . .
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted ................................................................................................
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted .....................................................................
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted ................................................................................................................

Employment, hours, and earnings data from establishment surveys. Definitions and notes
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Employment by industry, 1951-80
Employment by State ...............................................................................................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group ................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonallyadjusted ..........................................
Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, 1977 to date ........................................................................................................
Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by major industry group ..................................................................................
Hours and earnings, by industry division, 1950-80
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group ..............................................................................
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted ......................................
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group ........................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index, by industry division, seasonally adjusted ................................................................................
Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
......................................................................
Gross and spendable weekly earnings, in current and 1967 dollars, 1961 todate .......................................................

Unemployment insurance data. Definitions

62

62

63

63
64
65
66
67
67
67
68
69
69
70
71
72
72
73
74
75
76
76
77
78

..................................................................................................................
21. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations ........................................................................................

79

Price data. Definitions and notes ..................................................................................................

so

22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Consumer Price Index, 1967-80
Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, general summary and selected items ............................................................
Consumer Price Index, cross classification of region and population size class ............................................................
Consumer Price Index, selected areas .....................................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing ..................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings .............................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings ................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product ................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
.................................................................................

Productivity data. Definitions and notes
31.
32.
33.
34.

.......................................................................................................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, andprices, selectedyears, 1950-80
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1970-80
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted ...................
Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices . .

Labor-management data. Definitions

............................................................................. .............................................
35. Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date .........................................................
36. Effective wage rate adjustments going into effect in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to d a t e .....................
37. Work stoppages, 1947 to date ................................................................................................................................................


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81
81
87
88
89
90
92
92
92
95

95
96
96
97
98
98
99
99

61

NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

This section of the R e v ie w presents the principal statistical se­
ries collected and calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A brief introduction to each group of tables provides defi­
nitions, notes on the data, sources, and other material usually
found in footnotes.
Readers who need additional information are invited to
consult the BLS regional offices listed on the inside front cov­
er of this issue of the R eview . Some general notes applicable to
several series are given below.
Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted
to eliminate the effect of such factors as climatic conditions, industry
production schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday buying
periods, and vacation practices, which might otherwise mask short­
term movements of the statistical series. Tables containing these data
are identified as “seasonally adjusted.” Seasonal effects are estimated
on the basis of past experience. When new seasonal factors are com­
puted each year, revisions may affect seasonally adjusted data for sev­
eral preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 2-7 were revised in
the February 1981 issue of the R e v ie w to reflect the preceding year’s
experience. Beginning in January 1980, the BLS introduced two major
modifications in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force
data. First, the data are being seasonally adjusted with a new proce­
dure called X -ll/A R IM A , which was developed at Statistics Canada
as an extension of the standard X -ll method. A detailed description
of the procedure appears in T h e X - l l A R I M A S e a s o n a l A d ju s tm e n t
M e th o d by Estela Bee Dagum (Statistics Canada Catalogue No.
12-564E, February 1980). The second change is that seasonal factors
are now being calculated for use during the first 6 months of the year,
rather than for the entire year, and then are calculated at mid-year for
the July-December period. Revisions of historical data continue to be
made only at the end of each calendar year.
Annual revision of the seasonally adjusted payroll data in tables
11, 13, 16, and 18 begins with the August 1980 issue using the
X -ll ARIMA seasonal adjustment methodology. New seasonal fac­
tors for productivity data in tables 33 and 34 are usually intro­
duced in the September issue. Seasonally adjusted indexes and percent
changes from month to month and from quarter to quarter are

published for numerous Consumer and Producer Price Index series.
However, seasonally adjusted indexes are not published for the U.S.
average All Items CPI. Only seasonally adjusted percent changes are
available for this series.
Adjustments for price changes. Some data are adjusted to eliminate
the effect of changes in price. These adjustments are made by dividing
current dollar values by the Consumer Price Index or the appropriate
component of the index, then multiplying by 100. For example, given
a current hourly wage rate of $3 and a current price index number of
150, where 1967 = 100, the hourly rate expressed in 1967 dollars is
$2 ($3/150 X 100 = $2). The resulting values are described as
“real,” “constant,” or “ 1967” dollars.
Availability of information. Data that supplement the tables in this
section are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a variety of
sources. Press releases provide the latest statistical information
published by the Bureau; the major recurring releases are published
according to the schedule given below. The B L S H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r
S ta tistic s , Bulletin 2070, provides more detailed data and greater his­
torical coverage for most of the statistical series presented in the
M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w . More information from the household and es­
tablishment surveys is provided in E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s, a
monthly publication of the Bureau, and in two comprehensive data
books issued annually— E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s, U n ite d S ta te s and
E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s, S ta te s a n d A rea s. More detailed informa­
tion on wages and other aspects of collective bargaining appears in
the monthly periodical, C u r r e n t W a g e D e v e lo p m e n ts . More detailed
price information is published each month in the periodicals, the C P I
D e ta ile d R e p o r t and P r o d u c e r P ric e s a n d P ric e In d e x es.

Symbols
p = preliminary. To improve the timeliness of some series,
preliminary figures are issued based on representative
but incomplete returns.
r = revised. Generally this revision reflects the availability
of later data but may also reflect other adjustments,
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series
S e r ie s

Employment situation..................................................................
Producer Price Index ..................................................................
Consumer Price Index ................................................................
Real earnings ............................................................................
Labor turnover in manufacturing ..................................................
Productivity and costs:
Nonfarm business and manufacturing ......................................
Work stoppages..........................................................................
Major collective bargaining settlements ........................................
N o te :

R e le a s e

P e r io d

R e le a s e

P e r io d

M L R ta b le

d a te

co v e re d

d a te

c o v e re d

num ber

January 8
January 12
January 22
January 22
January 27

December
December
December
December
December

February 5
February 12
February 25
February 25

January
January
January
January

January 28
January 29
January 29

4th quarter
December
1981

February 26

January

Because of budget reductions in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor turnover series will be discontinued effective with the release of December 1981 data in January 1982.


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26-30
22-25
14-20
12-13
31-34
37
35-36

EM PLO YM ENT DATA FROM THE H O U SEH O LD SURVEY

d a t a
in this section are obtained from the
Current Population Survey, a program of personal interviews
conducted monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. The sample consists of about 60,000
households beginning in May 1981, selected to represent the
U.S. population 16 years of age and older. Households are
interviewed on a rotating basis, so that three-fourths of the
sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.

E m plo ym en t

Definitions
Employed persons are (1) those who worked for pay any time
during the week which includes the 12th day of the month or who
worked unpaid for 15 hours or more in a family-operated enterprise
and (2) those who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs
because of illness, vacation, industrial dispute, or similar reasons. A
person working at more than one job is counted only in the job at
which he or she worked the greatest number of hours.
Unemployed persons are those who did not work during the survey
week, but were available for work except for temporary illness and
had looked for jobs within the preceding 4 weeks. Persons who did
not look for work because they were on layoff or waiting to start new
jobs within the next 30 days are also counted among the unemployed.
The unemployment rate represents the number unemployed as a
percent of the civilian labor force.
The civilian labor force consists of all employed or unemployed
persons in the civilian noninstitutional population; the total labor
force includes military personnel. Persons not in the labor force are

1.

those not classified as employed or unemployed; this group includes
persons retired, those engaged in their own housework, those not
working while attending school, those unable to work because of
long-term illness, those discouraged from seeking work because of
personal or job market factors, and those who are voluntarily idle.
The noninstitutional population comprises all persons 16 years of age
and older who are not inmates of penal or mental institutions,
sanitariums, or homes for the aged, infirm, or needy.
Full-time workers are those employed at least 35 hours a week;
part-time workers are those who work fewer hours. Workers on parttime schedules for economic reasons (such as slack work, terminating
or starting a job during the week, material shortages, or inability to
find full-time work) are among those counted as being on full-time
status, under the assumption that they would be working full time if
conditions permitted. The survey classifies unemployed persons in
full-time or part-time status by their reported preferences for full-time
or part-time work.

Notes on the data
From time to time, and especially after a decennial census,
adjustments are made in the Current Population Survey figures to
correct for estimating errors during the preceding years. These
adjustments affect the comparability of historical data presented in
table 1. A description of these adjustments and their effect on the
various data series appear in the Explanatory Notes of E m p lo y m e n t
a n d E a rn in g s.

Data in tables 2-7 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal
experience through December 1980.

Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-80

[Numbers in thousands]
C iv i lia n la b o r f o r c e

T o t a l la b o r f o r c e

Y ear

U n e m p lo y e d

E m p lo y e d

T o ta l n o n ­

N o t in

i n s t it u t io n a l
p o p u l a t io n

N um ber

P e rc e n t o f
p o p u l a t io n

P e rc e n t o f

N o n a g r i-

T o ta l
T o ta l

A g r ic u l t u r e

c u l tu r a l

N um ber

la b o r f o r c e

la b o r
fo rc e

in d u s t r ie s

1950
1955
1960
1964
1965

............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................

106,645
112,732
119,759
127,224
129,236

63,858
68,072
72,142
75,830
77,178

59.9
60.4
60.2
59.6
59.7

62,208
65,023
69,628
73,091
74,455

58,918
62,170
65,778
69,305
71,088

7,160
6,450
5,458
4,523
4,361

51,758
55,722
60,318
64,782
66,726

3,288
2,852
3,852
3,786
3,366

5.3
4.4
5.5
5.2
4.5

42,787
44,660
47,617
51,394
52,058

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................

131,180
133,319
135,562
137,841
140,182

78,893
80,793
82,272
84,240
85,903

60.1
60.6
60.7
61.1
61.3

75,770
77,347
78,737
80,734
82,715

72,895
74,372
75,920
77,902
78,627

3,979
3,844
3,817
3,606
3,462

68,915
70,527
72,103
74,296
75,165

2,875
2,975
2,817
2,832
4,088

3.8
3.8
3.6
3.5
4,9

52,288
52,527
53,291
53,602
54,280

1971 ............................................................
1972 ............................................................
1973 ............................................................
1974 ............................................................
1975 ............................................................

142,596
145,775
148,263
150,827
153,449

86,929
88,991
91,040
93,240
94,793

61.0
61.0
61.4
61.8
61.8

84,113
86,542
88,714
91,011
92,613

79,120
81,702
84,409
83,935
84,783

3,387
3,472
3,452
3,492
3,380

75,732
78,230
80,957
82,443
81,403

4,993
4,840
4,304
5,076
7,830

5.9
5.6
4.9
5.6
8.5

55,666
56,785
57,222
57,587
58,655

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

156,048
158,559
161,058
163,620
166,246

96,917
99,534
102,537
104,996
106,821

62.1
62.8
63.7
64.2
64.3

94,773
97,401
100,420
102,908
104,719

87,485
90,546
94,373
96,945
97,270

3,297
3,244
3,342
3,297
3,310

84,188
87,302
91,031
93,648
93,960

7,288
6,855
6,047
5,963
7,448

7.7
7.0

59,130
59,025
58,521
58,623
59,425

............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................


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6.0
5.8
7.1

63

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.

Employment status by sex, age, and race, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
A nnual averag e

1980

1981

E m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s
1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

163,620
104,996
161,532
102,908
96,945
3,297
93,648
5,963
5.8
58,623

166,246
106,821
164,143
104,719
97,270
3,310
93,960
7,448
7.1
59,425

167,201
107,404
165,082
105,285
97,339
3,340
93,999
7,946
7.5
59,797

167,396
107,191
165,272
105,067
97,282
3,394
93,888
7,785
7.4
60,205

167,585
107,668
165,460
105,543
97,696
3,403
94,294
7,847
7.4
59,917

167,747
107,802
165,627
105,681
97,927
3,281
94,646
7,754
7.3
59,946

167,902
108,305
165,774
106,177
98,412
3,276
95,136
7,764
7.3
59,598

168,071
108,851
165,941
106,722
98,976
3,463
95,513
7,746
7.3
59,219

168,272
109,533
166,145
107,406
99,235
3,353
95,882
8,171
7-6
58,739

168,480
108,307
166,349
106,176
98,392
3,265
95,127
7,784
7.3
60,173

168,685
108,603
166,546
106,464
98,962
3,258
95,704
7,502
7.0
60,082

168,855
108,762
166,695
106,602
98,944
3,370
95,574
7,657
7.2
60,093

169,049
108,401
166,884
106,236
98,270
3,310
94,959
7,966
7.5
60,648

169,252
108,893
167,095
106,736
98,217
3,337
94,880
8,520
60,359

169,435
109,187
167,277
107,029
98,025
3,363
94,662
9,004
8.4
60,248

68,293
54,486
52,264
2,350
49,913
2,223
4.1
13,807

69,607
55,234
51,972
2,355
49,617
3,261
5.9
14,373

70,095
55,539
52,007
2,372
49,635
3,532
6.4
14,556

70,198
55,470
52,045
2,331
49,714
3,425

70,320
55,443
52,091
2,378
49,713
3,352

70,413
55,445
52,134
2,289
49,844
3,312
14,968

70,687
56,395
52,849
2,349
50,500
3,546
6.3
14,292

14,912

70,894
55,957
52,811
2,329
50,482
3,147
5.6
14,937

70,978
56,045
52,724
2,402
50,323
3,321
5.9
14,933

71,086
56,063
52,608
2,343
50,264
3,455

14,877

70,574
56,013
52,750
2,409
50,342
3,262
5.8
14,561

70,788
55,876
52,451
2,320
50,131
3,425

14,728

70,481
55,816
52,511
2,296
50,215
3,305
5.9
14,665

71,208
56,100
52,327
2,388
49,939
3,733
6.7
15,108

71,331
56,194
52,151
2,358
49,794
4,043
7.2
15,137

76,860
38,910
36,698
591
36,107
2,213
5.7
37,949

78,295
40,243
37,696
575
37,120
2,547
6.3
38,052

78,842
40,629
37,909
574
37,335
2,720
6.7
38,213

78,959
40,570
37,820
665
37,155
2,750

79,175
41,090
38,410
615
37,794
2,680
6.5
38,085

79,271
41,293
38,567
606
37,961
2,725

79,377
41,481
38,760
603
38,157
2,721

79,498
41,852
39,014
583
38,431
2,838

37,978

37,896

37,646

79,617
41,743
39,011
562
38,449
2,731
6.5
37,874

79,739
41,879
39,082
575
38,507
2,797
6.7
37,860

79,848
41,857
39,155
601
38,554
2,701
6.5
37,991

79,968
41,395
38,576
603
37,973
2,819

38,389

79,071
40,942
38,191
621
37,570
2,750
6.7
38,129

38,573

80,095
41,911
38,958
583
38,376
2,953
7.0
38,184

80,211
42,113
39,050
655
38,395
3,062
7.3
38,098

16,379
9,512
7,984
356
7,628
1,528
16.1
6,867

16,242
9,242
7,603
380
7,223
1,640
17.7
7,000

16,145
9,117
7,423
394
7,029
1,694
18.6
7,028

16,114
9,027
7,417
398
7,019
1,610
17.8
7,087

16,069
9,158
7,414
404
7,010
1,744
19.0
6,911

16,039
9,146
7,384
376
7,008
1,762
19.3
6,893

16,022
9,068
7,334
374
6,960
1,734
19.1
6,954

15,991
9,228
7,465
451
7,014
1,763
19.1
6,763

15,961
9,159
7,372
421
6,951
1,787
19.5
6,802

15,944
8,558
6,930
383
6,547
1,628
19.0
7,386

15,913
8,628
7,069
354
6,715
1,559
18.1
7,285

15,869
8,700
7,065
368
6,697
1,635
18.8
7,169

15,831
8,778
7,086
364
6,722
1,692
19.3
7,053

15,792
8,724
6,931
366
6,565
1,793

15,735
8,722
6,823
350
6,473
1,899

7,068

7,013

141,614
90,602
86,025
4,577
5.1
51,011

143,657
92,171
86,380
5,790
6.3
51,486

144,359
92,562
86,409
6,153

144,500
92,383
86,377
6,006
6.5
52,117

144,651
92,832
86,620
6,213
6.7
51,819

144,774
93,035
86,940
6,095

144,882
93,313
87,291

145,006
93,860
87,791
6,069
6.5
51,146

145,160
94,506
88,083
6,422

145,464
93,767
87,979
5,787

145,575
93,789
88,046
5,743

50,654

145,316
93,464
87,500
5,964
6.4
51,852

51,697

51,786

145,715
93,355
87,329
6,026
6.5
52,360

145,871
93,845
87,344
6,501
6.9
52,026

146,007
94,045
87,058
6,987
7.4
51,962

19,918
12,306
10,920
1,386
11.3
7,612

20,486
12,548
10,890
1,658
13.2
7,938

20,723
12,706
10,922
1,784
14.0
8,017

20,771

20,809
12,684
11,051
1,634
12.9
8,125

20,853
12,598
10,942
1,655
13.1
8,255

20,936
12,899
11,193
1,706
13.2
8,037

20,985
12,895
11,138
1,757
13.6
8,090

21,033
12,741
10,928
1,813
14.2
8,292

21,081
12,658
10,939
1,719
13.6
8,423

21,120

21,169
12,872
10,924
1,948
15.1
8,297

21,224
12,913
10,905
2,008
15.5
8,311

21,270
12,951
10,944
2,007
15.5
8,319

TOTAL

Total noninstitutional population1 ..........................
Total labor force ......................................
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ................................
Employed ......................................
Agriculture ..............................
Nonagricultural industries ........
Unemployed ..................................
Unemployment rate ........................
Not in labor force ..................................

8.0

M en, 20 years and o ve r

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

6.2

6.0

6.0

6.1

6.2

15,023

W om en , 20 ye ars and o ve r

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

6.8

6.6

6.6

6.8

6.8

B o th s e x e s , 1 6 t o 1 9 y e a r s

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

20.6

21.8

W h ite

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

6.6

51,797

6.6

51,739

6,022

6.5
51,569

6.8

6.2

6.1

B la c k a n d o t h e r

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

1As in table 1, population figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Digitized64for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

12,668
10,895
1,773
14.0
8,103

20,892
12,765

11,020
1,745
13.7
8,127

12,793
10,877
1,916
15,0
8,327

3.

Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted

[ Numbers in thousands]
A nnual av erag e

1980

1981

S e le c t e d c a t e g o r ie s
1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

96,945
56,499
40,446
39,090
22,724

97,270
55,988
41,283
38,302
23,097

97,339
55,897
41,442
38,167
23,065

97,282
55,920
41,362
38,231
23,063

97,696
56,012
41,684
38,182
23,352

97,927
56,045
41,882
38,113
23,356

98,412
56,383
42,029
38,365
23,513

98,976
56,688
42,288
38,510
23,529

99,235
56,718
42,517
38,498
23,831

98,392
56,026
42,366
38,216
23,763

98,962
56,494
42,467
38,283
23,820

98,944
56,368
42,577
38,315
23,683

98,270
56,349
41,920
38,169
23,174

98,217
56,046
42,171
38,059
23,399

98,025
55,783
42,241
37,798
23,326

49,342
15,050

50,809
15,613

51,148
15,863

51,065
15,810

51,594
15,965

51,698
15,813

51,746
15,827

51,801
15,754

51,967
15,688

51,959
16,057

51,857
15,966

52,123
16,299

51,826
16,254

52,104
16,347

51,935
16,284

10,516
6,163
17,613
32,066
12,880
10,909
3,612
4,665
12,834
2,703

10,919
6,172
18,105
30,800
12,529
10,346
3,468
4,456
12,958
2,704

11,016
6,155
18,114
30,550
12,424
10,247
3,429
4,450

11,363
6,265
18,001
30,338
12,306
10,331
3,322
4,380
12,946
2,737

11,488
6,271
18,125
30,446
12,386
10,390
3,361
4,309
13,070
2,662

11,565

11,260
6,461
18,557
31,373
12,743
10,609
3,390
4,632
13,213
2,707

11,174
6,440
18,288
30,922
12,482
10,550
3,425
4,466
12,930
2,648

18,254
31,038
12,575
10,567
3,481
4,415
13,284
2,689

11,217
6,369
18,238
31,113
12,508
10,501
3,499
4,605
13,002
2,732

11,341
6,295
17,937
30,637
10,334
3,453
4,649
13,093
2,717

11,434
6,225
18,099
30,222
12,124
10,187
3,530
4,381
13,231
2,752

11,210

18,135
30,594
12,605
10,189
3,363
4,437
13,279
2,679

11,444
6,145
18,457
31,156
12,624
10,524
3,411
4,596
13,255
2,834

11,418

2,729

11,009
6,175
18,071
30,373
12,337
10,194
3,402
4,440
12,982
2,804

6,269
18,172
29,904
12,096
9,913
3,364
4,531
13,419
2,791

1,413
1,580
304

1,384
1,628
297

1,417
1,612
324

1,411
1,655
305

1,465
1,615
284

1,336
1,610
325

1,338
1,615
312

1,524
1,648
290

1,464
1,644
231

1,377
1,657
258

1,457
1,568
235

1,472
1,629
250

1,416
1,649
254

1,470
1,616
264

1,395
1,631
333

86,540
15,369
71,171
1,240
69,931
6,652
455

86,706
15,624
71,081
1,166
69,915
6,850
404

86,643
15,651
70,992
1,148
69,844
6,943
405

86,513
15,653
70,860

87,236
15,589
71,647
1,176
70,471
6,923
371

87,870
15,685
72,185
1,235
70,949
6,896
354

88,195
15,628
72,567
1,241
71,327
7,021
306

88,877
15,512
73,365
1,164
72,201
6,761
338

87,734
15,460
72,274
1,146
71,128
7,005
369

88,291
15,349
72,942

69,750
6,973
396

87,125
15,738
71,387
1,197
70,190
6,839
422

389

88,189
15,140
73,048
1,236
71,812
6,942
378

87,457
15,111
72,346
1,052
71,294
7,093
392

87,556
15,151
72,405
1,114
71,291
7,033
448

87,265
15,066
72,199
1,173
71,026
7,001
423

88,133
72,647
3,281
1,325
1,956
12,205

88,325
72,022
3,965
1,669
2,296
12,338

88,694
72,265
4,176
1,620
2,556
12,253

88,468
72,131
4,218
1,647
2,571
12,119

89,499
72,807
4,474
1,698
2,776
12,218

89,441
72,945
4,145
1,622
2,523
12,351

89,583
72,875
4,227
1,638
2,589
12,481

89,202
72,761
4,044
1,517
2,527
12,397

89,870
73,375
4,143
1,630
2,513
12,352

89,625
73,115
3,798
1,367
2,431
12,713

90,837
74,232
4,225
1,632
2,593
12,380

89,823
72,932
4,187
1,654
2,533
12,704

88,886

89,448
72,187
5,026
2,023
3,003
12,235

89,359
72,276
4,988
1,898
3,090
12,094

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

C H A R A C T E R IS T IC

Total employed, 16 years and over ......................
Men ................................
Women............................
Married men, spouse present ........................
Married women, spouse present , ,
O C C U P A T IO N

White-collar workers................
Professional and technical ................
Managers and administrators, except
farm ........................................
Salesworkers..................
Clerical workers................................
Blue-collar workers......................................
Craft and kindred workers ..................
Operatives, except transport..........................
Transport equipment operatives ............
Nonfarm laborers..................................
Service workers ................................
Farmworkers ..........................

12,888

6,220

6,220

12,202

M A J O R IN D U S T R Y A N D C L A S S
OF W ORKER

Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers........................
Self-employed workers............................
Unpaid family workers ....................
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers........................
Government ..................................
Private industries............................
Private households ....................
Other industries ..............................
Self-employed workers........................
Unpaid family workers ..................................

1,110

1,211
6,886

71,731

PERSONS AT W O R K 1

Nonagricultural industries ..........................
Full-time schedules ....................................
Part time for economic reasons......................
Usually work full time..............................
Usually work part tim e............................
Part time for noneconomic reasons................

72,192
4,537
1,675
2,862
12,157

'Excludes persons “with a job but not at work” during the survey period for such reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

65

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.

Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

[Unemployment rates]
1981

1980

A nnual averag e
S e le c t e d c a t e g o r ie s
1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Total, 16 years and over......................................
Men, 20 years and over................................
Women, 20 years and over ..........................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ..........................

5.8
4.1
5.7
16.1

7.1
5.9
6.3
17.7

7.5
6.4
6.7
18.6

7.4

7.4

Men, 20 years and over ........................
Women, 20 years and o v e r....................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ....................

5.1
3.6
5.0
13.9

6.3
5.2
5.6
14.8

11.3
8.4

13.2
11.4

M ay

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

7.3

7.3
5.9

7.3
5.8

7.6
6.3

19.1

19.1

19.5

5.4
5.7
17.4

6.5
5.4
5.6
16.9

6.5
5.2
5.7
17.2

18.0

13.1

13.7

13.2

13.6

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

7.2
5.9
6.5
18.8

7.5

O c t.

N ov.

C H A R A C T E R IS T IC

Black and other, total....................................
Men, 20 years and over ........................
Women, 20 years and o v e r....................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ....................
Married men, spouse present........................
Married women, spouse present....................
Women who head families............................
Full-time workers..........................................
Part-time workers ........................................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over....................
Labor force time lost1 ..................................

6.6

6.2
6.8
17.8

5.7
5.8
16.4

6.5
5.5
5.9
15.4

14.0

14.0

11.6

11.1

12.0
12.2

33.5

35.8

36.6

12.3
37.5

2.7
5.1
8.3
5.3
8.7

4.2
5.8
9.1

4.4
5.9
9.9
7.4

4.3
5.8
10.4
7.3

10.1

6.8

6.7
19.0
6.7
5.5

6.0

16.8
12.9
10.5

11.0

36.5
4.2

6.2
10.5
7.1
9.2

6.0
6.5
19.3

6.6

10.8

11.9
35.4
4.1
5.8
9.6
7.1
9.1

6.6

10.8
12.6

6.6

10.6
11.8

6.8
6.8
5.6
6.0
11.8
12.0

6.1
5.1
5.4
15.6

14.2
12.5

13.6

12.0

11.6
12.0

15.0
12.4

12.8

19.3

8.0
6.7
7.0

8.4
7.2
7.3

20.6

21.8

6.9
5.9

7.4
6.3
6.4
19.3

6.5
5.3
5.7
17.0

17.6

15.1
13.0
13.7
37.5

15.5
13.3
13.3
42.9

4.3
5.9

6.1

6.6

6.1

15.5
14.0

12.8

41.3

38.6

36.4

45.7

4.1

3.8
5.9
9.8
6.9
9.0

4.1
5.9
10.3
7.3
9.7

4.2
5.6

3.9
5.6
11.5
6.7
9.3

3.9
5.3
9.8
6.7
9.7

10.6

10.7
/./
9.5

10.9

7.2
9.6

2.1

8.1
10.2
2.2

7.9

7.9

8.5

9.1

9.4

3.8

4.1

2.8

3.9
2.4

4.1

4.1

2.6

4.2
2.7

2.7
5.1
5.7
9.4
6.7

2.8

4.1
5.3
9.8
7.2

4.7
5.6
9.3
6.9

2.7
5.2
5.7

2.7
4.9

3.0
5.2

6.0
9.4
7.1
9.0

3.3
2.4

3.7
2.5

3.9
2.5

4.0

3.9

3.7

3.9
2.7

4.0
3.2

4.1
2.9

1.9
3.9
4.6
6.9
4.5
8.4
5.4

2.4
4.4
5.3

2.5
4.7
5.8
10.5
7.1
12.9

2.4
4.4
5.7

2.4
4.0
5.3

2.6

2.4
4.0
5.6
9.6

2.7
4.6
5.6

10.0
6.6
12.2
8.8

2.4
4.8
5.6
10.7
7.1
13.0

10.0

11.5

7.7
11.9

7.1
3.8

14.6
7.9
4.4

15.0
8.3
4.0

14.8
7.8
4.0

7.4
14.2
8.5
8.9
7.9
4.9
7.4
5.3
4.1

7.8
14.8
8.9
9.0

7.7
13.8

2.1
8.1

6.2
4.9
5.8
16.1

6.2
6.8

33.6

6.3

2.2
8.2

6.4
5.3
5.7
16.5

6.1

36.1

8.6
2.2
8.3

6.5
19.0

7.0
5.6
6.7
18.1

7.3

37.3

8.7
1.7
7.9

1.2

8.2
2.3
8.2

6.0

2.1
8.1

2.0
8.2

2.0
8.6

10.6
7.0
9.2

2.2
8.0

2.0

2.1

2.1

4.7

5.1

O C C U P A T IO N

White-collar workers ..........................................
Professional and technical ............................
Managers and administrators, except
Salesworkers ..............................................
Clerical workers ..........................................
Blue-collar workers ............................................
Craft and kindred workers ............................
Operatives, except transport ........................
Transport equipment operatives ....................
Service workers..................................................
Farmworkers......................................................

10.8

10.6

2.6

8.8

2.8

10.2
6.8
12.1
9.1
15.0

8.0
5.0

2.6

10.1
7.2
11.9
8.3
14.9
8.7
4.7

3.8
5.9
9.8
7.1
11.3
9.3
14.1

8.1
5.1

6.8
8.1

8.2

13.8
8.5
3.7

13.1
9.4
5.4

7.2
14.4
7.4
7.3
7.6
5.7
7.3
5.9
4.9
9.1

7.8
16.3
7.9
7.3
8.9
5.9
8.4
5.9
4.8

2.8
2.8

11.0
8.4
14.8
9.0

6.0

11.1

11.0

6.9
14.2

7.9
12.9
8.9
5.6

8.0
4.5

2.8

10.2
7.6
11.5
8.9
14.4
8.9
3.7

6.1
11.0
8.4
12.8
7.9
15.7
9.3

6.1

6.1

1 1 .8

8.4
14.2
10.7
16.2
9.8

6.1

IN D U S T R Y

Nonagrlcultural private wage and salary workers2
Manufacturing..............................................
Durable goods ......................................
Nondurable goods..................................
Transportation and public utilities ..................
Wholesale and retail trad e............................
Finance and service Industries ......................
Government workers ..........................................
Agricultural wage and salary workers ..................

1

5.7

10.2
5.5
5.0
6.4
3.7
6.5
4.9
3.7
9.1

10.8

8.6
4.9
8.2
5.5
4.2

10.1

8.8
9.0
8.5
4.9
8.3
5.5
4.1

10.6

7.5
13.3
8.4
8.3
8.5
5.8
7.6
5.8
4.4
11.5

Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a
percent of potentially available labor force hours.

Digitized66
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

7.5
13.2
8.4
8.5

8.2
5.5
7.6

6.0
4.3
12.1

7.3
14.7

8.0

7.9
8.3
6.4
7.3
5.6
4.6
11.9

11.1

7.4
16.6
7.6
7.4
7.8
4.7
7.5
5.8
4.5
13.1

Includes mining, not shown separately.

7.2
15.0
7.3
7.3
7.3
4.0
7.9
5.6
4.5
10.3

7.2
16.7
7.0
6.4
7.9
4.8
7.8
5.6
4.4

12.6

7.6
16.3
7.8
7.6

8.0
4.0
8.6
5.9
4.6

10.6

8.1
8.6
8.6
8.6

18.0

4.6
8.3
6.3
4.6
13.3

8.5
18.2
9.4
9.4
9.5
b.b
8.7

6.1

5.3
14.4

5.

Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
A nnual a v erag e

1980

1981

Sex and age
1979

1980

Total, 16 years and o ve r......................................
16 to 19 years..............................................
16 to 17 years........................................
18 to 19 years........................................
20 to 24 years..............................................
25 years and over .......................... ..............
25 to 54 years........................................
55 years and o ve r..................................

5.8
16.1
18.1
14.6
9.0
3.9
4.1
3.0

7.1
17.7

Men, 16 years and over ................................
16 to 19 years........................................
16 to 17 years ................................
18 to 19 years ................................
20 to 24 years........................................
25 years and over..................................
25 to 54 years ................................
55 years and over............................

5.1
15.8
17.9
14.2

Women, 16 years and over............................
16 to 19 years........................................
16 to 17 years ................................
18 to 19 years ................................
20 to 24 years........................................
25 years and over ..................................
25 to 54 years ................................
55 years and over............................

6.

8.6
3.3
3.4
2.9

6.8
16.4
18.3
15.0
9.6
4.8
5.2
3.2

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

5.4
5.9
3.3

7.4
17.8
19.9
16.4
11.7
5.3
5.8
3.5

6.9
18.2
20.4
16.7
12.5
4.7
5.1
3.3

7.4
19.8
22.3
17.8
13.2
5.1
5.6
3.3

7.2
19.0
20.5
17.8
12.5
4.9
5.4
3.3

7.2
20.3
23.0
18.5

7.4
17.2
19.5
15.6
10.3
5.5
5.9
3.2

7.7
17.2
20.3
15.1

7.7
16.5
19.3
14.8

20.0
16.1
11.5
5.0
5.4
3.3

7.5
18.6
21.4
165

12.1

10.8
5.8
6.2
3.4

7.4
19.0

21.0
17.5
11.9
5.3
5.7
3.5

Feb.

7.3
19.3
21.4
17.9

11.8
5.1
5.5
3.6
7.1

M ar.

7.3
19.1
21.3
17.7
11.7
5.2
5.5
3.7
7.0
19.5

20.1
22.1

21.1

4.9
5.2
3.4

18.7
12.7
4.8
5.2
3.4

18.6
13.0
4.7
5.1
3.2

10.8

7.7
17.5
18,7
16.4

10.8

7.6
18.4
20.5
17.0

5.9
6.3
3.9

5.8
6.3
3.6

5.6
5.9
3.9

12.8

10.8

7.7
18.7

A p r.

7.3
19.1

22.0
17.2
12.1
5.0
5.4
3.3
6.9
19.3
22.7
17.0
13.2
4.6
4.9
3.1
7.7
18.9

21.6
16.5
10.1
5.9
6.2

21.1

4.5

3.7

17.4
10.9
5.6

6.0

M ay

7.6
19.5

21.6
18.2
12.9
5.3
563.3
7.4

20.2
22.7
18.3
14.2
4.8
5.1
3.4
7.9
18.7
20.4
18.2
11.4
5.9
6.4
3.3

June

7.3
19.0

22.6
17.3
12.1
5.2
5.6
3.4
7.1
19.8
24.4
18.1

12.8
5.0
5.3
3.5

7.6
18.2

20.6
16.4
11.2
5.6
6.0
3.3

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

7.0
18.1
19.3
17.7
11.3
5.1
5.4
3.5

7.2
18.8
20.5
17.4

7.5
19.3

6.6
18.4
19.8
17.8
11.3
4.7
4.9
3.4
7.7
17.7
18.7
17.5
11.3
5.7

6.1
3.7

11.8

21.2
18.1
12.1

5.1
5.4
3.5

5.4
5.8
3.8

7.0
19.7
21.5
18.1
12.7
4.8
5.0
3.4

7.2
19.3

7.5
17.8
19.5
16.8

O c t.

N ov.

8.0
20.6

21.8

21.4
19.9

12.8
5.8
6.1

8.4

23.1
20.7
13.0

6.1
6.6

3.9

3.7

7.7
19.7

8.3

22.0
23.0
21.2

21.2

20.6

18.1
12.9
5.0
5.5
3.5

19.1
13.9
5.5
5.9
3.8

7.9
19.3

8.3
21.5
22.4

8.5
21.5
23.3

6.5
4.1

6.4
6.9
3.8

10.8

21.1
18.1
11.2

5.5
5.9
3.6

5.9
6.3
4.4

20.8
11.5
6.1

14.6
5.8
6.4
3.6

20.1
11.2

Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
1980

1981

R e a s o n f o r u n e m p lo y m e n t
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

4,229
1,453
2,776
897
1,896
890

4,226
1,470
2,756
813
1,869

3,847
1,258
2,590
907
2,039

100.0
53.5
18.4
35.1
11.3
24.0

4.0
.9

4.0

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

3,846
1,299
2,547
863
2,040
986

3,819
1,280
2,539
854
2,017
987

4,084
1,368
2,715
1,009
2,126
938

4,219
1,367
2,852
863
1,955
956

3,691
1,178
2,513
898

3,929
1,205
2,724
838
1,939
944

4,338
1,412
2,925
889
1,949
953

4,422
1,607
2,815
962
2,172
987

4,786
1,790
2,996

1,000

3,896
1,267
2,629
884
1,970
928

100.0

100.0

100.0 100.0

100.0 100.0

100.0

100,0

543
18.9
35.4
10.5
24.0

49.4
16.1
33.2

51.8
18.8
33.0
11.3
25.4

100.0
53.4
20.0

N ov.

NUM BER OF UNEM PLOYED

Los; las; jo b ........................................................................................
On layoff......................................................................................
Other job losers............................................................................
Left las; job ........................................................................................
Reentered labor force..........................................................................
Seeking first jo b ..................................................................................

868

2,022
873

886

2,311
977

P E R C E N T D IS T R IB U T IO N

Total unemployed..............................................................................
Job losers ..........................................................................................
On layoff......................................................................................
Other job losers............................................................................
Job leavers ........................................................................................
Reentrants..........................................................................................
New entrants ......................................................................................

11.2

11.2

11.6

26.2
128

100.0

100.0

100.0

50.7
16.5
34.2
11.5
25.7

49.7
16.8
32.9

49.7
16.7
33.1

52.8
17.1
35.7

12.1

26.4
12.7

26.3
12.9

50.1
16.8
33.3
12.4
26.1
11.5

3.7

3.6

3.6

1.9
.9

1.9
.9

1.9
,9

11.2

11.1

10.8
24.5
12.0

49.3
15.7
33.6

51.4
15.7
35.6

27.0
11.7

25.4
12.3

53.4
17.4
36,0
10.9
24.0
11.7

4.0

3.5

3.7

4.1

12.0

11.0

11.6

33.4
9.9
25.8
10.9

UNEM PLOYED AS A PERCENT OF
T H E C IV I L I A N L A B O R F O R C E

Job losers ...........................................................................................
Job leavers ........................................................................................
Reentrants..........................................................................................
New entrants ......................................................................................

7.

1.8
.8

.8
1.8
.8

3.6
.9
1.9
.9

.8

.8

.8

3.8
.9

2.0

.8
1.8

.9

.9

.8
.8

1.9

.8
1.8
.9

4.1
.9

4.5

.8
1.8

2.0

.8
2.2

.9

.9

.9

Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
A nnual av erag e

1980

1981

W e e k s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t

Less than 5 weeks ..............................................
5 to 14 weeks ....................................................
15 weeks and over..............................................
15 to 26 weeks ............................................
27 weeks and over........................................
Average (mean) duration, in weeks ......................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

2,869
1,892

3,208
2,411
1,829
1,028
802
11.9

3,108
2,524
2,329
1,213
1,116
13.6

3,115
2,217
2,378
1,231
1,147
13.5

3,259
2,264
2,358
1,079
1,279
14.4

3,203
2,324
2,250
992
1,257
14.4

3,209
2,356
2,192
1,013
1,179
14.0

3,074
2,462
2,105

3,369
2,581
2,168

3,187
2,196

1,022

3,172
2,360
2,315
1,205

1,104
13.7

1,146
13.2

14.2

1,202
684
518
10.9

1,001

1,110

2,100
1,068
1,032
13.9

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

3,161
2,345
2,194
1,059
1,135
14.5

3,383
2,489

3,652
2,605
2,251
1,156
1,095
13.7

2,212
1,151
1,061
13.7

N ov.

3,815
2,861
2,330
1,213
1,117
13.2

67

EM PLO YM ENT, H O U R S, AN D EARNINGS DATA FROM ESTABLISHM ENT SURVEYS

E m p l o y m e n t , h o u r s , a n d e a r n i n g s d a t a in this section are
compiled from payroll records reported monthly on a volun­
tary basis to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperat­
ing State agencies by 166,000 establishments representing all
industries except agriculture. In most industries, the sampling
probabilities are based on the size of the establishment; most
large establishments are therefore in the sample. (An estab­
lishment is not necessarily a firm; it may be a branch plant,
for example, or warehouse.) Self-employed persons and others
not on a regular civilian payroll are outside the scope of the
survey because they are excluded from establishment records.
This largely accounts for the difference in employment figures
between the household and establishment surveys.

L a b o r t u r n o v e r d a t a in this section are compiled from per­
sonnel records reported monthly on a voluntary basis to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies.
A sample of 40,000 establishments represents all industries in
the manufacturing and mining sectors of the economy.

Bureau of Labor Statistics computes spendable earnings from gross
weekly earnings for only two illustrative cases: (1) a worker with no
dependents and (2) a married worker with three dependents.
Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or
nonsupervisory workers for which pay was received and are different
from standard or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the por­
tion of gross average weekly hours which were in excess of regular
hours and for which overtime premiums were paid.
Labor turnover is the movement of all wage and salary workers
from one employment status to another. Accession rates indicate the
average number of persons added to a payroll in a given period per
100 employees; separation rates indicate the average number dropped
from a payroll per 100 employees. Although month-to-month changes
in employment can be calculated from the labor turnover data, the re­
sults are not comparable with employment data from the employment
and payroll survey. The labor turnover survey measures changes dur­
ing the calendar month while the employment and payroll survey
measures changes from midmonth to midmonth.

Notes on the data
Definitions
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holi­
day and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the
12th of the month. Persons holding more than one job (about 5 per­
cent of all persons in the labor force) are counted in each establish­
ment which reports them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker
supervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with
production operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 14—20 in­
clude production workers in manufacturing and mining; construction
workers in construction; and nonsupervisory workers in transporta­
tion and public utilities, in wholesale and retail trade, in finance, in­
surance, and real estate, and in services industries. These groups
account for about four-fifths of the total employment on private
nonagricultural payrolls.
Earnings are the payments production or nonsupervisory workers
receive during the survey period, including premium pay for overtime
or late-shift work but excluding irregular bonuses and other special
payments. Real earnings are earnings adjusted to eliminate the effects
of price change. The Hourly Earnings Index is calculated from aver­
age hourly earnings data adjusted to exclude the effects of two types
of changes that are unrelated to underlying wage-rate developments:
fluctuations in overtime premiums in manufacturing (the only sector
for which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes and
seasonal factors in the proportion of workers in high-wage and lowwage industries. Spendable earnings are earnings from which estimat­
ed social security and Federal income taxes have been deducted. The

68FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Establishment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are
periodically adjusted to comprehensive counts of employment (called
“benchmarks”)- The latest complete adjustment was made with the re­
lease of June 1981 data, published in the August 1981 issue of the R e ­
view. Consequently, data published in the R e v ie w prior to that issue
are not necessarily comparable to current data. Complete comparable
historical unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data are published in a
Supplement to Employment and Earnings (unadjusted data from April
1977 through March 1981 and seasonally adjusted data from January
1974 through March 1981) and in E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s, U n ite d
S ta tes, 1 9 0 9 -7 8 , BLS Bulletin 1312-11 (for prior periods).
Data on recalls were shown for the first time in tables 12 and 13 in
the January 1978 issue of the R ev ie w . For a detailed discussion of the
recalls series, along with historical data, see “New Series on Recalls
from the Labor Turnover Survey,” E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s, Decem­
ber 1977, pp. 10-19.
A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household
and establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green,
“Comparing employment estimates from household and payroll sur­
veys,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , December 1969, pp. 9-20. See also B L S
H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s f o r S u r v e y s a n d S tu d ie s, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 1976).
The formulas used to construct the spendable average weekly earn­
ings series reflect the latest provisions of the Federal income tax and
social security tax laws. For the spendable average weekly earnings
formulas for the years 1979-81, see E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s,
March 1981, pp. 10-11. Real earnings data are adjusted using the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(CPI-W).

8.

Employment by industry, 1951 80

[Nonagricultural payroll data, In thousands]

Year

1951
1952
1953
1954
1955

T o ta l

......................................................
........................................................
..........................................................
................................................
..........................................................

C o n s tru e -

M a n u fa c -

t io n

t u r in g

M in in g

T ra n s -

W h o le -

F in a n c e ,

p o rta tio n

s a le

in s u r -

and

and

ance,

p u b lic

r e ta il

a n d re a l

u t ilit ie s

tra d e

e s ta te

G o v e rn m e n t

S e rv ic e s

S ta te
T o ta l

F e d e ra l

a n d lo c a l

47,819
48,793
50,202
48,990
50,641

929
898
866
791
792

2,637
2,668
2,659
2,646
2,839

16,393
16,632
17,549
16,314
16,882

4,226
4,248
4,290
4,084
4,141

9,742
10,004
10,247
10,235
10,535

2,727
2,812
2,854
2,867
2,926

7,015
7,192
7,393
7,368
7,610

1,956
2,035
2,111
2,200
2,298

5,547
5,699
5,835
5,969
6,240

6,389
6,609
6,645
6,751
6,914

2,302
2,420
2,305
2,188
2,187

4,087
4,188
4,340
4,563
4,727

1956 ..............................................
1957 ........................................................
1958 ......................................................
1959' ................................................
1960 ....................................

52,369
52,853
51,324
53,268
54,189

822
828
751
732
712

3,039
2,962
2,817
3,004
2,926

17,243
17,174
15,945
16,675
16,796

4,244
4,241
3,976
4,011
4,004

10,858
10,886
10,750
11,127
11,391

3,018
3,028
2,980
3,082
3,143

7,840
7,858
7,770
8,045
8,248

2,389
2,438
2,481
2,549
2,629

6,497
6,708
6,765
7,087
7,378

7,278
7,616
7,839
8,083
8,353

2,209
2,217
2,191
2,233
2,270

5,069
5,399
5,648
5,850
6,083

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................
................................................

53,999
55,549
56,653
58,283
60,765

672
650
635
634
632

2,859
2,948
3,010
3,097
3,232

16,326
16,853
16,995
17,274
18,062

3,903
3,906
3,903
3,951
4,036

11,337
11,566
11,778
12,160
12,716

3,133
3,198
3,248
3,337
3,466

8,204
8,368
8,530
8,823
9,250

2,688
2,754
2,830
2,911
2,977

7,620
7,982
8,277
8,660
9,036

8,694
8,390
9,225
9,596
10,074

2,279
2,340
2,358
2,348
2,378

6,315
6,550
6,868
7,248
7,696

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

..............................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
........................................................

63,901
65,803
67,897
70,384
70,880

627
613
606
619
623

3,317
3,248
3,350
3,575
3,588

19,214
19,447
19,781
20,167
19,367

4,158
4,268
4,318
4,442
4,515

13,245
13,606
14,099
14,705
15,040

3,597
3,689
3,779
3,907
3,993

9,648
9,917
10,320
10,798
11,047

3,058
3,185
3,337
3,512
3,645

9,498
10,045
10,567
11,169
11,548

10,784
11,391
11,339
12,195
12,554

2,564
2,719
2,737
2,758
2,731

8,220
8,672
9,102
9,437
9,823

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

..........................................................
..........................................................
........................................................
......................................................
..........................................................

71,214
73,675
76,790
78,265
76,945

609
628
642
697
752

3,704
3,889
4,097
4,020
3,525

18,623
19,151
20,154
20,077
18,323

4,476
4,541
4,656
4,725
4,542

15,352
15,949
16,607
16,987
17,060

4,001
4,113
4,277
4,433
4,415

11,351
11,836
12,329
12,554
12,645

3,772
3,908
4,046
4,148
4,165

11,797
12,276
12,857
13,441
13,892

12,881
13,334
13,732
14,170
14,(386

2,696
2,684
2,663
2,724
2,748

10,185
10,649
11,068
11,446
11,937

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

....................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
....................................................

79,382
82,471
86,697
89,823
90,564

779
813
851
958
1,020

3,576
3,851
4,229
4,463
4,399

18,997
19,682
20,505
21,040
20,300

4,582
4,713
4,923
5,136
5,143

17,755
18,516
19,542
20,192
20,386

4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5,281

13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,104

4,271
4,467
4,724
4,975
5,168

14,551
15,303
16,252
17,112
17,901

14,871
15,127
15,672
15,947
16,249

2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866

12,138
12,399
12,919
13,147
13,383

'Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.

9.

E m p lo y m e n t b y S ta te

[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
State

Oct. 1980

Sept. 1981

Oct. 1981P

Alabama ..............................................................
Alaska ..................................................................
Arizona ..........................................................
Arkansas ......................................................................
California................................................................

1,357.8
174.0
1,007.8
754.1
9,872.5

1,350.4
184.9
,012.6
757.8
9,986.1

1

1,351.2
180.4
1,022.4
756.5
9,993.1

Colorado ......................................................................
Connecticut ......................................................
De.aware................................................................
District of Columbia....................................................
Florida....................................................................

1,262.6
1,428.9
260.7
609.8
3,6065

1,278.6
1,432.3
259.9
604.6
3,754.6

Georgia ........................................................................
Hawaii....................................................................
Idaho..............................................................
ilmois ..................................
Indiana..........................................................................

2,163.8
400.0
337.8
4,881.9
2,143.2

Iowa ............................................................................
Kansas ........................................................................
Kentucky ..................................................................
Louisiana......................................................................
Maine ............................................................
Maryland ........................................................
Massachusetts..............................................................
Michigan ......................................................
Minnesota .....................................................................
Mississippi ....................................................
Missouri................................................................

State

Oct. 1980

Sept. 1981

Oct. 1981P

Montana..................................................................
Nebraska................................................................
Nevada ..................................................................
New Hampshire ......................................................
New Jersey ............................................................

283.2
632.1
406.3
388.4
3,065.4

288.9
636.9
425.9
392.4
3,104.0

285.8
635.8
427.9
390.8
(’ )

1,282.4
1,431.9
259.6
606.2
3,767.4

New Mexico............................................................
New York................................................................
North Carolina ........................................................
North Dakota ..........................................................
Ohio ......................................................................

462.0
7,243.4
2,408.0
250.3
4,413.3

471.7
7,236.5
2,405.9
251.2
4,398.0

471.1
7,278.8
2,410.3
254.9
4,407.5

2,160.4
394.8
330.7
4,860.0
2,141.4

2,168.7
398.4
330.8
4,865.2
2,128.4

Oklahoma ..............................................................
Oregon ..................................................................
Pennsylvania ..........................................................
Rhode Island ..........................................................
South Carolina ........................................................

1,148.5
1,044.1
4,764.6
403.8
1,190.4

1,193.0

4,655.6
403.8
1,188.5

1,196.1
1,018.6
4,681.0
405.7
1,191.4

1,096.2
952.4
1,214.6
1,599.4
426.3

1,082.5
958.4
1,199.3
1,649.4
423.6

1,082.4
957.8
,202.0
1,656.1
419.5

South Dakota..........................................................
Tennessee ..............................................................
Texas ....................................................................
Utah ......................................................................
Vermont..................................................................

237.2
1,734.6
5,975.6
556.3
204.1

233.0
1,732.2
6,183.7
556.8
203.2

1,699 0
2,664.6
3,491.4
1,783.9
834.4
1,972.7

1,698.0
2,655.0
3,484.9
1,782.4
824.5
1,979.5

1,690.0
2,681.0
3,471.4
1,782.9
825.1
1,976.3

Virginia....................................................................
Washington ............................................................
West Virginia ..........................................................
Wisconsin................................................................
Wyoming ................................................................
Virgin Islands ..........................................................

2,141.4
1,610.4
651.3
1,960.3
210.4
35.7

' 2,154.9
1,591.8
632.7
1,984.1
212.3
35.2

1

1,021.2

234.5
1,726.8

6,212.8
556.9
205.1
2,150.4
1,582.6
633.4
1,969.2

211.6
34.8

1Not available.

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

69

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
10.

Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
A nnual av erag e

1980

1981

In d u s try d iv is io n a n d g ro u p

TOTAL

M IN IN G

..................................................................................................

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

89,823

90,564

91,599

91,750

89,988

90,138

90,720

91,337

958

1,020

1,051

1,060

1,066

1,071

1,084

941

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.p

N o v .p

91,848

92,481

91,600

91,598

92,159

92,389

92,331

957

1,132

1,155

1,169

1,169

1,166

1,177

............................................................................

4,463

4,399

4,533

4,343

3,995

3,901

4,048

4,246

4,356

4,477

4,554

4,579

4,516

4,494

4,382

Production workers..................................

21,040
15,068

20,300
14,223

20,293
14,190

20,238
14,126

20,075
13,975

20,065
13,971

20,160
14,049

20,253
14,127

20,342
14,195

20,531
14,325

20,337
14,108

20,473
14,230

20,600
14,376

20,353
14,138

20,142
13,935

Production workers..................................

12,760
9,110

12,181
8,438

12,156
8,391

12,147
8,374

12,072
8,305

12,042
8,279

12,120
8,345

12,197
8,412

12,235
8,438

12,334
8,500

12,198
8,347

12,188
8,323

12,292
8,440

12,157
8,312

12,021
8,173

Lumber and wood products ............................
Furniture and fixtures......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ......................
Primary metal industries..................................
Fabricated metal products ..............................
Machinery, except electrical............................
Electric and electronic equipment....................
Transportation equipment................................
Instruments and related products ....................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..........................

766,9
497.8
708.7
1,253.9
1,717.7
2,484.8
2,116.9
2,077.2
691.2
444.8

690.3
468.8
665.6
1,144.1
1,609.0
2,497.0
2,103,2
1,875.3
708.5
419.3

687.9
468.6
665.2
1,123.3
1,597.6
2,479.6
2,109.6
1,894.6
711.2
417.9

685.9
470,5
652.3
1,136.3
1,596.4
2,496.8
2,118.0
1,871.4
713.8
405.9

674.6
469.6
635,0
1,136.7
1,580.2
2,496.9
2,114.0
1,854.9
712.4
398.0

674.5
471.7
630.6
1,137.7
1,578.1
2,498.4
2,112.3
1,824.8
710.1
403.3

678.3
472.1
639.5
1,141.3
1,585.4
2,504.3
2,119.5
1,860.4
712.1
406.7

686.9
478.0
652.6
1,149.9
1,593.7
2,506.1
2,129.7
1,874.3
714.4
411.3

703,4
479.0
659.7
1,147.5
1,596.1
2,508.6
2,134.7
1,877.4
715.2
413.4

711.0
480.5
671.0
1,155.5
1,606.8
2,531.3
2,152.7
1,882.7
723.2
419.5

708.6
472.0
666.7
1,135.5
1,584.5
2,517.4
2,138.9
1,840.3
722.1
412.3

701.5
480.6
669.1
1,140.3
1,590.9
2,511.4
2,146.1
1,799.6
726.2
421.8

691.0
484.7
664.5
1,138.8
1,607.5
2,540.7
2,164.8
1,848.3
723.1
428.7

666.1
482.0
653.0
1,108.0
1,584.3
2,527.8
2,157.7
1,829.9
719.2
429.3

647.3
473.7
642.9
1,097.3
1,562.3
2,525.4
2,133.1
1,796.9
715.3
426.6

Production workers..................................

8,280
5,958

8,118
5,786

8,137
5,799

8,091
5,752

8,003
5.670

8,023
5,692

8,040
5,704

8,056
5,715

8,107
5,757

8,197
5,825

8,139
5,761

8,285
5,907

8,308
5,936

8,196
5,826

8,121
5,762

Food and kindred products..............................
Tobacco manufactures ..................................
Textile mill products........................................
Apparel and other textile products ..................
Paper and allied products ..............................
Printing and publishing....................................
Chemicals and allied products ........................
Petroleum and coal products ..........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products . . .
Leather and leather products..........................

1,732.5
70.0
885.1
1,304.3
706.8
1,235.1
1,109.3
209.8
781.6
245.7

1,710.8
69.2
852.7
1,265.8
694.0
1,258.3
1,107.4
196.6
730.7
232.6

1,719.3
75.3
847.8
1,262.3
691.4
1,268.2
1,100.1
209.5
730.6
2325

1,688.5
74.4
846.1
1,241.1
691.5
1,278.3
1,101.2
206.8
733.2
229.4

1,645.2
72.0
841.0
1,222.8
687.7
1,269.0
1,100.1
206.5
731.8
226.9

1,639.2
70.6
841.1
1,238.7
687.7
1,273.6
1,102.9
205.7
734.2
229.5

1,632.5
68.3
840.9
1,250.2
688.6
1,278.2
1,106.8
207.0
737.2
230.4

1,631.0
66.2
841.6
1,255.2
690.9
1,280.4
1,106.2
209.5
743.5
231.7

1,648.1
65.2
844.3
1,265.9
693.1
1,281.8
1,110.3
212.9
749.2
235.9

1,673.4
66.4
851.0
1,283.9
701,0
1,286.2
1,121.1
215.4
759.0
239.1

1,714.8
66.3
836.5
1,231.1
696.4
1,286.5
1,116.6
216.1
747.0
227.5

1,773.2
75.6
847.3
1,276.8
700.3
1,289.4
1,112.0
215.4
756.8
238.6

1,776.1
77.7
850.2
1,287.3
702.0
1,294.1
1,110.5
212.7
760.8
237.0

1,721.8
77.1
833.7
1,272.7
692.8
1,298.7
1,103.3
211.0
748.2
236,7

1,674.2
75.4
827.3
1,260.4
691.5
1,308.6
1,101.3
210.2
738.2
234.2

5,136

5,143

5,147

5,150

5,063

5,076

5,095

5,120

5,148

5,195

5,177

5,175

5,222

5,200

5,197

20,192

20,386

20,761

21,138

20,366

20,196

20,290

20,513

20,672

20,795

20,735

20,811

20,919

20,993

21,136

5,204

5,281

5,312

5,315

5,276

5,273

5,293

5,317

5,335

5,381

5,376

5,386

5,370

5,381

5,378

14,989

15,104

15,449

15,823

15,090

14,923

14,997

15,196

15,337

15,414 ■ 15,359

15,425

15,549

15,612

15,758

4,975

5,168

5,223

5,237

5,235

5,245

5,263

5,295

5,326

5,384

5,408

5,408

5,361

5,348

5,344

17,112

17,901

18,118

18,149

17,972

18,126

18,287

18,512

18,633

18,764

18,847

18,835

18,812

18,820

18,790

15,947
2,773
13,174

16,249
2,866
13,383

16,473
2,776
13,697

16,435
2,782
13,653

16,216
2,773
13,443

16,458
2,774
13,684

16,493
2,769
13,724

16,457
2,773
13,684

16,414
2,782
13,632

16,203
2,825
13,378

15,387
2,833
12,554

15,148
2,803
12,345

15,560
2,735
12,825

16,015
2,734
13,281

16,163
2,738
13,425

C O N S T R U C T IO N

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E ...................................

W HO LESA LE TR A D E

..................................................................

R E T A IL T R A D E

F IN A N C E , I N S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E

S E R V IC E S

............................................................................................

GOVERNMENT

Federal..........................................................
State and local ..............................................

70

1979


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11.

Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted

[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
1980

1981

In d u s tr y d iv is io n a n d g ro u p
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M ar.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.'’

N o v .p

90,844

90,949

91,091

91,258

91,347

91,458

91,564

91,615

91,880

91,901

92,033

91,798

91,561

1,052

1,069

1,083

1,091

1,098

950

957

1,110

1,132

1,151

1,162

1,164

1,179

4,389

4,387

4,390

4,389

4,416

4,418

4,334

4,284

4,272

4,275

4,272

4,260

4,242

20,188
14,081

20,175
14,059

20,174
14,053

20,177
14,053

20,191
14,074

20,332
14,187

20,414
14,247

20,424
14,245

20,535
14,327

20,505
14,294

20,496
14,281

20,227
14,018

20,038
13,825

12,090
8,320

12,077
8,301

12,084
8,306

12,074
8,297

12,099
8,325

12,207
8,412

12,254
8,442

12,278
8,455

12,333
8,491

12,332
8,485

12,311
8,465

12,108
8,265

11,953
8,103

683
463
658
1,126
1,582
2,489
2,096
1,874
712
407

687
464
655
1,137
1,581
2,490
2,103
1,839
712
409

689
464
654
1,137
1,579
2,487
2,110
1,840
713
411

691
466
654
1,140
1,577
.2,481
2,110
1,833
711
411

692
467
651
1,141
1,581
2,480
2,117
1,849
712
409

702
478
656
1,145
1,595
2,491
2,134
1,878
714
414

710
484
658
1,142
1,604
2,511
2,143
1,872
716
414

699
486
658
1,144
1,604
2,521
2,148
1,886
717
415

702
488
658
1,140
1,614
2,533
2,163
1,886
723
426

686
487
660
1,148
1,610
2,542
2,166
1,889
727
417

677
485
655
1,139
1,606
2,551
2,163
1,889
727
419

654
479
645
1,112
1,575
2,548
2,149
1,808
722
416

642
468
635
1,099
1,545
2,536
2,120
1,777
715
416

Production workers ................................................................

8,098
5,761

8,098
5,758

8,090
5,747

8,103
5,756

8,092
5,749

8,125
5,775

8,160
5,805

8,146
5,790

8,202
5,836

8,173
5,809

8,185
5,816

8,119
5,753

8,085
5,722

Food and kindred products ............................................................
Tobacco manufactures ................................................................
Textile mill products ......................................................................
Apparel and other textile products............................................
Paper and allied products ..............................................................
Printing and publishing..........................................
Chemicals and allied products........................................................
Petroleum and coal products..........................................................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products....................................
Leather and leather products..........................................................

1,705
71
844
1,253
692
1,265
1,103
209
725
231

1,701
71
842
1,250
692
1,269
1,105
209
729
230

1,696
71
841
1,244
691
1,269
1,106
211
730
231

1,705
72
839
1,243
691
1,272
1,109
210
731
231

1,691
72
838
1,243
689
1,276
1,108
210
734
231

1,697
72
842
1,250
691
1,280
1,107
211
744
231

1,703
71
843
1,258
694
1,283
1,109
213
753
233

1,673
71
846
1,264
695
1,284
1,111
212
757
232

1,691
71
856
1,278
696
1,290
1,110
212
760
238

1,668
73
849
1,272
698
1,295
1,106
212
764
236

1,669
71
849
1,273
703
1,301
1,112
211
760
236

1,668
70
833
1,258
693
1,301
1,107
210
744
235

1,661
71
823
1,252
692
1,306
1,105
210
733
232

5,114

5,118

5,124

5,135

5,139

5,161

5,148

5,149

5,167

5,170

5,186

5,164

5,161

20,464

20,470

20,529

20,600

20,635

20,636

20,714

20,717

20,796

20,862

20,872

20,910

20,826

5,296

5,300

5,305

5,313

5,316

5,333

5,346

5,349

5,360

5,375

5,370

5,360

5,362

15,168

15,170

15,224

15,287

15,319

15,303

15,368

15,368

15,436

15,487

15,502

15,550

15,464

5,235

5,254

5,268

5,283

5,293

5,316

5,326

5,331

5,344

5,354

5,366

5,359

5,355

TOTAL

M IN IN G

...............................................................................................................................

......................................................................................

C O N S T R U C T IO N

.........................................................

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

Production workers ................................................................
D u r a b le g o o d s ............................................................................................................

Production workers ..............................................................
Lumber and wood products............................................................
Furniture and fixtures ....................................................................
Stone, clay, and glass products......................................................
Primary metal industries ............................................................
Fabricated metal products..............................................................
Machinery, except electrical ..........................................................
Electric and electronic equipment....................................................
Transportation equipment ....................................................
Instruments and related products..................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing........................................................
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s ............................................................................................................

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B L IC U T I L I T I E S

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E

............................................................

............................................................................

W H O L E S A L E T R A D E ................................................................

R E T A IL T R A D E

......................................................

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E

S E R V I C E S ...............................................................................................

18,160

18,240

18,300

18,343

18,371

18,475

18,540

18,560

18,642

18,667

18,774

18,782

18,828

GOVERNMENT

16,242
2,796
13,446

16,236
2,800
13,436

16,223
2,799
13,424

16,240
2,795
13,445

16,204
2,781
13,423

16,170
2,767
13,403

16,131
2,779
13,352

16,040
2,781
13,259

15,992
2,777
13,215

15,917
2,770
13,147

15,905
2,765
13,140

15,932
2,756
13,176

15,932
2,757
13,175

................................................................................

Federal ..................................................................
State and local..............................................................


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71

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
12.

Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, 1977 to date

[Per 100 employees]
Y ear

A nnual
a v erag e

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

3.7
3.8
4.0
3.8
3.4

3.7
3.2
3.4
3.3
3.0

4.0
3.8
3.8
3.5
3.4

3.8
4.0
3.9
3.1
3.3

4.6
4.7
4.7
3.4
3.5

2.2
2.5
2.8
2.4
1.8

2.1
2.2
2.5
2.2
1.8

2.6
2.7
2.8
2.3
2.0

2.7
2.9
2.9

3.5
3.6
3.6

June

O c t.

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

4.3
4.4
4.3
3.8
3.6

5.3
5.4
5.0

4.6
4.9
4.5
4.3
3.5

3.9
4.3
4.1
3.6
p2.8

3.0
3.3
3.1

4.0
4.2
3.7
2.5
2.7

3.5
3.9
3.4

3.0
3.5
3.1

2.3

p1.8

N ov.

Dec.

3.1
3.3
3.0
2.7

2.4
2.4

2.2
2.6
2.2
1.6

1.6

T o ta l a c c e s s io n s

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

4.0
4.1
4.0
3.5

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

2.8

4.9
4.9
4.8
3.9
4.0

15
4.0

2.2
2.2

N e w h ir e s

3.1
2.9

2.1

2.0
2.0

3.7
3.9
3.8
2.4

2.1

2.1

2.8

2.3

2.4

2.6

2.2

1.7
1.5

1.2

R e c a ll s

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

1.2
1.0
.9
1.1

.9
.7
.7

1.1

1.1
.8

1.3
.7
.7
.9

.7
.9

1.0

1.3

.8
.8
.8
1.0
1.0

.9

.8
.7
.8
1.1

1.1

.8

.9

1.0

.9
1.5

.9
.9
1.7

.8

.7
.7

1.2
.9

.8
.8

.6
.6

.6
.6
.7
1.1

.7

.6
.5
.5

.5

.8

1.0

1.0

1.4
.9

P.8

.9

4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2
3.6

5.1
5.3
5.7
4.8
4.4

4.9
4.9
4.7
4.1
4.1

3.8
4.1
4.2
3.8
p4.3

3.4
3.5
3.8
3.0

3.4
3.4
3.5
3.1

1.9

3.1
3.5
3.3

2.8

1.9
2.3

1.5
1.7

1.2
1.3
1.1

T o ta l s e p a r a tio n s

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

3.8
3.9
4.0
4.0

3.9
3.6
3.8
4.1
3.6

3.4
3.1
3.2
3.5
3.1

3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.2

3.4
3.6
3.7
4.7
3.1

3.5
3.7
3.8
4.8
3.1

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

1.8
2.1
2.0

1.4
1.5

1.3
1.4

1.6
1.8
1.9
1.6
1.2

1.7

1.9

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................

1.1
.9
1.1

3.5
3.8
3.9
4.4
3.2
Q u it s

1.6
1.1

1.8
1.6
1.2

1.5

1.5

1.9

2.0
2.0

2.1
2.1

2.2
2.1

2.1
2.0

1.5
1.3

1.5
1.3

1.4
1.4

1.4
1.5

2.2
2.1

1.5

1.0
.8

3.1
2.7
1.9

2.1

1.8

1.4
p1.2

1.1
.8
1.1

1.1
.9
1.2

1.6
1.1

.9

L a y o ffs

13.

1.2
1.1
1.6
1.6

1.7

1.0
.9
.8
1.3
1.2

1.4
.9

1.7

.8
1.2
1.2

.8

.9

.8

.8

.7
.7
2.5

.9
2.3

1.0

1.1
1.4
2.0

.7
.9

2.2
1.1

1.0

1.3
1.7
1.3

1.3

1.4
1.5

1.5
p2.3

1.1
1.0

1.5
1.4
1.7

1.5
1.3

1.6

Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by major industry group

[Per 100 employees]
S e p a r a tio n r a te s

A c c e s s io n r a te s

M a j o r in d u s t r y g r o u p

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

......................................................

Seasonally adjusted..............
D u r a b le g o o d s

Lumber and wood products..........
Furniture and fixtures ..................
Stone, clay, and glass products . . .
Primary metal industries ..............
Fabricated metal products............
Machinery, except electrical..........
Electric and electronic equipment ..
Transportation equipment ............
Instruments and related products ..
Miscellaneous manufacturing........
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s ............................................

Food and kindred products ..........
Tobacco manufacturers................
Textile mill products ....................
Apparel and other products..........
Paper and allied products ............
Printing and publishing..................
Chemicals and allied products . . . .
Petroleum and coal products........
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products......................
Leather and leather products........

72


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T o ta l

N e w h ir e s

R e c a ll s

T o ta l

L a y o ffs

Q u it s

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

S e p t.

O c t.

1980

1981

1981 p

1980

1981

1981p

1980

1981

1981 p

1980

1981

1981 p

1980

1981

1981»

1980

1981

1981 p

3.6
3.7

3.5
2.9

2.8

2.3

1.8

1.1
1.3

3.8
3.6

4.1
3.7

4.3
4.1

1.4
1.3

1.8

1.7

1.5
1.7

2.3
2.3

3.0
3.8
3.9

2.4
3.0

1.4

3.2
4.8
4.3
3.7
3.0
3.7

4.1
8.5
4.4
4.5
5.0
4.5

1.1
2.2
2.1
1.2

1.4
2.5
2.3
1.4

1.5
3.2

.5
1.3
,9

1.5

3.2

4.4

5.2

3.7
6.5
4.3
4.0
4.0
4.1
2.7
3.1
3.6
3.0
5.2

2.3

2.4
3.1
1.7

1.2
1.1
.9
1.2
2.3
1.2

1.3

3.1
3.2
1.9
.7

1.1
.8
1.3
2.2

1.2
1.1
1.0
1.6
1.6
1.0
.5
1.1
.8

1.5
1.5

3.4
4.3
4.2
3.3
3.5
3.6
2.5
2.9
4.7

2.2
2.1
1.8

3.8
5.8
3.3
3.5
4.5

4.7
7.5
4.0
3.9
5.4
3.3
3.6

4.6
7.8

2.0

4.2
7.0
3.7
3.3
5.7
2.3
3.6
1.5
1.9

2.9

2.7

4.4
5.8

3.7
5.4

4.5
6.4

6.2

2.2

2.2
3.1
1.5

2.8
2.4
3.2
2.4
2.9
3.4

2.2

2.9

2.8
2.4
2.0
2.7
2.1
2.3

2.1
1.5
1.7

1.8

1.8
1.8

1.0
2.1
1.6
1.8
1.2
1.8

1.7
4.3

1.7
3.2

3.3
4.7

2.7
3.9

3.1
4.7

2.7
3.0
1.4
2.5

1.0

2.6
4.1
1.6
3.0
1.1

1.7

1.5

1.5

2.9
4.6

2.7
4.6

4.1

2.0
3.2
1.2

2.1

4.2
3.0
4.3
2.4

2.8

1.8
2.2
1.3
.7

1.6

1.3
1.4
1.4
3.1
2.3
2.9

2.1
3.2
1.2
2.6
.9
1.5
1.9
3.2

.7
.7

2.0
.3
1.0
.9

1.6
.6
.6
1.3
.7
.5
.3
.4

1.2
.9

0.9
.9
.9

1.2
.6
.9
1.1
.9
.6
.7
1.7

0.8
.9
.7

1.0
.4
.9

1.1
.9
.5
.4

.2
8
1.0

.1

2.5
.5
.4
1.3
.5
.5

1.5

.9

.8
.7

.3

1.2
.6
.4
.2
.1

.6
1.0

1.1

.2

.7

2.6

2.7
3.1
2.3
5.0
4.6
8.4
2.9
3.7
5.3
2.5
3.3
1.5

1.8

4.2

6.6

2.0

2.8

2.4
5.3

4.3
5.3
3.3
3.1

1.8

4.4

1.3

.8
1.1

1.3
.9

1.8

2.5

1.9
2.7
.9

2.3
3.3

2.4
.9
1.7

3.2
1.4

2.0

1.2
2.2
2.2
1.0

.6
.6
2.0

2.1

3.4

3.5

.9

.9

1.1
1.8
1.6
2.0

1.6
1.2
1.6
1.7
1.7

1.0
.8

1.5

2.5

1.5
3.3
1.3

2.2

1.9
4.7
.9

1.3

1.3
2.3

2.6

.9
.9

2.0
.6

.8
2.2
.9
1.0
.4
.6

6.1
2.0
2.7
3.7
2.7
1.3
1.4

1.5
.5
1.9

1.7
2.5
.9
1.7
.5

.6

1.1
1.8
2.4
1.8

.8
1.1

.8
4.9

1.4

1.7
1.9

.7
.5
.9

.7
1.3

1.5

2.0

1.8
.8

2.2
2.6

14.

Hours and earnings, by industry division, 1950 80

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagricultural payrolls]

Y ear

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

A v e ra g e

T o ta l p r iv a te

A v e ra g e

M in in g

A v e ra g e

C o n s tr u c tio n

A v e ra g e

M a n u fa c tu ré e

1950 ..................

$53.13

39.8

$1.335

$67.16

37,9

$1.772

$69.68

37.4

$1.863

$58,32

40.5

$1.440

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

57.86
60,65
63.76
64.52
67.72

39.9
39.9
39.6
39.1
39.6

1.45
1.52
1.61
1.65
1.71

74.11
77.59
83.03
82.60
89.54

38.4
38.6
388
38.6
40.7

1.93
2.01
2.14
2.14
2.20

76.96
82.86
86.41
88.91
90.90

38.1
38.9
37.9
37.2
37.1

2.02
2.13
228
2.39
2.45

63.34
66.75
70.47
70.49
75.30

40.6
40.7
40.5
39.6
40.7

1.56
1.64
1.74
1.78
1.85

1956 ..................
1957 ..................
1958 ..................
•959' ................
1960 ..................

70.74
73.33
75.08
78.78
80.67

39.3
38.8
38.5
39.0
38.6

1.80
1.89
1.95
2.02
2.09

95.06
98.25
96.08
103,68
105.04

40.8
40.1
38.9
40.5
40.4

2.33
2.45
2.47
2.56
2.60

96.38
100.27
103.78
108.41
112.67

37.5
37,0
36.8
37,0
36.7

2.57
2.71
2.82
2.93
3,07

78.78
81.19
82.32
88.26
89.72

40.4
39.8
39.2
40.3
39.7

1.95
2.04
2.10
2.19
2.26

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

82.60
85.91
88.46
91.33
95.45

386
38.7
388
38.7
38.8

2.14
2.22
2.28
2.36
2.46

106.92
110.70
114.40
117.74
123.52

40.5
41.0
41.6
41.9
42.3

2.64
2.70
2.75
2.81
-2.92

118.08
122.47
127.19
132.06
138.38

36.9
37.0
37.3
37.2
37.4

3.20
3.31
3.41
3.55
3.70

92.34
96.56
99.23
102.97
107.53

39.8
40.4
40.5
40.7
41.2

2.32
2.39
2.45
2.53
2.61

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

98.82
101.84
107.73
114.61
119,83

38.6
38.0
37.8
37.7
37.1

2.56
2.68
2.85
3.04
3.23

130.24
135.89
142.71
154.80
164.40

42.7
42.6
42.6
43.0
42.7

3.05
3.19
3.35
3.60
3.85

146.26
154.95
164.49
181.54
195.45

37.6
37.7
37.3
37.9
37.3

3.89
4.11
4.41
4.79
5.24

112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33

41.4
40.6
40.7
40.6
39.8

2.71
2.82
3.01
3.19
3.35

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53

36.9
37.0
36.9
36.5
36.1

3.45
3.70
3.94
4.24
4.53

172.14
189.14
201.40
219.14
249.31

42.4
42.6
42.4
41.9
41.9

4.06
4.44
4.75
5.23
5.95

211.67
221.19
235.89
249.25
266 08

37.2
36.5
36.8
36.6
36.4

5.69
6,06
6.41
6.81
7.31

142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79

39.9
40.5
40.7
40.0
39.5

3.57
3.82
4.09
442
4.83

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10

361
36.0
35.8
35.7
35.3

4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6.66

273.90
301.20
332.88
365.07
396.14

42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.2

6.46
6.94
7.67
8.49
9.17

283.73
295.65
318.69
342,99
367.04

36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0

7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.92

209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62

40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7

5.22
5.68
6.17
6.70
7.27

1951
1952
1953
1954
1955

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d p u b lic
W h o l e s a l e a n d r e t a il t r a d e

u t ilit ie s

S e rv ic e s

re a l e s ta te

1950 ..................

$44.55

40.5

$1.100

$50 52

37 7

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

47.79
49.20
51.35
53.33
55.16

40 5
40.0
39.5
39.5
39.4

1 18
1.23
1 30
1.35
1.40

54 67
57 08
59 57
62.04
63 92

37 7
37 8
37 7
37 6
37 6

1 51
1 58
1 65
1 70

1956 ..................
1957 ..................
1958 ..................
1959' ................
1960 ..................

57.48
59.60
61.76
64.41
66.01

39.1
38.7
38.6
388
38.6

1.47
1.54
1.60
1 66
1.71

65 68
67.53
70 12
72 74
75 14

36 9
36 7
37 1
37 3
37 2

1 78
1 84
1 89
1 95
2 02

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

$118.78
125.14

41.1
41.3

$2.89
3.03

67.41
69.91
72.01
74.66
76.91

38.3
38.2
38.1
37.9
37.7

1.76
1.83
1.89
1.97
2.04

77 12
80 94
84 38
85.79
88.91

36 9
37 3
37 5
37.3
37.2

2 09
2 17
2 25
2.30
2.39

$70.03
73.60

36.1
35.9

$1,94
2.05

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

128.13
130.82
138.85
147.74
155.93

41.2
40.5
40.6
40.7
40.5

3.11
3.23
3.42
3.63
3.85

79.39
82.35
87.00
91.39
96.02

37.1
36.6
36.1
35.7
35.3

2.14
2.25
2.41
2.56
2.72

92.13
95.72
101.75
108.70
112.67

37.3
37.1
37.0
37.1
36.7

2.47
2.58
2.75
2.93
3.07

77.04
80.38
8397
90.57
96.66

35.5
35.1
34.7
34.7
34.4

2.17
2.29
2.42
2.61
2.81

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

168.82
187.86
203.31
217.48
233.44

40.1
40.4
40.5
40.2
39.7

4.21
4.65
5.02
5.41
5.88

101.09
106.45
111.76
119.02
126.45

35.1
34.9
34.6
34.2
33.9

2.88
3.05
3.23
3.48
3.73

117.85
122.98
129.20
137.61
148.19

36.6
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.5

3.22
3.36
3.53
3.77
4.06

103.06
110,85
117.29
126,00
134.67

33.9
33.9
33.8
33.6
33.5

3.04
3.27
3.47
3.75
4.02

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

256.71
278.90
302.80
325.58
351.25

39.8
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6

6,45
6.99
7.57
8.16
8.87

133.79
142.52
153.64
164.96
176.46

33.7
33.3
32.9
32.6
32.2

3.97
4.28
4.67
5.06
5.48

155.43
165.26
178.00
190.77
209.24

36.4
36.4
36.4
36.2
36.2

4.27
4.54
4.89
5.27
5.78

143.52
153.45
163.67
175.27
190,71

33.3
33.0
32.8
32.7
32.6

4.31
4.65
4.99
5.36
5.85

1951
1952
1953
1954
1955

1Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

73

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
15.

Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
A nnual averag e

1980

1981

In d u s t r y d i v is i o n a n d g r o u p

T O T A L P R I V A T E ...............................................................

M I N I N G ..................................................................................................

1979

1980

35.7
43.0

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M ar.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.p

N o v .p

35.3

35.3

35.6

35.1

35.0

35.2

35.2

35.2

35.4

35.6

35.6

35.0

35.1

35.1

43.2

43.6

44.1

43.6

42.8

42.3

43.6

43.8

42.1

43.5

44.1

43.8

44.4

44.6

C O N S T R U C T I O N ............................................................................

37.0

37.0

36.8

37.2

36.4

35.0

37.2

36.9

36.9

37.2

37.7

37.3

35.7

37.3

36.8

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

40.2
3.3

39.7
2.8

40.2
3.1

40.8
3.3

39.9
2.9

39.5
2.8

39.9
2.8

39.7
2.6

40.1
2.9

40.2
3.0

39.6
2.8

39.8
3.0

39.5
2.9

39.6
2.8

39.7
2.6

Overtime hours......................................

40.8
3.5

40.1
2.8

40.7
3.1

41.5
3.4

40.4
2.9

399
2.8

40.5
2.9

40.3
2.7

40.6
3.0

40.6
3.0

39.9
2.8

40.2
2.9

39.8
2.8

40.0
2.7

40.0
2.5

Lumber and wood products ..........................
Furniture and fixtures ....................................
Stone, clay, and glass products......................
Primary metal industries................................
Fabricated metal products ............................

39.4
38.7
41.5
41.4
40.7

38.6
38.1
40.8
40.1
40.4

39.2
38.4
41.4
40.8
40.9

39.7
396
41.6
41.6
41.6

38.8
38.1
40.3
41.1
40.4

38.5
38.3
39.6
40.7
40.0

39.0
38.8
40.6
41.1
40.6

39.1
38.2
40.9
41.2
40.2

39.6
38.5
41.1
40.9
40.7

39.5
38.9
41.2
40.9
40.8

38.7
37.8
40.8
40.3
39.9

39.0
38.6
41.0
40.3
40.3

37.9
37.7
40.6
40.8
39.6

38.1
38.8
40.6
39.6
40.1

37.8
38.1
40.9
39.6
40.0

Machinery except electrical............................
Electric and electronic equipment ..................
Transportation equipment..............................
Instruments and related products ..................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ........................

41.8
40.3
41.1
40.8
38.8

41.0
398
40.6
40.5
38.7

41.3
40.4
41.7
40.9
39.1

42.2
41.0
43.1
41.2
39.5

41.2
40.1
40.9
40.6
38.6

40.8
39.6
40.1
40.5
38.4

41.2
40.2
41.1
40.6
38.9

40.8
39.8
41.0
39.9
38.6

41.2
40.1
41.6
40.3
38.9

41.1
40.2
41.3
40.4
39.0

40.4
39.7
40.7
39.9
38.5

40.7
40.0
40.5
40.4
39.0

40.4
39.7
39.9
40.4
38.7

40.6
40.0
40.5
40.2
39.2

40.8
39.7
40.9
40.5
39.5

Overtime hours......................................

39.3
3.1

39.0
2.8

39.4
3.0

39.9
3.1

39.2
2.9

38.9
2.8

39.1
2.7

38.9
2.6

39.4
2.9

39.5
2.9

39.1
2.8

39.4
3.0

39.1
3.1

39.1
2.9

39.2
2.8

Food and kindred products............................
Tobacco manufactures..................................
Textile mill products......................................
Apparel and other textile products..................
Paper and allied products..............................

39.9
38.0
40,4
35.3
42.6

39.7
38.1
40.1
35.4
42.3

40.1
40.1
40.3
35.4
42.8

40.3
38.1
40.9
35.9
43.7

40.0
38.6
39.9
35.2
42.7

39.3
38.5
39.9
35.3
42.2

39.2
37.2
40.1
35.8
42.4

39.3
37.2
39.4
35.2
42.3

39.8
38.6
40.3
36.0
42.5

39.8
38.5
40.4
36.4
42.7

39.6
38.6
39.7
36.0
42.4

40.0
40.7
40.0
36.3
42.5

39.8
40.2
38.9
35.2
43.2

39.6
39.6
39.5
35.9
42.5

39.8
38.9
39.4
35.9
42.6

Printing and publishing ..................................
Chemicals and allied products........................
Petroleum and coal products ........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..
Leather and leather products ........................

37.5
41.9
43.8
40.5
36.5

37.1
41.5
41.8
40.1
36.7

37.2
42.0
43.6
41.1
36.3

38.1
42.1
43.3
41.6
36.9

37.1
41.6
42.6
41.0
36.5

36.9
41.5
42.5
40.2
36.7

37.1
41.6
42.6
40.7
36.8

37.0
41.6
43.9
40.4
36.3

37.3
41.6
43.6
40.9
37.4

37.2
41.6
43.5
40.9
38.1

37.2
41.5
43.7
40.0
36.6

37.5
41.4
43.0
40.4
36.9

37.4
42.2
44.4
39.8
36.0

37.2
41.4
43.8
40.3
36.7

37.2
42.0
43.8
39.7
36.6

......................................................................

Overtime hours......................................
D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B L IC U T I L IT IE S

39.9

39.6

39.7

40.0

39.4

39.5

39.4

39.3

39.3

39.8

39.8

39.5

39.2

39.4

39.5

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E

32.6

32.2

32.1

32.5

31.7

31.7

31.9

32.1

32.0

32.3

32.8

32.8

32.2

31.9

31.9

W H O L E S A L E T R A D E ...................................................................

38.8

38.5

38.5

38.9

38.5

38.3

38.5

38.5

38.5

38.6

38.8

38.7

38.5

38.6

38.8

R E T A IL T R A D E

30.6

30.2

30.0

30.5

29.5

29.6

29.8

30.0

29.9

, 30.4

30.9

30.9

30.2

29.8

29.8

............................................................................................

36.2

36.2

36.3

36.3

36.4

36.4

36.4

36.3

36.1

36.1

36.3

36.3

36.0

36.2

36.4

S E R V I C E S ............................................................................................

32.7

32.6

32.6

32.6

32.5

32.6

32.6

32.6

32.5

32.7

33.0

32.9

32.4

32.5

32.5

...............................................................................

F IN A N C E , I N S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L
ESTATE

Digitized
74for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

16.

Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1980

1981

In d u s try d iv is io n a n d g ro u p
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

35.3

35.3

35.3

35.2

35.3

35.4

35.3

35.2

35.3

35.2

34.9

35.0

35.1

39.8
3.0

39.9
3.0

40.1
3.0

39.8
2.8

39.9
2.8

40.2
2.9

40.3
3.2

40.1
3.0

40.0
3.0

40.0
3.0

39.3
2.7

39.5
2.7

39.3
2.5

Overtime hours............................................

40.4
3.0

40.4
3.1

40.6
3.0

40.1
2.8

40.4
2.8

40.8
3.0

40.8
3.2

40.5
3.0

40.5
3.0

40.5
3.0

39.7
2.6

39.9
2.6

39.7
2.4

Lumber and wood products ................................
Furniture and fixtures ..........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ..........................
Primary metal industries......................................
Fabricated metal products ..................................

39.1
38.0
40.9
40.8
40.5

39.3
38.4
41.0
41.2
40.4

39.8
38.5
41.3
41.1
40.5

39.1
38.6
40.6
40.7
40.2

39.1
38.6
40.7
41.0
40.4

39.6
38.8
41.2
41.2
40.9

39.8
39.0
41.0
41.0
40.9

39.0
38.9
40.8
40.8
40.7

38.8
38.5
40.9
40.5
40.5

38.6
38.6
40.8
40.7
40.5

37.3
37.5
40.3
40.6
39.5

37.5
38.3
40.1
39.8
40.0

37.7
37.7
40.4
39.6
39.6

Machinery, except electrical ................................
Electric and electronic equipment ........................
Transportation equipment....................................
Instruments and related products ........................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..............................

41.0
39.9
41.2
40.4
38.6

40.9
40.0
41.0
40.4
38.9

41.1
40.1
41.3
40.6
38.8

40.8
39.6
40.5
40.5
38.6

40.9
40.0
40.9
40.5
38.7

41.3
40.2
42.0
40.1
38.9

41.4
40.4
41.8
40.4
39.2

41.1
40.2
41.4
40.4
39.1

41.1
40.5
41.2
40.5
39.2

41.2
40.4
41.3
40.8
39.1

40.3
39.6
39.9
40.5
38.4

40.7
40.0
40.1
40.2
38.9

40.5
39.2
40.4
40.0
39.0

Overtime hours....................................

39.1
2.9

39.2
2.9

39.5
3.0

39.2
2.9

39.2
2.8

39.3
2.9

39.6
3.1

39.4
3.0

39.3
2.9

39.3
2.9

38.9
2.8

39.0
2.8

38.8
2.7

Food and kindred products..................................
Textile mill products............................................
Apparel and other textile products........................
Paper and allied products....................................

39.8
39.9
35.2
42.4

39.7
40.1
35.5
42.8

40.3
40.0
36.1
42.6

39.9
40.0
35.6
42.4

39.7
39.9
35.7
42.4

40.1
39.8
35.5
42.6

40.0
40.5
36.0
42.8

39.8
40.2
36.1
42.7

39.4
40.4
35.9
42.7

39.4
40.3
36.1
42.7

39.2
38.9
35.2
43.1

39.5
39.4
35.8
42.5

39.5
39.0
35.7
42.2

Printing and publishing ........................................
Chemicals and allied products..............................
Petroleum and coal products ..............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ........
Leather and leather products ..............................

36.8
41.6
42.9
40.8
36.3

37.4
41.6
43.2
40.8
36.6

37.5
41.6
43.8
40.9
36.8

37.3
41.6
43.8
40.3
37.0

37.1
41.5
43.5
40.5
37.1

37.3
41.5
44.1
40.7
36.6

37.6
41.7
43.8
41.3
37.1

37.4
41.7
43.4
41.0
37.1

37.3
41.8
43.1
40.5
36.5

37.3
41.7
42.8
40.6
36.9

37.1
42.3
43.3
39.6
36.1

37.1
41.4
42.8
40.1
36.8

36.8
41.6
43.1
39.4
36.7

.........................................

32.2

32.1

32.2

32.2

32.2

32.3

32.1

32.1

32.2

32.1

32.1

31.9

32.0

T O T A L P R I V A T E ............................................................................

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

...............................................................................

Overtime hours............................................
D u r a b le g o o d s

...................................................................................

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.p

N o v .p

.........................................................................

38.5

38.6

38.8

38.6

38.6

38.6

38.5

38.5

38.7

38.6

38.5

38.4

38.8

R E T A IL T R A D E .........................................................................................

30.2

30.0

30.1

30.2

30.2

30.3

30.1

30.1

30.1

30.1

30.1

29.9

29.9

S E R V I C E S ......................................................................................................

32.7

32.7

32.7

32.8

32.8

32.8

32.7

32.5

32.5

32.4

32.4

32.5

32.6

W HO LESA LE TR A D E

N ote : The industry divisions of mining; construction; tobacco manufactures (a major
manufacturing group, nondurable goods); transportation and public utilities; and finance, insurance,
and real estate are no longer shown. This is because the seasonal component in these is


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

small relative to the trend-cycle, or irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be precisely
separated,

75

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
17.

Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
A nnual a v erag e

1980

1981

In d u s t r y d i v i s i o n a n d g r o u p
1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

T O T A L P R I V A T E ..................................................................

$6.16

$6.66

$6.92

$6.94

$7.03

$7.06

$7.10

$7.13

$7.17

$7.20

$7.24

$7.30

$7.40

$7.42

$7.46

M I N I N G ..................................................................................................

8.49

9.17

9.49

9.57

9.77

9.86

9.85

9.70

9.68

9.94

10.11

10.15

10.29

10.32

10.50

11.02

11.08

11.05

8.15

8.14

8.18

8.68
7.15
6.00
8.53
11.22
8.34

8.69
7.11
6.04
8.49
11.99
8.37

8.74
7.17
6.04
8.50
11.13
8.39

8.98
7.79
10.41
7.60
6.07

9.04
7.84
10.59
7.60
6.08

9.10
7.87
10.57
7.71
6.13
7.38
7.61
8.99
5.74
5.05
8.91

O c t.p

N o v .p

C O N S T R U C T I O N ............................................................................

9.27

9.92

10.24

10.33

10.42

10.41

10.44

10.43

10.53

10.60

10.74

10.87

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

......................................................................

6.70

7.27

7.60

7.70

7.73

7.75

7.80

7.88

7.92

7.97

8.02

8.02

D u r a b l e g o o d s ......................................................................

7.13
6.07
5.06
6.85
8.98
6.85

7.75
6.53
5.49
7.50
9.77
7.45

8.11

Lumber and wood products ....................
Furniture and fixtures..............................
Stone, clay, and glass products ..............
Primary metal industries..........................
Fabricated metal products ......................

6.76
5.63
7.81
10.29
7.77

8.23
6.74
5.70
7.83
10.36
7.88

8.23
6.79
5.71
7.87
10.36
7.89

8.26
6.81
5.74
7.89
10.56
7.91

8.32
6.79
5.76
7.94
10.52

8.40
6.83
5.78

8.45
6.92
5.83

8.01

10.76
8.05

8.55
7.16
5.91
8.39
10.79

8.17

8.52
7.10
5.89
8.31
10.76
8.23

8.22

8.57
7.13
5.98
8.41
10.99
8.27

Machinery, except electrical....................
Electric and electronic equipment............
Transportation equipment........................
Instruments and related products ............
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................

7.32
6.32
8.53
6.17
5.03

6.95
9.32
6.80
5.47

8.38
7.27
9.87
7.01
5.62

8.50
7.38
10.09
7.13
5.73

8.53
7.41
9.96
7.19
5.82

8.56
7.43
9.93
7.20
5.83

8.62
7.47
10.08
7.23
5.85

8.67
7.51
10.14
7.25
5.91

8.75
7.55
10.25
7.31
5.93

8.81
7.60
10.36
7.34
5.93

8.85
7.69
10.35
7.44
5.98

7.76
10.30
7.56
5.97

N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s ............................................................

6.01

6.56

Food and kindred products......................
Tobacco manufactures............................
Textile mill products................................
Apparel and other textile products ..........
Paper and allied products........................

6.27
6.67
4.66
4.23
7.13

6.89
7.13
5.34
4.81
8.27

6.97
7.21
8.50
5.35
4.89
8.27

6.98
7.24
8.56
535
4.87
8.28

7.01
7.29
8.61
5.36
4.94
8.30

7.08
7.37
8.90
5.36
4.96
8.37

7.11
7.43
9.03
540
4.98
8.42

7.14
7.43
9.33
5.42
5.00
8.55

7.23
7.47
9.43
5.51
4.94
8.73

7.24
7.50
8.61
5.66
4.98
8.67

7.37
7.58

7.73
5.08
4.57
7.84

6.82
7.09
7.86
5.31
4.75
818

5.69
5.06
8.95

7.34
7.53
8.61
5.73
5.07
8.81

Printing and publishing............................
Chemicals and allied products ................
Petroleum and coal products ..................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products ..................

6.94
7.60
9.36
5.97
4.22

7.53
8.30
10.09
6.56
4.58

7.88
8.69
10.38
6.97
4.74

7.92
8.74
11.06
7.06
4.86

7.96
8.80
11.33
7.04
4.88

8.02

8.04
8.94
11.40
7.15
4.93

8.10
8.99
11.28
7.22
4.95

8.13
9.07
11.29
7.23
4.98

8.22

8.84
11.23
7.07
4.90

9.16
11.41
7.28
4.96

8.27
9.19
11.31
7.32
4.97

8.40
9.38
11.53
7.38
5.08

8.43
9.34
11.47
7.40
5.07

8.45
9.39
11.53
7.33
5.07

6.86

7.79
8.60
10.52

6.88

4.69

8.10

8.20
10.68

8.86

8.66

.

8.16

8.87

9.27

9.30

9.33

9.45

9.42

9.54

9.59

9.63

9.69

9.89

9.97

9.97

10.04

................................

5.06

5.48

5.64

5.62

5.80

5.84

5.85

5.87

5.89

5.89

5.91

5.94

6.04

6.00

6.05

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E

8.00

8.11

.

W H O L E S A L E T R A D E ..................................................................

6.39

6.96

7.19

7.23

7.32

7.38

7.42

7.47

7.51

7.51

7.59

7.67

7.71

7.74

7.79

R E T A IL T R A D E ...............................................................................

4.53

4.88

5.02

4.99

5.18

5.20

5.20

5.22

5.23

5.23

5.24

5.26

5.37

5.30

5 34

............................................................................................

5.27

5.78

6.02

6.20

6.24

6.24

6.27

6.37

6.38

6.42

6.54

5.85

6.09

6.10
6.21

6.19

5.36

6.00
6.12

6.21

S E R V I C E S ............................................................................................

6.27

6.29

6.30

6.33

6.33

6.34

6.41

6.51

6.57

6.65

F IN A N C E , I N S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L
ESTATE

18.

Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls, by industry division

[Seasonally adjusted data: 1977=100]
1980

1981
O c t. 19 81

In d u s t r y

T O T A L P R IV A T E ( in c u r r e n t d o l l a r s ) . .

Mining1 ........................................
Construction ................................
Manufacturing ..............................
Transportation and public utilities . . .
Wholesale and retail trade ............
Finance, insurance, and real estate .
Services ......................................
T O T A L P R I V A T E (in c o n s t a n t d o lla r s )

1

N ov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

132.1

132.6

133.8

135.0

139.2
125.2
134.6
132.6
132.3
132.4
130.5

139.8
126.2
135.4
132.8
132.4
131.9
131.1

142.1
127.6
136.5
133.7
133.7
133.2
132.0

143.2
128.0
137.5
135.4
135.0
135.0
133.2

93.3

92.7

92.8

92.7

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

135.8

136.7

137.7

138.4

139.0

140.7

144.0
128.6
138.5
136.1
135.8
136.0
134.0

145.7
129.0
139.9
137.3
136.4
135.4
134.8

145.6
129.4
140.7
138.9
137.4
136.8
136.0

147.2
130.4
141.6
139.8
137.8
137.1
136.6

148.9
131.8
142.5
139.3
138.4
137.4
136.9

149.4
132.5
143.6
141.8
140.0
140.4
139.4

92.8

93.0

93.1

92.9

92.2

92.7

92.1

This series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component is small relative to the trend-cycle,
irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient provision.

Digitized76
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2Not available,

S e p t.

N o v. 1980

to

to
N o v . 1981

O c t.p

N o v .p

N o v . 1981

141.5

141.8

143.1

0.9

8.3

151.5
132.9
144.8
141.7
141.2
140.3
139.8

151.6
134.1
145.4
142.1
140.6
141.0
140.6

154.4
1347
146.0
143.4
141.8
143.9
142.3

1.9
.5
.5

11.0

92.0

(2)

7.6
8.5

1.0
.9
2.0
1.2

8.2
7.2
8.6

(2)

<2)

9.0

19.

Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1980

Annual averag e

1981

In d u s tr y d iv is io n a n d g ro u p

1979

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.p

N o v .p

$219.91

$235.10

$244.28

$247.06

$246.75

$247.10

$249.92

$250.98

$252.38

$254.88

$257.74

$259.88

$259.00

M I N I N G .........................

365.07

396.14

413.76

422.04

425.97

422.01

416.66

422.92

423.98

418.47

439,79

447.62

450.70

C O N S T R U C T IO N

342.99

367.04

376.83

384.28

379.29

364.35

388.37

384.87

388.56

394.32

404.90

405.45

393.41

413.28

406,64

269.34

288.62

305.52

314.16

308.43

306.13

311.22

312.84

317.59

320.39

317.59

319.20

321.93

322.34

324.75

Lumber and wood products .,
Furniture and fixtures ..........
Stone, clay, and glass products........
Primary metal industries ..................
Fabricated metal products..........

290.90
239.16
195.82
284.28
371.77
278.80

31078
252.06
209 17
306.00
391.78
300.98

330.08
264,99
216.19
323.33
419.83
317.79

341.55
267.58
225.72
325.73
430.98
327.81

332.49
263.45
217.55
317.16
425.80
318.76

329,57
262.19
219.84
312.44
429.79
316.40

336.96
264.81
223.49
322.36
432.37
325.21

338.52
267.05
220.80
331.70
443.31
323.61

343.07
274,03
224.46
337.02
436.81
332.52

345.91
280.45
22912
342.37
440.08
335.78

341.15
277.09
223.40
342.31
434.84
327.98

344.51
278.07
230.83
344.81
442.90
333.28

345 46
270.99
226.20
346.32
457.78
330.26

347 60
270 89
234 35
344 69
435 20
335,64

349 60
271 03
230 12
347 65
440 75
335.60

Machinery except electrical............
Electric and electronic equipment ..
Transportation equipment ............
Instruments and related products ,
Miscellaneous manufacturing . , .

305.98
254.70
350.58
251.74
195.16

32800
276.61
378.39
275.40
211.69

346.09
293.71
411.58
286.71
219.74

358.70
302.58
434.88
293.76
226.34

351.44
297.14
407.36
291.91
224.65

349.25
294.23
398.19
291.60
223.87

.355.14
300.29
414.29
293.54
227.57

353.74
298.90
415,74
289.28
228.13

360.50
302.76
426.40
294.59
230.68

362.09
305.52
427.87
296.54
231.27

357.54
305.29
421.25
296.86
230.23

360.60
310.40
417.15
305.42
232.83

362 79
309.26
415 36
307.04
234.91

367 02
313 60
428 90
305 52
238.34

371 28
312 44

236.19
250.17
253.46
188.26
149.32
303.74

255.84
272.34
294.51
203.71
161.78
331.63

268.71
284.31
315.19
213.99
168.15
350.10

27491
287.34
308,61
218.41
172.68
361.40

273.22
288.40
328.10
213.47
172.13
353.13

271.52
284.53
329.56
213.47
171.91
349.42

274.09
285.77
320.29
214.94
176.85
351.92

275.41
289.64
331.08
211.18
174,59
354.05

280.13
295.71
348.56
217.62
179.28
357.85

282.03
295.71
359.21
218.97
182.00
365.09

28269
295.81
364.00
21875
177.84
370.15

285.26
300.00
350.43
226.40
180.77
368.48

288.17
301 68
348.13
221 34
178.11
386.64

286 99
298 19
340 96
226 34
182 01
374.43

260.25
318.44
409.97

279.36
344.45
421.76

289.79
361.20
458.67

300.23
365.85
449.45

293.83
363,58
471.16

293.72
365.20
481.53

297.54
367.74
478.40

297.48
371.90
500.46

302.13
373.98
491.81

302.44
377.31
491.12

305.78
380.14
498.62

310.13
380.47
486.33

314 16
395 84
511.93

313 60
386 68
502.39

241.79
154.03

263.06
168.09

282.77
170.25

289.95
174.91

289.46
177.39

283.01
179.10

287.75
180.32

288.86
178 96

295.30
185.13

295.71
189.74

291.20
181.54

295.73
183.39

293 72
182.88

298 22
186.07

185.56

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B L IC U T I L IT IE S

325.58

351.25

368.02

372.00

367.60

373.28

371.15

374.92

376.89

383.27

385 66

390.66

390.82

392.82

396,58

T O T A L P R I V A T E .............................

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

.........................

D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

Food and kindred products ..........
Tobacco manufactures . . . .
Textile mill products ............
Apparel and other textile products..............
Paper and allied products..................
Printing and publishing..................
Chemicals and allied products............
Petroleum and coal products..........
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products....................
Leather and leather products . . .

$260.44 $261.85
458.21

468.30

312 26
242.14
289 30
302 88
349 71
226 16
379.57

394 38
505,01

W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E

164.96

176.46

181.04

182.65

183 86

185.13

186.62

188.43

188.48

190.25

193.85

194.83

194.49

191 40

193.00

W H O LESA LE TR AD E

247.93

267 96

276.82

281.25

281 82

282.65

285.67

287.60

289.14

289 89

294.49

296.83

296.84

298.76

302.25

R E T A IL T R A D E ................................

138.62

147.38

150.60

152.20

152.81

153.92

154.96

156.60

156.38

158.99

161,92

162.53

162.17

157.94

159.13

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E

190.77

209.24

218.53

217.80

222.04

226.04

225.32

225.06

225.26

225.26

227.60

231.23

229.68

232.40

238.06

S E R V IC E S

175.27

190.71

198.53

199.51

201.83

204.40

205.05

205.38

206.73

206.99

209.22

210.89

210.92

213.53

216.13


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

77

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data

20.

Gross and spendable weekly earnings, in current and 1977 dollars, 1961 to date

[Averages for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
M a n u f a c t u r in g w o r k e r s

P r i v a t e n o n a g r ic u lt u r a l w o r k e r s

S p e n d a b l e a v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n in g s

S p e n d a b le a v e r a g e w e e k ly e a r n in g s
G ro s s a v e ra g e

G ro s s a v e ra g e
Y e a r a n d m o n th

w e e k l y e a r n in g s

W o r k e r w it h n o

M a r r i e d w o r k e r w it h

w e e k l y e a r n in g s

d e p e n d e n ts

3 d e p e n d e n ts

d e p e n d e n ts

W o r k e r w it h n o

M a r r i e d w o r k e r w it h
3 d e p e n d e n ts

C u rre n t

1977

C u rre n t

1977

C u rre n t

1977

C u rre n t

1977

C u rre n t

1977

C u rre n t

1977

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

d o lla r s

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................

$82.60
85.91
88.46
91.33
95.45

$167.21
172.16
175.17
178.38
183.21

$67.08
69.56
71.05
75.04
79.32

$135.79
139.40
140.69
146.56
152.25

$74.48
76.99
78.56
82.57
86.63

$150.77
154.29
155.56
161.27
166.28

$92.34
96.56
99.23
102.97
107.53

$186.92
193.51
196.50
201.11
206.39

$74.60
77.86
79.51
84.40
89.08

$151.01
156.03
157.45
164.84
170.98

$82.18
85.53
87.25
92.18
96.78

$166.36
171.40
172.77
180.04
185.76

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................

98.82
101.84
107.73
114.61
119.83

184.37
184.83
187.68
189.44
186.94

81.29
83.38
86.71
90.96
96.21

151.66
151.32
151.06
150.35
150.09

88.66
90.86
95.28
99.99
104.90

165.41
164 90
165.99
165.27
163.65

112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33

209.31
207.79
312.43
214.07
208.00

91.45
92.97
97.70
101.90
106.32

170.62
168.73
170.21
168.43
165.87

99.33
100.93
106.75
111.44
115.58

185.32
183.18
185.98
184.20
180.31

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................

127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53

190.58
198.41
198.35
190.12
184.16

103.80
112.19
117.51
124.37
132.49

155.39
162.59
160.31
152.79
149.20

112.43
121.68
127.38
134.61
145.65

168.31
176.35
173.78
165.37
164.02

142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79

213.23
224.22
227.09
217.20
214.85

114.97
125.34
132.57
140.19
151.61

172.11
181.65
180.86
172.22
170.73

124.24
135.57
143.50
151.56
166.29

185.99
196.48
195.77
186.19
187.26

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................

175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10

186.85
189.00
189.31
183.41
172.74

143.30
155.19
165.39
178.00
188.82

152.61
155.19
153.71
148.46
138.74

155.87
169.93
180.71
194.82
206.06

166.00
169.93
167.95
162.49
151.65

209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62

222.92
228.90
231.66
224.64
212.06

167.83
183.80
197.40
212.70
225.79

178.73
183.80
183.46
177.40
165.90

181.32
200.06
214.87
232.38
247.01

193.10
200.06
199.69
193.81
181.49

1980: November........................
December........................

244.28
247.06

172.88
173.38

195.24
197.18

138.17
138.37

213.37
215.47

151.00
151.21

305.52
314.16

216.22
220.46

237.26
242.86

167.91
170.43

259.83
266.14

183.89
186.76

1981: January ..........................
February..........................
March..............................
A p ril................................
May ................................
June................................
July ................................
August ............................
September ......................
October0 ........................
November0 ....................

246.75
247.10
249.92
250.98
252.38
254.88
257.74
259.88
259.00
260.44
261.85

171.83
170.18
171.06
170.73
170.18
170.49
170.35
170.64
168.40
169.01
(’ )

195.68
195.92
197.88
198.61
199.59
201.32
203.30
204.79
204.18
207.07
208.07

136.27
134.93
135.44
135.11
134.59
134.66
134.37
134.46
132.76
134.37
(’ )

213.96
214.22
216.34
217.14
218.20
220.08
222.24
223.85
223.20
225.23
226.30

149.00
147.53
148.08
147.71
147.13
147.21
146.89
146.98
145.12
146.16
(’ )

308.43
306.13
311.22
312.84
317.59
320.39
317.59
319.20
321.93
322.34
324.75

214.78
210.83
213.02
212.82
214.15
214.31
209.91
209.59
209.32
209.18

237.60
236.08
239.37
240.39
243.40
245.18
243.40
244.42
246.15
249.14
250.70

165.46
162.59
163.84
163.53
164.13
164.00
160.87
160.49
160.05
161.67
(’ )

260.36
258.70
262.38
263.55
266.99
269.01
266.99
268.15
270.13
271.95
273.72

181.31
178.17
179.59
179.29
180.03
179.94
176.46
176.07
175.64
176.48
(’ )

' Not available.
The earnings expressed in 1977 dollars have been adjusted for changes in price level
as measured by the Bureau's Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
These series are described in "The Spendable Earnings Series: A Technical Note on its CalNote :


78
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(’ )

culation," E m p l o y m e n t a n d E a r n in g s a n d M o n t h l y R e p o r t o n t h e L a b o r F o r c e , February 1969,
pp. 6-13. See also "Spendable Earnings Formulas, 1979-81,” E m p l o y m e n t a n d E a r n in g s , March
1981, pp. 10-11.

U N EM PLO YM ENT INSURANCE DATA

N a t i o n a l u n e m p l o y m e n t i n s u r a n c e d a t a are compiled
monthly by the Employment and Training Administration of
the U.S. Department of Labor from monthly records of unem­
ployment insurance activity prepared by State agencies. Rail­
road unemployment insurance data are prepared by the U.S.
Railroad Retirement Board.

ployed. Persons not covered by unemployment insurance (about 10
percent of the labor force) and those who have exhausted or not yet
earned benefit rights are excluded from the scope of the survey. Ini­
tial claims are notices filed by persons in unemployment insurance
programs to indicate they are out of work and wish to begin receiv­
ing compensation. A claimant who continued to be unemployed a
full week is then counted in the insured unemployment figure. The
rate of insured unemployment expresses the number of insured unem­
ployed as a percent of the average insured employment in a
12-month period.

Definitions
Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured
unemployment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation
for Ex-Servicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees, and the Railroad Insurance Act.

An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the be­
ginning of his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no ap­
plication is required for subsequent periods in the same year. Num­
ber of payments are payments made in 14-day registration periods.
The average amount of benefit payment is an average for all com­
pensable periods, not adjusted for recovery of overpayments or set­
tlement of underpayments. However, total benefits paid have been
adjusted.

Under both State and Federal unemployment insurance programs
for civilian employees, insured workers must report the completion of
at least 1 week of unemployment before they are defined as unem-

21.

Unemployment insurance and employment service operations

[All items except average benefits amounts are in thousands]
1980
O c t.

All programs:
Insured unemployment ......................
State unemployment insurance
program:1
Initial claims2 ....................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Rate of insured unemployment ..........
Weeks of unemployment
compensated ................................
Average weekly benefit amount
for total unemployment ..................
Total benefits paid ............................
Unemployment compensation for exservicemen: 3
Initial claims1 ....................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Weeks of unemployment
compensated ................................
Total benefits paid ........................
Unemployment compensation for
Federal civilian employees:4
Initial claims......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Weeks of unemployment
compensated ................................
Total benefits paid ............................
Railroad unemployment Insurance:
Applications ......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Number of payments ........................
Average amount of benefit
payment........................................
Total benefits paid ............................
Employment service:5
New applications and renewals ..........
Nonfarm placements..........................

1981

N ov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

A p r.

M ay

3,661

3,726

4,085

4,621

1,808

1,673

2,544

2,653

1,806

1,684

2,903
3.3

2,983
3.4

3,321
3.8

3,844
4.4

3,669
4.2

3,382
3.9

11,443

9,524

12,603

14,228

12,882

13,504

11,871

4,264

3,948

3,453

June

J u ly

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

3,111

2,949

3,012

2,874

1,647

1,417

11,741

r2,114

'1,610

1,681

1,994

2,988
3.4

2,691
3.1

2,596
3.0

2,743
3.1

2,656
30

'2,488
29

2 598
30

9,790

9,928

110,486

'9,5514

9,565

9,405

$92.32
$101.96
$101.43
$102.34
$101.89
$105.63
$105.96
$105.49
$99.02
$103.47
'$105.94
$107.39
$1,125,416 $1,055,065 $1,242,957 $1,416,513 $1,313,507 $1,393,612 $1,226,815 $1,006,341 $1,012,764 r$1,061,899 '$1,004,86-4 $1,001,020

$108.93
$995,880

'2,680

2,760

23

17

21

19

17

18

16

15

19

22

19

15

12

56

54

55

57

54

51

46

43

42

44

44

34

26

255
$25,880

216
$21,024

261
$27,015

257
$26,646

221
$22,517

234
$24,668

214
$23,048

183
$19,965

192
$21,145

203
r$22,785

190
'$21,425

153
$17,144

116
$12,993

13

12

12

11

13

15

17

18

20

21

14

18

22

32

35

37

41

40

36

31

27

25

25

25

29

30

130
$11,917

118
$11,365

150
$14,184

160
$15,432

148
$14,573

156
$15,561

135
$13,701

107
$11,023

105
$10,705

105
'$10,805

'102
'$9,543

100
$10,495

112
$11,682

9

7

11

13

5

5

6

6

26

41

13

38
84

38
70

39
83

53
118

50
104

44
115

41
94

35
79

30
86

28
32

29
63

$208.49
$17,789

$209.00
$14,269

$212.27
$18,046

$209.38
$20,303

$214.56
$22,049

$214.93
$23,233

$201.12
$19,239

$199.43
$15,428

$201.06
$16,206

$199.63
$11,541

$202.53
$7,071

4,476
871

11nitial claims and State insured unemployment include data under the program for Puerto Rican
sugarcane workers.
2 Includes interstate claims for the Virgin Islands. Excludes transition claims under State programs.
3 Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with other programs.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M a r.

r 8,778
r 1,595

12,868
2,446

::::

4 Includes the Virgin islands. Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with State programs,
5 Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Data computed quarterly.
Puerto Rico included. Dashes indicate data not available.
r = revised.
N o Te: Data for

79

PRICE DATA

r i c e d a t a are gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from retail and primary markets in the United States. Price
indexes are given in relation to a base period (1967 = 100,
unless otherwise noted).

P

Definitions
The Consumer Price Index is a monthly statistical measure of the
average change in prices in a fixed market basket of goods and ser­
vices. Effective with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics began publishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. One
index, a new CPI for All Urban Consumers, covers 80 percent of the
total noninstitutional population; and the other index, a revised CPI
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, covers about half the
new index population. The All Urban Consumers index includes, in
addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional, manageri­
al, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the
unemployed, retirees, and others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuel, drugs,
transportation fares, doctor’s and dentist’s fees, and other goods and
services that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quali­
ty of these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revi­
sions so that only price changes will be measured. Prices are collected
from over 18,000 tenants, 24,000 retail establishments, and 18,000
housing units for property taxes in 85 urban areas across the country.
All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are
included in the index. Because the CPI’s are based on the expendi­
tures of two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience of individual families and single persons with
different buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “Cost-of-Living Index,” it meas­
ures only price change, which is just one of several important factors
affecting living costs. Area indexes do not measure differences in the
level of prices among cities. They only measure the average change in
prices for each area since the base period.
Producer Price Indexes measure average changes in prices received
in primary markets of the United States by producers of commodities
in all stages of processing. The sample used for calculating these in­
dexes contains about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations
per month selected to represent the movement of prices of all com­
modities produced in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing,
mining, gas and electricity, and public utilities sectors. The universe
includes all commodities produced or imported for sale in commercial
transactions in primary markets in the United States.
Producer Price Indexes can be organized by stage of processing or
by commodity. The stage of processing structure organizes products
by degree of fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate or
semifinished goods, and crude materials). The commodity structure
organizes products by similarity of end-use or material composition.
To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price In­
dexes apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the Unit­
ed States, from the production or central marketing point. Price data
are generally collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire.


80
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Most prices are obtained directly from producing companies on a vol­
untary and confidential basis. Prices generally are reported for the
Tuesday of the week containing the 13th day of the month.
In calculating Producer Price Indexes, price changes for the vari­
ous commodities afe averaged together with implicit quantity weights
representing their importance in the total net selling value of all com­
modities as of 1972. The detailed data are aggregated to obtain in­
dexes for stage of processing groupings, commodity groupings, dura­
bility of product groupings, and a number of special composite
groupings.
Price indexes for the output of selected SIC industries measure av­
erage price changes in commodities produced by particular industries,
as defined in the S t a n d a r d I n d u s tr ia l C la ssifica tio n M a n u a l 1 9 7 2
(Washington, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 1972). These
indexes are derived from several price series, combined to match the
economic activity of the specified industry and weighted by the value
of shipments in the industry. They use data from comprehensive in­
dustrial censuses conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Notes on the data
Beginning with the May 1978 issue of the R ev ie w , regional CPI’s
cross classified by population size, were introduced. These indexes will
enable users in local areas for which an index is not published to get a
better approximation of the CPI for their area by using the appropri­
ate population size class measure for their region. The cross-classified
indexes will be published bimonthly. (See table 24.)
For further details about the new and the revised indexes and a
comparison of various aspects of these indexes with the old unrevised
CPI, see F a c ts A b o u t th e R e v is e d C o n s u m e r P ric e I n d e x , a pamphlet in
the Consumer Price Index Revision 1978 series. See also T h e
C o n s u m e r P ric e I n d e x : C o n c ep ts a n d C o n te n t O v e r th e Years, Report
517, revised edition (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 1978).
For interarea comparisons of living costs at three hypothetical stand­
ards of living, see the family budget data published in the H a n d b o o k
o f L a b o r S ta tistic s , 1 9 7 7 , Bulletin 1966 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1977), tables 122-133. Additional data and analysis on price changes
are provided in the C P I D e ta ile d R e p o r t and P r o d u c e r P ric e s a n d P rice
I n d e x e s , both monthly publications of the Bureau.
As of January 1976, the Wholesale Price Index (as it was then
called) incorporated a revised weighting structure reflecting 1972 val­
ues of shipments. From January 1967 through December 1975, 1963
values of shipments were used as weights.
For a discussion of the general method of computing consumer,
producer, and industry price indexes, see B L S H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s
f o r S u r v e y s a n d S tu d ie s, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1976), chapters 13-15. See also John F. Early, “Improving the meas­
urement of producer price change,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , April
1978, pp. 7-15. For industry prices, see also Bennett R. Moss, “In­
dustry and Sector Price Indexes,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , August
1965, pp. 974-82.

o

Consum er Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, annual averages and changes, 1967-

CO

22.

[1967=100]
Food and

A IM e m s

A p p a re l an d

H o u s in g

T ra n s p o rta tio n

b e v e ra g e s

M e d ic a l c a r e

O th e r g o o d s

E n te r ta in m e n t

upkeep

a n d s e r v ic e s

Y ear
P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x

change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x
change

1967
1968
1969
1970

..................
..................
..................
..................

1000
104.2
109.8
116.3

4.2
5.4
5.9

100.0
103.6
108.8
114.7

3.6
5.0
5.4

100.0
104.0
110.4
118.2

4.0
6.2
7.1

100.0
105.4
111.5
116.1

5.4
5.8
4.1

100.0
103.2
107.2
112.7

3.2
3.9
5.1

100.0
106.1
113.4
120.6

6.1
6.9
6.3

100.0
105.7
111.0
116.7

5.7
5.0
5.1

100.0
105.2
110.4
116.8

5.2
4.9
5.8

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

121.3
125.3
133.1
147.7
161.2

4.3
3.3
6.2
11.0
9.1

118.3
123.2
139.5
158.7
172.1

3.1
4.1
13.2
13,8
8.4

123.4
128.1
133.7
148.8
164.5

4.4
3.8
4.4
11.3
10.6

119.8
122.3
126.8
136.2
142.3

3.2
2.1
3.7
7.4
4.5

118.6
119.9
123.8
137.7
150.6

5.2
1.1
3.3
11.2
9.4

128.4
132.5
137.7
150.5
168.6

6.5
3.2
3.9
9.3
12.0

122.9
126.5
130.0
139.8
152.2

5.3
2.9
2.8
7.5
8.9

122.4
127.5
132.5
142.0
153.9

4,8
4.2
3.9
7.2
8.4

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

..................
..................
..................
..................
..................

170.5
181.5
195.3
217.7
247.0

5.8
6.5
7.6
11.5
13.5

177.4
188.0
206.2
228.7
248.7

3.1
6.0
9.7
10.9
8.7

174.6
186.5
202.6
227.5
263.2

6.1
6.8
8.6
12.3
15.7

147.6
154.2
159.5
166.4
177.4

3.7
4.5
3.4
4.3
6.6

165.5
177.2
185.8
212.8
250.5

9.9
7.1
4.9
14.5
17.7

184.7
2024
219.4
240.1
267.2

9.5
9.6
8.4
9.4
11.3

159.8
167.7
176.2
187.6
203.7

5.0
4.9
5.1
5.5
8.5

162.7
172.2
183.2
196.3
2136

5.7
5.8
6.4
7.2
8.8

23. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers and revised CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical V/orkers,
U.S. city average— general summary and groups, subgroups, and selected items
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1980

U rb a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v is e d )

1981

1980

1981

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

A ll i t e m s ...................................................

253.9

269.0

271.3

274.4

276.5

297.3

279.9

254.1

269.1

271.4

274.6

276.5

279.1

279.7

Food and beverages ....................
Housing........................................
Apparel and upkeep............................
Transportation ....................................
Medical care ................................
Entertainment ..........................................
Other goods and services..........................

255.5
271.1
183.9
256.1
272.8
210.9
221.5

265.4
288.5
186.4
277.8
289.0
220.3
232.2

266.5
292.2
185.8
279.9
291.5
220.8
233.4

268.9
297.0
184.7
282.6
295.6
221.1
234.4

270.1
299.7
187.4
283.7
299.3
222.3
235.6

270.7
303.7
190.7
285.2
301.7
224.0
243.0

270.3
303.5
191.5
287.2
304.8
225.5
245.2

256.6
271.0
182.8
256.6
274.3
209.2
219.9

265.9
288.1
186.2
278.9
290.8
217.7
230.4

267.0
291.9
185.8
281.0
292.9
218.3
231.4

269.4
297.0
185.5
283.9
295.4
2187
232.4

270.6
299.6
187.9
285.1
298.6
219.9
233.5

271.0
303.6
190.5
286.6
300.9
221.5
239.3

270.7
303.3
190.6
288.9
304.0
223.4
241.4

Commodities..................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..................
Nondurables less food and beverages............................
Durables............................................

240.7
230.2
2444
218.1

251.9
241.7
263.8
223.9

253.2
243.1
263.5
226.6

255.0
244.7
262.9
229.6

256.2
245.8
263.9
230.9

257.7
247.6
265.8
232.6

257.9
248.0
266.4
232.9

240.8
230.0
246.1
216.3

252.4
242.3
266.6
222.4

253.8
243.8
266.3
225.2

255.7
245.5
266.0
228.4

256.9
246.7
266.8
229.9

258.2
248.4
268.5
231.5

258.4
248.7
268.6
232.0

Services ............................................
Rent, residential....................................
Household services less rent ..........
Transportation services..........................
Medical care services........................
Other services......................

277.9
197.1
327.4
250.8
294.8
226.7

299.6
205.9
360,4
266.6
311.7
235.3

303.5
206.8
366.7
269.6
314.4
236.3

308.8
207.8
374.8
275.0
319.2
237.6

312.2
210.3
379.9
275.7
323.4
239.1

317.3
211.9
387.4
277.7
326.1
245.8

318.6
213.6
387.2
281.0
329.7
247.8

278.6
196.8
330.3
249.6
296.6
227.4

3000
205.5
363.5
265.5
313.6
234.5

303.9
206.4
370.1
268.2
315.8
235.6

309,6
2074
379.4
273.8
318.5
236.8

312.7
209.9
384.2
274.3
322.1
238.3

317.7
211.5
392.2
276.3
324.7
243.6

319.2
213.2
391.8
279.9
328.3
246.6

250.9
2430
228.3
239.6
271.1
251.0
293.2
274.2
247.3
276.8
368.0
245.1
239.7
209.4
399.1
274.9

267.0
255.2
239.6
258.2
298.0
265.8
317.4
296.2
254.7
270.9
411.3
257.9
253.0
215.7
455.4
296.5

269.5
256.9
241.1
258.0
298.0
266.2
321 9
300.1
255.9
271.6
414.0
260.2
255.6
217.5
453.1
299.8

272.7
259.3
242.6
257.5
297.8
267.1
328.1
305.4
259.5
275.3
415.7
263.5
259.0
219.4
451.3
304.9

274.9
260.9
243.8
258.4
298.0
268.1
331.7
308.8
260.6
276.7
416.1
265.6
261.3
220.9
449.9
308.3

278.2
262.9
245.5
260.3
299.1
269.5
337.5
314.1
260.8
277.9
417.1
268.6
264.8
222.9
449.3
313.6

279.0
263.6
245.9
260.7
299.5
269.5
338.7
315.1
259.5
275.5
414.9
269.4
265.9
223.4
448.2
315.3

251.0
243.5
228.2
241.3
272.8
252.3
294.2
274.7
247.0
279.0
371.1
244.5
238.7
207.8
400.3
275.6

267.2
255.8
240.3
260.9
300.1
267.2
318.2
296.4
254.2
273.8
414.9
257.0
251.9
214.6
456.0
297.0

269.7
257.5
241.8
260.7
300.0
267.6
322.6
300.4
255.3
274.3
417.3
259.3
254.5
216.6
453.7
300.2

273.1
260.0
243.5
260.4
299.8
268.7
329.3
306.3
259.0
277.9
418.9
262.7
258.1
218.7
451.9
305.7

275.2
261.5
244.7
261.2
300.0
269.7
332.6
309.4
259.9
277.2
418.9
264.7
260.3
220.2
450.6
308.9

278.2
263.3
246.3
262.9
301.3
270.7
338.3
314.6
259.9
279.7
420.1
267.5
263.6
222.1
450.0
314.0

279.1
264.0
246.6
263.0
301.5
270.7
339.7
315.8
258.6
276.5
417.9
268.3
264.8
222.6
448.9
316.0

$0,394

$0,372

$0,369

$0,364

$0,362

$0,358

$0,357

$0,394

$0,372

$0,368

$0,364

$0,362

$0,358

$0,358

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

S p e c ia l in d e x e s :

All items less fo o d ............................
All items less mortgage interest costs ..............
Commodities less food........................
Nondurables less food ..............
Nondurables less food and apparel....................
Nondurables ..............................
Services less rent ..................................
Services less medical c a re ......................
Domestically produced farm foods ......................
Selected beef cuts....................................
Energy ......................................
All items less energy ..........................
All items less food and energy ..........
Commodities less food and energy..............
Energy commodities ..........................
Services less energy..................................
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1 ..........


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

81

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
U rb a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v is e d )

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1981

1980

1981

1980

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Aug.

S e p t.

268.9

270.1

270.7

270.3

256.6

265.9

267.0

269.4

270.6

271.0

270.7

276.2

277.4

278.0

277.6

263.4

272.9

274.0

276.6

277.7

278.1

277.8

268.7
271.5
148.3
139.0
152.4
150.9
142.1
236.0
140.2
141.7
142.3
143.3
130.7
142.9

271.6
272.4
149.0
139.5
153.4
151.2
142.5
236.4
140.6
142.4
142.7
143.0
131.6
143.9

272.8
272.6
149.5
139.6
154.6
151.4
142.4
235.6
140.8
143.4
142.7
143.1
130.6
143.9

273.2
274.3
150.1
139.5
155.7
151.6
143.5
238.2
141.5
143.3
144.4
143.9
132.0
144.3

272.1
275.0
150.0
139.3
156.1
151.1
144.0
238.4
141.6
144.8
143.9
145.7
133.2
144.4

259.7
254.3
138.5
133.8
139.3
141.6
133.3
222.6
135.8
132.1
132.6
132.5
126.5
134.1

267.2
269.4
148.4
140.3
151.3
152.0
140.6
233.2
141.7
139.6
141.2
142.1
128.9
142.5

268.2
270.7
150.0
141.4
154.0
152.7
141.0
233.1
142.5
139.7
141.2
143.3
131.5
142.3

271.1
271.5
150.6
141.9
154.8
153.2
141.4
233.9
142.9
141.7
141.4
142.6
131.2
142.8

272.2
272.0
151.3
142.0
156.4
153.1
141.5
233.0
143.4
141.0
141.2
144.1
130.9
143.4

272.3
273.2
151.2
141.1
157.2
152.6
142.4
235.9
143.4
140.1
142.3
144.6
132.2
144.8

271.3
274.0
151.5
140.9
157.9
152.7
142.8
235.5
143.6
141.7
141.7
146.4
134.0
144.9

147.0

146.1

147.2

147.1

148.0

148.9

130.9

140.1

140.3

140.9

141.5

142.1

142.8

252.6
259.0
258.7
275.8
275.8
284.4
250.6
258.9
270.7
161.0
225.8
224.7
207.8
105.5
282.4
232.5
127.6
259.4
260.9
146.5
127.8
146.1
209.1
216.7
134.7
128.7
336.6
133.9
124.8
175.3

247.0
253.2
252.3
270.3
264.1
280.3
246.8
256.0
271.4
159.2
217.3
212.7
203.7
97.2
277.7
230.5
122.7
253.9
247.6
143.0
126.9
145.3
194.7
190.3
127.5
128.3
353.2
139.2
131.8
170.5

248.7
255.0
254.2
271.1
2646
281.0
246.2
255.1
274.6
159.9
221.2
216.5
209.8
98.0
278.9
2298
126.7
255.9
250.7
143.9
127.6
146.5
196.8
193.8
128.3
128.9
352.1
139.3
131.0
172.1

254.1
260.7
259.6
274.5
264.5
283.5
245.6
258.9
284.3
163.5
231.5
228.1
221.8
102.0
289.7
233.0
133.6
258.4
251.8
145.9
129.1
147.6
204.8
206.9
133.0
130.0
356.9
140.6
133.1
174.2

255.8
262.2
2620
275.9
267.4
285.3
247.2
256.0
282.2
164.3
235.3
231.1
224.1
105.3
297.2
234.9
135.0
261.4
259.8
147.0
130.6
146.8
202.0
201.4
131.8
129.7
356.8
139.8
133.6
177.6

257.7
263.4
263.4
277.1
270.3
289.4
244.1
255.9
281.9
164.9
238.1
237.1
225.1
106.8
300.7
239.5
135.4
260.7
256.4
147.5
131.8
144.4
199.7
197.3
130.5
129.9
362.6
140.9
136.5
188.8

256.4
262.2
262.5
274.9
267.4
287.8
245.1
259.0
273.3
163.4
238.6
240.1
223.1
109.4
298.7
241.9
134.1
261.6
261.2
147.6
131.8
143.4
196.6
194.0
129.2
127.2
360.8
140.5
135.6
185.9

251.8
258.1
258.1
277.4
278.9
294.0
251.1
257.9
272.8
160.3
225.8
226.0
207.3
103.5
283.2
235.2
127.9
255.8
260.3
143.6
125.5
146.5
205.4
210.5
133.5
127.1
333.8
131.2
124.6
174.4

246.3
252.4
251.7
272.5
267.8
290.9
249.4
253.7
275.3
158.5
216.3
215.2
201.5
93.8
278.5
231.4
122.4
250.6
247.0
140.6
124.8
145.9
192.5
187.0
126.6
127.5
349.9
137.8
130.5
171.5

248.4
254.5
253.9
273.0
267.9
288.9
249.5
253.6
278.7
159.2
221.3
220.5
209.8
95.1
278.7
230.1
127.7
253.1
249.8
141.9
126.0
147.1
194.4
190.3
127.0
128.2
349.8
137.9
130.4
173.0

254.1
260.5
259.7
276.5
267.9
295.5
249.8
257.0
285.6
162.4
232.6
230.5
222.4
100.4
293.4
234.4
134.5
255.6
251.9
144.6
126.5
148.9
203.1
202.9
133.3
129.3
353.5
139.0
131.9
175.0

255.5
261.8
261.3
275.9
269.4
295.5
247.3
251.5
279.2
162.6
236.5
234.5
224.4
103.7
298.6
238.0
136.3
259.6
260.4
145.7
128.8
148.3
201.2
199.6
131.6
129.9
356.4
138.5
134.1
177.7

257.5
263.2
263.3
278.3
273.8
299.9
249.1
252.5
281.9
162.8
239.4
241.1
224.7
105.6
302.3
242.9
136.7
258.7
259.1
144.8
129.5
146.0
198.1
194.0
130.1
129.6
358.6
139.4
134.9
189.5

256.0
261.7
262.1
275.3
268.6
297.2
250.1
254.9
275.1
161.3
239.3
245.1
221.3
107.5
302.1
244.7
134.5
260.5
262.4
146.9
130.2
145.0
194.7
189.9
129.7
126.1
358.2
140.3
134.0
187.2

Dairy products..........................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 - 100) ................................
Fresh whole m ilk............................................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 - 100)......................
Processed dairy products (12/77 - 100)............................
Butter............................................................................
Cheese (12/77 - 100) ..................................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 - 100)................
Other dairy products (12/77 - 100)................................

232.7
129.1
211.3
129.1
134.9
238.9
133.4
138.0
129.0

243.8
134.9
220.8
134.7
141.9
245.2
140.5
146.2
136.1

243.8
134.8
220.7
134.6
142.0
245.1
140.5
146.4
136.3

244.2
134.9
220.7
134.9
142.5
245.8
140.7
147.6
136.6

243.8
134.5
220.2
134.2
142.5
246.2
140.8
147.9
135.6

244.3
134.7
220.0
135.4
143.0
247.1
140.8
148.7
137.3

244.6
134.7
220.2
135.2
143.3
247.2
140.9
149.9
137.0

233.1
129.1
211.0
129.5
135.8
242.5
133.8
139.1
129.4

243.9
134.7
220.4
134.8
142.6
247.6
140.6
147.8
136.4

243.9
134.5
220.0
135.1
142.9
248.7
140.9
147.8
136.8

243.9
134.4
219.9
134.5
143.1
247.7
141.3
148.0
137.2

243.9
134.3
219.8
134.4
143.3
248.5
141.5
147.9
137.2

244.1
134.3
219.4
135.3
143.4
249.9
140.9
149.1
137.6

244.2
134.4
219.5
135.2
143.6
249.7
140.7
149.9
138.1

Fruits and vegetables ..............................................................
Fresh fruits and vegetables ................................................
Fresh fruits ....................................................................
App.os........................................................................
Bananas ....................................................................
Oranges ....................................................................
Other fresh fruits (12/77 - 100)..................................
Fresh vegetables............................................................
Potatoes ....................................................................
Lettuce ......................................................................
Tomatoes ..................................................................
Other fresh vegetables (12/77 - 100) ........................

254.2
262.3
272.9
242.2
233.4
3129
145.4
252.4
295.6
249.1
237.3
129.7

2768
284.4
276.6
235.4
266.3
274.1
154.9
291.7
384.4
252.5
200.2
158.6

278.1
285.2
278.9
239.9
260.5
287.1
154.4
291.1
414.3
238.7
205.2
151.8

284.4
294.0
292.1
251.9
240.6
327.8
160.4
295.9
414.9
261.3
194.0
154.5

286.1
295.8
306.9
282.1
245.2
353.7
163.5
285.5
375.1
290.6
209.9
143.6

281.6
286.9
306.4
262.9
250.7
346.2
168.4
268.6
329.1
293.5
193.9
137.9

275.2
273.5
291.4
237.0
254.9
328.5
160.9
256.8
290.4
258.3
207.3
139.6

252.3
259.6
270.4
243.7
230.2
301.5
145.6
249.9
292.0
241.3
235.6
129.6

274.3
281.8
271.5
232.7
264.2
261.1
153.3
291.1
378.1
255.6
193.8
160.1

275.3
281.0
272.1
241.0
259.0
274.0
149.9
289.0
402.7
237.1
200.8
153.6

281.7
290.2
285.5
253.1
233.8
307.0
158.9
294.4
404.2
259.2
195.5
155.8

282.5
290.4
2984
284.6
239.9
325.1
160.5
283.2
362.8
290.0
211.0
144.1

276.3
278.2
293.7
261.8
251.3
314.6
161.5
264.4
316.8
292.9
191.3
136.6

270.8
267.2
279.5
236.5
253.3
299.9
154.7
256.1
287.7
257.2
206.4
140.0

Processed fruits and vegetables ........................................
Processed fruits (12/77 - 100) ......................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 - 100)....................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 - 100) ................
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 - 100) ........................
Processed vegetables (12/77 - 100)..............................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 - 100)................................

247.5
127.8
118.8
131.0
132.0
120.8
120.3

270.9
142.1
144.2
145.3
136.7
130.2
129.8

272.8
142.0
143.4
145.5
137.1
132.1
130.8

276.4
143.1
144.0
146.8
138.4
134.6
133.2

277.9
143.4
143.5
147.4
139.1
135.7
134.9

278.3
143.7
143.6
147.5
139.8
135.9
135.7

279.4
144.9
144.7
148.4
141.2
135.9
136.9

264.4
128.5
118.8
131.9
132.7
119.6
120.3

268.4
141.6
142.0
145.1
137.4
128.9
129.6

271.4
142.1
142.3
145.8
137.9
131.2
131.9

274.6
142.8
142.9
146.1
139.1
133.6
134.1

276.2
143.4
142.8
147.1
139.8
134.6
135.7

276.7
143.7
142.8
147.8
140.1
134.8
136.6

277.2
144.2
143.4
147.6
141.1
134.9
137.5

June

J u ly

265.4

266.5

272.5

273.6

260,0
253.7
137.5
133.2
139.3
138.9
133.1
222.7
132.5
133.4
132.5
131.0
126.4
133.4

267.7
270.0
146.8
138.8
149.8
149.8
141.5
235.1
139.3
141.5
142.3
141.8
128.2
142.8

135.3

Meats, poultry, fish, and egg s..........................................................
Meats, poultry, and fish ............................................................
Meats ..............................................................................
Beef and veal ................................................................
Ground beef other than canned....................................
Chuck roast................................................................
Round roast................................................................
Round steak ..............................................................
Sirloin steak................................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 - 100) ............................
Pork..............................................................................
Bacon ........................................................................
Chops ........................................................................
Ham other than canned (12/77 - 100)........................
Sausage ....................................................................
Canned ham ..............................................................
Other pork (12/77 - 100) ..........................................
Other meats ..................................................................
Frankfurters................................................................
Bologna, llverwurst, and salami (12/77 - 100) ............
Other lunchmeats (12/77 - 100) ................................
Lamb and organ meats (12/77 - 100) ........................
Poultry..............................................................................
Fresh whole chicken....................................................
Fresh and frozen chicken parts (12/77 - 100) ............
Other poultry (12/77 - 100) ......................................
Fish and seafood ..............................................................
Canned fish and seafood (12/77 - 100)......................
Fresh and frozen fish and seafood (12/77 - 100) ........
Eggs .........................................................................................................................................

O c t.

M ay

............................................................................................................

255.5

F o o d ...............................................................................................................................................................

262.4

Food at home........................................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ..........................................................
Cereals and cereal products (12/77 - 100)..............................
Flour and prepared flour mixes (12/77 - 100)....................
Cereal (12/77 - 100)........................................................
Rice, pasta, and commeal (12/77 - 100) ..........................
Bakery products (12/77 - 100)................................................
White bread ......................................................................
Other breads (12/77 - 100)..............................................
Fresh biscuits, rolls, and muffins (12/77 - 100) ..................
Fresh cakes and cupcakes (12/77 - 100)..........................
Cookies (12/77 - 100)......................................................
Crackers and bread and cracker products (12/77 = 100) . . .
Fresh sweetrolls, coffeecake, and donuts (12/77 = 100) . . .
Frozen and refrigerated bakery products
and fresh pies, tarts, and turnovers (12/77 - 100) ..........

FOOD A N D BEVERAG ES

Digitized for
82FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

FO O D A N D B EVER AG ES

Food -

1980

U rb a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v is e d )

1981

1980

1981

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

122.5
120.3
311.5
369.0
134.7
209.4
131.5
246.0
254.2
125.6
128.5
404.9
280.4
133.9
411.8
368.1
125.8
236.6
124.1
133.9
130.6
131.9
133.4
132.0
127.9

131.5
129.8
323.7
367.1
145.1
178.4
141.4
270.7
256.1
182.7
130.4
412.3
295.7
140.6
354.4
339.1
134.0
252.9
131.5
141.6
145.9
140.0
141.1
138.6
136.6

134.6
131.4
323.6
361.3
145.2
168.2
142.6
269.6
256.1
181.8
129.6
412.8
297.0
140.8
353.1
335.2
134.5
254.4
132.6
142.2
147.2
141.1
140.8
139.3
137.7

136.0
134.6
323.3
360.0
145.9
164.6
142.9
269.0
255.9
181.0
129.4
410.3
294.7
139.6
351.4
334.3
134.2
256.3
133.2
143.7
147.5
142.0
142.3
140.7
139.0

137.4
135.4
325.1
361.3
146.1
164.3
145.0
269.2
258.2
179.8
129.4
413.1
298.2
141.5
346.0
333.3
134.9
257.9
133.6
143.5
148.8
144.4
142.9
142.0
139.5

136.8
135.6
325.7
361.4
146.8
163.0
145.3
268.5
256.7
178.5
129.6
413.7
298.9
142.4
345.1
330.8
134.9
259.0
134.9
144.8
149.6
144.4
143.3
142.3
139.9

137.7
134.6
326.4
359.9
148.8
157.1
145.2
2685
256.6
176.5
130.5
414.8
301.1
142.3
343.1
329.9
135.6
260.5
133.1
144.1
152.0
1462
143.5
144.5
140.5

120.6
118.5
311.7
369.8
135.4
209.5
129.2
247.0
256.6
125.5
128.7
405.8
279.6
131.8
409.3
366.3
125.3
236.9
124.9
131.9
131.0
132.2
135.3
131.7
128.2

130.1
128.0
324.8
368.1
145.8
179.2
139.7
270.9
256.7
181.6
130.4
414.6
293.7
139.4
350.5
340.2
133.9
254.7
132.1
139.6
149.1
139.3
143.6
139.6
137.2

133.6
129.7
324.5
363.0
146.5
169.3
140.8
269.5
256.0
180.5
129.6
414.6
294.1
139.3
348.5
337.1
134.4
255.8
133.5
140.8
149.1
140.3
143.2
139.9
138.5

134.8
132.8
324.2
362.8
147.3
166.6
141.8
269.0
256.6
179.4
129.4
411.3
290.8
138.3
346.6
334.9
134.0
257.9
134.5
142.3
150.0
141.4
144.4
141.0
139.8

135.4
133.7
326.1
362.7
147.4
165.3
142.9
268.7
255.7
178.8
129.6
415.2
296.6
138.9
342.8
333.8
135.0
259.7
134.8
142.5
151.5
142.8
145.6
142.1
140.8

135.1
133.8
326.2
363.1
147.6
164.9
143.8
267.4
254.5
177.2
129.2
414.7
295.6
140.3
340.5
331.4
134.6
260.5
136.4
142.7
152.6
142.7
145.3
142.8
141.1

135.5
133.3
327.1
360.2
148.7
158.4
144.0
268.1
255.9
175.2
130.3
416.0
297.7
139.6
338.9
332.7
135.5
2623
135 6
142.8
155.3
144 8
145.5
1439
141.9

273.1
132.9
132.4
131.8

289.3
141.0
139.9
139.9

290.6
141.5
140.7
140.3

292.4
142.6
141.3
141.6

293.7
143.2
141.9
142.1

294.8
143.6
142.4
143.1

296.2
143.9
143.2
143.9

277.4
134.4
135.1
133.9

291.9
141.8
141.7
141.1

293.5
142.8
142.6
141.3

295.2
143.6
143.C
142.7

296.4
144.2
143.7
143.1

297.6
144.6
144.3
143.9

299.0
145.3
144.8
144.8

C o n t in u e d

C o n tin u e d

Food at home — Continued
Fruits and vegetables — Continued
Cut corn and canned beans except lima (12/77=100) . . ,
Other canned and dried vegetables (12/77=100) .
Other foods at hom e........................................
Sugar and sweets........................
Candy and chewing gum (12/77=100) . . .
Sugar and artificial sweeteners (12/7.7=100) . . .
Other sweets (12/77=100) ................
Fats and oils (12/77=100) ............................
Margarine ................................
Nondairy substitutes and peanut butter (12/77=100) ..........
Other fats, oils, and salad dressings (12/77=100) .
Nonalcoholic beverages ........................
Cola drinks, excluding diet c o la ................................
Carbonated drinks, including diet cola (12/77=100) .
Roasted coffee ..............................
Freeze dried and instant coffee................................
Other noncarbonated drinks (12/77=100)............
Other prepared foods................................
Canned and packaged soup (12/77=100) .. .
Frozen prepared foods (12/77=100)........................
Snacks (12/77=100)......................
Seasonings, olives, pickles, and relish (12/77=100)............
Other condiments (12/77=100)..........
Miscellaneous prepared foods (12/77 =100) ..............
Other canned and packaged prepared foods (12/77=100) ..
Food away from hom e........................
Lunch (12/77=100) ..................................
Dinner (12/77=100) ........................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77=100)................
A lc o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s

.........................

Alcoholic beverages at home (12/77=100)................
Beer and a le ............................
Whiskey........................
Wine....................................
Other alcoholic beverages (12/77 = 100)........
Alcoholic beverages away from home (12/77=100)..

190.4

199.1

199.8

200.5

201.4

202.5

201.4

192.5

201.2

202.1

202.8

203.8

204.6

204.3

124.0
191.7
137.7
215.4
112.5
125.1

129.3
201.4
142.5
223.9
115.5
132.6

129.7
202.0
143.0
224.6
116.1
133.1

130.1
201.8
143.7
227.5
116.3
134.1

130.6
202.6
144.7
227.4
117.0
134.7

131.4
203.6
145.4
229.7
117.5
135.4

130.5
202.5
144.0
228.2
116.3
135.5

125.6
192.0
139.0
224.2
111.6
125.3

131.1
201.8
143.2
234.3
114.6
132.0

131.5
202.4
144.0
233.4
115.7
133.4

131.9
202.4
144.7
236.9
155.9
134.0

132 4
203.2
145.6
235.5
117.0
135.4

132.8
203.5
146.2
237.6
117.1
136.2

132.5
203.1
146.4
238 1
115.7
136.4
303.3

H O U S I N G ......................................................

271.1

288.5

292.2

297.0

299.7

303.7

303.5

271.0

288.1

291.9

297.0

299.6

303.6

S h e l t e r .............................................................

290.4

308.4

312.6

318.5

322.0

326.9

326.6

292.0

309.4

313.7

320.2

323.6

328.6

328.1

Rent, residential............................

197.1

205.9

206.8

207.8

210.3

211.9

213.6

196.8

205.5

206.4

207.4

209.9

211.5

213.2

Other rental costs ........................
Lodging while out of town............................................
Tenants' insurance (12/77=100) ......................

268.8
286.0
125.4

286.4
307.2
131.9

289.5
311.8
133.1

293.6
318.3
133.3

298.5
325.7
133.9

308.1
326.3
135.9

308.7
324.2
140.0

268.8
284.9
126.0

286.1
305.5
132.3

289.7
310.6
133.4

293.3
316.3
133.7

299.0
324.4
134.5

308.0
325.3
136.4

308.4
323.3
140.1

Flomeownership........................
Home purchase..................................
Financing, taxes, and insurance ..............
Property insurance ..........................
Property taxes ..............................
Contracted mortgage Interest c o s t............
Mortgage interest rates........................................
Maintenance and repairs ........................
Maintenance and repair services ....................
Maintenance and repair commodities ..............
Paint and wallpaper, supplies, tools, and
equipment (12/77=100)..............................
Lumber, awnings, glass, and masonry (12/77=100)............
Plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling
supplies (12/77=100)..............................
Miscellaneous supplies and equipment (12/77=100) .

323.8
265.5
404.7
362.0
192.0
518.1
192.6
292.8
317.0
236.3

345.0
263.0
458.3
383.7
199.8
596.9
224.0
312.9
341.2
246.3

350.4
266.6
467.2
386.6
200.3
610.4
226.4
315.5
344.4
247.6

358.0
271.4
480.0
387.1
201.4
630.1
299.4
319.3
349.0
249.3

361.8
272.6
488.3
389.0
205.2
641.3
232.4
320.5
350.6
249.5

367.8
274.5
501.8
389,7
206.2
662.0
238.2
321.6
352.5
248.7

366.7
272.5
501.8
392.5
207.4
661.3
239.5
320.8
351.1
249.3

326.7
266.4
410.8
365.3
193.8
521.2
193.0
290.4
315.1
235.0

347.1
262.2
464.3
387.1
201.7
598.6
224.9
307.3
337.6
241.1

352.7
266.2
473.8
388.1
202.2
612.9
227.2
308.2
338.7
241.5

361.2
271.2
486.9
388.3
203.2
632.6
230.3
316.2
350.5
242.4

364.8
272.3
495.3
390.5
207.1
643.8
233.3
315.8
349.5
243.1

371.0
273.8
509.0
391.9
208.0
664.4
239.2
318.1
352.5
244.1

369.7
271.4
508.3
394.7
209.2
662.5
240.5
319.2
354.2
244.0

136.9
122.4

143.9
125.1

145.3
124.7

146.7
125.0

146.9
124.2

146.2
125.0

146,7
124.4

133.1
122.5

137.7
123.7

138.4
122.7

138.2
123.0

139.2
122.0

139.1
123.2

139.9
122.3

123.8
123.3

130.7
127.6

131.2
128.5

132.7
129.2

132.0
130.5

131.2
131.2

132.4
131.7

126.6
125.9

128.1
130.8

128.5
131.7

130.1
132.5

130.6
133.3

131.7
134.3

132.1
133.7

F u e l a n d o t h e r u t i l i t i e s ...................................

287.6

314.9

320.2

325.1

327.8

331.1

330.1

288.0

315.7

321.2

326.4

328.7

332.3

330.9

Fuels ..............................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled gas..............
Fuel o il..............................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) ..............
Gas (piped) and electricity..........................
Electricity................................
Utility (piped) gas ....................................

362.8
558.7
581.5
143.1
317.1
265.3
384.6

403.3
685.8
720.6
163.6
339.6
281.9
416.5

411.7
682.0
715.7
164.3
350.2
296.7
416.9

417.2
677.9
711.0
164.0
357.6
306.2
418.6

419.5
674.6
707.3
163.6
360.8
311.9
416.2

422.4
673.4
705.7
163.8
364.5
309.8
431.7

419.0
672.7
704.3
165.0
3606
303.0
434.5

362.1
559.9
581.8
144.8
316.0
265.3
380.9

402.5
688.6
723.1
164.7
338.1
281.2
413.0

411.2
685.1
718.4
165.5
349.0
296.6
413.2

417.0
681.1
713.8
165.4
356.7
306.2
415.8

418.7
677.9
710.2
165.1
3594
312.1
411.2

422.2
677.0
709.0
165.3
363.6
3099
428.5

418.4
675.9
707.1
166.4
359.3
302.7
430.8


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

83

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v i s e d )

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1981

1980

1981

1980
O ct

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O ct

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

Sept

O c t.

Other utilities and public services ............................................................
Telephone services ..........................................................................
Local charges (12/77 - 100) ....................................................
Interstate toll calls (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Intrastate toll calls (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Water and sewerage maintenance ....................................................

167.8
137.5
106.6
102.1
100.1
266.2

176.2
144.0
115.5
101.8
101.7
282.3

177.1
143.5
114.9
101.8
101.5
291.2

180.8
147.2
116.7
109.1
101.5
294.0

183.7
149.2
117.3
113.4
101.8
299.2

187.4
152.5
120.5
114.9
103.9
304.1

189.4
154.3
121.5
116.6
105.5
305.2

167.8
137.4
106.5
102.1
99.9
267.3

176.6
144.1
115.7
101.9
101.5
284.7

177.3
143.6
115.1
101.9
101.3
292.5

181.3
147.5
116.9
109.6
101.3
295.8

184.3
149.5
117.6
113.8
101.6
301.4

187.8
152.7
120.7
115.1
103.7
306.0

189.8
154.5
121.8
116.6
105.3
307.3

H o u s e h o ld f u rn is h in g s a n d o p e r a tio n s

210.1

220.1

221.1

222.4

222.9

224.5

225.6

206.8

216.8

217.8

219.1

219.8

221.2

222.2

Housefurnishings ....................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings....................................................................
Household linens (12/77 - 100) ................................................
Curtains, drapes, slipcovers, and sewing materials (12/77 = 100) .
Furniture and bedding ......................................................................
Bedroom furniture (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Sofas (12/77 - 100) ................................................................
Living room chairs and tables (12/77 - 100) ..............................
Other furniture (12/77 - 100)....................................................
Appliances including TV and sound equipment....................................
Television and sound equipment (12/77 - 100) ..........................
Television ..........................................................................
Sound equipment (12/77 - 100) ........................................
Household appliances................................................................
Refrigerators and home freezers..........................................
Laundry equipment (12/77 - 100) ......................................
Other household appliances (12/77 - 100)..........................
Stoves, dishwashers, vacuums, and sewing
machines (12/77 - 100)..............................................
Office machines, small electric appliances,
and air conditioners (12/77 - 100)................................
Other household equipment (12/77 - 100)........................................
Floor and window coverings, infants’, laundry,
cleaning, and outdoor equipment (12/77 = 100) ......................
Clocks, lamps, and decor items (12/77 - 100) ..........................
Tableware, serving pieces, and nonelectric
kitchenware (12/77 - 100) ....................................................
Lawn equipment, power tools, and other hardware (12/77 = 100) .

177.9
195.9
119.5
124.9
195.2
127.4
113.8
113.0
127.0
142.3
107.1
104.7
110.3
166.0
165.8
121.5
114.2

184.2
198.3
122.3
125.0
204.2
133.4
117.0
117.5
134.7
145.5
108.3
105.4
112.1
171.3
170.9
126.2
117.6

185.2
202.5
125.1
127.4
204.6
134.6
116.2
116.9
135.4
146.3
108.2
105.3
111.9
173.2
172.4
128.0
118.9

186.0
202.9
123.3
129.8
206.0
135.0
117.6
117.9
136.2
147.1
108.8
105.6
112.7
174.2
174.2
128.1
119.6

186.2
203.4
124.6
129.1
205.4
135.9
116.0
116.7
135.9
147.3
108.6
105.0
112.8
174.9
175.8
129.2
119.5

187.9
207.7
127.7
131.4
207.7
137.6
118.6
116.8
137.3
147.7
108.7
104.6
113.4
175.7
177.5
129.7
119.7

188.7
210.4
130.1
132.2
207.9
137.4
119.3
117.0
137.3
147.8
109.1
105.0
113.8
175.3
177.0
130.5
118.9

175.6
195.1
119.5
124.1
192.5
124.6
113.0
114.4
123.6
141.2
105.6
103.2
108.7
165.3
169.4
120.2
112.5

182.1 '
202.3
124.7
127.7
200.6
129.2
115.8
119.1
131.2
144.4
106.9
104.4
110.1
170.6
175.8
125.3
115.2

182.8
204.4
125.7
129.5
200.1
129.2
116.0
118.2
130.5
145.6
107.3
104.3
110.9
172.6
177.1
127.1
116.6

184.1
206.2
126.0
131.5
202.3
130.7
116.2
119.5
132.9
146.3
107.7
104.5
111.4
173.6
178.1
128.3
117.1

184.5
207.3
126.8
132.1
201.4
132.2
115.0
116.9
132.2
146.6
107.8
104.2
111.9
174.1
178.9
129.1
117.0

185.7
213.0
129.7
136.3
202.7
132.9
117.4
117.2
132.3
146.7
107.8
103.6
112.4
174.4
180.6
128.8
117.1

186.6
214.1
132.0
135.2
203.8
132.3
119.0
118.5
133.0
147.2
108.1
103.8
112.8
175.1
181.6
129.8
117.1

112.4

117.2

118.4

119.2

118.5

118.8

118.2

112.1

115.1

116.5

117.1

116.4

116.0

115.9

116.2
124.1

118.0
130.7

119.4
131.0

120.1
131.2

120.6
131.7

120.8
133.1

119.8
134.2

113.0
122.2

115.3
129.0

116.7
129.3

117.1
129.8

117.7
131.0

118.3
131.6

118.4
132.4

123.3
121.6

132.2
124.4

132.1
124.6

132.4
125.0

133.4
125.8

134.8
128.2

135.4
128.7

118.2
119.4

125.1
120.9

125.3
121.9

127.1
122.9

129.3
122.5

129.6
123.8

129.6
124.5

130.0
117.9

138.8
122.5

139.5
122.6

139.5
122.7

138.9
124.0

140.4
124.5

141.1
127.2

126.3
120.9

136.0
127.0

136.0
127.1

136.4
126.7

137.0
128.8

137.8
129.2

137.9
131.2

Housekeeping supplies............................................................................
Soaps and detergents ......................................................................
Other laundry and cleaning products (12/77 = 100) ..........................
Cleansing and toilet tissue, paper towels and napkins (12/77 = 100) ..
Stationery, stationery supplies, and gift wrap (12/77 = 100) ..............
Miscellaneous household products (12/77 - 100)..............................
Lawn and garden supplies (12/77 - 100)..........................................

253.6
248.7
125.7
134.2
118.6
129.5
126.9

269.0
262.6
132.8
137.8
125.1
138.4
140.6

269.8
266.0
133.4
137.6
125.8
139.5
138.4

271.5
266.5
134.8
138.8
126.6
140.5
138.8

272.0
267.0
134.8
138.4
126.6
141.7
139.2

273.3
268.9
135.7
139.9
127.2
142.8
137.8

274.3
269.3
136.7
141.8
128.1
142.8
136.6

251.2
245.6
125.1
136.2
118.2
126.7
121.0

265.5
260.2
131.5
137.9
126.8
135.0
132.4

266.9
263.6
132.3
138.2
127.2
136.1
131.3

267.9
263.1
133.6
139.0
127.9
136.6
131.7

268.6
263.6
134.7
138.7
128.2
136.9
131.8

270.4
265.6
135.8
140.4
128.7
138.1
131.1

271.2
265.3
136.6
142.4
130.8
137.8
129.0

Housekeeping services............................................................................
Postage ..........................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 - 100) ....................................

274.5
257.3

291.6
308.0

292.9
308.0

295.3
308.0

296.9
308.0

298.3
308.0

300.5
308.0

271.0
257.3

289.9
308.1

291.7
308.1

293.4
308.1

295.1
308.1

296.9
308.1

298.9
308.1

133.3
120.3

141.6
125.9

141.9
126.3

143.1
127.8

143.9
128.5

144.7
129.0

145.5
131.3

130.2
119.2

140.7
124.6

141.8
125.4

142.8
126.4

143.8
127.2

144.9
128.3

145.2
130.5

A P P A R E L A N D U P K E E P ..................................................................................................................

183.9

186.4

185.8

184.7

187.4

190.7

191.5

182.8

186.2

185.8

185.5

187.9

190.5

190.6

A p p a r e l c o m m o d i t i e s ........................................................................................................................

176.4

177.2

176.4

175.1

178.0

181.4

182.1

175.6

177.6

177.0

176.6

179.0

181.6

181.5

172.2
173.8
109.5
99.7
101.3
118.8
118.5
108.3
112.0
111.2
115.1
111.5
160.3
107.0
176.5
157.5
103.6
115.3
106.8
105.1
99.0
106.3

173.8
177.3
111.8
99.3
100.5
123.9
120.3
112.2
114.2
111.8
117.4
114.8
160.0
106.2
155.8
159.7
101.5
119.5
106.9
107.1
98.8
109.6

173.0
177.2
111.6
98.4
101.2
124.1
120.4
111.8
114.3
109.8
119.5
115.9
158.1
104.9
148.9
156.6
101.0
120.0
103.6
106.2
98.1
108.1

172.8
176.9
111.6
97.4
100.8
124.8
118.8
113.2
113.6
107.6
120.6
115.6
157.9
104.5
159.0
154.1
99.1
120.1
100.6
106.9
98.9
108.9

175.2
178.4
112.8
99.7
102.4
125.3
122.1
112.5
113.8
109.5
120.3
114.7
161.2
107.1
168.7
153.4
101.1
121.0
109.8
107.6
101.5
108.9

178.1
181.4
115.0
102.1
106.1
128.5
123.9
113.5
114.8
112.3
120.9
114.4
164.9
109.8
177.8
155.5
103.3
122.7
115.0
108.8
103.3
110.0

177.7
182.9
115.8
102.0
104.9
130.0
125.5
114.7
116.4
113.5
121.8
116.6
162.7
108.1
171.4
151.5
102.3
123.4
110.2
108.4
99.8
110.6

112.8

115.9

116.2

116.3

115.1

115.5

118.5

H O U S IN G -C o n tin u e d

F u e l a n d o t h e r u t ilit ie s

C o n t in u e d

............................................................................

Apparel commodities less footwear....................................................
Men’s and boys’ ..............................................................................
Men’s (12/77 - 100) ................................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) ......................
Coats and jackets (12/77 - 100)........................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 - 100) ....................
Shirts (12/77 - 100) ..........................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 - 100) ....................
Boys’ (12/77 - 100) ................................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 - 100) ..............
Furnishings (12/77 = 100)..................................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) ........
Women’s and girls’ ..........................................................................
Women’s (12/77 = 100)............................................................
Coats and jackets ..............................................................
Dresses ..............................................................................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100)............................
Underwear, nightwear, and hosiery (12/77 = 100)................
Suits (12/77 - 100)............................................................
Girls' (12/77 = 100)..................................................................
Coats, jackets, dresses, and suits (12/77 = 100)..................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100)............................
Underwear, nightwear, hosiery, and
accessories (12/77 = 100)..............................................

84 FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

173.1
173.9
109.5
104.3
100.4
122.9
118.3
102.6
113.0
109.2
118.1
113.9
159.7
106.1
167.0
170.0
101.6
114.9
98.2
107.0
103.2
106.7

173.3
176.8
111.2
104.7
97.9
129.2
118.3
105.5
115.1
108.8
121.4
117.5
157.2
103.9
152.8
164.8
99.0
119.7
90.7
107.9
104.1
106.9

172.5
176.6
111.0
104.3
98.1
129.7
117.9
105.0
115.4
108.7
123.9
117.3
155.4
102.7
149.5
163.7
98.0
119.8
86.3
106.4
100.4
105.9

171.2
175.6
110.3
102.5
96.7
129.6
115.5
106.5
115.1
107.0
124.5
117.7
153.5
101.2
153.9
162.2
95.1
120.0
78.6
106.5
100.0
106.1

174.3
177.6
111.7
105.6
97.7
129.5
117.9
106.6
115.8
109.2
124.3
117.5
157.8
104.4
162.1
166.2
97.4
121.2
87.0
107.9
101.6
108.7

178.0
181.1
114.3
108.8
101.0
132.7
120.6
107.8
116.4
111.3
125.0
117.0
162.9
108.1
170.8
170.8
101.1
122.8
95.4
109.7
103.3
111.0

178.4
183.6
115.9
109.8
102.4
134.3
123.0
109.2
118.1
111.9
125.6
119.9
161.2
106.8
167.3
166.9
100.4
123.0
92.4
109.2
99.8
112.0

113.8

116.1

117.2

117.6

117.0

117.9

119.6

23.

Continued — Consumer Price Index — U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1980

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v i s e d )

1981

1980

1981

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Apparel commodities less footwear — Continued
Infants' and toddlers'......................................................................
Other apparel commodities ............................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) ............................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 = 100) ........................................

244.1
211.8
111.9
147.5

256.9
212.1
114.3
146.8

260.0
212.2
114.5
146.8

259.8
212.4
115.3
146.6

263.6
214.0
117.5
147.2

266.4
213.3
118.3
146.2

268.5
216.2
118.1
149.0

249.2
204.1
112.0
141.1

269.9
204.1
113.4
140.5

273.0
204.8
113.2
141.2

272.9
204.8
113.6
141.0

279.3
206.1
115.3
141.4

279.8
206.0
116.4
140.9

281.6
206.2
116.3
141.1

Footwear..............................................................................................
Men's (12/77 = 100) ....................................................................
Boys’ and girls' (12/77 = 100) ......................................................
Women's (12/77 = 100)................................................................

196,1
124.7
125.8
119.6

201.0
127.8
129.3
122.4

200.4
127.7
129.1
121.6

199.0
128.0
130.1
118.7

200.0
128.3
129.1
120.6

202.4
128.8
129.7
123.5

204.2
129.3
131.1
124.9

195.6
125.8
126.9
116.3

200.0
128,7
127.7
120.5

200,6
129.5
128.6
120.2

199.2
129.5
128.7
117.8

200.8
129.8
130.4
118.9

202.3
129.7
130.7
121.2

204.1
130.3
132.2
122.5

A p p a re l s e r v ic e s

240.0
141.1
129.2

256.4
152.2
135.6

2578
153.2
136.0

258.9
153.8
136.7

260.2
154.7
137.2

262.0
155.7
138.2

263.2
157.1
137.5

238.1
140.9
127.4

254 2
151.5
134.5

255 7
152.5
135.0

256.3
153.1
135.1

258.2
153.9
136.5

260.0
155.0
137.4

262.1
156.4
138.3

T R A N S P O R T A T IO N

256.1

277.8

279.9

282.6

283.7

2852

287.2

256.6

278.9

281.0

283.9

285.1

286.6

288.9

P r i v a t e ...............................................................................................

254.5

276.0

277.9

279.6

280.5

281.9

283.9

255.5

277.7

279.7

281.6

2826

284.1

286.4

New cars ............................................................................................
Used c a rs ............................................................................................
Gasoline ..............................................................................................
Automobile maintenance and repair........................................................
Body work (12/77 = 100)..............................................................
Automobile drive train, brake, and miscellaneous
mechanical repair (12/77 = 100) ................................................
Maintenance and servicing (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Power plant repair (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Other private transportation ..................................................................
Other private transportation commodities ........................................
Motor oil, coolant, and other products (12/77 = 100) ................
Automobile parts and equipment (12/77 = 100)........................
Tires ................................................................................
Other parts and equipment (12/77 = 100) ........................
Other private transportation services................................................
Automobile insurance ..............................................................
Automobile finance charges (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Automobile rental, registration, and other fees (12/77 = 100) . . .
State registration ..............................................................
Drivers' licenses (12/77 = 100) ........................................
Vehicle inspection (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Other vehicle-related fees (12/77 = 100) ......................

181.9
222.7
370.5
276.0
135.0

190.9
245.2
416.5
290.8
141.5

192.2
252.9
414.4
291.9
142.3

192.5
260.3
412.9
293.5
144.1

191.9
266.9
411.7
295.5
145.8

191.3
272.8
411.2
298,7
147.4

192.5
278.2
409.9
301.3
148.7

182.0
222.7
371.7
276.6
134.6

191.2
245.2
417.7
291.3
141.3

192.5
252.9
415.6
292.6
142.2

192.9
260.3
414.0
293.4
143.3

192.1
266.9
412.9
296.1
145.4

191.4
272.8
412.4
299.3
146.1

192.7
278.2
411.3
301.8
147.2

132.7
130.0
129.8
226.5
200.9
136.5
128.9
179.2
126.9
235.6
251.5
149.9
114.6
146.5
104.9
122.9
130.0

138.7
136.5
138.6
238.9
208.6
143.1
133.6
186.4
130.4
249.4
256.8
172.9
117.7
147.5
105.5
125.8
136.3

138.9
137.1
139.2
241.0
208.5
144.5
133.4
186.1
130.2
252.0
257.4
178.5
117.8
148.0
105.8
125.7
136.3

139.9
137.4
139.9
242.9
208.8
144.8
133.6
185.6
131.7
254.3
259.8
180.9
118.0
147.9
105.9
128.6
136.6

140.9
137.8
141.2
243.0
212.1
146.8
135.7
189.3
132.4
253.6
260.3
177.3
119.5
147,9
106.2
( ')
140.0

143.1
138.9
142.6
244.2
212.6
147.7
136.0
189.7
132.8
255.0
262.0
178.0
120.1
147.9
109.6
(’ )
140.9

144.0
140.3
144.0
247.5
212.7
148.0
136.0
189.4
133.4
259.1
264.6
184.4
120.2
147.9
109.9
(’ )
141.2

133.9
130.2
129.6
2280
201.4
135.4
129.4
180.8
125.7
237.3
251.2
148.3
116.3
146.5
104.7
123.6
139.1

141.2
136.4
137.7
241.9
211.7
141.4
136.1
191.1
130.7
252.4
256.3
172.5
118.1
147.7
105.2
126.5
142.8

141.7
136.9
138.3
243.9
211.1
142.7
135.5
189.9
130.7
255.0
256.9
177.2
118.2
148.1
105.6
126.5
142.6

141.4
137.3
139.1
246.0
210.8
143.4
135.2
188.4
132.2
257.7
259.6
179.9
118.4
147.9
105.6
129.3
143.1

142.6
138.2
140.5
245.6
213.4
144.1
137.0
191.5
132.9
256.6
260.1
176.3
119.5
148.0
105.9
<’ )
145.8

145.5
139.2
141.9
246.9
215.5
145.3
138.4
194.1
133.2
257.7
261.8
176.5
119.8
148.0
109.5
(’ )
145.9

146.5
140.3
143.5
250.6
216.1
144.8
138.9
194.6
134.3
262.2
264.3
183.1
120.0
148.0
109.8

APPAREL AN D UPKEEP

A p p a r e l c o m m o d itie s

C o n t in u e d

C o n tin u e d

Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 = 100)............
Other apparel services (12/77 - 100) ..................................................

............................................................................................

(')
146.5

273.6

297.7

303.9

323.1

326.5

329.1

330.8

266.5

288.2

293.6

317.7

320.9

324.5

326.6

Airline ‘are........................................................................................
Intercity bus fare ..................................................................................
Intracity mass transit ............................................................................
Taxi fare ..............................................................................................
Intercity train fare..................................................................................

315.0
307.1
235.6
267.9
255.6

348.8
333.4
251.9
280.4
296.7

360.7
3376
253.5
281.7
304.1

367.3
343.5
290.7
287.1
3046

371.4
347.5
294.0
288.1
304.6

372.5
351.4
298.6
2886
305.0

372.0
361.3
301.7
289.3
315.0

313.0
306.9
235.2
274.7
255.7

346.7
333.0
249.9
287.9
298.5

3593
336.8
251.5
289.2
304.6

365.6
343.6
291.0
295.7
304.9

370.0
347.3
293.9
296.7
305.0

371.8
351.7
299.2
297.1
305.2

372.9
362.1
301.3
298.1
314.9

M E D IC A L C A R E

304.0

P u b lic

272.8

289.0

291.5

295.6

299.3

301.7

304.8

274.3

290.8

292.9

295.4

298.6

300.9

M e d ic a l c a r e c o m m o d itie s

172.5

184.7

186.3

187.7

189.4

190.8

192.1

173.0

185.9

187.3

189.2

190.6

191.9

192.9

Prescription drugs ......................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 = 100)..................................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 = 100)......................................
Circulatories and diuretics (12/77 - 100)........................................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 = 100) ................................
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 100) ..............................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 100)................................................

158.5
124.1
127.1
117.3

170.4
130.3
136.0
124.9

172.3
132.2
137.3
125.5

173.7
133.9
138.4
126.5

175.4
134.8
139.6
127.6

176.5
136,5
140.0
127.8

178.6
136.8
141.9
129.5

159.5
125.1
126.2
119.3

171.6
132.7
135.2
126.1

173.5
134.3
136.5
126 8

175.0
135.8
137.6
127.9

176.5
137.0
138,8
128.6

178.0
139.2
139.7
129.0

179.4
139.6
141.3
130.5

139.6
126.3

154.6
136.5

157.2
137.7

158.1
139.1

160.4
140.2

160.6
141.7

161.9
144.1

138.8
128.7

154.5
138.2

158,1
138 9

158.2
141.8

160.3
142.7

161.4
143.8

162.8
144.2

120.4

130.2

131.1

131.8

133.1

134.1

136.8

122.1

131.2

132.0

132.5

133.9

134.6

136.1

Nonprescription drugs and medical supplies (12/77 = 100) ....................
Eyeglasses (12/77 = 100) ............................................................
Internal and respiratory over-the-counter drugs ................................
Nonprescription medical equipment and supplies (12/77 = 100)........

124.4
121.0
193.5
121.3

132.6
125.3
209.1
128 6

133.5
125.3
211.5
128 6

134.5
125.8
213.1
129.9

135.6
126.3
215.5
130.4

136.7
126.9
217.8
131.4

137.0
127.4
217.3
132.7

124.4
119.6
194.0
121.8

133.6
124.1
211.0
130.5

134.4
124.7
212.6
130.7

135.8
125.0
215.4
132.2

136.7
125.3
217.5
132.3

137.4
126.0
218.9
132.6

137.9
126.0
2195
133.8

..................................................................................................................................

M e d ic a l c a r e s e r v ic e s

294.8

311.7

314.4

319.2

323.4

326.1

329.7

296.6

313.6

315.8

318.5

322.1

324.7

328.3

Professional services ............................................................................
Physicians’ services........................................................................
Dental services..............................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100)......................................

259.0
276.0
247.5
127.6

273.8
295.5
257.7
133.7

275.8
297.5
260.2
134.2

280.4
300.7
266.5
136.8

282.9
302.7
269.9
137.3

284.3
304.9
270.8
137.7

286.4
307.9
271.6
138.9

261.9
281.8
249.0
125.1

278.0
300.3
263.3
132.1

279.4
302.4
264.0
132.6

280.8
304.7
264.6
132.7

282.7
306.7
2666
133.6

284.5
308.6
268.4
134.3

286.2
310.9
269.5
134.9

Other medical care services..................................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 = 100)..........................
Hospital room..........................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 - 100)............

338.0
139.3
435.8
139.0

357.6
148.3
465.1
147.6

361.1
149.6
470.4
148.7

366.1
151.7
478.0
150.4

372.5
154.7
489.4
152.9

376.5
156.6
494.6
155.0

382.1
159.0
503.0
157.2

339.2
138.9
435.3
138.4

357.1
147.3
461.3
146.8

360.3
148.6
467.1
147.6

3646
150.3
472.2
149.4

370.6
153.1
482.6
151.8

374.1
154.8
488.5
153.4

380.3
157.9
498.9
156.1


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

85

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v i s e d )

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1981

1980

1981

1980

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

218.7

219.9

221.5

223.4

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

221.1

222.3

224.0

225.5

209.2

217.7

218.3

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

E N T E R T A I N M E N T ...............................................................................................................................

210.9

220.3

220.8

E n t e r t a i n m e n t c o m m o d i t i e s .....................................................................................................

213.7

225.0

225.4

225.5

226.5

227.9

228.9

209.0

220.4

220.8

221.1

222.2

224.0

224.2

Reading materials (12/77 - 100)..........................................................
Newspapers ..................................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 - 100)............................

127.0
245.3
129.6

135.6
264.1
137.1

136.2
264.9
137.9

136.0
265.0
137.3

136.0
265.5
137.2

138.1
266.3
141.1

138.7
267.1
141.9

126.6
244.6
129.6

135.6
264.0
137.3

136.1
264.8
138.2

135.9
265.0
137.4

135.9
265.4
137.1

137.8
266.2
141.2

138.3
266.9
141.9

Sporting goods and equipment (12/77 - 100)........................................
Sport vehicles (12/77 - 100) ........................................................
Indoor and warm weather sport equipment (12/77 = 100)................
Bicycles ........................................................................................
Other sporting goods and equipment (12/77 - 100 )........................

121.8
122.9
114.5
185.3
118.2

127.2
129.5
117.4
190.4
122.4

126.8
128.7
116.9
191.0
122.7

127.0
129.0
117.7
191.0
122.7

127.2
128.6
118.2
192.2
124.1

127.3
128.4
119.1
193.2
125.0

128.3
129.4
119.2
194.4
126.6

116.3
114.5
112.5
185.4
117.8

120.8
119.3
116.4
191.6
121.5

120.4
118.4
116.9
192.0
122.2

120.6
118.5
117.0
192.1
122.9

120.8
118.3
116.7
193.5
124.9

121.3
118.7
117.2
193.9
125.8

121.4
118.6
117.3
195.9
126.2

Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 - 100)............................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 100) ........................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 - 100)........................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 - 100) ......................................

122.8
120.9
123.1
125.8

128.8
127.6
125.8
133.3

129.3
127.9
126.2
134.2

129.3
127.9
125.7
134.5

130.5
129.3
126.0
136.2

131.0
129.4
126.4
137.2

131.3
129.6
126.0
138.3

120.9
117.4
122.3
126.4

127.7
125.0
126.1
133.6

128.1
125.3
126.5
134.3

128.5
125.3
127.0
135.1

129.6
126.6
127.1
136.6

130.6
127.1
127.7
138.8

130.5
126.2
127.8
139.9

E n te r ta in m e n t s e r v ic e s

...............................................................................................................

207.2

214.0

214.7

215.2

216.7

218.9

221.0

210.6

214.2

215.1

215.8

217.0

218.3

223.3

Fees for participant sports (12/77 - 100)..............................................
Admissions (12/77 - 100)....................................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 - 100)..........................................

125.5
122.7
119.0

130.7
125.1
121.7

131.3
124.9
122.2

131.6
125.9
121.7

132.0
128.1
121.7

134.3
128.0
122.5

136.4
128.3
123.1

127.0
124.2
121.6

130.5
125.0
122.5

131.4
124.8
123.4

131.6
125.7
123.2

132.4
126.9
123.1

134.0
127.3
122.7

138.9
128.2
124.2

O T H E R G O O D S A N D S E R V I C E S ............................................................................................

221.5

232.2

233.4

234.4

235.6

243.0

245.2

219.9

230.4

231.4

232.4

233.5

239.3

241.4

...........................................................................................................................

204.5

218.2

219.1

219.3

219.9

221.7

225.3

204.3

217.8

218.4

218.4

219.1

220.9

224.5

Cigarettes............................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 - 100)............

206.8
123.2

220.8
130.4

221.4
132.3

221.6
132.5

222.2
132.9

224.2
133.1

228.1
134.0

206.7
123.1

220.3
131.3

220.8
132.7

220.7
133.4

221.4
133.9

223.4
134.4

227.2
134.7

P e rs o n a l c a re

.....................................................................................................................................

217.8

230.5

232.1

233.4

235.1

236.3

236.9

218.0

228.4

229.7

231.2

232.4

233.6

234.1

Toilet goods and personal care appliances..............................................
Products for the hair, hairpieces, and wigs (12/77 = 100) ................
Dental and shaving products (12/77 - 100) ....................................
Cosmetics, bath and nail preparations, manicure
and eye makeup implements (12/77 - 100) ................................
Other toilet goods and small personal care appliances (12/77 = 100)

211.8
124.5
126.0

226.6
132.4
138.6

228.6
132.8
139.4

228.7
133.9
139.0

230.1
134.1
140.0

231.2
134.1
140.0

231.6
134.9
139.8

212.1
123.6
125.3

225.5
130.1
136.1

227.2
130.4
136.6

228.4
131.7
137.1

229.4
132.5
137.6

231.1
133.3
138.0

231.4
131.8
138.0

121.3
120.8

127.8
129.8

129.0
132.0

127.7
133.0

128.9
133.9

130.7
134.2

131.2
133.7

121.1
123.6

126.2
134.0

128.0
135.4

128.3
135.9

128.9
136.4

130.4
137.4

131.6
138.2

Personal care services..........................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women....................................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . . .

223.8
225.2
125.3

234.7
236.4
131.1

236.0
237.7
131.9

238.4
240.5
132.7

240.3
241.9
134.4

241.5
243.0
135.3

242.3
243.9
135.6

224.0
225.6
125.0

231.5
232.0
130.5

232.5
232.7
131.3

234.4
235.1
131.8

235.7
235.7
133.3

236.3
236.1
133.9

237.1
236.7
134.5

...............................................................................

251.1

256.8

257.8

259.2

260.4

281.5

284.6

251.2

257.7

258.5

260.1

261.7

281.8

284.8

Schoolbooks and supplies ....................................................................
Personal and educational services..........................................................
Tuition and other school fees ..........................................................
College tuition (12/77 - 100) ..................................................
Elementary and high school tuition (12/77 = 100) ....................
Personal expenses (12/77 = 100)..................................................

221.9
257.8
132.2
131.5
134.4
132.4

230.8
263.0
132.8
132.3
134.4
143.6

230.9
264.2
132.9
132.4
134.4
146.3

231.3
265.8
133.5
133.0
135.3
147.9

231.4
267.2
134.2
133.2
137.8
148.7

252.1
288.5
147.4
146.3
151.5
150.0

254.5
291.7
149.0
148.2
151.6
152.3

225.6
257.5
132.4
131.5
134.3
131.0

234.7
263.6
133.0
132.3
134.4
142.8

234.7
264.6
133.1
132.4
134.4
144.8

235.2
266.4
133.7
132.9
135.4
146.6

235.2
268.4
134.7
133.1
138.7
147.6

255.9
288.5
147.7
146.1
152.1
148.5

258.3
291.6
149.3
148.1
152.2
150.4

365.5
346.4
254.9
304.7

410.4
386.6
272.4
326.2

408.4
393.4
278.5
328.6

407.1
402.7
286.5
332.3

405.9
408.1
289.7
334.0

405.4
417.6
293.3
335.7

404.3
419.0
292.7
335.9

366.6
346.7
253.5
302.4

411.5
386.1
270.6
323.8

409.5
393.1
276.7
325.1

408.0
402.4
285.6
322.8

406.9
407.3
288.5
333.0

406.5
416.4
292.4
335.5

405.4
417.6
291.6
337.3

T o b a c c o p ro d u c ts

P e r s o n a l a n d e d u c a tio n a l e x p e n s e s

S p e c ia l i n d e x e s :

Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other products......................................
Insurance and finance ..........................................................................
Utilities and public transportation............................................................

Housekeeping and home maintenance services ......................................
1Not available.

86


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

24. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Cross classification of region and population size class by expenditure
category and commodity and service group
[December 1977 = 100]
S iz e c la s s A

S iz e c la s s B

( 1 .2 5 m il lio n o r m o r e )

(3 8 5 ,0 0 0

1 . 2 5 0 m il lio n )

S iz e c la s s C

S iz e c la s s D

(7 5 ,0 0 0 -3 8 5 ,0 0 0 )

( 7 5 , 0 0 0 o r le s s )

C a te g o ry a n d g ro u p
1981
June

Aug.

1981
|

O c t.

June

A ug.

1981
[

O c t.

June

1981

A ug.

O c t.

June

Aug.

O c t.

N o rth e a s t
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All items ..........................................
Food and beverages............................
Housing ..................................................
Apparel and upkeep ................................................
Transportation..................................................
Medical care......................................................
Entertainment ................................................
Other goods and services ......................................................

139.1
137.5
142.1
116.2
151.5
134.8
127.9
125.9

142.1
139.4
146.2
117.6
154.5
137.6
129.3
127.2

143.8
1397
147.8
118.9
156.3
140.0
131.8
134.6

146.8
139.2
153.2
118.9
159.1
134.0
129.6
132.1

150.5
139.9
160.4
118.3
161.3
139.2
129.1
132.2

152.3
139.9
161.4
124.8
164.0
143.6
129.6
138.0

152.5
141.1
166.0
123.1
158.4
137.8
125.9
134.1

155.3
142.3
170.4
123.5
160.5
140.8
127.8
135.8

156.2
142.6
170.1
124.8
162.0
146.5
129.5
141.5

146.3
136.1
154.0
122.9
156.6
137.2
130.2
128.8

147.7
137.6
155.2
125.7
158.3
138.9
1317
129.5

149.2
137.4
156.6
126.5
159.7
142.3
133.2
137.5

139.0
139.9
139.4

141.0
142.0
143.5

142.1
143.7
146.0

146.5
150.0
147.2

148.6
1527
153.6

149.6
154.3
156.5

148.1
151.4
159.7

149.1
152.3
165.4

149.8
153.1
166.7

145.0
149.3
148.3

146.0
150.0
150.5

146.4
150.7
153.5

C O M M O D I T Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities ........................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..........................................
Services ....................................................

N o rth C e n tr a l r e g io n
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All Items ....................................
Food and beverages........................................
Housing ............................
Apparel and upkeep ........................................
Transportation..............................................................
Medical care........................................
Entertainment ..........................................
Other goods and services ....................................................

150.0
138.1
162.9
110.8
156.4
139.1
130.6
130.1

152.3
139.4
165.9
112.9
158.9
141.3
130.9
131.2

152.6
139.7
164.4
115.5
161.2
142.8
132.2
136.0

146.6
137.5
152.6
118.9
157.3
139.9
124.4
136.0

148.1
139.2
154.7
120.2
158.4
144.5
188.4
136.5

148.8
139.3
153.6
127.2
159.5
145.6
123 8
142.4

142.3
139.6
143.5
115.3
157.0
140.4
129.8
129.3

145,4
140.8
148.5
116.9
159.3
143.9
129.8
131.5

145.9
140.3
147.5
123.4
161.2
145.3
131.3
135.1

143.1
140.7
144.0
118.6
155.9
144.0
126.9
134.3

145.3
142.4
147.0
121.6
157.6
146.9
128.1
133.6

1467
143.3
148.3
123.1
158.6
147.7
128.4
140.4

144.4
147.4
158.3

145.7
1487
162.1

145.7
148.5
162.9

142.5
144.6
153.2

142.9
144.5
156.4

142.9
144.4
158.3

139.9
140.0
146.2

141.7
142.1
151.6

141.4
141.9
153.3

138.0
136.8
151.1

139.4
138.1
154.8

1407
139 6
156.2

C O M M O D I T Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities............................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..........................
Services ............................................................

S o u th
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All items ..............................................
Food and beverages ..............................................................
Housing ......................................................
Apparel and upkeep ..................................
Transportation................................................................
Medical care................................................................
Entertainment ......................................................
Other goods and services ..................................................

146.2
138.2
152.3
121.1
158.1
135.0
124.9
133.1

148.2
140.2
154.9
121.9
158.9
138.3
125.3
135.3

150.9
141.2
158.6
124.4
160.6
141.6
127.1
139.2

148.7
139.4
156.4
119.9
158.3
138 8
130.7
134.1

151.6
1417
160.5
120.6
160.3
141.6
132.2
134.6

153.4
141.1
162.5
122.6
162.3
145.9
133.4
139.5

145.9
1387
151.9
115.3
156.6
142.1
132.1
131.5

148.5
141.6
155.3
115.1
158.6
145.6
132.1
132.7

149.2
141.2
1547
118.3
160.2
148.8
134.8
138.5

144.8
141.9
147.5
109.5
157.7
148.1
133.5
134.1

147.2
143.9
150.9
108.6
159.1
149.9
138.6
134.8

149.4
144,0
153.5
111.8
160.6
156.3
138.8
139.5

142.1
143.8
152.1

143.5
144.9
154.9

145.0
146.6
159.3

143.2
144.8
157.0

144.7
146.0
161.9

1457
147.7
164.9

141.3
142.4
153.1

143.1
143.8
156.9

143.6
144.6
157.9

142.1
142.2
149.0

143.2
143.0
153.1

144.1
144.2
157.4

C O M M O D I T Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities ..............................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ............................................
Services ..............................................................

W est
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All Items ............................................................
Food and beverages ..............................................
Housing ..........................................
Apparel and upkeep ................................................
Transportation............................................................................
Medical care........................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................
Other goods and services ..........................................

147.5
138.3
153.2
120.7
157,4
141.0
127.7
134.8

152.4
140.3
160.6
121.2
159.3
149.2
130.2
136.4

156.3
140.3
167.1
121.8
161.8
150.5
133.0
140.1

149.1
142.6
155.1
123.1
157.5
141.2
128.9
134.7

151.2
144.6
156.6
124.5
161.1
146.1
130.1
137.3

155.0
144.9
162.6
127.6
163.5
148.1
132.5
141.4

143.9
137.5
146.7
113.4
158.7
141.5
130.8
130.2

146.4
141.2
148.9
114.6
160.8
147.0
130.8
131.3

149.2
141.4
153.5
116.5
162.1
149.4
131.4
136.1

146.9
143.2
146.1
133.5
159.3
146.2
1437
137.8

147.7
145.2
145.6
134.4
161.0
149.9
145.4
141.0

152.1
145.5
153.9
135.9
162.5
150.4
144.4
145.5

140.5
141.4
156.8

143.4
1447
164.3

145.1
147.1
171.2

143.4
143.8
156.8

145.2
145.5
159.4

147.0
147.8
166.0

140.2
141.3
149.2

142.6
143.2
151.7

144.4
145.6
156.1

144.7
145.3
150.1

144.5
144.2
152.5

146.2
146.5
160.9

C O M M O D I T Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities..................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ......................................................
Services ..................................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

87

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
25.

Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average, and selected areas

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s ( r e v i s e d )

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
A re a '

U.S. city average2 ...... ........................................................

Anchorage, Alaska (10/67-100) ........................................
Atlanta, Ga...........................................................................
Baltimore, Md.......................................................................
Boston. Mass........................................................................
Buffalo, N.Y..........................................................................

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

O c t.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

253.9

269.0

271.3

274.4

276.5

279.3

279.9

254.1

269.1

271.4

274.6

276.5

279.1

279.7

281.5

252.4

269.2
269.3
263.6

Detroit. Mich.........................................................................
Honolulu, Hawaii ................................................................
Houston. Tex........................................................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas ....................................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif................................

264.3
234.6
272.3
254.8
252.6

264.5
271.7

269 1

288.2
275.2

267.3

280.5
252.8
2929
270.5
267.9

Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.............................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa.......................................................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash...........................................................
St Louis. Mo -III....................................................................
San Diego, Calif...................................................................

247.9
256.3

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif.................................................
Seattle-Everett, Wash...........................................................
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va......................................................

251.9

261.9

283.1

272.2

265.4
271.3

278.5
268.0
297.5

262.5
266.0
267.8

284.2

279.3

286.6
264.8

270.5
277.7

268.8
271.5
274.4

282.3
267.1

238.2

276.1

252.8

282.8
292.5

264.2
262.9

281.5
259.3
300.0
272.6
281.3

261.4
233.5
269.4
253.0
254.9

291.6
268.0

256.6
242.6

274.7
277.7

249.5
257.6

297.0

270.7

255.9
263.3
262.9

252.6

Area is used for New York and Chicago.
2 Average of 85 cities.

Reserve Bank

of St* Louis

271.3

275.9
253.8
289.4
269.1
271.7

278.9

276.3

265.6
273.0

262.3
269.0
268.5

279.1
256.6
291.8
270.2
278.6

282.3
288.8

280.2

282.9

278.2
259.1
295.9
271.3
284.9

151.0
292.1
287.0
264.0

271.6
278.1

267.8
275.0
274.5

291.6
267.0

275.2
278.4

288.8
273.0
308.0

279.2
269.2
300.5

295.6

287.2
277.8
271.4

276.3

304.2

143.7
291.2
276.6
257.9

261.2
275.8
277.1

283.0
285.1

274.3
271.5
267.7

274.6

299.9

276.1
268.4
292.5

288.6
271.8

271.7
276.3

283.8
284.0

144.8
283.5

RESEARCH LIBRARY

Federal

267.9

283.0
281.6
273.6

259.4

256.1
263.9
273.3

245.9
278.1

273.7
266.5

293.4

291.1
273.4
313.9
287.9

274.0
274.7
264.7

262.5

150.2
286.9

280.8
269.4
305.4

'The areas listed include not only the central city but the entire portion of the Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area, as defined for the 1970 Census of Population, except that the Standard Consolidated

88

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

283.5
256.6
294.7
271.3
2748

146.1
285.6
276.1
2586

276.9
275.2

298.9

294.2

143.2
278.5
256.7
259.9

275.8
284.4
288.2

285.3
286.0

264.6
264.9

255.5
243.1

260.3
272.7
273.3

272.8
268.6
263.6

279.9
272.8

272.5
266.3
257.2

239.6
253.7

2761

241.7

240.1

250.5

246.1

2446
250.2

Chicago, lll.-Northwestern Ind................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.........................................................
Cleveland, O hio..................................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex............................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo............................................................

Miami, Fla. (11/77-100) ....................................................
Milwaukee, Wis.....................................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis..............................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J...........................................
Northeast, Pa. (Scranton)....................................................

1981

1980

1981

1980

284.3
275.7

26.

Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing

[1967 = 100]
1980

A nnual
C o m m o d i t y g r o u p in g

1981

av erag e

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly '

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

F IN IS H E D G O O D S

Finished goods....................................................................

247.0

256.2

257.2

2609

263.3

266.0

268.5

269.6

270.5

r 271.8

271.2

271.1

274.0

274.5

Finished consumer goods............................................
Finished consumer foods..........................................
Crude....................................................................
P'ocessed ............................................................
Nondurable goods less foods ....................................
Durable goods ..................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . . .
Capital equipment ..........................................

248.9
239.5
237.2
237.8
283.9
206.2
191.2
239.8

257.9
248.9
250.5
246.7
293.9
213.1
196.9
250.2

258.9
249.3
254.8
246.7
296.2
213.5
197.6
250.9

2625
251.0
257.9
248.4
302.7
214.9
201.9
254.6

265.0
251.3
265.6
247.9
308,4
215.1
203.5
256.7

2682
252.6
279.7
248.1
316.0
214.0
204.8
258.1

270.6
251.9279.3
247.4
320.4
216.6
207.3
260.8

271.5
252.8
263.1
249.8
321.0
218.1
207.7
262.5

272.3
253.8
258.9
251.3
322.0
218.2
208.4
263.8

r 273.5
r 257.6
'262.7
'255.0
'322.5
'218.1
'209.5
'265.4

272.6
255.5
256.5
253.4
321.8
218.1
209.9
265.9

272.6
255.5
253.0
253.7
323.5
215.6
211.0
265.6

274.7
253.7
253.3
251.7
323.8
224.3
212.2
271.4

274.9
252.7
259.5
250.0
325.0
224.3
213.3
272.9

Intermediate materials, supplies, and components..................

2803

289.1

291.9

296.1

298.3

302.0

305.8

306.7

307.2

'308.5

309.9

309.6

3093

309.0

Materials and components for manufacturing..................
Materials for food manufacturing ................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing ......................
Materials for durable manufacturing............................
Components for manufacturing ..................................

265.7
264.4
259.5
301.0
231.8

273.9
299.0
266.7
303.8
238.3

275.7
279.6
268.5
304.3
246.3

279.6
280.7
274.0
306.9
250.3

280.3
273.2
276.5
305.4
253.0

281.6
267.5
279.4
306.9
254.2

284.1
263.1
284.3
310.6
255.4

285.1
259.0
287.0
311.2
256.3

285.8
262.4
287.7
310.7
257.3

'287.9
'260.5
'289.2
314,4
259.5

289.6
261.7
290.7
316.1
261.5

290.2
254.7
291.2
317.4
263.4

290.3
252.7
290.8
317.1
264.7

289.6
249.2
289.7
315.1
266.3

Materials and components for construction ....................

268.3

274.0

276.6

279.2

280.3

282.7

288.0

2885

289.6

'290.4

290.6

289.9

289.8

289.9

Processed fuels and lubricants ......................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................

503.0
425.7
570.9

521.3
445.2
589.3

539.4
457.9
611.4

551.9
469.5
624.7

569.8
482.8
646.7

598.3
503,9
681.6

608,5
509.0
696.2

608.7
510.7
695.2

605.7
505.4
694,3

'602.0
’ 500.3
'692.0

606.7
507.4
694.3

600.1
499.3
689.3

595.1
495.6
683.1

594.2
495.4
681.5

Containers....................................................................

254.5

259.5

260.6

264.6

268.2

270.9

274.3

276.4

277.2

'278.8

280.3

280.8

281.1

280.7

Supplies ......................................................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................
Feeds ............................................................
Other supplies........................................................

244.5
231.9
251.1
229.0
253.6

255.2
238.7
263.8
259.2
261.3

255.0
239.5
263.0
251.5
262.4

257.8
242.5
265.7
252.0
265.6

257.8
244.8
264.6
237.5
268.3

258.9
246,8
265.2
231.7
270.6

262.4
250.6
268.7
239.2
272.9

264.0
252.3
270.2
242.9
273.8

264.6
253.4
270.5
235.4
276.3

'266.0
'255.0
'272.0
232.8
'278.7

266.1
256.0
271.5
228.9
279.2

266.1
256.7
271.1
221.7
280.6

267.1
258.9
271.5
216.3
282.5

267.4
259.5
271.7
212.0
283.9

IN T E R M E D I A T E M A T E R I A L S

C R U D E M A T E R IA L S

Crude materials for further processing ..................................

304.6

324.6

323.5

328.0

336.5

334.2

336.3

334.4

335.4

'337.3

333.2

327.7

320.3

314.1

Foodstuffs and feedstuffs ............................................

259.2

277.3

271.6

270.7

267 1

262.1

263.5

260.6

264.3

'267.2

261.8

253.4

245.6

238.3

Nonfood materials ........................................................

401.0

424.9

433.8

450.1

484.9

488.4

492.1

492.4

487.4

'487.2

485.9

486.8

480.5

476.9

Nonfood materials except fuel ....................................
Manufacturing Industries..........................................
Construction ..........................................................

346.1
357.4
237.6

363.9
376.1
246.5

373.3
386.5
247.4

391.0
405.1
254.8

427.9
445.5
257.2

430,9
448.6
259.2

432.5
450.2
261.5

428.3
445.5
261.7

418.1
434.2
262.6

'413.1
'428.7
' 262.6

414.2
429.7
265.2

410.7
425.8
265.7

405.5
420.0
266.7

398.5
412.2
266.7

Crude fuel ................................................................
Manufacturing industries..........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries....................................

615.0
690.5
567.0

664.9
755.8
605.2

670.2
762.9
608.9

677.4
771.9
614.9

697.7
798.1
630.6

703,6
805.8
635.0

716.6
821.9
645.8

738.4
850.6
662.2

759.2
877.2
678.5

'781.2
'902.6
'698.1

768.6
885.4
689.3

790.6
913.8
706.3

779.7
899.1
6984

792.6
915.8
708.4

Finished goods excluding foods ............................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods ......................
Finished consumer goods less energy............................

247.8
250.8
218.0

257.0
259,5
225.5

258.2
260.9
226.0

262.4
265.1
233.8

265.5
268.5
229.6

268.7
272.5
230.2

272.1
276.1
231.8

273.3
277.0
232.8

274.1
277.7
233.4

'274.7
'277.9
'235.0

274.5
277.5
234.5

274.4
277.4
234.2

278.7
281.3
236.8

279.7
282.0
237.0

Intermediate materials less foods and feeds......................
Intermediate materials less energy ................................

2823
265.3

289.3
273.3

293.5
274.9

298,0
278.3

301.0
279.1

305.4
280.5

309.5
283.7

310.7
284.7

311.2
285.5

'312.7
287.2

314.3
288.4

314.5
288.7

314.5
288.9

314.3
288.6

Intermediate foods and feeds ............................................

252.6

285.7

270.0

270.9

261.3

255.6

254.9

253.1

253.2

'251.1

250.7

243.7

240.6

236.9

Crude materials less agricultural products ............................
Crude materials less energy..........................................

446.4
256.1

473.8
271.7

482.8
267.5

504.0
266.0

547.6
262.6

551.8
259.6

556.0
261.1

557.5
257.9

551.3
259.7

'550.6
261.8

549.9
258.1

552.4
250.5

544.3
243.6

540.9
235.9

S P E C IA L G R O U P I N G S

1 Data for July 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2 Not available,
r=revised.

89

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
27.

Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
C o m m o d ity g ro u p a n d s u b g ro u p

A ll c o m m o d i t i e s
A ll c o m m o d i t i e s

(1957-59 = 100)..............................................

F a rm p r o d u c ts a n d p ro c e s s e d fo o d s a n d fe e d s
In d u s t r ia l c o m m o d i t i e s ..................................................................................................

1981

1980

A nnual
Code

av erag e

1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly 1

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

268.8
285.2

279.1
296.1

280.8
297.9

264.8
302.2

287.6
305.1

290.3
308.0

293.4
311.3

294.1
312.0

294.8
312.8

r 296.2
r 314.3

296.2
314.3

295.5
313.5

296.0
314.1

295.5
313.5

244.7
274.8

260.5
283.4

257.0
286.6

257.9
291.5

255.1
295.7

253.5
299.6

253.8
303.5

252.9
304.7

254.3
305.1

r 256.8
r 306.2

253.9
307.0

250.0
307.2

246.1
308.8

242.7
309.1

FA RM PR O D U C TS A N D PR O C ESSED FOODS
A N D FEEDS

01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01-4
01-5
01-6
01-7
01-8
01-9

Farm products ............................................................................
Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables ........................................
Grains.......................................................................................
Livestock ................................................................................
Live p o jltry ..............................................................................
Plant and animal fibers..............................................................
Fluid milk ................................................................................
Eggs........................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds ....................................................
Other farm products ................................................................

249.4
238.6
239.0
252.7
202.1
271.1
271.2
171.0
247.1
299.0

264.9
246.6
270.9
254.8
221.0
287.2
284.7
194.0
298.3
296.6

265.3
245.1
265.2
251.4
218.9
294.1
290.5
217.5
310.2
296.0

264.5
258.7
277.7
244.3
213.1
284.1
288.4
185.7
311.8
296.1

262.4
271.5
267.5
244.6
220.8
268.4
289.5
184.8
295.0
295.1

260.7
292.8
261.8
239.3
213.5
270.1
289.5
180.4
289.5
295.9

263.3
286.1
264.7
246.6
195.4
274.2
287.2
196.2
296.3
295.9

259.6
275.3
257.7
251.8
207.2
258.3
283.6
165.0
299.0
259.7

260.7
263.3
257.1
263.0
210.0
259.6
285.0
174.6
285.3
242.7

r 263.3
r 265.6
257.4
266.5
215.3
251.3
r 284.3
185.1
r 290.0
250.2

257.8
257.3
242.7
262.0
210.3
232.5
285.0
180.7
284.3
263.9

251.0
251.9
227.0
257.3
196.7
206.5
287.3
193.2
267.2
268.9

243.3
247.9
227.6
244.4
185.7
211.7
294.3
193.8
230.4
267.8

237.4
253.2
226.5
231.1
175.0
198.5
288.2
209.7
221.1
275.8

02
02-1
02-2
02-3
02-4
02-5
02-6
02-7
02-8
02-9

Processed foods and feeds..........................................................
Cereal and bakery products......................................................
Meats, poultry, and fish ............................................................
Dairy products..........................................................................
Processed fruits and vegetables................................................
Sugar and confectionery ..........................................................
Beverages and beverage materials............................................
Fats and o ils ............................................................................
Miscellaneous processed foods ................................................
Manufactured animal feeds ......................................................

241.2
236.0
243.1
230.6
228.7
322.5
233.0
226.8
227.2
226.8

257.2
245.3
250.9
240.2
234.7
409.0
240.6
238.0
235.0
254.5

251.5
248.7
248.1
242.3
236.6
339.8
240.5
234.1
240.5
247.1

253.3
251.5
248.1
244.7
238.4
344.6
243.0
230.2
244.2
248.9

250.2
252.1
243.6
245.0
243.7
323.7
244.8
228.2
248.0
235.9

248.5
252.2
242.0
245.1
255.2
302.0
245.4
229.8
249.2
231.1

247.6
253.9
239.1
245.4
258.0
284.5
246.0
232.4
249.9
237.7

248.2
256.3
245.2
244.6
259.4
262.8
247.6
228.2
251.1
241.0

249.9
256.4
248.6
245.2
262.5
274.8
248.1
227.3
251.5
234.3

r 252.2
'258.3
257.1
'245.1
r 265.9
’ 266.0
■249.0
r234.8
252.2
232.2

250.7
256.6
254.2
245.6
267.6
269.1
246.3
228.4
252.0
228.8

248.4
258.0
253.3
246.0
270.3
246.8
245.6
224.6
253.0
223.2

246.6
256.6
246.6
247.4
271.3
250.0
248.3
223.6
249.8
218.4

244.7
257.5
240.0
246.9
270.1
249.0
250.8
221.7
250.1
214.6

03
03-1
03-2
03-3
03-4
03-81
03-82

Textile products and apparel ........................................................
Synthetic fibers (12/75 - 100)..................................................
Processed yarns and threads (12/75 - 100) ............................
Gray fabrics (12/75 = 100)......................................................
Finished fabrics (12/75 - 100) ................................................
Apparel....................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings............................................................

183.5
134.7
122.5
138.1
115.7
172.4
206.9

189.6
140.7
125.8
145.0
119.1
176.8
213.8

190.4
140.8
128.2
144.0
120.1
177.5
214.3

193.1
146.5
129.8
143.6
122.2
179.9
219.8

193.9
147.1
130.3
144.0
122.9
180.7
221.3

195.2
148.9
134.6
144.7
123.2
181.4
221.3

197.6
151.5
135.0
146.6
124.9
184.3
222.1

199.2
156.4
138.6
145.8
125.7
185.2
224.0

200.1
157.9
139.3
147.4
125.6
186.2
223.9

■201.3
■159.7
■140.3
'148.2
■126.0
■187.2
■227.1

201.4
162.0
139.3
148.2
125.9
186.5
231.6

202.5
162.3
141.8
148.1
126.2
187.2
236.6

203.0
163.5
142.0
147.8
126.1
187.9
237.4

203.2
162.5
140.3
147.9
126.5
188.7
237.9

04
04-1
04-2
04-3
04-4

Hides, skins, leather, and related products ....................................
Hides and skins........................................................................
Leather....................................................................................
Footwear ................................................................................
Other leather and related products............................................

2489
370.9
310.6
233.1
218.3

255.4
409.1
317.3
237.5
222.6

256.9
392.8
332.4
236.9
225.3

258.2
377.5
332.6
238.4
230.1

257.7
367.4
310.0
240.7
236.9

261.2
( 2)
322.5
240.4
238.4

263.5
(2)
337.8
241.1
238.5

263.7
(2)
330.0
241.4
244.2

261.6
( 2)
321.0
241.5
244.3

■261.1
( 2)
■319.0
■242.4
■242.9

261.7
( 2)
312.2
242.3
247.8

263.0
(2)
311.7
242.0
250.1

262.7
( 2)
312.1
241.6
250.1

261.7
( 2)
311.3
241.1
250.5

05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05-7

Fuels and related products and power ..........................................
C oal........................................................................................
Coke ......................................................................................
Gas fuels3 ..............................................................................
Electric power..........................................................................
Crude petroleum4 ....................................................................
Petroleum products, refined5 ....................................................

574.0
467.3
430.6
760.7
321.6
556.4
674.7

600.2
475.4
430.6
825.5
333.8
600.6
697.6

615.7
475.3
430.1
844.3
337.6
632.8
717.0

634.6
477.8
430.1
857.1
341.4
704.4
736.9

667.5
480.8
430.1
881.6
346.2
842.7
769.6

696.5
481.1
430.1
889.9
351.2
842.8
825.5

707.2
486.1
430.1
907.8
355.5
842.5
840.9

709.0
487.3
467.9
933.9
360.4
839.9
835.3

707.6
491.7
469.7
954.6
366.6
815.9
828.1

'704.9
■505.5
■469.7
'969.4
■374.6
■798.9
■816.3

704.1
507.3
470.3
952.4
383.6
797.0
813.4

703.2
510.6
470.3
979.7
382.0
797.0
805.7

697.2
511.1
470.3
964.7
375.9
788.4
802.0

697.5
513.1
470.3
981.4
377.6
786.0
797.9

06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7

Chemicals and allied products......................................................
Industrial chemicals 6 ................................................................
Prepared paint..........................................................................
Paint materials ........................................................................
Drugs and pharmaceuticals ......................................................
Fats and oils, inedible ..............................................................
Agricultural chemicals and chemical products ............................
Plastic resins and materials ......................................................
Other chemicals and allied products..........................................

260.3
324.0
235.3
273.9
174.5
298.0
257.1
279.2
224.5

266.7
332.7
241.4
279.8
181.1
308.2
261.1
276.2
232.4

268.1
334.6
241.4
281.0
182.6
317.1
263.3
274.1
234.1

274.3
344.5
242.9
284.0
184.7
310.7
267.6
214.7
244.4

277.6
352.1
246.6
287.0
187.3
289.7
271.6
276.1
245.1

280.4
354.5
246.6
290.5
189.3
295.7
275.8
279.4
248.3

286.0
362.4
248.1
295.4
191.0
312.7
277.8
285.1
255.3

288.6
368.5
250.0
300.3
192.4
312.1
279.1
287.9
254.8

290.5
369.7
250.0
300.8
193.2
303.1
2889
290.0
256.3

■291.3
370.4
■250.7
■304.5
■195.5
290.9
288.9
295.9
254.8

293.2
371.9
251.0
308.4
195.6
305.6
2938
295.6
256.7

293.3
372.0
251.0
307.8
197.1
285.6
292.3
298.5
257.0

292.8
369.4
251.0
308.0
198.1
277.7
292.3
297.6
258.0

292.5
365.6
254.8
307.4
198.1
282.5
295.4
290.9
260.9

07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2

Rubber and plastic products ........................................................
Rubber and rubber products......................................................
Crude rubber ..........................................................................
Tires and tubes........................................................................
Miscellaneous rubber products..................................................
Plastic products (6/78 = 100) ..................................................

217.4
237.5
264.3
236.9
226.6
121.1

223.4
245.0
271.0
245.2
233.3
124.0

223.3
244.9
268.5
245.2
234.0
123.9

2248
246.2
279.1
240.9
238.6
125.0

226.4
248.5
281.9
243.5
240.4
125.5

228.4
252.1
281.2
248.6
243.5
126.0

230.8
253.0
279.8
250.7
243.8
128.2

231.8
254.4
2832
251.2
245.7
128.6

233.4
256.8
285.2
251.2
250.9
129.1

'232.1
■254.7
■284.2
■246.8
■251.4
■128.7

234.4
258.4
282.0
251.0
256.4
129.3

236.0
261.3
280.6
256.5
257.1
129.6

237.7
264.3
280.5
257.7
263.4
130.0

238.7
266.2
278,9
257.5
269.5
130.1

08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4

Lumber and wood products..........................................................
Lumber....................................................................................
Millwork ..................................................................................
Plywood ..................................................................................
Other wood products................................................................

288.9
325.8
260.4
246.5
239.1

293.4
324.9
270.0
256.6
236.6

299.4
333.0
273.3
263.5
236.2

296.5
331.3
273.6
251.1
238.5

294.7
326.9
273.8
251.2
238.1

294.4
326.2
275.7
248.8
236.9

299.4
333.6
276.5
256.0
238.3

298.4
336.3
274.8
248.3
238.2

298.1
335.8
272.2
251.5
239.8

■296.5
■332.4
273.6
■247.8
■240.7

294.3
329.2
272.4
245.9
239.9

289.1
319.7
271.3
241.2
240.6

284.4
312.0
271.2
234.4
240.0

283.0
308.8
272.0
233.0
239.7

IN D U S T R IA L C O M M O D IT IE S

See footnotes at end of table.

Digitized for
90 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

27.

Continued— Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
A nnual
Code

C o m m o d ity g ro u p a n d s u b g ro u p

1980

IN D U S T R I A L C O M M O D I T I E S

1980

1981

averag e
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly 1

Aug.

Sept

O c t.

N ov.

C o n t in u e d

09
09-1
09-11
09-12
09-13
09-14
09-15
09-2

Pulp, paper, and allied products....................................................
Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building paper and board . . .
Woodpulp..................................................................
Wastepaper ..................................................................
Paper ......................................................................
Paperboard ..............................................................................
Converted paper and paperboard products ................................
Building paper and board..........................................................

249.2
250.6
380.3
208.7
256.8
234.6
238.5
206.2

255.0
256.2
390.2
192.3
264.1
241.7
243.5
216.5

256.7
257.9
390.2
191.5
269.4
239.6
244.7
219.7

264.4
260.9
390.2
191.5
271.7
250.2
246.9
219.7

267.2
264.5
390.2
186.1
272.9
252.8
252.1
225.7

r 269.0
266.8
390.2
185.1
273.8
255.1
255.3
227.9

271.4
268.6
394.1
184.2
275.2
255.7
257.3
232.5

272.1
269.9
394.2
182.7
275.9
258.8
258.8
237.3

272.9
271.2
394.2
182.9
278.5
2592
259.9
237.4

r 274.9
r 272.3
r 394.2
182.1
r 279.7
r 259.4
r 261.2
235.5

'

275.7
274.3
396.6
182.1
283.8
261.2
262.5
233.8

276.9
275.5
396.6
178.5
287.1
262.5
263.0
233.7

279.1
276.5
404.7
165.1
288.6
262.6
263.9
232.5

280.2
276.3
417.0
144.5
287.1
261.6
263.9
231.5

10
10-1
10-13
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8

Metals and metal products ..........................................................
Iron and stee ..........................................................................
Steel mill products....................................................................
Nonferrous metals....................................................
Metal containers ........................................................
Hardware ....................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings............................................
Heating equipment............................................................
Fabricated structural metal products..........................................
Miscellaneous metal products................................................

286.4
305.2
302.7
305.0
2986
240.5
246.7
206.5
270.5
250.0

291.1
312.7
309.4
302 1
303.3
249.6
252.3
212.0
278.0
256.9

290.6
316.4
313.7
293.4
303.3
251.7
254.9
214.0
279.3
257.6

294.0
323.0
322.6
292.1
311.4
254.5
256.7
216.6
283.1
260.5

294.0
323.2
322.9
287.4
313.8
258.0
259.2
217.6
285.4
263.1

296.4
328.2
328.7
286.5
314.1
258.6
259.5
219.5
289.4
264.7

2988
331.0
331.8
288.4
314.1
258.5
265.3
219.8
293.1
267.2

299.1
330.4
331.8
287.7
314.1
259.4
266.2
2223
294.0
269.7

298.4
330.1
332.2
284.5
314.1
259.7
268,9
223.5
295.0
269.4

' 302.0
r 338.8
344.9
r 282.8
'315.2
'263.8
'270.9
'226 4
'297.9
'272.0

304.3
339.7
344.9
287.7
319.4
263.2
271.0
227.2
300.0
273.8

305.1
339.7
345.3
290.0
319.6
265.7
271.4
227.9
300.5
274.5

305.5
341.5
348.7
286.8
319.0
267.5
272.8
228.4
302.2
276.2

303.9
339.8
348.6
281.4
318.2
268.9
273.0
227.6
302.2
277.5

11
11-1
11-2
11-3
11-4
11-6
11-7
11-9

Machinery and equipment ....................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment........................................
Construction machinery and equipment....................................
Metalworking machinery and equipment ....................................
General purpose machinery and equipment................................
Special industry machinery and equipment ................................
Electrical machinery and equipment ..........................................
Miscellaneous machinery..........................................................

239.8
259.2
289.4
274,4
264.6
275.8
201.7
229.9

248.3
271.6
300.1
283.9
274.3
287.7
207.5
238.5

249.8
272.9
301.4
285.7
275.6
290.9
208.9
239.6

253.3
276.4
305.9
289.7
278.6
295.6
211.9
243.3

255.3
278.4
310.0
291.6
280.2
299.2
213.7
245.2

257.5
279.8
312.8
294.9
282.3
301.0
216.0
247.0

259.6
282.5
317.0
298.7
284.4
303.2
217.4
248.5

260.7
285.7
318.4
299.9
285.9
307.2
217.5
248.8

262.1
286.8
320.1
301.3
287.0
308.8
219.2
250.1

'264.8
'288.1
'323.8
'302.9
'290.6
311.0
'221.1
'254.0

266.0
289.3
324.9
303.6
291.7
310.5
222.8
255.3

267.8
292.0
326.6
305.3
293.5
312.7
224.1
257.8

268.8
292.1
329.0
306.5
294.4
314.7
225.0
258.3

270.0
298.7
329.6
307.5
295.6
315.2
226.0
259.1

12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6

Furniture and household durables ................................................
Household furniture ..................................................................
Commercial furniture................................................................
Floor coverings ......................................................
Household appliances ..............................................................
Home electronic equipment ......................................................
Other household durable goods ............................................

187.7
204.8
236.0
163.0
174.2
91.4
278.6

191.5
210.9
242.2
165.5
178.5
91.2
281.2

193.1
212.1
2424
170.7
179.5
91.0
285.7

194.0
212.9
246.7
172.3
182.2
91.0
278.9

195.2
213.8
251.6
171.9
183.5
91.3
280.8

195.8
214.5
253.4
174.1
184.2
91.4
278.1

196.4
216.5
254.5
175.3
185.1
90.9
275.3

197.4
216.4
257.7
179.5
185.5
90.8
276.7

197.3
218.6
257.9
180.7
186.1
86.7
276.4

'199.5
'220.0
'258.7
182.8
'188.8
'87.4
'282.1

199.5
221.4
259.2
182.3
187.7
87.5
282.0

200.7
223.3
261.5
181.5
188.3
87.8
285.4

201.4
224.1
262.5
181.5
189.5
88.3
285.3

201.6
225.4
263.2
180,8
189.7
88.0
284.6

13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9

Nonmetallic mineral products........................................................
Fat glass ................................................................................
Concrete ingredients ..............................................................
Concrete products................................................................
Structural clay products excluding refractories............................
Refractories ....................................................................
Asphalt -oofirg ................................................................
Gypsum products ..................................................................
Glass containers ......................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals..................................................

283.0
196.5
274.0
273.9
231.5
2646
396.8
256.3
292.7
394.6

288.7
203.1
279.1
277.7
233.5
273.2
397.1
253.3
306.2
403.3

291.2
203.0
279.7
277.6
233.6
273.2
394.6
252.7
311.4
418.9

296.6
203.9
290.0
2861
239.5
282.6
394.8
259.6
311.4
418.7

297.9
204.3
291.4
286.6
239.8
293.5
389.5
257.3
311.4
424.7

300.9
204.8
292.6
286.9
244.6
296.1
390.5
257.6
311.4
441.7

310.8
210.2
297.4
289.9
246.0
296.4
415.9
256.8
326.7
479.1

312.0
210.2
297.5
291.2
250.1
304.0
407,4
261.1
335.3
477.6

313.6
210.3
297.5
293.5
250.7
307.1
428.5
260.7
335.3
476.8

'314.3
'218.3
'297.7
'293.4
'250.9
'307.1
'421.9
259.7
'335.5
'476.2

314.0
213.8
293.4
293.0
250.4
303.0
419.2
255.3
334.8
475.2

313.1
218.8
298.4
292.9
254.8
308.0
400.0
252.9
334.8
474.2

313.1
218.5
298.3
293.3
255.6
308.8
401.3
252.4
334.8
473.2

313.5
218.5
298.3
293.2
255.9
309.8
408.9
251.3
334.8
473.5

14
14-1
14-4

Transportation equipment (12/68 = 100)......................................
Motor vehicles and equipment ..................................................
Railroad equipment ............................................................

207.0
208.8
313.1

217.8
218.6
323.6

224.3
226.2
323.9

227.4
228.9
332.5

229.1
230.9
332.5

228.1
229.5
333.9

231.9
233.9
3357

233.6
236.0
331.2

234.3
2367
331.4

'235.0
'237.4
'338.1

235.8
233.1
345.0

231.7
232.6
345.0

244.4
247.5
345.0

246.2
248.6
347.5

15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9

Miscellaneous products..................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, ammunition............................
Tobacco products ....................................................................
Notions..........................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ....................................
Mobile homes (12/74 = 100)......................................
Other miscellaneous products ..................................................

258.8
198.6
245.7
217.2
202.9
150.2
363.4

263.6
202.8
2544
224.1
206.7
152.7
367.0

265.3
205.7
254.8
225.0
206.6
153.0
370.5

264.3
208.4
254.8
227.2
207.4
153.0
363.3

264.9
210.5
256.1
247.3
209.6
153.1
358.1

264.0
211.1
256.3
247.3
211.2
155.0
351.3

266.0
211.3
268.7
248.4
212.4
(2)
349.0

266.9
211.4
268,7
267.8
212.5
(2)
3494

266.3
211.2
268.7
268.0
212.5
( 2)
346.9

'263.2
'213.2
'268.8
267.5
'211.4
'158.1
'333.1

2626
214.0
263.6
267.7
207.4
157.7
333.9

266.7
215.1
274.2
267.8
209.0
158.1
343.4

268.0
213.7
278.0
267.3
209.1
158.6
346.7

267.2
213.4
278.0
269.7
209.1
158.8
343.4

1Data for July 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
2 Not available.
3 Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

“ Includes only domestic production.
5 Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month.
6 Some prices for industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month.
r=revised.

91

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
28.

Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
A nnual

1981

1980

C o m m o d it y g r o u p in g
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M ar.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly '

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

269.6
244.7
246.6
243.5
124.3
123.2
185.4

279.4
259.7
261.9
250.3
128.1
126.7
190.3

281.2
254.3
255.5
252.3
129.3
126.4
190.6

285.4
255.8
257.0
255.4
131.8
129.5
199.2

288.8
253.7
253.9
257.2
132.5
130.3
200.9

291.9
253.4
252.3
258.6
132.2
130.5
202.0

295.0
251.4
250.3
261.8
134.5
134.2
202.1

296 1
250.3
250.5
262.9
135.7 134.6
202.3

296.7
252.2
253.1
263.5
135.9
135.7
203.5

r 298.0
'255.2
'256.0
'265.0
'136.8
'135.8
'204.7

2985
253.7
254.9
266.0
137.2
135.3
205.0

298.3
251.7
252.8
266.3
138.2
135.5
205.0

299.4
249.4
250.6
268.6
138.5
136.5
205.0

299.3
247.8
248.2
268.9
138.6
136.5
206.0

250.7
167.1

257.0
173.7

258.2
174.6

264.8
177.1

268.3
179.7

271.0
182.1

276.1
184.0

279.0
185.7

281.2
186.6

'282.3
'189.0

2839
189.1

284.4
190.8

284.2
192.7

283.8
192.4

304.0
258.5
258.2
222.0
230.4

306.5
265.7
265.2
215.7
240.2

314.2
268.6
266.3
210.8
244 1

309.2
271.8
269.9
207.4
247,4

306.0
272.7
272.5
205.0
249.4

304.8
273.5
274.7
204.8
250.2

312.3
276.8
277.0
207.7
253.1

311.5
277.9
278.5
206.6
254.4

312.2
277.9
279.0
203.7
255.6

'308.7
'280.2
'281.7
'202.5
257.4

305.9
281.8
283.4
206.3
258.4

297.9
280.1
284.2
205.4
257.6

290.3
286.6
285.6
203.8
264.0

287.7
286.4
286.2
199.3
265.5

263.0
267.3
299.4
225.6
287.3
261.2
268.8
266.5
287.8
291.8
(2)
2664

275.1
280.9
311.2
232.1
299.9
273.7
282.4
279.9
296.0
298.6
273.0
271.9

276.7
281.4
314.1
230.6
301.2
274.3
2824
280,9
297.8
298.6
273.8
274.1

277.3
285.0
318.9
234.6
305.8
278.0
284.4
285.7
300.7
298.6
(2)
276.7

279.7
287.3
320.5
235.0
311.1
280.2
287.2
2877
305.5
296.0
<2)
277.2

281.9
288.3
323.5
235.7
311.8
281.5
287.6
289 1
310.1
298.9
( 2)
279.0

284.3
289.6
325.9
235.7
316.8
283.2
289.3
290.2
314.0
302.7
<2)
283.9

285.9
293.7
327.1
237.3
322.0
286.7
297.7
290.8
314.3
303.0
(2)
284.2

287.3
294.8
328,3
241.4
322.5
287.9
2980
292.5
315.3
303.0
(2)
285.0

'290.4
'295.6
'330.1
'241.7
'325.5
'288.6
'298.0
'293.9
'317.5
'303.0
( 2)
'285.7

291.3
296.9
330.8
242.1
327.3
290.0
300.6
294 1
316.4
303.0
( 2)
285.6

293.4
300.5
333.7
242 1
330.5
293.0
305.0
297.1
319.3
304.3
<2)
284.4

294.4
300.4
335.6
242.1
332.9
293.1
305.0
297.0
319.0
304.1

295.8
309.1
338.1
242.5
340.4
300.6
316.5
303.3
320.0
304.1

(2)
284.5

( 2)
284.1

June

J u ly 1

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

1980

A ll c o m m o d i t i e s

le s s f a r m

p ro d u c ts

...................................

A l l f o o d s ...................................................................................................................
P ro c e s s e d fo o d s

...........................................................................................

Industrial commodities less fu e ls......................................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 100 )...........
Hosiery ...........................................................................
Underwear and nightwear ..............................................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and manmade fibers and y a rn s ....................................
Pharmaceutical preparations ..........................................
Lumber and wood products, excluding millwork and
other wood products.....................................................
Special metals and metal products.................................
Fabricated metal products...............................................
Copper and copper products ..........................................
Machinery and motive products ......................................
Machinery and equipment, except electrical....................
Agricultural machinery, including tractors........................
Metalworking machinery .................................................
Numerically controlled machine tools (Dec. 1971 = 100)
Total tractors ...................................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less p a r ts ...........
Farm and garden tractors less p a rts ...............................
Agricultural machinery excluding tractors less parts . . . .
Industrial valves ..............................................................
Industrial fittings ..............................................................
Abrasive grinding w h e e ls .................................................
Construction m aterials.....................................................

' Data for July 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.

29.

2Not available,
r=revised.

Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product

[1967 = 100]
A nnual
C o m m o d it y g r o u p in g

1981

1980

av erag e
1980

N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

Total durable goods .......................................................
Total nondurable g o o d s...................................................

251.5
282.4

258.6
295.2

261.0
296.3

262.7
302.6

263.8
306.8

264.9
310.9

267.8
314.2

268.6
314.8

269.1
315.7

'270.8
'316.8

271.8
. 315.9

271.7
314.6

274.9
312.7

275.2
311.5

Total manufactures ..........................................................
Durable .....................................................................
Nondurable................................................................

261.5
250.8
273.0

270.5
257.9
284.0

272.0
260.4
284.3

277.3
262.3
293.5

279.3
263.4
296.4

282.3
264.4
301.7

285.3
267.2
304.9

286.2
268.2
305.7

286.9
268.9
306.4

288.0
270.6
'306.9

288.4
271.6
306.6

288.1
271.6
305.9

289.7
274.9
305.4

289.6
275.5
304.6

Total raw or slightly processed goods.............................
Durable .....................................................................
Nondurable................................................................

305.7
278.2
306.7

322.9
285.6
324.6

326.2
284.0
328.2

322.9
275.9
325.3

330.3
275.5
333.3

331.2
281.7
333.8

334.6
286.0
337.1

334.2
280.4
337.1

335.4
272.4
338.9

'337.9
'271.2
'341.8

335.6
276.6
338.9

332.7
271.1
336.2

326.2
264.3
329.7

323.2
253.8
327.3

1Data for July 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.

30.

r=revised,

Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
S IC

A nnual
In d u s t r y d e s c r i p t i o n

code

1980

1981

a v erag e
N ov.

Dec.

152.9
331.2
466.7
643.8
252.7
136.0

155.8
343.7
474.2
704.6
263.2
132.1

155.8
325.0
473.9
731.7
264.3
133.7

244.0
220.1
191.9
258.5

251.4
249.5
205.9
273.3

249.0
247.4
201.8
274.8

1980

Feb.

M ar.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly 1

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

155.8
297.9
476.1
786.5
270.1
137.1

168.1
324.5
478.1
897.9
272.3
137.1

168.1
335.4
478.5
901.7
275.2
137.1

168.1
354.1
483.5
908.6
278.0
137.1

168.1
347.9
484.5
919.7
278.4
137.1

168.1
352.0
488.4
713.7
278.4
137.1

168.1
358.3
'502.1
'911.5
-278.4
137.1

168.1
365.4
503.8
901.4
278.3
137.1

168.1
364.5
506.3
914.6
279.4
137.1

168.1
354.1
506,6
901.0
279.6
143.4

168.1
354.1
508.2
907.4
279.6
143.4

244.7
235.3
201.9
273.6

237.2
232.9
208.3
273.5

236.1
230.4
203.9
273.6

237.8
227.5
186.7
273.4

243.6
230.4
196.2
273.4

245.9
238.1
198 3
273.5

252.6
'246.0
203.6
273.8

250.7
252.7
201.2
273.7

252.9
253.7
188.8
275.0

244.3
252.0
175.5
279.2

236.9
248.6
172.8
279.5

Jan.

M IN IN G

1011
1092
1211
1311
1442
1455

Iron ores (12/75 = 100)..................................................
Mercury ores (12/75 = 100) ..........................................
Bituminous coal and lignite ..............................................
Crude petroleum and natural gas ....................................
Construction sand and gravel ..........................................
Kaolin and ball clay (6/76 = 100)....................................

2011
2013
2016
2021

Meatpacking plants ........................................................
Sausages and other prepared meats................................
Poultry dressing plants....................................................
Creamery butter..............................................................

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
92
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

30.

Continued — Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972

A nnual
In d u s t r y d e s c r i p t i o n

S IC
code

1980

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

1980

1981

a v erag e
N ov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M ar.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly ’

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

C o n tin u e d

2022
2024
2033
2034
2041
2044
2048
2061
2063
2067

Cheese, natural and processed (12/72 = 100)..............
Ice cream and frozen desserts (12/72 = 100) ..........
Canned fruits and vegetables......................................
Dehydrated food products (12/73 = 100)......................
Flour mills (12/71 = 100) ............................
Rice milling....................................
Prepared foods, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100)........................
Raw cane sugar ............................
Beet sugar ..............................................................
Chewing gum ..........................................................

204.4
193.3
221.4
160.2
189.1
243.4
124.2
414.1
358.0
290.7

214.9
199.8
231.1
168.6
205.1
265.8
133.3
563.8
512.2
322.9

216.1
207.5
232.0
170.4
199,5
287.2
133.9
402.9
423.3
322.9

215.9
210.1
233.3
174.1
203.8
289.6
132.6
418.0
414.5
323.0

215.6
210.6
237.4
171.3
198.4
289.6
129.3
367,1
398.1
323.0

215.7
210,6
241,5
172.9
195.1
298.0
126.6
318.8
370.7
323.1

216.2
211.4
244.0
174.2
201.5
300.9
128.5
275.7
350.5
323.1

216.2
212.4
245.9
175.3
199.4
300.3
129.8
224,8
334.4
303.1

216.1
212.4
248.9
175,0
199.3
300.3
127.5
263.3
339.7
303.1

r 213,8
212.7
'251.6
180.5
196.5
297.4
125.9
272.2
'274.1
'303.1

216.0
212.7
253.8
178.7
191.0
284,3
124.9
254.6
299.3
303.2

217.0
212.7
255.6
183.4
194.8
268,2
120.0
212.3
271.0
303.2

215.6
212.5
256.1
182.3
190.6
247.3
117.5
219.9
272.2
303.2

215.9
212.5
255.6
181.6
191.5
235.4
116.4
224.3
262.1
303.2

2074
2075
2077
2083
2085
2091
2092
2095
2098
2111

Cottonseed oil m ills..............................................
Soybean oil m ills......................................................
Animal and marine fats and oils ............................
Malt ..................................................
Distilled liquor, except brandy (12/75 = 100) ................
Canned and cured seafoods (12/73 = 100) ..................
Fresh or frozen packaged fish ......................................
Roasted coffee (12/72 = 100)......................................
Macaroni and spaghetti ................................................
Cigarettes..................................................................

192.9
244.3
2902
249.9
123.0
174.0
366.9
2693
233.8
254.6

231.8
290.5
317.2
267.4
128.5
183.1
353.3
252.5
243.6
263.5

228.0
270.5
311.8
267,4
129.2
183.4
353.9
248.5
243.6
263.6

221.2
272.0
310,8
286.1
129.2
187.3
374.9
238.2
243.6
263.6

193.7
252.5
287.2
286.1
133.9
187.1
366.7
238.3
243.6
264.1

204.4
2532
284.2
286.1
133.9
187.6
385.2
238.3
243.6
264.2

218.4
259.1
301.7
286.1
133.9
187.7
393.5
238.5
243.6
278.3

216.6
258.1
304.3
286.1
134.3
187.3
378.2
238.6
246.6
278.3

212.3
248.4
291.3
286.1
134.6
187.5
375.5
238.6
246.6
278.3

212.0
'253.7
288.8
286.1
134.6
187.4
'367.6
'236.4
259.5
278.3

206.0
245.6
294.1
286.1
135.5
188.5
348.6
236.0
259.5
278.3

182.3
234.6
281.4
275.4
135.5
188.8
355.0
235.6
259.5
284.2

172.0
230.1
274.1
275.4
135.5
188.2
358.4
238.6
259.5
288.4

167.2
221.1
272.3
275.4
137.9
188.3
362.3
239.4
259.5
288.4

2121
2131
2211
2221
2251
2254
2257
2261
2262

Cigars ....................................................................
Chewing and smoking tobacco................................
Weaving mills, cotton (12/72 = 100) ................
Weaving mills, synthetic (12/77 = 100) ..................
Women's hosiery, except socks (12/75 = 100)..............
Knit underwear mills ....................................................
Circular knit fabric mills (6/76 = 100)............................
Finishing plants, cotton (6/76 = 100) ............................
Finishing plants, synthetics, silk (6/76 = 100) ................

158.6
279.8
215.8
124.8
106.3
190.1
104,6
135.1
113.6

164.0
295.0
224.2
133.0
109.0
194.7
107.1
139.3
117.9

165.1
298 8
225.0
132.5
108.6
195.0
107.5
140.2
120.5

165.1
298.7
227.9
131.9
109.1
205.6
109.3
142.4
121.7

165.3
320.7
230.9
132.3
109.2
208.7
109.6
144.5
123.1

167.0
320.7
232.3
133.3
108.9
209,7
109.1
144.6
124.3

168.5
320.8
235.3
134,9
114.1
209.8
110.8
146.9
125.2

168.5
320.8
233.5
135.7
114.2
210.0
110.5
147.0
126.6

168.5
320.8
234.3
137.1
115.6
210.0
110.4
146.2
126.6

'169.7
'321.0
'234.7
'138.0
'115.5
'210.7
'111.0
'146.3
'127.1

166.8
321.1
236.9
137.5
115.0
210.7
110.5
146.1
127.7

171.6
325.2
235.5
138.4
115.1
210.8
111.0
145.3
129.0

171.6
327.6
236.1
139.1
115.2
210.8
112.3
144.9
129.0

171.6
327.6
236.3
139.2
115.2
212.7
112.1
143.4
129.1

2272
2281
2282
2284
2298
2311
2321
2322
2323
2327

Tufted carpets and rugs..............................................
Yarn mills, except wool (12/71 =100) ........................
Throwing and winding mills (6/76 = 100) ..................
Thread mills (6/76 = 100)......................................
Cordage and twine (12/77 = 100)................................
Men's and boys’ suits and coats....................................
Men's and boys’ shirts and nightwear ............................
Men's and boys' underwear..........................................
Men’s and boys' neckwear (12/75 = 100) ....................
Men's and boys’ separate trousers................................

138.1
203.5
115.5
139.1
123.6
212.6
204.4
208.0
112.6
175.3

140.0
209.9
118.4
143.9
129.2
216.3
208.6
212.8
112.4
180.2

145.7
215.1
120.1
143.9
129.3
216.1
209.5
212.9
115.4
180.3

148.1
216.9
123.2
144.1
129.3
218.2
206.3
224.9
115.4
185.3

147.8
218.1
123.2
144.3
129.3
219.7
207.3
229.1
115.4
185.3

150.2
220.7
131.3
148.4
130.9
220.1
207.1
231.0
115.4
185.3

151.5
220.9
131.5
150.8
132.7
220.3
207.6
231.0
115.4
186.0

154.5
224.1
139.1
150.9
134.3
220.4
207.1
231.0
115.4
186.1

155.6
225.8
139.3
151.1
134.3
224.6
207.5
230.7
115,4
186.1

'158.3
225.1
'142.7
151.1
134.3
'225.9
'210.5
'230.8
113.9
' 186.4

158.7
225.3
139.5
151.1
134.3
224.1
208.7
230.7
113.9
186.4

157.9
223.9
146.7
154.8
139.3
226.1
209.6
230.7
113.9
186.4

157.9
222.3
148.0
157.0
139.3
227.0
210.2
230.8
113.9
186.6

156.4
220.1
145.5
156.9
139.3
227.1
210.4
232.9
113.9
186.6

2328
2331
2335
2341
2342
2361
2381
2394
2396
2421

Men’s and boys' work clothing ....................................
Women’s and misses’ blouses and waists (6/78 = 100) .
Women’s and misses’ dresses (12/77 = 100)................
Women’s and children's underwear (12/72 = 100) ........
Brassieres and allied garments (12/75 = 100) ............
Children’s dresses and blouses (12/77 = 100)..............
Fabric dress and work gloves........................................
Canvas and related products (12/77 = 100)............
Automotive and apparel trimmings (12/77 = 100)..........
Sawmills and planing mills (12/71 = 100)..................

240.5
110.3
114.7
154.4
126.5
109.9
268.6
123.8
122.4
227.7

244.3
114.0
116.3
157.1
129.1
115.1
272.1
125.1
131.0
226.8

244.4
115.4
116.3
158.1
129.1
117.4
272.1
126.1
131.0
233.5

242.2
116.3
116.5
165.5
131.7
118.1
284.9
126.8
131.0
232.3

242.2
116.3
116.9
167.5
132.8
118.9
289.1
126.8
131.0
229.6

242.3
116.4
118.5
168.8
134.9
119.2
289.1
127.8
131.0
228.6

247.0
118.3
118.4
169.0
135.0
120.7
289.1
129.3
131.0
233.3

248.2
118.4
122.3
169.2
135.0
120.5
292.1
130.0
131.0
234.8

248.3
118.5
122.5
170.5
136.9
120.5
292.1
130.1
131.0
234.8

'250.8
'121.0
'123.0
'170.6
'138.8
'121.6
289.2
'130.1
131.0
'233.5

251.3
119.8
121.5
171.2
139.2
120.5
289.2
133.7
131.0
231.0

251.4
120.1
122.5
171.2
139.2
120.5
289.2
135.2
131.0
224.9

252.4
123.6
122.5
171.2
139.2
120.9
289,2
138.1
131.0
219.7

252.5
123.8
123.6
172.2
139.3
121.3
289.2
138.1
131.0
217.7

2436
2439
2448
2451
2492
2511
2512
2515
2521
2611

Softwood veneer and plywood (12/75 = 100)................
Structural wood members, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ............
Wood pallets and skids (12/75 = 100)..........................
Mobile homes (12/74 = 100)......................................
Particleboard (12/75 = 100) ..........................
Wood household furniture (12/71 = 100) ................
Upholstered household furniture (12/71 = 100)..............
Mattresses and bedsprings............................................
Wood office furniture..........................................
Pulp mills (12/73 = 100)..............................................

144.6
155.6
160.1
150.3
161.5
183.8
163.6
179.1
235.2
240.0

152.3
157.0
154.7
152.7
163.6
189.1
168.6
186.5
239.7
246.8

158.2
157.1
154.1
153.1
165.9
190.0
170.5
186.5
240.9
246,8

149.8
157.1
153.8
153.1
163.9
210.1
169.9
186.3
244.1
246.9

149.3
157.0
152.8
153.2
170.3
192.1
170.1
188.3
250.4
246.9

147.2
157.1
152.7
155.0
172.3
193.3
170.1
189.5
253.5
246.9

152.6
158.3
153.1
155.8
180.9
195.4
171.8
190.5
254.5
251.2

145.7
158.2
153.1
155.9
184.5
196.2
169.7
190.4
255.4
251.3

148.1
158.2
153.0
156.1
182.3
197.5
173.9
190.5
254.6
251.3

' 143.8
'157.6
'153.1
'158.1
'179.6
'198.6
'175.1
'191.3
'254.7
'251.3

139.9
157.1
152.8
157.7
172.3
199.1
176.4
198.7
255.7
253.5

135.7
156.2
152.7
158.1
169.3
200.8
177.7
199.4
258.1
253.5

129.4
154.6
152.0
159.1
166.8
201.6
178.3
199.4
258.1
257.2

128.6
154.7
150.7
159.0
165.7
200.9
182.3
201.8
258.0
265.5

2621
2631
2647
2654
2655
2812
2821
2822
2824
2873

Paper mills, except building (12/74 = 100)....................
Paperboard mills (12/74 = 100) ..................................
Sanitary paper products................................................
Sanitary food containers ..............................................
Fiber cans, drums, and similar products (12/75 = 100) ..
Alkalies and chlorine (12/73 = 100)..............................
Plastics materials and resins (6/76 = 100)....................
Synthetic rubber ......................................................
Organic fiber, noncellulosic............................................
Nitrogenous fertilizers (12/75 = 100)............................

145.5
139.0
322.0
216.0
150.6
247.5
143.0
255.8
132.5
124.4

149.2
143.2
334.7
222.3
155.5
265.1
141.5
260.4
138.7
130.0

150.7
142.4
338.2
225.3
155.0
262.3
140.9
262.5
138.9
131.8

152.0
148.2
338.3
232.0
157.7
277.9
142.4
275.9
144.0
135.0

152 6
149.2
342.5
235.2
160,6
299.2
143.5
280.7
144.7
138.1

153.3
150.8
343.0
237.9
160.7
295.6
144.8
2839
147.4
141.7

153.9
151.0
343.2
239.2
160.8
294.4
148.1
288.1
149.9
147.1

154.3
152.1
344.3
239.2
160.9
302.2
149,7
293.3
156.2
148.5

155.7
152.3
344.4
242.2
160.9
309.3
150.7
296.3
156.8
143.4

'157.0
'151.7
'344.2
'246.0
163.2
'306.2
155.0
'297.3
'159.2
'143.5

158.3
152.6
345.3
254.2
163.2
309.1
154.6
296.1
160.5
144.5

159.6
153.6
345.3
254.5
163.2
313.1
156.9
296.3
161.6
142.7

159.8
153.7
345.3
254.8
167.8
314.5
155.5
299.9
163.6
143.1

159.6
153.8
345.3
254.7
167.8
317.0
152.3
301.1
162.5
144.4

2874
2875
2892
2911
2951
2952
3011

Phosphatic fertilizers ....................................................
Fertilizers, mixing only ..................................................
Explosives ............................................................
Petroleum refining (6/76 = 100) ..................................
Paving mixtures and blocks (12/75 = 100)....................
Asphalt felts and coatings (12/75 = 100)......................
Tires and inner tubes (12/73 = 100) ............................

237.3
246.9
269.7
248.6
171.4
173.4
203.1

239.6
252.9
272.9
256.3
176.2
173.5
209.9

245.4
252.2
282.8
261.4
181.5
172.5
210.1

247.9
255.8
288.8
268.3
183.1
172.4
207.0

248.2
266.8
295.4
279.5
185.4
170.0
209.3

253.5
270.0
303.9
299.0
189.1
169.7
213.8

251.6
271.1
324.8
306,0
198.1
180.4
215.5

251.5
273.6
314.5
304.1
198.8
176.3
216.2

250.9
273.1
312.6
302.6
198.4
185.7
216.2

'249.4
'275.3
315,7
'299.1
'197.1
'182.8
'213.1

261.0
273.1
316.7
297.5
196.2
181.7
216.2

258.8
272.5
316.4
295.8
195.8
173.7
220.5

259.0
271.2
318.3
294.5
196.1
174.2
221.3

258.9
271.6
316.4
293.2
196.4
177.6
221.2


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

93

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
30.

Continued — Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
S IC
code

1981

1980

A nnual
In d u s tr y d e s c r ip tio n

av erag e

1980

N ov.

Dec.

S e p t.

O c t.

N ov.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly ’

Aug.

182.8
190.4
125.4
157.0

183.6
187.6
126.3
151.4
( 2)
167.6
218.7
149.7
168.1
311.4

183.6
187.7
128.7
158.6
(2)
168.7
218.7
149.7
174.5
326.6

184.0
187.7
129.1
154.7

184.1
187.7
129.6
150.7

'185.0
'192.9
'129.2
'151.3

<2)
168.9
219.3
158.4
174.5
335.2

(2)
169.6
218.5
158,4
174.6
335.2

( 2>
'170.7
218.9
158.4
'180.0
'335.4

185.3
198.1
129.7
147.8
(2)
170.4
219.2
158.4
180.2
334.7

185.2
198.1
130.0
147.6
( 2)
169.8
217.8
158.4
180.2
334.7

185.0
198.1
130.5
147.5
( 2)
169.6
217.0
158.4
180.1
334.7

185.0
198.1
130.5
146.9
( 2)
170.6
214.5
158.4
180.1
334.7

3021
3031
3079
3111
3142
3143
3144
3171
3211
3221

Rubber and plastic footwear (12/71 - 100)....................................
Reclaimed rubber (12/73 =100) ....................................................
Miscellaneous plastic products (6/78 - 100) ..................................
Leather tanning and finishing (12/77 - 100)....................................
House slippers (12/75 - 100)........................................................
Men's footwear, except athletic (12/75 = 100)................................
Women's footwear, except athletic..................................................
Women's handbags and purses (12/75 - 100) ..............................
Flat glass (12/71 - 100) ..............................................................
Glass containers............................................................................

177.9
184.7
121.7
146.6
149.1
159.8
213.5
137.9
161.3
292.6

182.4
184.1
124.6
149.3
158.2
162.4
217.1
140.9
166.4
306.1

182.3
186.7
124.5
156.6
154.9
162,4
217.1
140.9
166.3
311.4

( 2)
164.8
217.8
149.5
167.1
311.4

183.4
190.4
125.4
145.5
<2>
166.5
220.2
149.5
167.5
311.4

3241
3251
3253
3255
3259
3261
3262
3263
3269
3271

Cement, hydraulic..........................................................................
Brick and structural clay tile ............................................................
Ceramic wall and floor tile (12/75 - 100) ......................................
Clay refractories............................................................................
Structural clay products, n.e.c...........................................................
Vitreous plumbing fixtures ..............................................................
Vitreous china food utensils............................................................
Fine earthenware food utensils........................................................
Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100)............................................
Concrete block and brick................................................................

310.8
277.3
122.5
273.6
202.7
234.8
317.3
295.5
152.6
257.3

310.5
2829
120.1
280.7
205.0
242.6
327.4
297.9
155.5
259.4

310.5
282.9
120.1
280.7
205.1
245.0
327.4
297.9
155.5
259.4

324.3
286.6
127.1
291.5
209.5
244.7
327.4
298.6
155.5
264.1

324.3
286.1
127.1
305.2
212.8
248.9
327.4
298.6
155.5
265.0

'324.4
295.3
127.1
308.1
213.0
249.4
328.0
307.9
158.5
263.2

332.4
296.0
129.6
308.6
212.7
252.0
328.2
308.2
158.6
267.4

332.3
297.4
132.1
311.0
223.9
252.5
336.6
309.6
160.6
271.2

331.0
298.5
132.1
312.2
223.9
255.8
336.6
309.6
160.7
271.2

'331.6
'298.9
'132.1
'312.3
'223.9
258.7
336.6
'309.6
'160.7
'271.2

329.5
299.9
129.6
314.0
224.4
259.5
336.6
309.1
160.6
274.0

328.9
300.9
137.7
314.2
227.9
258.9
336.8
313.3
161.7
274.2

327.2
300.8
137.7
315.7
232.2
258.9
336.8
313.3
161.7
274.0

327.2
301.4
137.7
317.0
232.2
259.3
344.7
314.4
163.6
274.5

3273
3274
3275
3291
3297
3312
3313
3316
3317
3321

Ready-mixed concrete....................................................................
Lime (12/75 - 100)......................................................................
Gypsjm products ..........................................................................
Abrasive products (12/71 - 100) ..................................................
Nonclay refractories (12/74 - 100)................................................
Blast furnaces and steel mills ........................................................
Electrometallurgical products (12/75 - 100) ..................................
Cold finishing of steel shapes..........................................................
Steel pipes and tubes ....................................................................
Gray iron foundries (12/68 - 100)..................................................

279.9
157.7
256.7
212.6
161.1
310.5
117.7
284.0
290.9
282.5

282.8
160.8
253.6
220.2
167.5
316.6
117.3
288.8
302.4
290.1

282.9
161.8
253.1
2206
167.6
320.7
117.3
293.3
308.4
290.7

2948
165.7
259.9
222.8
172.4
328.7
119.9
3028
315.5
295.2

295.4
171.7
257.6
221.7
177.5
328.9
120.0
303.1
316.3
296.1

296.0
172.6
257.9
223.1
178.9
334.0
120.0
306.1
326.1
295.6

298.5
172.4
257.1
232.7
178.9
336.7
120.8
308.2
333.1
297.0

299.4
172.6
261.4
233.2
186.6
337.3
120.6
308.2
334.1
298.4

301.7
173.0
260.9
234.1
189.7
338.2
120.7
309.5
336.3
298.4

'300.7
'173.1
261.8
'235.0
189.7
'350.1
121.2
'325.0
348.2
'298.8

299.9
174.2
258.9
234.9
189.8
349.5
121.5
325.7
350.7
299.4

299.5
173.9
257.0
235.6
189.8
350.3
121.4
326.2
350.6
301.9

299.7
173.9
251.5
237.5
189.8
353,1
125.4
326.4
362.0
304.6

299.2
173.8
252.5
239.6
190.2
352.9
125.4
326.4
362.3
303.9

3333
3334
3351
3353
3354
3355
3411
3425
3431
3465

Primary zin c..................................................................................
Primary aluminum..........................................................................
Copper rolling and drawing ............................................................
Aluminum sheet plate and foil (12/75 - 100)..................................
Aluminum extruded products (12/75 - 100)....................................
Aluminum rolling, drawing, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ..............................
Metal cans....................................................................................
Hand saws and saw blades (12/72 - 100) ....................................
Meta san-tary ware........................................................................
Automotive stampings (12/75 - 100) ............................................

270.5
297.9
227.5
158.2
167.7
146.2
291.6
182.1
248.3
136.9

282.0
328.5
222.9
163.3
176.3
151.2
297.2
187.2
252.2
140.9

288.7
328.0
2228
165.1
176.4
151.1
297.3
190.5
253.8
141.2

300.3
331.7
218.7
169.3
176.8
155.3
302.1
195.4
256.0
143.0

300.0
332.3
215.3
170.7
177.1
157.1
303.0
196.3
256.4
143.9

299.7
332.2
211.8
172.1
177.3
157.2
304.7
198.0
258.5
144.2

311.9
332.8
213.1
173.8
180.6
157.3
304.7
198.1
262.8
145.0

332.7
334.2
212.6
174.4
180.7
157.4
304.7
200.2
264.8
145.0

335.1
332.5
210.6
176.1
180.8
157.3
304.7
200.2
265.2
145.2

'335.4
'334.2
'209.4
'177.3
'181.2
'157.2
'305.5
'204.1
'269.2
'146.2

349.5
336.5
210.9
178.2
181.3
157.6
306.9
203.8
267.1
146.8

351.5
336.4
213.7
178.7
181.2
158.1
307.4
204.2
267.5
147.2

332.9
335.8
212.9
180.7
181.3
163.3
307.2
204.5
267.7
147.7

337.5
332.5
209.4
179.9
181.4
166.2
306.6
204.6
270.6
149.7

3482
3493
3494
3498
3519
3531
3532
3533
3534
3542

Small arms ammunition (12/75 - 100) ..........................................
Steel springs, except wire ..............................................................
Valves and pipe fittings (12/71 - 100)............................................
Fabricated pipe and fittings ............................................................
Internal combustion engines, n.e.c.....................................................
Construction machinery (12/76 - 100) ..........................................
Mining machinery (12/72 - 100)....................................................
Oilfield machinery and equipment....................................................
Elevators and moving stairways......................................................
Machine tools, metal forming types (12/71 -1 0 0 ) ..........................

145.6
230.3
230.0
315.5
275.4
141.1
258.5
338.1
239.3
279.5

146.3
233.3
236.9
329.9
289.1
146.6
268.0
358.4
248.8
287.4

160.9
234.3
238.3
329.9
289.9
147.5
270.0
360.9
249.5
292.0

157.9
238.4
240.2
335.7
298.2
150.0
272.5
367.0
250.3
297.5

157.8
239.2
242.1
335.7
299.4
151.4
273.5
374.2
250.3
298.0

157.2
239.5
244.8
338.5
302.6
152.6
276.2
378.2
250.3
301.9

157.8
241.2
247.6
358.8
306.0
154.4
279.5
382.2
251.2
303.0

157.8
241.7
247.9
359.9
306.2
155.3
280.0
384.6
251.2
304.5

157.8
241.9
248.5
361.6
307.2
156.9
280.8
390.3
251.2
305.7

'157.8
'243.7
' 250.0
'364.6
'312.0
159.0
'282.7
'401.3
'252.1
'307.6

165.3
244.3
249.5
371.3
313.6
159.5
283.5
403.1
252.9
307.7

165.3
249.5
251.2
374.7
320.9
160,0
286.0
408.7
254.6
312.0

165.3
249.6
251.4
379.1
321.6
161.5
288.7
413.3
257.1
312.3

165.3
253.8
251.9
378.8
322.4
161.6
290.3
418.3
259.9
312.3

3546
3552
3553
3576
3592
3612
3623
3631
3632
3633

Power driven hand tools (12/76 - 100)..........................................
Textile machinery (12/69 - 100)....................................................
Woodworking machinery (12/72 - 100)..........................................
Scales and balances, excluding laboratory ......................................
Carburetors, pistons, rings, valves (6/76 - 100)..............................
Transformers ................................................................................
Welding apparatus, electric (12/72 - 100)......................................
Household cooking equipment (12/75 - 100)..................................
Household refrigerators, freezers (6/76 - 100) ..............................
Household laundry equipment (12/73 - 100)..................................

132.2
216.6
212.5
215.0
156.6
184.9
209.9
133.1
121.4
162.0

136.7
224.5
217.7
226.9
165.2
193.0
214.9
135.8
125.1
166.6

137.9
226.0
221.5
217.9
167.6
193.3
215.8
137.5
125.1
167.4

142.6
235.7
222.5
220.5
168.9
194.9
218.9
140.1
127.5
169.8

144.9
235.0
223.1
221.1
170.9
197.1
220.9
141.0
127.5
170.2

145.2
240.0
224.7
224.2
171.5
204.3
222.1
141.1
127.6
170.9

146.4
240.4
225.5
230.2
172.0
206.0
224.3
140.5
129.4
173.5

147.0
241.2
219.1
230.2
172.0
207.8
225.9
140.7
129.5
173.9

147.1
244.4
219.7
230.3
176.5
209.6
227.2
141.0
130.8
173.6

'148.2
'246.2
'224.0
'226.6
'180.8
'210.7
'228.3
' 140.5
'135.5
174.1

148.5
245.3
224.2
226.8
181.1
215.3
228.8
141.1
134.1
174.1

148.6
247.0
225.3
226.1
181.9
215.9
230.8
141.2
135.0
176.0

148.8
248.1
226.9
226.1
185.2
216.2
231.8
141.6
136.4
176.8

148.7
247.9
229.0
226.1
187.0
221.5
232.4
142.0
136.4
178.5

3635
3636
3641
3644
3646
3648
3671
3674
3675
3676

Household vacuum cleaners ..........................................................
Sewing machines (12/75 - 100)....................................................
Electric lamps................................................................................
Noncurrent-carrying wiring devices (12/72 - 100) ..........................
Commercial lighting fixtures (12/75 - 100) ....................................
Lighting equipment, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100) ........................................
Electron tubes receiving typ e ..........................................................
Semiconductors and related devices ..............................................
Electronic capacitors (12/75 - 100) ..............................................
Electronic resistors (12/75 - 100)..................................................

154.4
129.1
260.3
219.7
139.3
139.9
251.8
90.7
162.7
134.2

158.8
130.3
270.2
223.7
143.1
144.7
264.8
91.2
170.2
137.8

159.1
130.3
266.2
229.2
144.7
145.0
272.7
91.6
170.3
137.8

159.1
130.3
265.8
233.1
145.1
146.3
284.3
91.1
170.3
139.0

156.3
130.3
271.2
236.3
148.0
146.8
284.4
90.8
171.1
139.9

158.5
131.9
272.6
240.6
151.4
152.7
285.0
91.3
173.2
139.9

158.4
131.8
275.5
242.6
156.1
153.2
285.0
91.2
168.7
140.0

158.5
153.8
275.1
242.8
156.2
153.3
285.1
90.6
168.5
140.8

158.6
153.8
276.5
251.5
156.2
153.7
312.5
90.3
171.2
141.2

'158.6
'153.8
'275.2
'253.3
' 154.4
153.8
'327.4
' 89.2
'171.4
'142.1

152.2
153.1
280.1
256.2
155.8
161.3
327.5
89.6
168.0
142.2

152.2
153.1
283.2
261.0
157.2
161.5
327.5
89.5
168.9
142.6

154.5
155.4
285.9
261.2
156.8
161,4
327.6
89.2
172.4
142.6

154.2
155.4
286.6
264.6
157.3
162.0
327.8
91.0
169.2
142.8

3678
3692
3711
3942
3944
3955
3995
3996

Electronic connectors (12/75 - 100)..............................................
Primary batteries, dry and w e t........................................................
Motor vehicles and car bodies (12/75 - 100)..................................
Dolls (12/75 - 100)......................................................................
Games, toys, and children’s vehicles ..............................................
Carbon paper and inked ribbons (12/75 - 100)..............................
Burial caskets (6/76 - 100) ..........................................................
Hard surface floor coverings (12/75 - 100)....................................

148.1
176.5
136.7
127.4
205.2
132.8
131.2
143.7

149.7
177.0
144.6
128.3
207.0
135.0
132.9
146.6

149.7
176.9
144.0
128.3
207.1
135.0
135.0
146.6

152.2
179.0
145.3
130.7
213.9
133.0
135.0
148.6

153.5
183.3
145.7
132.3
220.2
136.4
135.0
148.6

154.5
184.2
144.2
132.4
221.2
136.4
138.0
148.7

154.4
182.6
148.4
132.4
221.2
136.9
138.1
151.5

153.7
181.0
149.6
130.9
221.8
136.9
138.3
151.5

154.3
181.0
150.3
130.9
221.9
140.4
138.3
151.5

'155.0
181.6
'150.3
'130.9
'222.0
140.4
138.3
153.3

155.1
182.7
149.7
130.6
219.9
140.6
140.6
153.6

155.3
183.4
143.2
130.6
220.1
140.6
143.4
153.7

156.3
182.7
158.3
130.6
220.1
140.6
143.4
153.7

155.8
182.7
158.5
130.6
220.5
140.6
143.4
153.7

1Data for July 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
94
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2 Not available,

PRODUCTIVITY DATA

d ata are compiled by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from establishment data and from estimates of com­
pensation and output supplied by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and the Federal Reserve Board.

P r o d u c t iv it y

Definitions
Output is the constant dollar gross domestic product produced in a
given period. Indexes of output per hour of labor input, or labor pro­
ductivity, measure the value of goods and services produced per hour
of labor. Compensation per hour includes wages and salaries of em­
ployees plus employers’ contributions for social insurance and private
benefit plans. The data also include an estimate of wages, salaries, and
supplementary payments for the self-employed, except for nonfinancial corporations, in which there are no self-employed. Real com­
pensation per hour is compensation per hour adjusted by the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Unit labor cost measures the labor compensation cost required to
produce one unit of output and is derived by dividing compensation
by output. Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, in­
terest, and indirect taxes per unit of output. They are computed by
subtracting compensation of all persons from the current dollar gross
domestic product and dividing by output. In these tables, unit
nonlabor costs contain all the components of unit nonlabor payments
except unit profits. Unit profits include corporate profits and invento­
ry valuation adjustments per unit of output.
The implicit price deflator is derived by dividing the current dollar
estimate of gross product by the constant dollar estimate, making the
deflator, in effect, a price index for gross product of the sector reported.

31.

The use of the term “man hours” to identify the labor component
of productivity and costs, in tables 31 through 34, has been discontin­
ued. Hours of all persons is now used to describe the labor input of
payroll workers, self-employed persons, and unpaid family workers.
Output per all-employee hour is now used to describe labor productiv­
ity in nonfinancial corporations where there are no self-employed.

Notes on the data
In the private business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the
basis for the output measure employed in the computation of output
per hour is Gross Domestic Product rather than Gross National
Product. Computation of hours includes estimates of nonfarm and
farm proprietor hours.
Output data are supplied by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce, and the Federal Reserve Board. Quarterly
manufacturing output indexes are adjusted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to annual estimates of output (gross product originating)
from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Compensation and hours data
are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Beginning with the September 1976 issue of the R ev ie w , tables 3134 were revised to reflect changeover to the new series— private busi­
ness sector and nonfarm business sector— which differ from the
previously published total private economy and nonfarm sector in
that output imputed for owner-occupied dwellings and the household
and institutions sectors, as well as the statistical discrepancy, are
omitted. For a detailed explanation, see J. R. Norsworthy and L. J.
Fulco, “New sector definitions for productivity series,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R ev ie w , October 1976, pages 40-42.

Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1950-80

[1977 = 100]
Ite m

Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor co s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor co s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ....................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor co s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor co s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

50.3
20.0
50.4
39.8
43.5
41.0

58.2
26.3
59.6
45.2
47.8
46.1

65.1
33.9
69.4
52.1
50.8
51.7

78.2
41.7
80.0
53.3
57.8
54.8

86.1
58.2
90.8
67.6
63.4
66.2

94.8
71.3
97.3
75.2
75.6
75.3

92.7
78.0
95.9
84.2
78.9
82.4

94.8
85.5
96.3
90.2
90.7
90.4

97.9
92.9
98.8
94.8
94.4
94.7

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.8
108.4
100.7
108.6
105.1
107.4

99.5
119.3
99.6
119.9
110.9
116.9

99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6

56.2
21.8
55.0
38.8
42.8
40.2

62.7
28.3
63.9
45.1
47.9
46.0

68.2
35.6
73.0
52.3
50.5
51.7

80.4
42.8
82.2
53.2
58.2
54.9

86.7
58.6
91.5
67.6
64.0
66.4

95.3
71.7
97.7
75.2
71.9
74.1

93.1
78.4
96.4
84.3
76.1
81.6

95.0
86.0
96.8
90.5
88.9
89.9

98.1
93.0
990
94.8
94.0
94.5

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.8
108.5
100.7
108.7
103.6
107.0

99.1
119.0
99.3
120.0
108.5
116.2

98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4

(’ )

(’ )
( 1)
n
( 1)
(’ )
(’ )

66.3
36.3
74.2
54.7
54.6
54.7

79.9
43.0
82.6
53.8
60.8
56.2

85.4
58.3
91.0
68.3
63.1
66.5

94.5
70.8
96.5
74.9
70.7
73.4

91.3
77.6
95.4
85.1
75.7
81.8

94.4
85.5
96.3
90.6
90.9
90.7

97,4
92.5
98.5
95.0
95.0
95.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.4
108.2
100.5
107.8
103.8
106.4

100.4
118.7
99.1
118.2
108.3
114.8

101.0
130.7
96.2
129.4
117.3
125.2

49.5
21.5
54.1
43.4
55.1
46.8

56.5
28.8
65.2
51.0
59.4
53.4

60.1
36.7
75.1
61.1
62.0
61.3

74.6
42.9
82.3
57.4
70.3
61.2

79.2
57.6
89.9
72.7
66.0
70.7

93.1
69.1
94.2
74.2
71.6
73.4

90,9
76.4
93.9
84.1
70.4
80.1

93.5
85.5
96.3
91.4
88.5
90.6

97.7
92.4
98.3
94.6
95.1
94.7

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.9
108.2
100.5
107.3
104.7
106.5

102.0
118.8
99.2
116.5
105.7
113.4

101.7
131.6
96.7
129.4
108.7
123.4

(')
(')
(’ )
( 1)
(')

1 Not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

95

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW January 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
32.

Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1970-80
A n n u a l ra te
Year

o f change

It e m
1971

1970

Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per ho u r......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees........................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................

1972

1973

1974

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1 9 5 0 -8 0

1 9 6 0 -8 0

0.9
7.4
1.4
6.4
0.7
4.5

3.6
6.6
2.2
2.9
7.6
4.4

3.5
6.5
3.1
2.9
4.5
3.4

2.7
8.0
1.7
5.2
5.9
5.4

-2.3
9.4
-1.4
11.9
4.4
9.4

2.3
9.6
0.4
7.2
15.0
9.7

3.3
8.6
2.7
5.1
4.1
4.7

2.1
7.7
1.2
5.5
5.9
5.6

-0.2
8.4
0.7
8.6
5.1
7.4

-0.3
10.1
-1.1
10.4
5.5
8.8

-0.2
10.2
-3.0
10.4
6.6
9.2

2.5
6.0
2.4
3.5
3.2
3.4

2.2
7.1
1.9
4.8
4.4
4.7

0.3
7.0
1.0
6.6
1.1
4.8

3.3
6.6
2.2
3.1
7.4
4.5

3.7
6.7
3.3
2.8
3.2
3.0

2.5
7.6
1.3
4.9
1.3
3.7

-2.4
9.4
-1.4
12.1
5.9
10.1

2.1
9.6
0.4
7.4
16.7
10.3

3.2
8.1
2.2
4.7
5.7
5.1

2.0
7.6
1.0
5.5
6.4
5.8

-0.2
8.5
0.7
8.7
3.6
7.0

-0.7
9.7
-1.4
10.4
4.8
8.6

-0.3
9.9
-3.2
10.3
8.4
9.7

2.1
5.7
2.1
3.5
3.1
3.4

1.9
6.8
1.6
4.8
4.2
4.6

0.4
6.8
0.8
6.3
0.5
4.4

4.8
6.5
2.1
1.6
7.4
3.5

3.0
5.8
2.5
2.8
2.7
2.8

2.6
7.7
1.4
4.9
1.5
3.8

-3.4
9.7
-1.1
13.6
7.1
11.4

3.4
10.1
0.9
6.5
20.1
10.9

3.2
8.2
2.3
4.9
4.6
4.8

2.7
8.1
1.5
5.3
5.2
5.2

0.4
8.2
0.5
7.8
3.8
6.4

-

0.0

0.6
10.1
-3.0
9.5
8.3
9.1

( 1>

9.7
-1.4
9.7
4.4
7.9

2.1
6.7
1.5
4.6
3.8
4.3

-0.2
6.8
0.8
7.0
-2.5
4.3

6.1
6.1
1.8

5.0
5.4
2.0
0.3
0.8
0.5

5.4
7.2
0.9
1.7
-3.3
0.3

-2.4
10.6
-0.3
13.3
-1.8
9.0

2.9
11.9
2.5
8.8
25.9
13.1

4.4
8.0
2.1
3.4
7.4
4.6

2.4
8.3
1.7
5.7
5.2
5.6

0.9
8.2
0.5
7.3
4.7
6.5

1.1
9.8
-1.3
8.6
0.9
6.4

'- 0 .3
10.7
-2.5
11.0
2.9
8.8

2.6
5.6
2.0
2.9
2.1
2.7

0.0
11.2
3.1

1Not available.

33.

1975

n
n

(’ >
<’ )

n

2.7
6.7
1.5
3.8
2.7
3.5

r = revised.

Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted

[1977=100]
Q u a r te r ly in d e x e s

A nnual
It e m

Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ........................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Total unit costs ..................................................
Unit labor cost ............................................
Unit nonlabor costs......................................
Unit profits ........................................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
1Not available.

96FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

a v erag e

1981

1980

1979

IV

I

II

III

1979

1980

I

II

III

IV

I

II

III

99.5
119.3
99.6
119.9
110.9
116.9

99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6

99.7
115.0
100.6
115.4
109.6
113.4

99.7
118.1
100.3
118.5
110.4
115.8

99,4
120.7
99.2
121.4
111.5
118.1

99.1
123.2
98.0
124.3
112.2
120.2

99.5
126.4
96.7
127.0
115.2
123.0

99.1
130.1
96.5
131.3
116.0
126.1

99.4
133.1
96.9
133.9
119.7
129.1

99.1
135.9
96.0
137.0
122.7
132.2

100.3
139.7
96.1
139.4
127.6
135.4

101.1
143.2
96.8
141.6
129.3
137.5

r 100.9
146.4
r96.2
r 145.1
'132.2
'140.8

99.1
119.0
99.3
120.0
108.5
116.2

98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4

99.5
114.9
100.4
115.4
107.1
112.6

99.1
117.7
100.0
118.7
107.7
115.1

98.9
120.2
98.8
121.5
109.2
117.4

98.8
123.0
97.8
124.4
110.1
119.7

98.9
126.0
96.4
127.4
113.9
122.9

98.2
129.4
96.0
131.8
115.1
126.3

99.0
132.3
96.3
133.6
119.2
128.8

99.0
135.4
95.6
136.8
122.0
131.9

100.0
139.1
95.7
139.1
127.8
135.3

100.4
142.4
96.3
141.9
128.7
r 137.5

r99.9
145.6
95.7
'145.7
'131.9
141.1

100.4
118.7
99.1
116.8
118.2
112.7
99.0
114.8

101.0
130.7
96.2
129.7
129.4
130.2
90.2
125.2

100.6
114.5
100.1
112.2
113.8
107.8
105.6
111.5

100.7
117.6
99.9
115.3
116.8
111.2
100.7
113.7

100.5
120.1
98.7
118.2
119.5
114.6
97.5
115.9

99.9
122.7
97.5
121.3
122.8
117.2
92.2
118.1

100.2
125.7
96.2
124.2
125.4
120.9
95.5
121.0

100.1
129.3
95.9
129.2
129.1
129.3
83.4
124.1

101.8
132.5
96.5
131.1
130.2
133.8
89.1
126.4

101.8
135.5
95.7
134.1
133.1
136.9
92.4
129.5

103.3
139.2
95.7
136.0
134.7
139.5
106.8
132.7

103.9
142.3
96.2
138.7
137.0
143.6
r 102.8
134.7

p 103.7
p 145.4
p95.6
p 142.2
p 140.2
p 147.9
p 105.1
p 138.0

102.0
118.8
99.2
116.5

101.7
131.6
96.7
129.4

101.5
114.5
100.2
112.9

102.3
118.6
100.7
115.9

102.0
119.8
98.5
117.5

102.1
122.3
97.2
119.8

102.0
125.4
95.9
122.9

100.7
130.0
96.4
129.1

100.7
133.9
97.5
133.0

103.2
137.3
97.0
133.0

104.1
140.9
96.9
135,4

105.1
144.6
97.8
137.5

105.5
'147.7
'97.1
'140.1

r = revised.

34. Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted at annual rate
[1977 = 100]
Q u a r te r ly p e r c e n t c h a n g e a t a n n u a l r a te
It e m

Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ....................
Compensation per hour ..............................
Real compensation per hour........................
Unit labor costs ..........................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..............................
Implicit price deflator ..................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ....................
Compensation per hour ..............................
Real compensation per hour........................
Unit labor costs..........................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..............................
Implicit price deflator ..................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ................
Compensation per hour ..............................
Real compensation per hour........................
Total unit costs ..........................................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor costs..................................
Unit profits............................................
Implicit price deflator ..................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ....................
Compensation per hour ..............................
Real compensation per hour........................
Unit labor costs ........................................
1Not available.


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1 1980

II 1 9 8 0

III 1 9 8 0

IV 1 9 8 0

P e rc e n t c h a n g e fro m s a m e q u a rte r a y e a r a g o

1 1981

II 1 9 8 1

II 1 9 7 9

III 1 9 7 9

IV 1 9 7 9

I 1980

II 1 9 8 0

III 1 9 8 0

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

II 1 9 8 0

III 1 9 8 0

IV 1 9 8 0

1 1981

II 1 9 8 1

III 1 9 8 1

II 1 9 8 0

III 1 9 8 0

IV 1 9 8 0

I 1981

II 1 9 8 1

J l l 1981

-1.8
12.3
-0.7
14.4
2.6
10.5

1.3
9.5
1.6
8.1
13.7
9.8

-1.1
8.6
-3.8
9.8
10.2
9.9

4.6
11.8
0.4
6.9
17.2
10.0

3.5
10.4
3.2
6.6
5.3
6.2

r -1.0
r9.2
-2.4
r 10.3
r9.3
r 10.0

-0.6
10.1
-3.8
10.8
5.1
9.0

10.3
-2.3
10.3
7.4
9.4

0.0
10.3
-2.0
10.3
9.3
10.0

0.7
10.5
-0.7
9.7
10.8
10.1

2.1
10.1
0.3
7.8
11.5
9.0

'1.5
10.0
07
r8.4
r 10.4
90

-2.9
11.3
-1.6
14.6
4.2
11.3

3.6
9.0
1.2
5.3
15.0
8.2

-0.2
9.8
-2.7
10.1
9.9
10.0

4.3
11.6
r0.2
7.0
20.3
11.0

1.4
9.6
2.4
8.1
3.0
6.5

r -1.6
r9.3
-2.3
r 11.1
r 10.3
r 10.9

-1.0
9.9
-4.0
11.0
6.9
9.7

0.1
10.1
-2.5
9.9
9.1
9.6

0.1
10.1
-2.2
9.9
10.8
10.2

1.1
10.4
-0.8
9.2
12.2
10.1

2.2
10.0
0.2
7.6
11.8
8.9

09
101
0.6
r9.1
r 10.7
96

-0.5
12.0
-1.0
17.0
12.6
30.6
-41.9
10.5

6.7
10.2
2.2
6.2
3.2
14.7
30.3
7.9

0.0
9.4
-3.1
9.4
9.4
9.5
15.7
9.9

6.3
11.4
5.6
4.8
7.9
77.9
10.4

2.2
9.3
2.1
8.4
7.0
12.3
-13.9
6.2

-0.6
»9.0
»-2.6
»10.4
»9.6
»12.3
»8.9
»10.2

-0.5
9.9
-3.9
12.0
10.5
16.3
-17.2
9.1

1.3
10.3
-2.2
11.0
8.9
16.8
-8.6
9.1

1.9
10.4
-1.9
10.5
8.4
16.8
0.3
9.6

3.1
10.8
-0.5
9.5
7.4
15.4
11.8
9.7

3.8
10.1
0.3
7.4
6.1
11.1
23.3
8.6

p1 9
»9.8
» 09
»8.4
»7.7
»10.5
»17.9
»9.2

-4.9
15.5
2.1
21.4

0.0

12.7
4.5
r 12.7

10.4
10.5
-2.2
0.1

3.3
11.1
-0.3
7.5

4.1
10.8
3.5
6.4

'1.3
r9.0
-2.7
r 7.6

-1.6
9.6
-4.3
11.3

-1.3
11.7
-1.0
13.2

1.1
12.2
-0.3
11.0

2.1
12.4
1.0
10.2

4.4
11.3
1.4
6.6

r4 7
r 10.3
r 04
r5.3

0.0

'

'

’

0.0

r = revised.

97

LABOR-M ANAGEM ENT DATA

M a j o r c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g d a t a are obtained from
contracts on file at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, direct
contact with the parties, and from secondary sources. Addi­
tional detail is published in Current Wage Developments, a
monthly periodical of the Bureau. Data on work stoppages
are based on confidential responses to questionnaires mailed
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to parties involved in work
stoppages. Stoppages initially come to the attention of the
Bureau from reports of Federal and State mediation agencies,
newspapers, and union and industry publications.

the agreement. Changes over the life of the agreement refer to total
agreed upon settlements (exclusive of potential cost-of-living escalator
adjustments) expressed at an average annual rate. Wage-rate changes
are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earnings, while wage
and benefit changes are expressed as a percent of total compensation.
Effective wage-rate adjustments going into effect in major
bargaining units measure changes actually placed into effect during the
reference period, whether the result of a newly negotiated increase, a
deferred increase negotiated in an earlier year, or as a result of a costof-living escalator adjustment. Average adjustments are affected by
workers receiving no adjustment, as well as by those receiving in­
creases or decreases.

Definitions

Work stoppages include all known strikes or lockouts involving six
workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data cover all
workers idle one shift or more in establishments directly involved in a
stoppage. They do not measure the indirect or secondary effect on
other establishments whose employees are idle owing to material or
service shortages.

Data on wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry agree­
ments covering 1,000 workers or more. Data on wage and benefit
changes c o m b in e d apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage settlements refer to pay changes go­
ing into effect within the first 12 months after the effective date of

35.

Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date

[In percent]
Q u a r te r ly a v e r a g e

A nnual av erag e

M e a s u r e s a n d in d u s try
1977

1978

1979

1981

1980

1979
1976

o

1980
III

IV

I

II

III

IV

1

II

III

Wage and benefit settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ..................................
Annual rate over life of contract....................

8.5
6.6

9.6
6.2

8.3
6.3

9.0
6.6

10.4
7.1

9.0
6.1

8.5
6.0

8.8
6.7

10.2
7.4

11.4
7.2

8.5
6.1

10.3
7.6

11.9
10.9

12.8
9.3

Wage rate settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ..................................
Annual rate over life of contract....................

8.4
6.4

7.8
5.8

7.6
6.4

7.4
6.0

9.5
7.1

6.8
5.1

6.3
5.3

8.2
6.5

9.1
7.3

10.5
7.4

8.3
6.5

9.2
7.8

11.9
9.7

12.1
9.4

Manufacturing:
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............

8.9
6.0

8.4
5.5

8.3
6.6

6.9
5.4

7.4
5.4

6.3
4.7

5.6
4.2

7.2
5.7

6.7
5.1

8.4
5.6

7.8
5.8

9.4
7.0

8.0
6.5

9.8
7.6

Nonmanufacturing (excluding construction):
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............

8.6
7.2

8.0
5.9

8.0
6.5

7.6
6.2

9.5
6.6

9.4
6.5

7.8
7.4

9.4
7.6

10.3
8.5

9.5
5.9

8.2
6.8

8.6
7.8

11.8
9.1

10.4
8.5

Construction:
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............

6.1
6.2

6.3
6.3

6.5
6.2

8.8
8.3

13.6
11.5

9.7
8.5

7.5
7.6

10.8
9.1

12.2
10.4

15.4
13.0

14.3
12.0

11.4
10.3

13.2
11.1

17.6
12.8

98FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

36.

Effective wage adjustments in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date

[In percent]
A v e ra g e annual ch an g es

A v e r a g e q u a r te r ly c h a n g e s

M e a s u r e s a n d in d u s t r y

1979
1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

p

1980
III

IV

I

II

III

IV

I

II

III

Total effective wage rate adjustment, all industries ..............
Change resulting from —
Current settlement................................................
Prior settlement....................................................
Cost-of-living adjustment clause ............................

8.1

8.0

8.2

9.1

9.9

3.3

1.6

1.6

3.3

3.5

1.3

1.2

2.8

3.0

3.2
3.2
1.6

3.0
3.2
1.7

2.0
3.7
2.4

3.0
3.0
3.1

3.6
3.5
2.8

1.0
1.0
1.2

.5
.4
.7

.4
.5
.7

1.0
1.4
.8

1.7
1.2
.7

.5
.3
.6

.1
.6
.6

1.0
1.3
.6

.5
1.5
1.0

Manufacturing ............................................................
Nonmanufacturing ......................................................

8.5
7.7

8.4
7.6

8.6
7.9

9.6
8.8

10.2
9.7

3.2
3.4

2.4
1.0

2.0
1.3

3.4
3.2

2.9
4.0

1.7
1.1

1.5
1.0

1.8
3.6

2.6
3.3

N ote :

37.

Because of rounding and compounding, the sums of individual items may not equal totals.

Work stoppages, 1947 to date
N u m b e r o f s to p p a g e s
M o n th a n d y e a r

B e g in n in g in

In e f f e c t

m o n th o r y e a r

d u r in g m o n t h

W o r k e r s in v o lv e d
B e g in n in g in

D a y s id le

In e f f e c t

m o n th o r y e a r

d u r in g m o n t h

(th o u s a n d s )

(th o u s a n d s )

N um ber
(th o u s a n d s )

P e rc e n t o f
e s tim a te d
w o r k in g tim e

1947
1948
1949
1950

3,693
3,419
3,606
4,843

2,170
1,960
3,030
2’410

34,600
34,100
50,500
38,800

.30
.28
.44
.33

1951
1952
1953
1954
1955

4,737
5,117
5,091
3,468
4,320

2,220
3,540
2,400
1,530
2,650

22,900
59,100
28,300
22,600
28,200

.18
.48
.22
.18
.22

1956
1957
1958
1959
1960

3,825
3,673
3,694
3,708
3,333

1,900
1,390
2,060
1,880
1,320

33.100
16,500
23,900
69,000
19.100

.24
.12
.18
.50
.14

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

3,367
3,614
3,362
3,655
3,963

1,450
1,230
941
1,640
1,550

16.300
18,600
16,100
22,900
23.300

.11
.13
.11
.15
.15

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

4,405
4,595
5,045
5,700
5,716

1,960
2^870
2,649
2,481
3,305

25,400
42,100
49,018
42,869
66,414

.15
.25
.28
.24
.37

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

5,138
5,010
5,353
6,074
5,031

3,280
1,714
2,251
2,778
1,746

47,589
27,066
27,948
47,991
31,237

.26
.15
.14
.24
.16

1976
1977
1978
1979

5,648
5,506
4,230
4,827

2,420
2,040
1,623
1,727

37,859
35,822
36,922
34,754

.19
.17
.17
.15

1980:

349
205
90
253
347
314
371
473
421
391
310
358
231

2,530
1,440
1,228
614
647
1,419
5,117
5,857
3,891
2,015
1,775
1,468
1,182

.12

October ..
November
December
1981 p: January ..
February .
March . . .
April........
M ay........
June
J u ly ........
August . . .
September
October ..


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722
532
380
297
517
545
560
688
682
659
596
565
517

90
53
19
50
90
271
101
152
186
127
72
47
25

224
126
77
68
136
336
273
383
499
190
148
109
83

.09
.06
.03
.04
.07
.25
.31
.19
.10

.09
.07
.06

99

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Wage Surveys
for the Following Industries;

Industry Wage Survey:

Industry Wage Survey
Wood Household Furniture,
June 1979

June 1979

• Appliance Repair

Meat Products

Surveys include:

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