Full text of Monthly Labor Review : June 1981, Volume 104, Number 6

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau uf Labor Statistics


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

In this issue:

Unions turn to managerial techniques
The lag in southern earnings „

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Raymond J. Donovan, S ecretary

Regional Commissioners
for Bureau of Labor Statistics

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Region I
Boston: Wendell D. Macdonald
1603 JFK Federal Building, Government Center,
Boston, Mass. 02203
Phone: (617) 223 6761
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

Janet L. Norwood, Commissioner

The Monthly Labor Review is published by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor. Communications on editorial matters
should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief,
Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Washington, D C. 20212.
Phone: (202) 523-1327.
Subscription price per year
$18 domestic; $22.50 foreign.
Single copy $2.50.
Subscription prices and distribution policies for the
Monthly Labor Review (ISSN 0098-0818) and other Government
publications are set by the Government Printing Office,
an agency of the U.S. Congress. Send correspondence
on circulation and subscription matters (including
address changes) to:
Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office,
Washington, D C. 20402
Make checks payable to Superintendent of Documents.
The Secretary of Labor has determined that the
publication of this periodical is necessary in the
transaction of the public business required by
law of this Department. Use of funds for printing
this periodical has been approved by the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget
through October 31, 1982. Second-class
postage paid at Riverdale, MD.,
and at additional mailing offices.
Library of Congress Catalog
Card Number 15-26485

Region II
New York: Samuel M. Ehrenhalt
1515 Broadway, Suite 3400, New York, N Y. 10036
Phone: (212) 944-3121
New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Region III
Philadelphia: Alvin / Margulis
3535 Market Street
P.O. Box 13309, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101
Phone: (215) 596-1154
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia
Region IV
Atlanta: Donald M. Cruse
1371 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30367
Phone: (404) 881-4418
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Region V Chicago: William E Rice
9th Floor, Federal Office Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street,
Chicago, III. 60604
Phone: (312) 353-1880
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin
Region VI
Dallas: Bryan Richey
Second Floor, 555 Griffin Square Building, Dallas, Tex 75202
Phone: (214) 767-6971
Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Texas
Regions VII and VIII
Kansas City: Elliott A. Browar
911 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Mo 64106
Phone: (816) 374 2481

VII
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
VIII
Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

June cover:
Richmond, Va. a cigarette factory,
wood engraving by John Durkin
in Harper's Weekly, Jan. 15, 1887,
courtesy Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Cover design by Richard L. Mathews,
Division of Audio-Visual Communications,
U.S. Department of Labor.


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

Regions IX and X
San Francisco: D. Bruce Hanchett
450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36017,
San Francisco, Calif. 94102
Phone: (415) 556 4678

IX

American Samoa
Arizona
California
Guam
Hawaii
Nevada
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
X
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
JUNE 1981
VOLUME 104, NUMBER 6

LIBRARY

hue *w

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

Lois S. Gray

3

Unions implementing managerial techniques
National unions are gradually adopting the sophisticated management practices
of business and government, but personnel decisions remain essentially political

Dave Callahan and others

14

Inflation cross-currents: energy, food, and homeownership
During the first quarter, energy prices soared, but a sharp slowdown in food prices
and mortgage rates held the increase in the CPI to an annual rate of 9.6 percent

Patricia B. Smith

22

The Employment Cost Index in 1980
Total compensation increased 9.8 percent, as wages and salaries rose 9 percent;
the introduction of benefits completes quarterly measure of compensation change

George D. Stamas

27

The puzzling lag in southern earnings
Business booms but earnings remain relatively low in the South; race, training,
and union status, as well as population density, are among contributory factors

REPORTS
Philip Rones
Barbara L. Wolfe
Lawrence J. Fulco
Geoffrey H. Moore
Sylvia Lazos Terry


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

Can the Current Population Survey be used to identify the disabled?
The CPS, work, and disability: a reply
Productivity drops, output and hours rise during the fourth quarter
A new leading index of employment and unemployment
Work experience of the population in 1979

DEPARTMENTS
Labor month in review
Communications
Productivity reports
Technical note
Research summaries
Major agreements expiring next month
Developments in industrial relations
Book reviews
Current labor statistics

Labor M onth
In Review
REFLECTIONS OF AMERICA. To
mark the 100th anniversary of the
Statistical Abstract o f the United States,
the U.S. Census Bureau asked 26 prom­
inent users of statistics to reflect on their
view of America. Some excerpts:
John Kenneth Galbraith on the g n p :
Government policy derived from the na­
tional accounts works with great
political ease when the economy needs
expansion; there are no politically easy
solutions when the problem is inflation.
And though once it could be supposed
that inflation could be controlled by put­
ting the magnitudes given in the ac­
counts in reverse, this can no longer be
imagined.
Walter W. Heller on fighting inflation:
What the Great Depression was to the
1930’s, the Great Inflation is a half cen­
tury later to the 1980’s.
In the Great Depression, economic
policymakers could see and feel the
country’s economic agony, but they
could not measure it except in the most
rudimentary way, and then only with
much delay.
Surely one of the great differences
between economic policy in the Great
Depression and in the Great Inflation is
that, statistically, we are no longer
operating in the dark. We now have the
data to measure the inflationary
beast—though data alone, alas, do not
enable us to bring it to bay. That takes
will and wisdom as well.
Andrew F. Brimmer on employment and
income: The last two decades tell sharply
contrasting stories: the 1960’s was a
period of sustained economic expansion
while the 1970’s was a period of infla­
tion, recession, and stagnation. The
lesson is unmistakable: a sustained, high
level of noninflationary real economic
growth is a necessary underpinning for
low levels of unemployment.


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

In general, over the last decade, in­
come was redistributed in favor of the
better off versus the poor, the newer
regions of the country versus the old,
and the suburbs versus both rural areas
and central cities. The income gains
achieved by blacks compared with
whites were also slowed.
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick on women: I see no
grounds to expect a brave new unisex
world just over the horizon but good
reason for thinking that by the begin­
ning of the next century, young women
will have more choices, more freedom,
and problems quite different from the
ones confronting those who came of age
at the beginning of this century.
Ben J. Wattenberg and David Gergen on
attitudes: The sixties and seventies were
a time of great sorting out on the social
front: there were some ideas that sud­
denly seemed so obvious that they were
welcomed, civil rights and civil liberties
the most prominent among them; other
ideas stirred deeply divided emotions
and they remain controversial today
(abortion, for example); while still
others—drugs, violence, obscenity, pro­
m iscuity—clashed headlong with
American traditionalism and were dis­
missed by the vast majority.
William Marlin on cities: The American
city is undergoing a revolution. So is the
town. The disciplined use of energy,
building materials, and capital—put to­
gether with a spirited interest in pre­
serving old buildings, conserving old
neighborhoods, and bringing old streets
back to life—is resulting in the redis­
covery and recycling of hundreds of
communities. This is refreshing, given
our endemic lust for newness, and smart
given the comparatively high cost of
brand new buildings, the labor-intensive
benefits of conserving and converting
older ones, and the fact that reusing

old materials is a way to save energy.
Marion Clawson on conservation:
Knowledge firmly based on objective
research and statistics will become in­
creasingly important in the use and con­
servation of natural resources in the
future. We must know, as far as we can;
we may still disagree on what to do or
when to do it, but we can avoid much
time and controversy on impossible, im­
practical, or nonexistent issues and solu­
tions if we have a good foundation of
common knowledge.
James A. Michener on American life: I
have used the Abstract to clarify and
fortify my thinking, and I find that I use
it in three distinct ways: to explain my
homeland, to make comparisons with
other nations, and to amuse myself in
idle exploration. The first is by far the
most important, but the last is
sometimes the more revealing.
Norman Cousins on the value of data:
To paraphrase the old story about the
blind men and the elephant, one could
measure the tail and think he had a rope,
the second a leg and insist the dimen­
sions proved it was a tree, while the third
would investigate the trunk and con­
clude the beast was a snake. Had they
pooled their information, they would
have been further along in realizing what
they had. Any aspect of American life, is
obviously far more complex than an
elephant but none can be dealt with ade­
quately with incomplete information.
This is particularly true today, when the
phenomenon of unlimited resources no
longer applies.
Reflections o f America: Commem­
orating the Statistical Abstract Cen­
tennial is available for $6.50 from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Wash­
ington, D.C. 20402.
□

Unions implementing
managerial techniques
National unions are gradually adopting
the sophisticated management selection
and training practices of business and government
but employment and promotion decisions
remain essentially political
Lois S.

G

ray

In sharp contrast to their counterparts at the bargaining
tables, labor unions have traditionally given relatively
little attention to the selection and training of their pro­
fessional staff.1 Results of a 1977-78 survey of national
unions and employee organizations suggest an emerging
trend bringing them more into line with established per­
sonnel practices of business and government. College
graduates, long sought by other employers, find doors
beginning to open in labor unions; the recent elections
of college graduates as president and secretary-treasurer
of the a f l -C IO symbolize this change.2 Formalized
training, generally required for upward mobility in busi­
ness and government, is gaining acceptance among
unions. Even more striking, some of the recently inau­
gurated union staff training programs resemble in con­
tent and format those offered for management in other
organizations.
The literature describing and analyzing personnel pol­
icies of business and government is voluminous. By con­
trast, little is known about the personnel practices of
labor unions.2This study, designed as a first step in fill­
ing this gap, addressed several key questions: How do
national unions recruit and select their representatives?
What functions do these staff members perform? What
qualifications are expected of them? And, how are they
trained for their responsibilities? In analyzing the survey
Lois S. Gray is associate dean and professor at the New York State
School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.


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

results, comparisons are made, where possible, with the
selection and training of managers in business and gov­
ernment.

Divergent personnel practices
Selection. In business and government, selection of man­
agement personnel is usually a carefully planned and
somewhat elaborate process based on formal criteria
and objective tests designed to screen applicants for de­
sired attributes. Education and job-related training are
given heavy weight in the selection criteria.
National unions, however, have traditionally used a
political staff selection process, rewarding demonstrated
leadership and loyalty at the local level.4 In 1956,
Harold Wilensky’s path-breaking study of Intellectuals
in Labor Unions found that the relatively few college
graduates then employed by national unions functioned
in narrowly defined roles. These “intellectuals” tended
to be viewed with suspicion by union officials and tried
to downplay their college educations by “proclaiming
their faith in the superiority of the untrained man.”5
Training. Business organizations invest heavily in per­
sonnel training. A recent survey by the Conference
Board reports that most companies require their manag­
ers to continue their professional education. In 1975,
approximately 1.3 million managers and supervisors
were trained at a direct cost to employers of almost half
a billion dollars. As a result, in-house management
3

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Unions Implementing Managerial Techniques
training has become a major profession, accounting for
the employment of 45,000 specialists.6
Several companies operate year-round campuses
which rival institutions of higher education. For exam­
ple, American Telephone and Telegraph Co. sends
10,000 of its managers each year to its residential train­
ing center, which has an annual budget of $20 million.7
Corporations supplement in-house training with sup­
port for the American Management Association, whose
educational programs annually attract more than 60,000
managers, and with numerous special courses offered by
colleges and universities. Moreover, the business train­
ing boom has created a whole new industry of 1,000 or
more management consultants specializing in the field.8
Mid-level managers, the counterparts to international
representatives in labor unions, are the principal targets
of these business-sponsored training programs.9
The training of managers generally deals with the
functions of planning, organization, and control, with
emphasis on interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and
goal-setting. A heavy investment in methodology has
produced a variety of approaches to teaching, including
videotapes and computer simulations. Supervised onthe-job training, through a planned system of job rota­
tion, is widely used to supplement classroom instruc­
tion.10
In contrast, staff members of labor unions have
traditionally acquired their skills and knowledge in the
“School of Hard Knocks” — in the shop, at the
bargaining table, and on the picket line. Until recently,
few alternatives have been available. Moreover, efforts
to fill the training void have been mainly short-lived
and out of the mainstream of American labor union
practice.11
Given the growing complexity of union-management
relations, how are unions responding to the obvious dis­
parity in formal education and training between union
and management representatives? This is the question
which led to our study, the first analysis of union staff
training since the Survey of Labor Education conducted
under the auspices of the National Institute of Labor
Education more than a decade ago.12

Survey results and some hypotheses
The survey of national unions reveals increased re­
cruiting of both service staff and specialists from outside
the unions, growing union emphasis on staff training,
and emerging elements of similarity between union and
management training in content and methodology. (See
appendix for a description of the survey scope and
method.)
These are the major generalizations which emerge
from survey data. There are, however, differences
among unions, resulting, in part, from such factors as:
(1) size of organization, (2) type of membership, (3)
Digitized for4 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

union structure, (4) employer practices, (5) changes fac­
ing the organization, and (6) union traditions and cur­
rent outlook of leadership.
It is logical to expect that union personnel practices
will vary with size of membership, because this largely
determines the resources which are available. Thus,
larger unions are more likely to hire specialists to pro­
vide a wide range of services to their members, and to
mount their own staff training programs. Also, one
might predict that membership characteristics will be
reflected in the selection and training of staff representa­
tives. In particular, the weight given to formal educa­
tion may be expected to vary with the level of education
of the membership, with unions of professional employ­
ees more likely to hire college graduates and turn to
universities for staff training than unions which repre­
sent manual workers. However, observation of the labor
scene suggests that structure is the most im portant vari­
able in explaining differences among unions. Industrial
unions which deal in national and international product
markets are characterized by a centralized structure,
while those which function in local labor markets tend
to be decentralized. Thus, industrial unions might be
expected to employ relatively larger numbers of national
representatives to perform a wider variety of assign­
ments. With greater responsibility at the national level,
industrial unions would also be likely to place more em­
phasis on training.
Other potential influences on union personnel prac­
tices are less tangible and therefore more difficult to
assess. For example, unions may emulate the practices
of the employers with which they negotiate. According­
ly, unions dealing with major corporations, such as
General Motors or American Telephone and Telegraph,
are more likely to hire technical specialists from outside
the organization, and to provide staff training than
unions which represent employees in small firms. Inspi­
ration to adopt new programs may also come about as
a result of challenges facing the union; rapid expansion,
competition from rival unions, employer opposition,
government regulation, and economic decline may give
impetus to training and hiring trained personnel from
outside. And finally, not to be discounted are union tra­
ditions and the viewpoints of current leadership. Unions
with a history of social and political involvement have
traditionally emphasized education, and those headed
by college graduates or self-educated “intellectuals”
might also be expected to look for and encourage these
attributes among staff.

Recruitment and selection
International representatives. While union experience re­
mains the primary criterion for selection of international
representatives and organizers, approximately 3 out of
10 of the surveyed unions currently hire some “outsid-

ers” to perform these basic functions. Choosing interna­
tional staff is normally the prerogative of national
officers who, under most union constitutions, have the
exclusive power to hire and fire. Most unions tend to re­
cruit negotiators and organizers exclusively within their
own ranks, from among local officers or activists. Sixty
percent of our respondents reported that prior mem­
bership in the union and experience as a union officer
are requirements for appointment to international repre­
sentative positions, with an additional 12 percent indi­
cating that there are few exceptions to the prior mem­
bership requirement. In total, approximately 3 out of 4
unions select their negotiators, administrators, and or­
ganizers on the basis of demonstrated qualities of lead­
ership within the organization. Unions tend to see
experience as the best teacher and expect prospective
staff members to serve an apprenticeship at the local
level.
This internal method of selection for union staff is
longstanding and well-known.13What is surprising is the
number of unions (28 percent of our respondents)
which currently do look outside the organization to fill
some of their openings for international representatives
and organizers. The unions which recruit outside their
ranks differ from others in type of membership repre­
sented, stage of organization, and record of growth.
Unions recruiting staff from outside tend to fall into
two extremes based on the characteristics of their mem­
bers: (1) well-paid professional and technical, and (2)
relatively low-paid semi-skilled and unskilled. In the
case of the former, outside recruitment is explained by
the fact that members are dedicated to their occupation­
al goals and are therefore reluctant to assume full-time
union leadership roles. For the achievers in these profes­
sions, assumption of union staff positions may be seen
as a reduction in status. In contrast, unions which rep­
resent mainly low-skilled workers with limited formal
education sometime report that it is difficult to recruit
“qualified” representatives from the ranks. In both
cases, officers supplement inside talent with “outsiders.”
It has also been observed that some unions recruit “out­
siders” in the initial phases of organization when pay is
low and the work demanding and onerous. As the
union becomes better established, full-time representa­
tive positions are more attractive to “insiders.”
Rapid growth is another factor motivating outside
search for personnel. For example, the outside hiring
practices of public employee organizations, which con­
stitute the principal growth sector of the American la­
bor movement, reflect pressures stemming from relative
inexperience in bargaining and the demands of ex­
panding membership.
Whether they recruit exclusively from within or look
to the outside, labor organizations do not specify or en­
force a formal education requirement for employment of

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

international representatives and organizers. However, a
growing number recruit new staff from among the grad­
uates of college and university labor relations programs.
Many send recruiters to the campus, following the cor­
porate practice. Some try out college students through
on-the-job experience: Several recruit at colleges for in­
tern programs which provide experience for potential
staff; some merely provide short-term work experience
for college students; and a few use this avenue directly
for staff recruitment.
Specialists. While international representatives and orga­
nizers continue to come mainly from the ranks, an in­
creasing number and variety of specialists are recruited
from outside sources. Almost all unions (81 percent of
our respondents) search outside for specialized talent to
fill technical positions. For example, legal counsel has
traditionally been recruited in this way. Other positions
for which outsiders are most commonly employed, in
order of frequency, are: research, education, pension ad­
ministration, legislative and political affairs, and publi­
cations.
This outside talent search for specialists is not new.
Professor Wilensky attributed the trend to (1) the emer­
gence of multi-industry unions and (2) growing union
involvement with the Federal government, which gives
rise to a need for specialized and technical knowledge.14
What has changed is the number and variety of special­
ists hired. Unions which currently look outside the
membership to fill technical positions are representative
of the broad spectrum of organizations in the American
labor movement— industrial and craft, white-collar and
blue-collar, and public and private sector. The eight re­
porting unions which rely solely on internal recruitment
to fill technical and professional specialties are relatively
small organizations with limited resources.
Today, almost all unions hire some of their staff from
outside the membership ranks. The only variation oc­
curs with respect to the numbers hired and the roles
performed.15

Training
How do union staff representatives acquire the skills
and knowledge required to fulfill their responsibilities?
The survey confirms the impression that, in contrast to
the selection of business managers, formal training is
rarely a requirement for appointment to union staff and
that the “School of Hard Knocks” has been, and still
is, the major source of training.
The traditional trade union attitude toward staff de­
velopment was described by Lawrence Rogin and
Marjorie Rachlin in a 1968 study:
“. . . many union leaders do not see any need for training
or education. They point out that present union leaders at
all levels learned in the school of experience and on the
5

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Unions Implementing Managerial Techniques

Digitized for6 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Functions of national staff
Responding unions report employing 5,006 full-time international
representatives, or persons with an equivalent title such as district
representative or, in smaller unions, vice president. The vast majority
of professional staff members in national unions are designated “inter­
national” representatives, because the unions have membership in
more than one country, normally the United States and Canada.
Their duties are generally not set forth in written document, such as
union constitutions, or in standardized job descriptions as is the prac­
tice in most other organizations.
International representatives, as the title implies, represent the na­
tional union in relationships with local unions, with collective
bargaining as their primary activity. They are also expected to be a
source of information about and interpretation of union policy for the
membership, and to provide national officers with continuing feedback
on membership points of view. Less tangible but often more impor­
tant is their political responsibility for building support and loyalty at
the local level.
Unions responding to our survey report that the four most common
functions of international representatives are: (1) negotiating contracts,
(2) handling grievances, (3) organizing, and (4) advising local unions on
administrative questions. These duties are performed by staff carrying
the title of international representative (or the equivalent) in almost all
unions. Other reported functions associated with the title include arbi­
tration (five unions), education and training (four), legislative and polit­
ical activity (three), auditing (three), and community service (two). Un­
ions which expect representatives to perform more diversified functions
are usually industrial in structure. This is not surprising, given the
greater centralization and broader scope of activities which generally
characterize industrial, as compared with craft, unions.
Approximately half of the surveyed unions employ full-time orga­
nizers— 728 in all— who do not also serve as international representa­
tives. With a few exceptions, these unions are industrial in structure
with large memberships. Small craft unions include organizing with
other staff assignments or handle this function at the local level.
Our survey, in contrast to earlier reports by the U.S. Department of
Labor, indicates an upward trend in employment of staff specialists
by national unions. Gus Tyler, assistant president of the International
Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, explains that unions have to:
“develop the equivalent of the corporate ‘system’ man at many levels. They also
need specialists to play labor’s newly enlarged role in the total society. In the me­
dia age they need their own image makers; in our politicized economy, they need
their own politicians and economists; in this time of the minority movements, they
need their own savants about women, youth, the elderly, blacks, and Hispanics.”
(See Gus Tyler, “The University and the Labor Unions: Educating the Proletari­
at,” Change, February 1979, p. 35.)

In smaller unions, the officers are expected to handle all functions
with little or no specialized help, while larger organizations, like the
Steelworkers and the Auto Workers, have specialized departments for
legal advice, administration and negotiation of pension and welfare
plans, arbitration, and a number of other services. In particular, the
number of union staff employed in education, research, and public rela­
tions has grown since the first Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of labor
unions in 1949. (See Directory o f National Unions and Employee Associa­
tions, 1979, Bulletin 2079, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1980, p. 74.)

whole learned well. These unionists feel that the new gener­
ation of leaders will learn as they did, by participating in
union activity.” 16

This attitude or, in any case, the practice seems to be
changing. More than 9 out of 10 of the surveyed unions
reported they are involved in some form of staff train­
ing. The unions which do not mount their own in-house
training programs have been sending staff to programs
at the George Meany Center (A FL-Cio) or to university
labor education programs. Only three of the surveyed
unions are not involved in any type of staff develop­
ment. The 43 unions engaged in some form of training
in 1977-78 represent a substantial increase from the 25
unions which reported such activity in the 1965-66 pe­
riod.17 During the same interval, the number of unions
conducting their own internal training programs in­
creased from 17 to 37.
What accounts for the recent upsurge in union-spon­
sored staff training? Reasons cited by the responding
unions include: (1) recognized need for developing new
leadership, (2) actual or anticipated changes in top lead­
ership, (3) increased responsibilities assigned to interna­
tional staff, and (4) the growing complexity of staff
roles. One union cited its experience in apprenticeship
training as an encouragement to train officers and staff
at all levels of the organization. Respondents also point­
ed to the perceived rise in opposition to unions by em­
ployers, government officials, and the public as an
incentive to strengthen the knowledge and skills of staff.
The George Meany Center. The leading center for union
staff training in the United States is the George Meany
Center for Labor Studies, established by the AFL-CIO in
1968. Catering almost exclusively to full-time union
staff, the center in 1979 attracted 3,200 participants to
a wide range of course offerings.18 Even more significant,
most (94 out of 106) of the a f l -C IO affiliates have sent
staff to the center.19
Groundwork for establishment of the center was laid
during the early 1960’s in a series of Brookings Institu­
tion seminars for national union presidents. These top
officials, who had themselves participated in educational
sessions, subsequently gave their backing to a yearround program of education for their staff members.
Housed in an attractive residential campus setting in
Silver Spring, Md., the center is supported by a more
than $1 million annual appropriation from the AFL-CIO
which allows courses to be offered tuition-free. Al­
though early plans projected long-term residential pro­
grams, most of the course offerings are only 1 week in
duration. Subjects include both “bread and butter”
(Collective Bargaining and Union Administration), and
broader public interest topics (“Energy, Environment,
and Transportation,” “Dimensions of Corporate Pow­


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

er,” and “International Affairs”). The curriculum also
features a number of specialized technical offerings,
such as “Labor Journalism” and “Publications Design”
for union editors, “Audio Visual Techniques” for union
educators, and “Grantsmanship” for the growing num­
ber of union officials who seek public and private fund­
ing for demonstration and service programs.
Job-related subjects, which dominate the curriculum,
are offered on a more advanced level at the center than
is generally the case in staff training programs conduct­
ed in-house by national unions. For example, study of
collective bargaining at the George Meany Center in­
cludes a sequence of courses on “Negotiation Tech­
niques,” “Advanced Negotiating Techniques,” “ New
Developments in Bargaining,” “Pension Bargaining,”
“Arbitration,” and “Advanced Arbitration.” The op­
portunity for sequential study makes possible in-depth
treatment even within the limitations of a one-week-ata-time schedule.
For staff who are encouraged to continue their educa­
tion because of their experience at the center, a unique
college degree program has been developed in coopera­
tion with Antioch College. Its curriculum combines 2
weeks per year of residential study at the center with
mentored self-study leading to a bachelor’s degree with
a major in labor studies. Specifically designed for full­
time staff whose work schedules conflict with their col­
lege attendance, the George Meany Center-Antioch cur­
riculum grants credit for experience and encourages
credit transfers from local educational institutions,
thereby facilitating progress toward a degree. Approxi­
mately 100 national union staff members are currently
enrolled in this degree program. The first diploma was
presented by George Meany at the 1975 AFL-CIO Con­
vention. To date, 21 degrees have been awarded.
The center also cooperates in “tailor-made” programs
in response to requests by national unions. A practice
encouraged by the center is to incorporate educational
sessions into staff meetings, making it possible to reach
larger numbers of staff and a greater variety of unions.
Surprisingly, building trade unions are currently the
leading consumers of center educational services. This
illustrates the fact that the center has also broken
through to organizations with little or no tradition of
educational activity.20
Despite its successful record, the center struggles with
problems endemic to the history of labor education: (1)
continuing resistance on the part of many union officials
who do not see the value of staff training, (2) the
difficulty of attracting participants to programs which
deal with broad social issues or conceptual disciplines,
(3) the limitations of a 1-week format prescribed by
staff work schedules, and (4) need for research sup­
port.21

7

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Unions Implementing Managerial Techniques
In-house training. The major constraints on internal
training activity are (1) possibilities for offering released
time to staff and (2) training expertise. Results of our
survey indicate that the decisive factor in whether inter­
national unions sponsor their own staff training pro­
grams is size of membership, which is, of course, re­
flected in resources available. All but one of the unions
which do not conduct some form of staff training are
small organizations. Twenty-three of the 26 unions with
100,000 or more members run their own programs,
while only 3 out of 9 unions with fewer than 50,000
members do so. Where resources are scarce, unions ei­
ther limit training to “briefings” at staff meetings or to
programs conducted by the George Meany Center or a
university. A few small unions have no staff training at
all.
The importance a union places on training may be
judged by whether participation is required. Two out of
3 of the unions which conduct their own training pro­
grams report that staff are required to attend. However,
many qualified this response by explaining that it is not
always possible for employees to comply with the re­
quirement. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters man­
dates staff training in its constitution, while several
other unions require training only for new staff.
According to our respondents, staff reactions to
training opportunities have been mixed. One union hint­
ed at a lack of incentive among staff members to attend
the sessions, “especially as the staff are usually
overloaded with negotiations, arbitrations, grievances,
or organizing. Conveniently, one or all of these seem to
occur whenever a school is scheduled.” Two unions, the
Auto Workers and the Teamsters, at one time required
all staff members to participate in a residential training
program, but later abandoned the requirement, in part
due to staff resistance. At the other extreme, the Ameri­
can Federation of Government Employees reported that
training was initiated at the insistence of staff who
“asked for, and were successful in obtaining a written
agreement for one training program per year.”

Predominant themes
While training programs vary in form and emphasis,
there are common themes. Almost all cover such core
subjects as collective bargaining, labor law, and orga­
nizing. Fifteen of the reporting unions— almost half of
those with staff training programs— concentrate exclu­
sively on core subjects relating directly to the principal
functions performed by international staff. Most com­
monly offered, in order of frequency, are courses on or­
ganizing, labor law, collective bargaining, grievance
handling, and arbitration.
In other unions, training also normally orients staff
to the organization’s structure (such as the roles of
headquarters departments, and the duties of the of­
Digitized for8 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ficers), policies (political, economic, and administrative),
and philosophy. Interspersed are briefings on current
developments in labor and labor-management relations.
Major variations from or add-ons to core subject m at­
ter usually involve training in legislation, intergroup re­
lations, and such personal skills as speaking, writing,
and listening. Several national unions also educate some
staff as instructors. New and emerging are programs
designed to provide international representatives with
skills in administrative management— planning, super­
vising, and evaluating the results of union activities.
Collective bargaining. Almost all of the reported staff
training programs include some aspect of collective
bargaining. Even though this is the subject with which
national staff members are most familiar through expe­
rience, training programs aim to sharpen skills in tech­
niques of negotiating contracts, handling grievances,
and presenting cases for third-party dispute settlement.
A variety of action training methods is employed in­
cluding role playing, case study analysis, and video
feedback. Expertise in collective bargaining is of partic­
ular importance to unions which have been recently or­
ganized. For example, the Farm Workers union, which
recently faced the challenge of reorienting its staff from
organizing to bargaining, established a year-long train­
ing program which combines classroom education with
field work.
Legislation and political action. Many union training
programs also include topics which focus on legislation
and political action as related to the bargaining func­
tion. Among the most common are pension bargaining
and its legal complement, the Employee Retirement In­
come Security Act; implications of Equal Employment
Opportunity legislation for contract negotiations; and
health and safety issues in bargaining, within the con­
text of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Staff training conducted by the International Union
of Electrical Workers affords an example of a program
in which legislation, particularly affirmative action, re­
ceives major emphasis. The Teamsters’ recently inaugu­
rated training program for national and local staff
includes exposure to legislation of special concern to the
trucking industry, such as deregulation and its implica­
tions for collective bargaining.22 And, as a result of the
U.S. Department of Labor’s New Directions grant pro­
gram, an increasing number of unions, in such indus­
tries as steel, textiles, oil and chemicals, auto manu­
facturing, and building trades, offer specialized training
in occupational safety and health for national staff and
local union leadership.
While economics is rarely offered as a separate sub­
ject, eight reporting unions deal with economic issues in
relation to bargaining and political action. For example,

the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
offers perspectives on the national economy as a back­
ground for political action questions.23 And, the Ladies’
Garment Workers Union also includes national eco­
nomic issues and the economic problems of the garment
industry in its curriculum for new staff.24
Organizing the unorganized. Twenty-three unions pro­
vide their staff with instruction in ways to reach hereto­
fore unorganized or inactive workers. Recognizing that
women and minorities have traditionally been underrep­
resented in unions, particularly in leadership and acti­
vist roles, several unions not only train their staff in
EEOC regulations but also orient them to the problems
and interests of minorities and women. In the public
sector, where minorities have been gaining in employ­
ment and women constitute a large percentage of the
membership, two unions offer courses on special tech­
niques for organizing these groups. Similarly, a few
unions offer courses specially designed to prepare staff
members for the challenges of organizing professional
and white-collar workers. In the construction industry,
where the percentage of unionized workers has been de­
clining, one organization developed a course dealing
with outreach to young workers.
Several unions train their full-time organizing staff
members in such techniques as communications and
public relations skills, and legal regulations relating to
union organizing campaigns. The Organizing Depart­
ment of the Auto Workers, for example, conducts peri­
odic training sessions designed to evaluate past ex­
perience and devise more effective approaches to
enlisting new membership.25 The American Federation
of State, County, and Municipal Employees has used
the services of a nonprofit consulting organization to
train organizers in the dynamics of interpersonal rela­
tions as applied to organizing.26 The Industrial Union
Department of the AFL-CIO, in addition to conducting
briefings on legal regulations, provides training in com­
munity action techniques based on the Saul Alinsky
model.27
Education o f new staff. Forty-four responding unions re­
port some form of training for new staff members; al­
most all list “on-the-job training” as the main
component, while 27 organizations report that new em­
ployees are supervised by experienced staff for the pur­
pose of orientation and training. The Retail Clerks
(recently merged into the Food and Commercial Work­
ers Union) is the only union which reported a planned
system of job rotation, a practice common in business
and government.
Thirty unions conduct classroom training programs
for orientation purposes. These programs usually focus
on the union’s structure, history, and resources avail­

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

able from the national headquarters. Several organiza­
tions send all new representatives to the George Meany
Center. Notable in terms of training provided for new
staff are the Ladies’ Garment Workers Union and the
Communications Workers of America.
The Ladies’ Garment Workers Union inaugurated the
first and most comprehensive of these programs. Its
staff training institute, established in 1950, was an inno­
vative break from tradition, offering a year-long, full­
time training experience for recent or potential recruits.
Training included both classroom and field work. After
a few years, the format was drastically altered and re­
duced in length and the union’s recruiting emphasis
shifted from “outsiders” to “insiders.” Currently the
Ladies’ Garment Workers Union conducts one institute
of 6-weeks’ duration each year for potential or recently
appointed staff members, to orient them to their respon­
sibilities, the problems of the garment industry, and rel­
evant political issues.28
Another longstanding and intensive training program
for new staff is offered by the Communication Workers.
Like the Ladies’ Garment Workers Union program, the
Communication Workers staff training has undergone a
number of revisions, reflecting continuing reappraisal of
training needs. In its original form, the program in­
volved exposure to a “college type” liberal arts educa­
tion. Parallel to the much-publicized Executive Liberal
Arts seminars offered by the American Telegraph and
Telephone Co. (the Communication Workers’ counter­
part at the bargaining table), the union offered new staff
a 6-month residential experience on a university campus
with seminars focusing on the humanities and social sci­
ences. The liberal arts program was discontinued be­
cause the officers considered the time off the job to be
excessive and, more importantly, observed no relation­
ship between training and job performance.29
As an alternative, the union president decided on a
shift in training design which would better equip staff
members for their assignments. When the training needs
of new staff were assessed, the key finding was the need
to ease the transition from closely supervised work as
telephone employees to independent assignments as staff
representatives. As a result, the union inaugurated a
6-week training program for new staff which empha­
sized problem solving and interpersonal relations. Bor­
rowing from “ Management by Objectives” concepts
used in business and government, the training sessions
stimulate participants to set specific measurable goals,
and develop plans related to their functions as orga­
nizers, negotiators, and administrators. A mid-term,
back-on-the-job recess is used as a testing period for
new concepts, the results of which are subsequently re­
ported and analyzed. Staff members are also trained in
techniques of evaluating results of planning and goal­
setting.30
9

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Unions Implementing Managerial Techniques
Personal skills. Almost half the unions with educational
programs for staff include training in such basic skills
as public speaking, writing, reading, and problem solv­
ing, in addition to core subjects. Several of the educa­
tion directors interviewed indicated that, when staff
members were polled with respect to their training
needs, personal skills led the list.
An interesting experiment with new approaches to
developing individual skills is the staff training program
inaugurated by the International Union of Operating
Engineers. In response to observed limitations of inter­
national staff members in written and oral communica­
tions skills, the union contracted with a consulting firm
for a training design. The result was a training program
in “The Communications and Influence Process.”
Drawing on management education experience and
methodology, the Operating Engineers’ program focuses
on leadership style— “controlling,” “defensive,” “relin­
quishing,” and “developmental” — with the latter con­
sidered to be the ideal. Case studies are drawn from
union political activities, jurisdictional disputes, and
other conflict situations. Participants meet in small
groups with observers, where they practice oral and
written communication skills and problem solving. At
the conclusion, each participant is given a take-home
assignment designed to reinforce training.31
Managerial and behavioral effectiveness. The application
of the behavioral sciences to related goals and prob­
lems, a central theme of training for managers in busi­
ness and government, is currently featured in several
union staff training programs. Among the unions, di­
verse in structure and tradition, which have incorporat­
ed this type of subject matter in their staff training
efforts are the Communications Workers, the American
Federation of Government Employees, the Steelworkers,
and the Operating Engineers (AFL-CIO), and the Na­
tional Education Association (unaffiliated). Key compo­
nents of the programs are borrowed from management
theory and practice. While materials and illustrations
have been adapted to the needs and practices of unions,
the basic concepts are the same. In several cases, the in­
structors and materials suppliers have been consultants
who specialized in the training of business managers.
As noted above, training for new Communications
Workers’ staff members includes intensive exposure to
“ Management by Objectives,” a popular subject in
managerial training programs. The training program of
the Operating Engineers also introduced international
staff to a concept of leadership styles common to a wide
variety of management training programs.
The American Federation of Government Employees
adapted “Transactional Analysis,” based on the best­
selling book The Games People Playn and widely used
in management training, as the centerpiece of its
Digitized for
10FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3-week training program, on the theme: “Creating an
Effective Communications Climate.” The purpose of the
program was to encourage national representatives to
examine their roles, and to assess ways to relate to oth­
ers in the organization.
Classroom sessions were videotaped so that the par­
ticipants could see themselves in action. According to
the union’s Education Director this nontraditional ap­
proach to leadership training was selected to stimulate
fresh thinking about employee relations in Federal agen­
cies, to cope with the need for continuous organizing in
the absence of an agency or union shop, to encourage
an active outreach to women and minorities and to con­
front the rigidities of civil service regulations and the
“paternalism of government administration.” 33
The National Education Association conducts a yearround program of staff training, with strong emphasis
on interpersonal relations, communications, and deci­
sion-making. Among the workshops offered are “Psy­
chology of Groups,” and “ Models for Mangement,”
which focus on interpersonal relations and ways to
make decisions and motivate people, subjects which are
also popular in the training of managers in business and
government. The concept of union leadership as a form
of management is further reflected in such workshop ti­
tles as “Strike Management” and “ Representation Elec­
tion Management.” 34
The Steelworkers recently opened a residential school
at Linden Hall, near Pittsburgh, which is largely devot­
ed to staff training. The curriculum emphasizes “Human
Sciences,” including behavior and communications.35
A characteristic common to three of the unions
which have experimented with management training
concepts and methodology (the National Education As­
sociation, Communication Workers, and the American
Federation of Government Employees) is a bargaining
relationship with large-scale organizations having cen­
tralized personnel policies. New approaches to staff
training represent attempts to equip staff to make inde­
pendent and analytical decisions in an environment in
which rules and regulations dominate the behavior of
employees.
Instructor training. In many unions, international staff
members are expected to provide leadership training for
local union officials. Several unions, therefore, conduct
specialized training in methods of teaching. Among
these are the Auto Workers, the American Federation
of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the Steel­
workers, the Hospital and Health Care Workers, and
the Farm Workers. Not surprisingly, given the nature of
its membership, the American Federation of Teachers
gives major emphasis to the membership training func­
tion of its staff. Because teaching is a basic function of
all leadership positions, knowledge of psychology and

techniques of adult education is seen as a valuable tool
for international representatives both in and out of the
classroom. The Farm Workers union, for example, relies
heavily on staff as instructors. Its trainers studied both
content and teaching methodology at Cornell Universi­
ty’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and are
responsible for all staff training in their union.

Outside training sources
Colleges and universities. Institutions of higher learning
play a relatively minor role in training union staff. The
one continuing university-sponsored program for union
staff is conducted by Harvard University. Harvard of­
fers an annual 13-week seminar with the announced ob­
jective of “training for executive responsibility in
unions.” Initiated in 1942, this seminar, while highly
rated by participants, reaches a relatively small number
of international union executives and staff.
Current contributions by other colleges and universi­
ties include: (1) resident degree offerings which prepare
students for a career in labor-related fields, (2) part-time
credit, certificate, and degree programs which enroll
union activists, including some full-time union represen­
tatives, (3) occasional staff training seminars offered in
cooperation with the George Meany Center or national
unions, and (4) conferences and workshops on special­
ized topics designed to attract union leadership. While
half of the responding unions reported sending national
staff members to a college or university program, only
11 universities with labor education centers (a minority
of the questionnaire respondents) reported conducting
programs which were designed exclusively for union
staff. Although this number is small in comparison with
the large scale educational service which universities
provide to business and industry, the number of such
institutions directly involved in staff training has more
than doubled since the Rogin-Rachlin survey in 1965.
Resident degree programs in industrial relations, a
major source of personnel specialists for business and
government, place relatively few of their graduates in
unions. For example, less than 2 percent of the gradu­
ates of Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Rela­
tions, the largest in the field, find jobs in unions.
Reports from other university industrial and labor rela­
tions centers indicate a similar pattern. Again the trend
is upward, but the numbers remain small.
There are three resident degree programs specially
designed for individuals aspiring to a union career;
Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, and
the University of Massachusetts place most of their la­
bor studies graduates in unions or union-related posi­
tions. Nevertheless, university labor and labor relations
centers, in total, supply a relatively small number of
staff members to international unions. As previously in­
dicated, the underutilization of resident degree pro­

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

grams for staff training is related to unions’ tendency to
select staff from the ranks; once on staff, union repre­
sentatives find it difficult, if not impossible, to take time
out for full-time study.
However, part-time study for union members, activ­
ists, and staff is growing in importance.
Labor studies constitutes a major in more than 75
colleges36 which enroll actual and potential staff mem­
bers and provide them with a combination of work-re­
lated skills (such as collective bargaining, political
action, organizing, union administration, and communi­
cations), along with a broader exposure to the social
sciences and humanities. The contribution of labor stud­
ies credit and degree programs is difficult to assess be­
cause they are relatively new and their impact is likely
to be long term in nature. Full-time union staff consti­
tute a relatively small portion of total enrollment;37 even
the George Meany Center-Antioch College labor studies
program, designed exclusively for full-time union staff,
has an annual enrollment of fewer than 100, a tiny frac­
tion of the total eligible population. However, there is
some evidence that graduates of these programs are
subsequently promoted to union staff positions, sug­
gesting a potential role of colleges and universities in
the professionalization of the occupation.
In recent years, university labor centers have re­
sponded to an increasing number of staff training re­
quests from national unions and the George Meany
Center. Preparation for arbitration, collective bargain­
ing, and labor legislation are dominant themes in these
requested programs. Several universities have developed
specializations in other subjects for which they are
known among national unions; for example, industrial
engineering and employment testing at the University of
Wisconsin, international affairs at Georgetown Universi­
ty, psychology of organizing at the University of Mis­
souri, and instructor training at Cornell.
From time to time, university labor education centers
initiate conferences and workshops which are promoted
on an inter-union basis and designed primarily for full­
time union representatives. Conferences generally deal
with public policy issues of concern to unions; examples
include “ Labor and International Trade,” “Duty of
Fair Representation,” and “Urban Planning.” Work­
shops provide training in such skills as “Preparation for
Arbitration,” “Organizing,” and “Legislative Lobby­
ing.”
To summarize, the contribution of higher education
to union staff training, while growing, is miniscule when
compared with its massive role in training business
management.
Other resources. Consultants are leading providers of
management education to business and government. In
recent years, a few of these consultants have played a
11

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Unions Implementing Managerial Techniques
role in union staff training. Several labor education pro­
fessionals are periodically called on for advice, but there
is no true counterpart to management consulting in the
labor field. Nor is there the equivalent of the American
Management Association and the Conference Board, in­
dependently organized institutions which cater to the
educational and research needs of business.
The Midwest Academy, a nonprofit organization spe­
cializing in training community organizers, has been
used by several unions for training of organizers. Union
staff also participate in training sessions conducted by
the American Arbitration Association and the Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service.
To date, while there are actual or potential outside
resources, unions have relied primarily on internally
designed programs and the George Meany Center for
staff training.
A merican labor unions are increasingly adopting
two personnel practices which have been characteristic

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t : A s graduate students at the New York State
School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Walter Malakoff and Paula
Traffis assisted the author in conducting the survey upon which this
article is based. Malakoff is currently staff assistant to the President
of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and Traffis is a labor edu­
cation specialist at the University of Indiana.
In 1964, Russell Allen, a long-time labor educator and union ac­
tivist, commented that “the cultural lag in the labor movement with
respect to leadership programs is frightening. No other institution in
American society is so careless of the technical and intellectual prepa­
ration of its staff and of the training and retraining of its leadership.”
See “The Professional in Unions and His Educational Preparation,”
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, October 1964, pp. 16-19. This
point is also discussed by A1 Nash and May Nash in Labor Unions
and Labor Education, Monograph Series No. 1 (New York, University
Labor Education Association, 1970); and by Lois Gray in “Training
of Union Officials,” Labor Law Journal, August 1975, pp. 472-76.
A. H. Raskin, in “Unions Turning to the Law College for Top
Officials,” The New York Times, June 22, 1977, pp. D1 and D7, notes
that a number of recently elected international union officers were col­
lege graduates, including several with law degrees. An earlier survey
found that only 17 percent of international union presidents, vicepresidents, and secretary-treasurers had completed college. See also
Abraham Friedman, “Characteristics of National and International
Union Leaders,” unpublished manuscript, October 1967, quoted in
Derek C. Bok and John T. Dunlop, Labor and the American Commu­
nity, (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1970), p. 181.
Bok and Dunlop, in Labor and the American Community, p. 138,
note: “The administration of unions is a subject about which very lit­
tle is known. This information gap grows increasingly serious in an
era when the techniques of management have become highly sophisti­
cated and the importance of administration so widely understood.”
The authors raise a number of questions about the selection and train­
ing of union leadership, emphasizing the impact of the political pro­
cess (pp. 138-88). The only published empirical study dealing with
the functions of international union staff is an article by Myron Jo­
seph, “The Role of the Field Staff Representative,” Industrial and La­
bor Relations Review, April 1955, pp. 353-69. British industrial
relations literature includes several studies dealing with this topic, in­
cluding William Brown and Margaret Lawson, “The Training of
Trade Union Officers,” British Journal o f Industrial Relations, Novem­
ber 1973, pp. 431-48 (Reprint Series No. 10 of the Social Sciences

Digitized 12
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

of business in the United States— the search for outside
talent and support for personnel training. Nonetheless,
important differences persist, reflecting the essentially
political structure of labor unions. As membership orga­
nizations, the leadership imperative is not the market
test but responsiveness to the expressed needs and pref­
erences of the rank and file. Thus, staff selection contin­
ues to rely on a record of achievement and loyalty at
the local level. Political reality limits the role of “out­
siders” as well as the emphasis which unions place on
formal training and education.
Fred Hoehler, Jr., executive director of the George
Meany Center, in a recent article on the “coming of
age” of labor education, pointed to its growing accep­
tance and support by union leadership. Nonetheless,
taking account of the contrast in volume and invest­
ment when compared with the training activities of
business and government he concluded; “We are com­
ing of age, perhaps, but we still have a long trek
ahead.”38
□

Research Council); and H. A. Clegg, A. J. Kitlick, and Rex Adams,
Trade Union Officers (Oxford, England, Basil Blackwell, 1961). For
Canadian experience, see Roy J. Adams, “The Work of the Trade
Union Field Officers,” Reference Paper No. 77-01 (Hamilton, Ont.,
McMaster University, 1978).
4 A 1951 study found that “International representatives, orga­
nizers, directors of organizations, line negotiators, and administrators,
made their way up the ranks by election, then appointment.” See C.
Wright Mills, “Leaders of Unions,” in B. S. Hardman and Maurice F.
Neufeld, eds., House of Labor (New York, Prentice-Hall, 1951), p. 37.
Bok and Dunlop, in Labor and the American Community, reported
that “Almost all unions are alike in choosing the bulk of their leaders
from within the organization.” They note the recruitment of “outsid­
ers” only for specialist positions as attorneys, accountants, and statis­
ticians.
Harold Welinsky, Intellectuals in Labor Unions (Glencoe, 111, The
Free Press, 1956), p. 273.
* Seymour Lusterman, Education in Industry (New York, The Con­
ference Board, Inc., 1977), pp. 6, and 11-22.
Stan Luxenberg, “Business is Big in Education, Too,” The New
York Times, Jan. 7, 1979, Education Supplement, p. 15.
' “The Big Business of Teaching Managers,” Business Week. July
25, 1977, p. 106.
“The Big Business of Teaching Managers,” p. 106. Conclusions in
the article are based on the records of Mantread, Inc., a company
which acts as a clearing house for company selection of training pro­
grams.
" Lusterman, Education in Industry, pp. 86-90.
" Gray, “Training of Labor Union Officials,” recounts the rise and
fall of various union staff training programs.
The most recent survey of union education and training programs
was in 1965. See Lawrence Rogin and Marjorie Rachlin, Labor Edu­
cation in the United States, (Washington, D.C., National Institute of
Labor Education, 1968).
1 This traditional route to union staff appointment was described
by C. Wright Mills in “Leaders of Unions,” p. 37.
14 Harold Welinsky, Intellectuals in Labor Unions, p. 197.
1 Implications for universities and colleges in the trend toward hir­
ing “outsiders” are developed in Lois Gray, “Trends in Selection and
Training of Union Staff— Implications for Colleges and Universities,”

Labor Studies Journal, Spring 1980, pp. 13-24.
Rogin and Rachlin, Labor Education in the United States, p. 55.
Ibid, pp. 84-88.
AFL-CIO News, Nov. 17, 1979, p. 3. The George Meany Center
accepts both local and international staff.
Interviews with Fred Hoehler, Jr., Director of the George Meany
Center, April 1977 and October 1979.
Rogin and Rachlin, Labor Education in the United States, pp. 8395. Until recently, the major supporters of union education, whether
for officials or rank and file, were the industrial unions.
' Fred K. Hoehler, Jr., “Staff Training Programs," speech before
the AFL-CIO Education Directors Conference, Mar. 6, 1978.
" Interview with Art Kane, Director of Education, IBT, October
1980.
Interview with William Elkuss, Director of Education, ACTWU,
April 1978.
4 Interviews with Gus Tyler, Assistant President, ILGWU, March
1977 and October 1979.
Interview with Martin Gerber, Vice President and Director of Or­
ganization, UAW. June 1980.
' Interview with with Larry Rogin, Educational Consultant to
AFSCME, March 1979.
Interview with Howard Samuel, Director of Industrial Union De­
partment, AFL-CIO, May 1980.
Tyler interview, October 1979.

Interview with Steve Confer, former Director of Education for
CWA, March 1977.
From author's own review of course materials; Confer interview,
March 1977; and discussion with John Kutstad, Director of Educa­
tion, CWA, October 1979.
Interview with Reese Hammond, Director of Education and
Training, IUOE, June 1977, and author’s review of course materials.
'■Eric Berne, The Games People Play (New York, Ballantine Books,
Inc., 1964).
Interview with Art Kane, former Director of Eduction for AFGE
(who was responsible for introducing the program described), June
1977, and review of course materials.
4 Interview with Carl Elvin, Organization Specialist, NEA, July
1978, and review of course materials.
Interview with George Butsika, former Director of Education,
USA, AFL-CIO, April 1978, and review of course outlines.
Interview with Art Shy, Administrator of Education Programs,
UAW, March 1979.
Lois Gray, “Academic Degrees for Labor Studies,” Monthly La­
bor Review. June 1977, p. 17, lists 47 programs, based on a 1976 sur­
vey. For 1980, the American Association of Community and Junior
Colleges reported an additional 28 programs.
The 1980 Laborite (Silver Spring, Md., George Meany Center for
Labor Studies, 1980).

APPENDIX: Survey methodology
In 1977, a questionnaire dealing with selection and
training of professional staff was distributed to all na­
tional unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO and all major
independent unions. (Local unions were not included.)
Forty unions responded to the questionnaire. Addition­
al information was obtained through interviews during
1977-79 with 31 labor educators associated with the
most active union staff training programs, most of
whom had replied to the questionnaire.
Based on BLS estimates for 1974, the 48 unions for
which information was eventually collected had a com­
bined membership of 16.4 million, or 76 percent of the
total membership of all national unions in the United
States. Ranging in membership from 3,000 to over 1.5
million, the responding unions represent a cross-section
of labor organizations, both AFL-CIO and independent;


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

craft and industrial; and public and private sector.
While most have a long tradition of collective
bargaining, a number have only recently undertaken
this function. Some have been growing in membership;
others have experienced a decline.
To assess the use of outside resources for staff train­
ing, a second questionnaire was mailed to colleges and
universities affiliated with the University and College
Labor Education Association, with telephone follow-up
of nonrespondents. Twenty-four of 42 institutions re­
sponded to the mail survey. Additional information was
obtained through personal interviews with 10 directors
of university labor education centers. Responding uni­
versities are the major centers for labor education at the
college level, and represent the range of activity charac­
teristic of this field.

13

Inflation cross-currents:
energy, food, and homeownership
During the first quarter, energy prices soared,
especially those of gasoline and fuel oil,
but a sharp slowdown in food prices and
mortgage rates held the CPI rise to a 9.6-percent rate,
considerably less than the previous quarter
D avid Callahan , A ndrew Clem,
John Wetmore

and

Inflation slowed during the first quarter of 1981 despite
a sharp advance in energy prices. The Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 9.6 percent, following
a 13.2-percent rate in the fourth quarter of 1980. The
deceleration was largely attributable to much smaller
increases in the housing and food and beverage compo­
nents. However, the transportation element registered
its largest increase since the first quarter of 1980. This
acceleration was primarily caused by rising gasoline
prices. (See table 1.)
Following very moderate increases in the last two
quarters of 1980, prices paid by consumers for energy
items were up at an annual rate of 49.1 percent in firstquarter 1981. This happened largely as a result of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (opec)
price increase announced in December, the phased de­
control already in effect, and the total decontrol of
prices for domestic crude oil and gasoline announced in
January 1981. However, consumer prices for goods and
services other than energy slowed to an annual rate of
5.2 percent during the period, the smallest increase
since the fourth quarter of 1976. Prices of grocery store
foods and houses registered declines.

David Callahan, Andrew Clem, and John Wetmore are economists in
the Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
They were assisted by Craig Howell, Jesse Thomas, William Thomas,
and Eddie Lamb, economists in the same office.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis
14

At the primary market level, the Producer Price In­
dex ( p p i ) for Finished Goods advanced at a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 12.5 percent, a faster rate than
in the fourth quarter of 1980. Prices of finished energy
goods accelerated sharply from moderate increases in
the third and fourth quarters. Finished consumer food
price increases slowed to an annual rate of 1.0 percent,
continuing the deceleration started in the fourth quarter
of 1980. Prices for finished goods other than food and
energy rose slightly more than in the preceding 3
months. Prices of intermediate goods advanced at about
the same rate as in the last half of 1980, and crude ma­
terial prices rose at a rate of less than 5 percent for the
second consecutive quarter.

A focus on energy
Consumer energy prices. Once again, energy items be­
came a major factor in the inflation situation for the
first quarter of 1981. After 6 months of relatively mod­
erate changes, energy prices in the CPI increased 10.5
percent for the 3 months ending in March, which is an
annual rate of 49.1 percent, the largest since March
1980. Energy items alone accounted for approximately
50 percent of the overall CPI increase in the first quar­
ter. The greatest acceleration occurred in gasoline and
fuel oil (home heating oil) prices, while natural gas and
electricity experienced much more moderate increases
compared with the previous quarter. (See table 2.) The
higher gasoline prices were rather pervasive across the

country, while increased fuel oil costs had a more severe
impact on the high-consumption areas in the Northeast.
Crude oil imports. At the December conference of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Bali,
the ceiling price for top-quality African crude oil was

Table 1.

raised from $37 to $41 per barrel. Most OPEC members
raised their prices, including Saudi Arabia, which lifted
its standard crude price by $2 to $32 per barrel. The in­
creases announced by OPEC represented a compromise
between Saudi Arabia and those OPEC members calling
for an even larger boost. These advances were prompted

Changes in selected components of the Consumer and the Producer Price Indexes, 1980-81, seasonally adjusted

Index

Relative
importance
Dec. 1980

Percent
change
Dec. 80
Mar. 81

Effect on
overall
index1

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

1981

Mar. 81

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

11.4
5.9
4.7
8.1
9.8
19.7
23.1
10.0
26.4
14.9
43.9
8.3
17.0
8.4

7.8
19.1
24.8
9.0
8.2
1.7
-1.4
8.6
-3.5
14.9
-20.0
8.2
9.8
7.8

13.2
12.5
13.2
12.3
5.2
15.8
20.2
9.6
23.1
9.0
41.8
10.1
8.5
5.1

9.6
2.9
-.1
9.5
10.8
8.0
4.4
7.0
3.1
-8.8
11.4
12.5
25.5
9.8

Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers (CPI-U)2

All items .......................................................................................................
Food and beverages .................................................................................
Food at home.........................................................................................
Food away from home ...........................................................................
Alcoholic beverages ...............................................................................
Housing.....................................................................................................
Shelter .................................................................................................
Rent, residential3 ...............................................................................
Homeownership .................................................................................
Home purchase3 .............................................................................
Financing, taxes, and insurance3 ....................................................
Maintenance and repairs .................................................................
Fuel and other utilities.............................................................................
Household furnishings and operation ......................................................

100.0
18.3
12.0
5.3
1.0
45.5
31.7
5.1
25.8
10.3
12.0
3.6
6.6
7.3

2.3
2.6
1.9
1.1
1.7
0.8
-2.3
2.7
3.0
5.8
2.4

2.3
.143
-.004
.121
.025
.872
.313
.087
.196
-.232
.323
.105
.389
.171

Apparel and upkeep...................................................................................
Transportation ...........................................................................................
Private transportation .............................................................................
Gasoline.............................................................................................
Public transportation3 .............................................................................

4.9
19.0
17.8
5.9
1.2

1.6
5.1
5.1
13.2
4.9

.076
.963
.904
.788
.058

1.1
2.6
1.8
-5.8
18.6

8.9
11.3
8.9
-3.3
56.7

4.3
13.9
13.8
10.5
14.1

6.7
22.2
22.0
64.2
21.2

Medical care .............................................................................................
Medical care commodities.......................................................................
Medical care services.............................................................................
Entertainment ...........................................................................................
Other goods and services...........................................................................

4.7
0.8
3.9
3.6
4.0

2.9
3.0
2.9
2.4
1.9

.134
.024
.110
.092
.082

8.9
10.7
8.4
9.1
9.3

9.2
10.2
8.9
10.5
11.1

7.9
8.9
7.7
5.0
9.0

11.9
12.4
12.0
10.1
7.9

All items .......................................................................................................
Food.........................................................................................................
Energy3 ...................................................................................................
Commodities less food and energy ............................................................
Services less energy .................................................................................

100.0
17.3
10.8
33.7
38.1

2.3
0.5
10.5
0.4
2.4

2.3
.117
1.135
.139
.961

11.4
5.8
15.2
7.7
20.0

7.8
19.7
2.5
12.9
-.4

13.2
13.1
0.3
9.6
17.9

9.6
2.1
49.1
1.7
10.1

All items .......................................................................................................
Services ...................................................................................................
Commodities .............................................................................................

100.0
41.6
58.4

2.3
2.5
2.2

2.3
1.075
1.286

11.4
20.5
5.4

7.8
.7
13.2

13.2
16.8
11.0

9.6
10.3
8.9

All items less food, energy, and mortgage interest cost3 ..................................

62.0

1.4

.805

8.6

11.0

9.3

5.8

Finisned goods .............................................................................................
Finished energy goods ...............................................................................
Finished consumer foods..............................................................................
Finished goods less foods...........................................................................
Finished goods less foods and energy........................................................
Finished consumer goods less foods..........................................................
Finished consumer goods less foods and energy ........................................
Capital equipment .....................................................................................

100.0
12.0
23.0
77.0
65.0
56.6
44.7
20.3

3.0
12.9
.2
3.8
2.2
4.2
1.9
2.8

3.0
1.541
.055
2.951
1.418
2.388
.846
.576

8.4
18.8
-1.4
11.8
10.5
12.2
10.2
10.9

13.5
3.6
31.0
8.3
9.2
7.5
8.7
9.9

7.8
14.4
3.6
9.3
8.2
8.4
6.7
11.4

12.5
62.3
1.0
16.2
9.0
18.0
7.8
11.8

Intermediate materials, supplies, and components ..........................................
Intermediate energy goods .........................................................................
Intermediate foods and feeds .....................................................................
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds................................................
Intermediate materials less foods and energy..............................................

100.0
16.2
6.4
93.6
77.4

2.7
10.2
-5.4
3.2
1.8

2.7
1.658
-.349
2.981
1.366

6.6
9.9
14.1
6.2
5.7

10.1
13.0
52.7
7.8
6.9

11.9
19.5
.7
12.7
10.8

11.1
47.7
-20.0
13.4
7.2

Crude materials for further processing............................................................
Crude energy materials3 ...........................................................................
Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs...................................................................
Crude nonfood materials.............................................................................
Crude nonfood materials less energy..........................................................

100.0
26.2
58.2
41.8
15.6

0.5
23.1
-6.3
10.1
-11.0

0.5
6.041
-3.674
4.234
-1.709

-.1
19.3
-.3
.2
-24.4

55.2
20.4
73.9
32.3
55.0

4.4
19.2
-4.1
17.6
15.1

2.1
129.5
-22.9
47.1
-37.1

2.3
0.7
0.0

Producer Price Index (PPI) by
stage of processing2

1Amount of overall percentage points increase attributable to each specific item.
2See "Definitions" and “ Notes” preceding tables 22-30 of Current Labor Statistics in this Re-

view.

N ote : Monthly data for Producer Price Indexes have been revised through November 1980
to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents. For this reason, some
of the figures shown above and elsewhere in this report differ from those previously published.

3Not seasonally adjusted.


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

15

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Inflation Cross-currents

T a b le 2.

Changes in retail and producer prices for energy items, 1980-81

Item

Index

Relative
importance
Dec. 1980

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

Percent
change
Mar. 1980
to
Mar. 1981

June

Sept.

Dec.

1980

1981
Mar.

Finished items
(Sold to consumers)

Energy items ' ...............................................................................................
Finished energy goods...................................................................................
Gasoline, motor oil, coolants, etc. ' .............................................................
Gasoline2 .............................................................................................

CPI
PPI
CPI
CPI
PPI

100.0
100.0
55.7
54.9
56.8

15.3
22.9
13.4
13.4
21.7

15.2
18.8
6.0
-5.8
16.9

2.5
3.6
-3.2
-3.3
-3.9

0.3
14.4
0.4
10.5
10.7

49.1
62.3
60.4
64.2
76.4

Household fuels.........................................................................................
Fuel oil12...............................................................................................

CPI
CPI
PPI

44.3
10.5
14.2

17.9
26.5
31.1

20.6
3.7
14.1

11.5
1.5
2.5

8.5
17.9
11.7

33.1
106.1
126.4

Gas (piped)123 .....................................................................................

CPI
PPI

13.0
18.2

14.9
25.9

29.3
25.9

15.6
37.9

1.4
30.3

15.2
11.0

Electricity...............................................................................................

CPI

19.3

15.1

28.1

14.0

7.3

12.5

PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI

100.0
9.0
8.4
15.5
4.8
30.0

21.5
26.0
22.9
33.3
11.3
14.7

9.9
9.7
24.6
-42.5
7.4
22.6

13.0
9.6
13.1
65.8
-9.1
16.9

19.5
2.9
1.0
99.6
34.3
10.9

47.7
103.7
60.1
65.7
17.2
8.9

PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI

100.0
31.6
53.3
15.1

40.8
25.9
61.2
4.2

19.3
25.9
21.6
-2.2

20.4
37.9
17.3
5.4

19.2
30.3
18.4
6.3

129.5
11.0
300.2
7.9

Intermediate materials
(Sold to businesses)

Intermediate energy goods.............................................................................
Diesel fuel2 3 .............................................................................................
Commercial jet fuel23 ...............................................................................
Residual fuel2 ...........................................................................................
Liquified petroleum gas3 .............................................................................
Electric power4 .........................................................................................
Crude materials

Crude energy materials3 ...............................................................................
Natural gas23 ...........................................................................................
Crude petroleum3 .....................................................................................
Coal .........................................................................................................
1Not seasonally adjusted In the CPI.
2Prices for these items are lagged 1 month in the PPI.

by fears of tightened oil supplies after the outbreak of
war between Iraq and Iran in late September. However,
the war did not spread to other Persian Gulf nations,
and the crude oil supply situation improved as the two
countries repaired their export facilities and resumed oil
shipments by 1980’s end. Saudi Arabia again increased
its crude oil shipments, to a level almost 2 million bar­
rels per day above its pre-1979 levels. The resulting sur­
plus on world markets led to price discounting by some
oil-exporting countries at the end of first-quarter 1981.
Most of the industrialized nations reduced their im­
ports of petroleum considerably during 1980 and early
1981. The declining level of demand for petroleum
stemmed in part from recessions in several of these
countries, substitution of nonpetroleum fuels, and steps
taken to improve energy efficiency. From m id-1980
through the first quarter of 1981, the United States
imported an average of about 4.6 million barrels of
crude oil per day, compared with an average daily im­
port rate of 6.4 million barrels for 1979.
Crude oil— domestic. On January 28, the Administra­
tion announced the total decontrol of prices for crude
oil, gasoline, and propane. The controls had been
scheduled to be phased out by September 1981. The im­
Digitized for
16FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3Not seasonally adjusted in the PPI.
4Includes commercial and industrial electric power, but not residential.

mediate effect of decontrol was to raise the average
wellhead price of domestically produced crude oil from
$28.85 in January to $34.14 per barrel in February; re­
fined product prices also rose as a result of increased
crude oil costs. There were also indications of steppedup oil exploration activity in the wake of higher crude
oil prices, while consumers continued to buy less gaso­
line and other refined products in reaction to higher
prices.
Household fuels. Gasoline prices probably would have
risen more were it not for a slackening in demand.
While the monthly production levels of gasoline have
remained relatively unchanged over the last 2 years, in­
ventories reached a record high of 288.1 million barrels
in late March. This overproduction vis-a-vis demand is
reflected in the short-run adjustment of reduced refinery
capacity utilization, which dipped to 68.7 percent in
early April. Some refiners have already announced plans
for further cutbacks in production. As a result of the
abundant supplies and increased costs, retailers have
not been able to maintain their margins, which has
helped to restrain prices. Gasoline prices showed a signi­
ficant deceleration in March after some wholesalers be­
gan charging less in the early part of the month. If in-

ventory levels remain high and there are no further
OPEC increases, then prices should continue to moderate
into the second quarter.
After huge increases in the first 2 months of 1981,
fuel oil prices also experienced a sharp slowdown in
March. The restraining influences were the relatively
mild February weather in the Northeast and the season­
al decline in demand near the end of the heating season.
Because the refinery output of fuel oil is directly tied to
the production of gasoline, any decisions to reduce pro­
duction levels of the latter will also affect the future
supplies (and therefore the prices) of the former.
Electricity prices increased at an annual rate of 12.5
percent for the 3 months ending in March. While these
figures show an acceleration compared with fourthquarter 1980, it is a significant improvement over the
first 9 months of 1980. Most higher prices resulted from
fuel adjustment charges caused by the increased cost of
fuels to the utilities, particularly the electricity generat­
ed from oil.
Natural gas prices have followed a similar pattern to
electricity. The slowdown in the fourth quarter has been
followed by an acceleration through March. But the an­
nual rate of 15.2 percent in the first quarter is still be­
low the level of price increases experienced in the first
three quarters of 1981. Purchase gas adjustments, which
reflect the increased cost of natural gas to the utility,
and higher rates caused the first-quarter acceleration in
prices. The proposed deregulation of natural gas would
have a significant impact on price levels if it is imple­
mented.
Industrial fuels. Intermediate energy goods in the PPI
accelerated to a 47.7-percent annual rate of increase in
the first quarter of 1981, much more than during any of
the three preceding quarters. Diesel fuel prices climbed
at an annual rate in excess of 100 percent, as steady de­
mand allowed the pass-through of the full impact of
higher crude oil prices. Strong demand for home heat­
ing oil put further upward pressure on diesel fuel prices;
these two fuels are virtually identical. Residual fuel
prices also moved up substantially, although not as rap­
idly as diesel fuel. The rate of increase slowed largely
because many electric utilities and industrial plants con­
tinued the process of conversion to cheaper fuels, such
as coal and natural gas. This process has depressed de­
mand for residual fuel over the last year. There was also
a greater volume of residual fuels produced relative to
other refined petroleum products, because of the higher
proportion of domestic crude petroleum being refined.
Air pollution laws have resulted in particularly weak
demand for residual fuels with a sulfur content greater
than 1 percent; prices for these grades rose much less
than higher-grade residual fuel in the first quarter.1
Commercial jet fuel prices also advanced, but less

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

than either diesel or residual fuel. This was partly at­
tributable to a decrease in airline traffic; in addition, be­
cause most jet fuel sales are contractual, these prices are
slower to adjust than those of other types of petroleum
fuels. (Refined petroleum product prices are lagged 1
month in the PPI; therefore, first-quarter data reflect
price developments from November to February.)
The PPI for electric power rose at an 8.9-percent an­
nual rate, the slowest pace in 2 years. The deceleration
over the past two quarters was reflective of stable coal
prices and the weakness in residual fuel prices during
m id-1980. The liquefied petroleum gas index moved up
substantially for the second consecutive quarter, follow­
ing several months of relatively little movement. The
first-quarter advance was caused by higher crude petro­
leum costs, as well as increased demand for propane as
a home heating fuel. The phased decontrol of natural
gas prices (which were up 30 percent at the wellhead in
1980) has encouraged many homeowners to switch to
propane.

Increases in food prices relax
From December to March, retail food prices showed
their smallest rise since first-quarter 1980. Much of the
slowdown was caused by declining prices for meats and
sugar, as a result of abundant supplies. The effect of
last summer’s drought, along with unfavorable winter
weather, continued to be reflected in large price in­
creases for fresh vegetables and peanut butter. Most
other categories of foods continued to experience mod­
erate advances in price. At the farm level, the PPI for
crude foodstuff's and feedstuff's decreased for the second
consecutive quarter, after an unusually steep advance in
the third quarter of 1980. (See table 3.)
Meats and fish. Burdensome supplies of hogs in early
1981 resulted in lower prices for pork, as well as a
slackening in prices for competing beef and veal. How­
ever, as fewer hogs were slaughtered near the end of
first-quarter 1981, producer pork prices began to turn
up. Pork supplies were expected to be significantly re­
duced later in the year, as many producers were dump­
ing stock after operating at a loss for 2 years. Record
production had kept pork prices low, despite higher
feed and fuel prices, interest rates, and other costs.
Cattle supplies were also more than ample from the
fall through the first quarter, as ranchers kept fewer
cows for breeding. As a result, offerings will decrease in
the future, and upward pressure will be exerted on
prices. The poultry industry was also marked by heavy
supplies, falling prices, and high costs for feed and ener­
gy. If prices for red meats rise later in the year, poultry
demand is expected to increase substantially.
Fish prices were up from December to March, as fish­
ing activity was limited by bad weather in many areas
17

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Inflation Cross-currents
of the country. Escalating fuel costs also forced many in
the fishing business, particularly small operators, to cur­
tail their operations.
Grains. Corn and soybean prices rose dramatically last
summer because of the drought. However, soybean
prices later weakened somewhat as a result of a large
buildup of world soybean oil stocks and expectations of
another extremely large harvest of soybeans in Brazil.
In addition, high interest rates discouraged speculation.
Sugar. Retail sugar prices fell sharply during the first
quarter, following a plunge in world raw cane sugar
prices in December. Earlier in 1980, sugar prices had
reached the highest level in 7 years. As in 1974, the
1980 increase was the result of reduced world invento­
ries in the face of growing world demand. Several major
sugar-producing countries had poor harvests in 1980.
Prices for beet sugar, corn syrup, and other competing
sweeteners had followed those of cane sugar— up last
year, down in the first quarter.
The downturn was triggered by a cessation of large
purchases of sugar on the world market by the Soviet

Table 3.

Union. This coincided with the buildup of large inven­
tories of beet sugar. Fears of future price drops, coupled
with high interest rates and inventory costs, caused beet
sugar producers to become more aggressive in East
Coast markets, formerly dominated by cane sugar.
Also, high prices led to an expansion of sugar beet
planting in Europe; thus, a large crop is expected there
this year.
Fruits and vegetables. In contrast to meats and sugar,
fresh vegetable prices resumed the sharp upward climb
that had been registered in the third quarter, before
much smaller increases late last year. Supplies of many
vegetables were still tight as a result of reduced acreage
and poor yields from last summer’s drought. Low in­
ventories of potatoes and onions led to substantial rises
in price. Severe weather took its toll on winter crops.
Florida tomatoes were hit hard by freezing temperatures
in January, followed by rain in late February. Tomatoes
in Mexico had been damaged by rains last autumn, and
again in January and March, keeping imports low. As a
result, tomato prices soared. Sweet corn, snap beans,
green peppers, and several other vegetables also suffered

Changes in retail and producer prices for consumer foods, 1980 81

Commodity

Index

Relative
importance
Dec. 1980

Percent
change
Mar. 1980
to
Mar. 1981

Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended
1981

1980
June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

Consumer foods1 ...................................................................................

CPI
PPI

100.0
100.0

10.1
7.8

5.8
-1.4

19.7
31.0

13.1
3.6

2.1
1.0

Beef and veal ...............................................................................................

CPI
PPI

9.8
12.1

0.4
6.5

16.3
80

48.8
35.0

1.4
-11.6

-19.4
-30.4

Pork2 ...........................................................................................................

CPI
PPI

4.7
6.5

9.4
12.2

-22.0
23.5

87.2
171.7

12.0
-2.7

-12.5
-21.6

Poultry .........................................................................................................

CPI
PPI

2.3
3.3

11.6
17.5

8.9
19.4

89.0
262.0

10.3
-15.3

-18.6
-22.7

Cereal and bakery products2 .........................................................................

CPI
PPI

8.7
13.1

11.8
8.7

12.8
8.8

7.4
7.0

13.8
14.4

13.3
4.8

Dairy products...............................................................................................

CPI
PPI

9.3
13.6

10.1
101

12.3
13.9

6.9
4.6

11.2
13.7

10.3
8.4

Fresh fruits and vegetables ..........................................................................

CPI
PPI

5.2
5.2

278
33.5

27.4
41.3

53.7
100.5

0.3
-27.9

36.1
55.4

Processed fruits and vegetables2 ..................................................................

CPI
PPI

4.5
6.4

11.0
12.6

7.3
7.1

8.4
5.7

7.7
7.8

21.3
31.5

Eggs.............................................................................................................

CPI
PPI

1.3
2.0

9.7
2.1

11.3
19.9

31.3
47.9

31.8
16.4

24.8
33.3

Sugar and sweets3 .......................................................................................

CPI
PPI

2.9
4.8

22.2
14.6

34.8
130.5

33.8
21.2

39.5
7.7

11.1
33.1

Roasted coffee2 ...........................................................................................

CPI
PPI

0.8
3.6

17.9
14.0

4.7
11.7

5.7
20.2

30.0
21.0

27.7
1.8

Fats and oil products4 ...................................................................................

CPI
PPI

1.9
1.6

13.6
3.7

2.0
7.2

6.5
11.1

19.5
8.6

33.4
3.2

’ 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.
2Not seasonally adjusted in the CPI.


18
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3"Sugar and confectionary” in the PPL Not seasonally adjusted in the PPL
“ 'Vegetable oil end products” in the PPL Peanut butter prices are included in this CPI but
not in this PPL

frost damage. However, increased production led to
lower prices for lettuce, celery, carrots, and cabbage.
Florida oranges also were harmed by the January
freezes. Although much of the damaged fruit was sal­
vaged for juicing, both juice and fresh fruit production
were well below the high levels predicted prior to the
frost. As a result of the reduced supply, Florida orange
prices rose substantially by February. However, the in­
crease was moderated by lower prices for abundant Cal­
ifornia oranges.
Peanut butter. The sharp price increases in peanut
butter, which started in late 1980 following the smallest
peanut harvest since 1964, continued into early 1981.
Peanut inventories were well below year-ago levels de­
spite relaxation of import quotas. Little improvement is
likely until harvest of the 1981 crop this fall.

Homeownership developments
Mortgage interest rates, which rose 15 percent in
1980, increased at an annual rate of 23 percent in the
first quarter. In late 1980, conventional mortgage inter­
est rates started to advance as the inflow of funds into
saving and loans was generally low. Consumer demand
for mortgage loans dropped in January and the cost of
funds increased, which lowered the difference between
the interest return on mortgages held and the cost of
funds. As a result of the increase in conventional rates,
points on f h a and v a guaranteed loans increased.
(Points are the percentage of the loan amount charged
to the seller in order to “correct” any differences be­
tween FH A /V A rates and conventional rates.) During
this temporary disequilibrium, homeowners were dis­
couraged from offering their houses through either FHA
or v a .
To remain competitive, both types of guaranteed
loans increased mortgage rates in early March. Al­
though short-term interest rates declined over the first 3
months of 1981, rates for long-term obligations, with
which mortgage loans must compete, remained fairly
constant.
Despite the large rise in mortgage interest rates, in­
creases for contracted mortgage interest costs moderat­
ed in the first quarter because home purchase prices
declined at an annual rate of 8.8 percent. This was the
largest 3-month decline in the history of the index. The
housing market weakened considerably at the start of
1981 as the number of single-family homes sold and
housing starts dropped sharply in February, and the in­
ventory of completed but unsold homes rose. In March
1981, the National Association of Realtors reported
that the February sales volume of existing homes was
22 percent below that of September 1980, and that the
median price of $64,100 for an existing single-family
home in February was at the same level as in July 1980.

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

Other consumer services
The index for transportation services moved up at an
annual rate of 9.9 percent, slightly less than the previ­
ous quarter. This reflected increases in auto mainte­
nance and repairs, insurance, and finance charges, as
interest rates in the general money markets remained at
high levels. The public transportation index moved up
at a 21.2-percent rate, more than the preceding quarter
and about the same as a year ago, reflecting rises in air­
line and intracity mass transit fares. Airline ticket prices
showed some moderation compared with the rate of
increase experienced in recent months. However, a
5.7-percent industry-wide increase was granted by the
Civil Aeronautics Board effective March 1, 1981. This
advance was justified on the basis of higher fuel plus
nonfuel costs. Intracity mass transit rose moderately, re­
flecting higher wage rates and other operating costs.
(See table 4.)
The index for medical care services moved up at a
rate of 12.0 percent, slightly more than during the pre­
vious 3 months, but less than that of a year ago, reflect­
ing moderate increases in professional and hospital ser­
vices. Wages and overhead expenses play significant
roles in price advances in these service areas. The ap­
parel services index rose at a 12.3-percent rate, about
the same as the preceding quarter, because of increased
overhead and materials costs — particularly cleaning flu­
id and labor. The index for entertainment services went
up at a rate of 10.4 percent, accelerating from the previ­
ous quarter, but near the levels of a year ago. The prin­
cipal causes of these increases were the higher prices for
first-run movies and big-name concert artists because of
rising labor and operating expenses and seasonal chang­
es. Prices for other types of services, including personal
care and personal and educational services, experienced
moderate changes similar to the prior quarter. These in­
creases reflected higher costs for labor, materials, utili­
ties, and other operating expenses.

Other producer prices
The PFI for finished goods other than food and
energy moved up at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of
9.0 percent from December to March, slightly faster
than the 8.2-percent rate in the previous quarter but
slower than in any other one of 1980. Prices for
consumer nondurables climbed at an 11.6-percent rate,
much more than in either of the preceding two quarters;
however, the consumer durables index rose at a 2.5-percent pace, the slowest in nearly 5 years. Capital equip­
ment prices advanced at an 11.8-percent rate, virtually
the same as in 1980.
Much of the acceleration in the consumer non­
durables index was caused by a sharp rise in the newly
introduced indexes for the publishing industry, particu19

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Inflation Cross-currents
larly newspapers. Prices for tires, prescription drugs,
textile housefurnishings, soaps and detergents, and lug­
gage moved up considerably more than in the last quar­
ter of 1980. Among consumer durable goods, prices of
jewelry fell even more sharply than in the previous
quarter, and a steep drop in flatware prices erased a
21.3-percent advance registered in 1980; both develop­
ments reflected continued weakness in precious metal
prices. Passenger car prices rose at a rate of 6.0 percent,
much slower than the 9.2-percent increase recorded for
all of 1980, as some domestic manufacturers reinstituted
rebate programs to promote sales of slower-selling mod­
els. Although motortruck price increases slowed some­
what from the unusually high rate in the last quarter of
1980, the 12.7-percent first-quarter rate was faster than
the 11.2-percent rise recorded from December 1979 to
December 1980.
Prices weakened dramatically during the first quarter
for a broad range of basic industrial materials. Among
precious metals, silver prices declined even more precip­
itously than in the previous 3 months; gold prices also
Table 4.

kept falling, although not as much as silver. Lower pre­
cious metal prices were reflected in continued rapid
decreases in prices for jewelers’ materials. Prices for
several other primary nonferrous metals— including
copper, cobalt, tin, and lead— were also sharply lower.
As a result, the costs of copper-base scrap decreased
markedly after showing virtually no net change from
September to December, and those of lead scrap fell
even more rapidly than did copper-base scrap. Steep
first-quarter declines were also registered for crude nat­
ural rubber, raw cotton, wastepaper, and cattle hides.
After recording a substantial advance in the final quar­
ter of 1980, iron and steel scrap costs edged down
slightly in the opening quarter of 1981; ferrous scrap
prices normally rise considerably from December to
March as firms rebuild their inventories.
The return of record-high interest rates at the end of
1980 had a major depressing effect on material prices in
several ways. Industrial users generally tried to mini­
mize their material inventories, and thus their current
purchases, because of the extremely high costs of fi-

Price changes in consumer services less energy and in consumer goods other than foods and energy, 1980-81

CPI grouping

Services less energy

Relative
importance
Dec. 1980

Percent
change
Mar. 1980
to
Mar. 1981

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

Sept.

1981
Dec.

Mar.

100 0

11.7

20.0

.4

17.9

10.1

Rent, residential1 .............................................................................

13.4

8.8

10.0

8.6

9.6

7.0

Household services less rent and energy1 ......................................................
Home financing, taxes, and insurance1 ....................................
Mortgage interest costs' .....................................................................................
Home maintenance and repairs services ..............................
Housekeeping services' ............................................

50.1
31.4
25.8
7.2
5.0

13.2
16.1
18.2
9.7
8.0

29.5
43.9
55.0
7.0
8.6

10.8
20.0
25.4
7.0
6.4

26.9
41.8
51.3
11.0
5.7

12.1
11.4
11.6
13.8
11.6

Transportation services ................................
Auto maintenance and repairs........................................
Other private transportation services............................................................
Public transportation1 ..........................................

15.1
38
8.2
3.1

12.5
10.3
8.7
26.6

16.6
11.0
18.6
18.6

13.5
10.9
2.1
56.7

10.3
10.8
8.8
14.1

9.9
8.4
6.3
21.2

Medical care services ..............................................................
Entertainment services1 ......................................................................
Personal care services1 ....................................................................
Apparel services ........................................................
Personal and educational services ........................................

10.3
3.9
2.3
1.7
3.1

9.2
8.1
7.4
11.7
11.8

8.4
9.2
7.4
13.8
9.2

8.9
9.7
6.5
9.2
21.7

7.7
3.3
6.8
11.7
86

12.0
10.4
8.9
12.3
8.4

100.0

8.0

7.7

12.9

9.6

1.7

Alcoholic beverages................................
Home purchase' ....................................................................
Maintenance and repair commodities' ......................................................
Textile housefurnishings ......................................
Furniture and bedding ......................................................................
Appliances, including radio and TV.' ......................

2.9
30.5
2.4
1.5
3.5
4.1

85
7.0
10.2
6.7
66
3.9

9.8
14.9
12.5
7.6
5.8
4.1

8.2
14.9
12.7
10.4
7.3
5.2

5.2
9.0
7.3
0.6
2.7
1.1

10.8
8.8
8.3
8.5
10.5
5.2

Other household equipment1 ........................................................
Housekeeping supplies' .................................................................................................
Apparel commodities less footwear................................................................
Footwear ...........................................................................................
New cars ......................................................................
Used c a rs ..........................................................................................

2.6
4.3
10.5
1.9
9.4
8.0

10.1
11.0
3.9
5.6
4.5
20.6

10.3
13.0
1.4
3.7
8.7
12 1

9.6
11.2
8.7
9.2
15.4
39.0

6.0
9.4
2.9
6.1
3.4
62.3

14.5
10.5
6.2
3.5
1.7
6.5

18
2.3
6.4
3.1
2.1
0.5

6.3
10.5
9.2
7.1
111
114

3.3
10.7
9.2
10.5
10.2
7.6

11.7
10.2
110
2.2
10.5
27.4

5.7
8.9
6.1
12.9
9.7
34

4.7
12.4
10.4
3.3
14.1
16.3

Commodities less food and energy

Auto parts and equipment' ..............................................
Medical care commodities ................................................
Entertainment commodities........................................................
Tobacco products' ..............................................................................
Toilet goods and personal care appliances ’ ..............................................................
Schoolbooks and supplies ..................................................................
! Not seasonally adjusted.


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

nancing their holdings. Speculators increasingly turned
away from precious metals and other commodities be­
cause of the favorable returns they could reap from
high-yielding investments in financial markets. By their
adverse impact on residential construction activity, high
interest rates curtailed demand for copper, tin, and oth­
er materials which depend on a healthy housing market.
High interest rates also encouraged foreign investments
in this country, thereby strengthening the dollar; how­
ever, this served to discourage foreign demand for
American commodities such as scrap metals, cotton,
and hides.
A number of specific factors also served to reduce ba­
sic metal prices during late 1980 and early 1981. For
example, lead prices dropped sharply in the wake of
new Federal regulations effective last fall which cut the
allowable level of lead in gasoline. The world’s leading
cobalt producing nation, Zaire, reduced cobalt prices 20
percent early in 1981. This followed many months of

unusually high and stable prices which resulted in de­
creased world industrial consumption, while Zaire’s
production and inventories mounted. Unusually high
silver prices in early 1980 led to lower demand for sil­
verware, silver jewelry, and other products which are
heavy users of this metal. The result was a large silver
surplus in 1980 following 3 years of deficit, and hence
silver prices fell rapidly from late 1980 through early
1981. Settlement of a long copper strike in late 1980
was followed by a substantial rise in production, but at
a time when industrial and residential construction de­
mand for copper was quite weak.
Among other basic industrial materials, prices of cat­
tle hides were driven down by the heavy cattle slaughter
in early 1981. Raw cotton prices retreated somewhat af­
ter climbing rapidly late last year in the face of severe
drought-related damage. Both domestic and foreign cot­
ton mills were generally well-stocked through the spring
of 1981.
□

--------- FOOTNOTE---------' Residual fuel prices graded according to sulfur content were first
published in the PPI with the release of January 1981 data. Before
that, the PPI for residual fuel was subject to occasional variations re-


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

suiting from changes in the relative proportion of different grades of
residual fuel sold from month to month,

Poverty income level raised
The level of annual family income used to determine whether a per­
son is poor has been raised an average of $920 by the U.S. Depart­
ment of Labor to reflect increases in consumer prices.
Under the new criteria, an urban family of four can earn up to
$8,450 and still be considered poor, an increase of $1,000 over last
year. The change became effective March 11, 1981.
The revised poverty level guidelines are based on recommendations
by the Office of Management and Budget. OMB defines the Federal
Government’s official poverty line.
These guidelines are used by a number of agencies to determine the
eligibility of applicants for programs that assist the poor.
Thé new income levels for nonfarm families living in the continental
United States average $920 higher than last year; for a farm family,
$780, reflecting the increases in living costs since the last criteria were
set in April 1980.

21

The Employment Cost Index in 1980:
a first look at total compensation
With the introduction of fringe benefits,
the index increased 9.8 percent last year,
as wages and salaries rose a record 9 percent;
the addition of benefit cost data completes
quarterly measure o f compensation change
Patricia B. Smith
Rates of total compensation for employees in the pri­
vate nonfarm sector of the economy increased by 9.8
percent in 1980, and wages and salaries rose by 9.0 per­
cent. This is the first full year in which the Employment
Cost Index ( eci) measured total compensation change,1
that is, wages and salaries and employer costs for em­
ployee benefits such as paid holidays and vacations and
retirement plans. Data on benefits were included last
year; the index began publication with the wages and
salaries component in 1975.
The 1980 change in compensation, compared with the
wage and salary change, reflects a continuing increase in
the importance of employee benefit costs. Wages and
salaries, however, still account for about three-quarters
of total compensation.
The movements of compensation and of wages in the
ECI occurred during varying economic conditions: a
12.5-percent advance in the Consumer Price Index; an
additional 2.2 million workers on nonagricultural pay­
rolls; unemployment that increased from 6.2 percent in
January to 7.6 percent in May and remained at approxi­
mately that level for the balance of the year; and a rela­
tively heavy schedule of collective bargaining —
settlements were reached for 3.7 of the 9.2 million
workers in major bargaining units (1,000 workers or
more) in the private sector.
Other influences on the movement of compensation
Patricia B. Smith is a social science research analyst in the Office of
Wages and Industrial Relations, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
22
Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis

and its wages and salaries component stemmed from
changes initiated by the Federal Government. The
Council on Wage and Price Stability eased its pay in­
crease guideline to a 7.5-9.5 percent range in 1980,
from the 7.0-percent guideline in effect for most of
1979. On January 1, 1980, the maximum taxable earn­
ings base under social security was increased from
$22,900 to $25,900, and the Federal minimum wage
rose by almost 7.0 percent, from $2.90 to $3.10 an
hour.

Total compensation
Among occupational groups, blue-collar workers had
the greatest compensation gain during 1980 (10.1 per­
cent), and service workers, the lowest (9.4 percent). (See
table 1.) The compensation advance of white-collar em­
ployees averaged 9.5 percent. Manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing industries matched the 9.8-percent
total compensation gain of the private nonfarm sector.
In each quarter of 1980, the rate of change in total
compensation exceeded that of wages and salaries. The
greatest difference between the two measures occurred
in the first quarter (2.7 versus 2.4 percent), in part, be­
cause of adjustments in social security and other legally
required payments which were effective on January 1.
An estimated four-fifths of the compensation rise during
1980 is accounted for by wage change, which also af­
fects costs for wage-related benefits, such as paid holi­
days and vacations and employer contributions for
social security.

Wages and salaries
As noted, the average wage and salary change of pri­
vate nonfarm workers was 9.0 percent in 1980. (See ta­
ble 2.) The gain for blue-collar workers (9.6 percent)
was greater than that for white-collar employees (8.7
percent) and service workers (8.1 percent). Professional
and technical employees had the largest earnings rise in
the white-collar group, 10.5 percent; and operatives, ex­
cept transport, led the wage advance of blue-collar
workers, 10.2 percent. The lowest earnings gain of all
occupations was that for salesworkers, 6.7 percent.
Wages and salaries in manufacturing industries in­
creased by 9.4 percent, compared with 8.8 percent in
nonmanufacturing. Among individual nonmanufactur­
ing industries, workers in transportation and public util­
ities had the highest wage advance, 11.1 percent; and
those in retail trade the lowest, 7.0 percent. Union
workers’ pay rose 10.9 percent, while nonunion earnings
rose 8.0 percent.
The 2.4-percent wage and salary change in the first
quarter of 1980 matched the record increase in the
fourth quarter of 1979. In the remaining quarters of
1980, changes were lower, ranging between 2.0 and 2.2
percent. The ECI is not seasonally adjusted; thus, it is
not possible to determine to what extent quarterly
movements reflect underlying economic conditions or
seasonal patterns. Nevertheless, some quarterly move­
ments can be traced, in part, to Federal government ac­
tions and the collective bargaining cycle. For example,
service workers, who tend to be clustered at or near the
minimum wage, received their greatest pay advance in
the first quarter of 1980 when the Federal minimum
wage was increased from $2.90 to $3.10 an hour. On
the other hand, in subsequent quarters, pay gains for
these workers were among the lowest of any occupa­
tional group. One possible impact of minimum wage
change, therefore, is to cluster pay changes for lowwage employees in the first quarter of the year. This
pattern is similar to that in past years when the

Table 1. Rate of total compensation change in the
Employment Cost Index, 1980
[In percent]
12 months
ended

3 months ended
Characteristic
March

June

September

December

All private nonfarm
workers................

2.7

2.3

2.3

2.1

9.8

White-collar workers............
Blue-collar workers..............
Service workers..................

2.8
2.4
4.3

2.3
2.5
1.1

2.0
2.7
2.1

2.1
2.1
1.7

9.5
10.1
9.4

Manufacturing industries . . . .
Nonmanufacturing industries .

2.8
2.7

2.0
2.5

2.3
2.3

2.2
2.0

9.8
9.8


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

December

minimum wage was raised in January.
Blue-collar workers, in a well-established pattern, had
larger wage gains in the second quarter than in the first.
This results from the concentration of collective
bargaining (notably for construction, trucking, and ba­
sic steel) in the spring months. Under collective
bargaining, pay change may result from newly negotiat­
ed contracts, deferred wage increases, or cost-of-living
adjustments. Similar patterns of high second-quarter
pay gains are evident in the ECI for the construction in­
dustry and transport equipment operatives.

Trends, 1976-80
For most groups of workers, the advance in wages
and salaries was higher in 1980 than in any year since
1975, when the ECI began. A number of economic fac­
tors are important in interpreting the trend of the wages
and salaries component of the ECI for the overall private
nonfarm sector and the individual series. Prior to the
third quarter of 1978, the 12-month increases in the CPI
were below those of the ECI. Beginning in the third
quarter of 1978, however, the advance of the CPI out­
paces the rate of wage and salary change in the ECI.
The difference increases until the 12-month period end­
ing in the first quarter of 1980, when the 14.6-percent
advance of the CPI compares with a 9.1-percent rise in
wages and salaries. By the end of 1980, the gap was
narrowed somewhat, with the CPI increasing by 12.5
percent and the ECI by 9.0 percent.
Unemployment in the private nonfarm sector fell
from 7.7 percent in 1976 to 5.8 percent in 1979, then
rose again in 1980 to 7.1 percent. Collective bargaining
has become characterized by cycles of activity over,
generally, a 3-year period in which two years of heavy
negotiations (as in 1976 and 1977) are followed by a
year of comparatively light activity (1978). Collective
bargaining was heavy again in 1979 and 1980.
The President’s Council on Wage and Price Stability,
in October 1978, announced a pay increase standard of
7.0 percent which was raised to a range of 7.5 to 9.5
percent in 1980. The increases in the Federal minimum
wage, effective on January 1 of each year, were of dif­
fering magnitudes; the largest adjustment being a
15.2-percent increase in 1978, with smaller changes in
1979, 9.4 percent, and in 1980, 6.9 percent.
Chart 1 compares the change in wages and salaries
for all workers in the private nonfarm sector with those
in manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries.
Three periods of wage and salary movement emerge be­
tween 1976 and 1980 for private nonfarm workers. The
first, from the third quarter of 1976 to the third quarter
of 1978, is one of moderately increasing wage advance
until a high of 8.0 percent is reached. During this peri­
od, wages increased more rapidly than consumer prices

23

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Employment Cost Index in 1980

Table 2.

Rate of wage and salary change in the Employment Cost Index, 1980

[In percent]
12 months ended

3 months ended
Characteristics

December

December
1979

March

June

September

2.2

2.0

8.7

9.1

9.3

9.4

9.0

1.9
1.8
1.6
2.5
1.8

2.1
2.7
1.6
1.7
2.0

2.0
2.2
1.3
2.8
2.1

8.6
8.8
7.4
8.8
9.4

9.2
10.3
7.7
8.6
9.6

9.3
11.1
7.8
6.8
10.1

9.1
11.1
7.3
7.8
9.2

8.7
10.5
7.2
6.7
9.1

2.3
1.7
3.2
1.2
2.5

2.5
2.4
2.4
3.5
2.4

2.4
2.8
2.3
1.4
2.3

2.1
2.2
2.0
1.9
2.0

9.0
8.6
9.2
10.2
9.1

9.4
8.2
10.5
9.8
10.1

9.6
8.5
10.7
9.9
9.9

10.0
9.1
11.3
8.8
10.5

9.6
9.4
10.2
8.2
9.5

1.8

3.5

1.1

1.7

1.5

7.2

7.6

7.8

8.4

8.1

Manufacturing ....................................
Durables ........................................
Nondurables ..................................

3.1
3.3
2.7

2.8
2.5
3.2

2.0
2.1
1.9

2.0
2.5
1.2

2.3
2.3
2.1

8.6
9.0
7.8

9.7
9.7
9.7

10.0
10.4
9.2

10.2
10,8
9.2

9.4
9.8
8.6

Nonmanufacturing ..............................
Construction ..................................
Transportation and public utilities . . . .
Wholesale and retail trade ..............
Wholesale trade..........................
Retail trade ................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate ..
Services ........................................

2.0
1.1
2.0
1.3
2.1
1.0
4.3
2.5

2.2
1.2
2.5
2.6
2.9
2.4
.4
2.7

2.1
2.9
2.3
1.9
2.7
1.5
2.7
1.6

2.3
2.9
3.2
1.5
.9
1.8
2.0
2.5

1.9
1.5
2.7
1.7
3.2
1.1
2.1
1.6

8.8
7.2
9.4
7.9
7.9
7.9
13.2
8.5

8.8
7.1
9.3
8.4
9.4
8.0
10.2
9.2

8.9
7.5
10.1
7.8
9.2
7.3
9.6
9.8

8.9
8.4
10.4
7.4
8.9
6.9
9.7
9.6

8.8
8.8
nú
7.8
10.0
7.0
7.4
8.7

2.1
2.4
2.6
1.8

2.5
2.8
2.4
2.6

2.1
1.9
2.0
2.4

1.9
1.9
1.9
3.4

1.9
1.9
2.2
2.0

7.3
8.5
9.4
8.5

8.3
8.8
9.9
9.2

8.7
9.0
9.3
9.6

8.9
9.3
9.2
10.6

8.6
8.8
8.8
10.8

Union ............................................
Manufacturing ............................
Nonmanufacturing........................

2.6
3.4
1.7

2.3
2.6
2.0

2.8
2.8
2.8

2.9
2.8
3.0

2.5
2.4
2.6

9.0
9.4
8.5

9.5
10.3
8.8

10.2
11.1
9.5

10.9
12.0
9.9

10.9
11.0
10.8

Nonunion........................................
Manufacturing ............................
Nonmanufacturing........................

2.3
2.7
2.1

2.5
3.0
2.3

1.7
1.4
1.9

1.8
1.2
2.0

1.8
2.1
1.7

8.5
7.9
8.8

8.9
9.3
8.8

8.7
9.0
8.6

8.6
8.6
8.6

8.0
7.9
8.1

2.5
1.9

2.1
3.6

2.2
1.6

2.3
1.5

2.0
2.4

8.9
7.9

9.1
9.5

9.3
8.9

9.5
8.9

9.0
9.4

December
1979

March

June

September

2.4

2.4

2.1

White-collar workers ..........................
Professional and technical workers . .
Managers and administrators ..........
Salesworkers..................................
Clerical workers..............................

2.4
2.8
1.4
3.9
2.1

2.4
3.3
2.6
-.5
3.0

Blue-collar workers ............................
Craft and kindred workers ..............
Operatives, except transport............
Transport equipment operatives . . . .
Nonfarm laborers............................

2.5
1.9
3.1
2.4
2.9

Service workers..................................

All private nonfarm workers . . . .

December

By occupation:

By industry:

By region:
Nortneas: ......................................
South ............................................
North Central..................................
W es:..............................................
By bargaining status:

By area:
Metropolitan areas..........................
Other areas............................

and, in 1978, collective bargaining activity was light.
The following four quarters (fourth quarter 1978 to
third quarter 1979) experienced fairly stable wage
change, with the rise ranging between 7.6 and 7.8 per­
cent. This stability occurred in a period of heavy collec­
tive bargaining (1979), a falling rate of unemployment,
and greater increases in consumer prices than in wages.
It was, however, the first year in which the national pay
increase standard was in effect. Beginning in the third
quarter of 1979, wage and salary rates climbed rapidly
and peaked at 9.4 percent for the 12-months ending in
the third quarter of 1980. Although the rate of change
declined to 9.0 percent for the 12 months ending in the
fourth quarter, that change was higher than any previ­
ous four-quarter period.
Digitized for
24 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Wage change for both manufacturing and nonmanu­
facturing moved in the same direction as that in the pri­
vate nonfarm sector, with changes in manufacturing
generally higher than those in nonmanufacturing. Wage
change for nonmanufacturing was fairly stable through­
out 1980, after reaching a level of 8.8 percent in the 12
months ending in the fourth quarter of 1979, while
wage change for manufacturing continued to increase,
peaking at 10.2 percent in the 12 months ending in the
third quarter of 1980, then declining to 9.4 percent by
the end of the year.
Wage and salary trends for the three major groups of
occupations, are shown in chart 2. In the pattern of the
overall private nonfarm sector, the rates of pay change
for blue-collar and white-collar workers increased rapid-

Chart 1. Rates of wage and salary change in the Employment Cost Index, by industry, 1976-80

Percent change

6.0
1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

NOTE: Rates of change are for the 12 months ending in the quarter indicated.

ly, beginning in 1979, until new records were reached in
1980. Only service workers had higher rates of wage
change prior to 1980. For all three groups of workers,
the 12-month changes declined from their highest levels
by the end of 1980.
Before 1979, the pattern of wage and salary change
for the three major employment groups differed mark­
edly. Most notable are the peaks in the rate of change
for white-collar and service workers that occurred in
1978, the year in which the Federal minimum wage was
increased by its greatest amount, 15.2 percent. It was
also the year in which the wage change in nonmanu­

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

facturing industries, with a greater proportion of service
workers, exceeded the change in manufacturing.
For both union and nonunion workers, rapid earn­
ings increases began in 1979. A continuing advance in
pay for union workers began in the 12-month period
ending in the third quarter of 1978 and reached a re­
cord plateau, 10.9 percent, by the end of 1980. Non­
union workers, on the other hand, reached their peak
gain (8.9 percent) in the 12-month period ending in the
first quarter of 1980, after which the 12-month rate of
wage increase fell in each succeeding quarter, reaching
8.0 percent by the end of the year.
25

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Employment Cost Index in 1980

' Employment cost is defined as employer expenditures per employ­
ee-hour worked for a standardized or fixed mix of labor services. The
fixed labor weights are derived from occupational employment in the
industries covered by the index, as reported in the 1970 Census of
Population. In addition to the series on wages and salaries and total
compensation, series or benefit costs may be published separately at a
later date. Benefits include: Hours-related benefits— premium pay for
overtime and work on weekends and holidays, paid holidays, paid va­
cations, paid sick leave, and other paid leave; supplemental pay— shift
differentials, nonproduction bonuses, severance pay, and supplemental
unemployment plans; insurance benefits— life, health, and sickness
and accident insurance; retirement and savings benefits— pension and
other retirement plans and savings and thrift plans; legally required
benefits— social security, railroad retirement and supplemental retire­
ment, railroad unemployment insurance, Federal and State unemploy­

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

ment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other legally required
benefits such as State temporary disability insurance; and other bene­
fits— merchandise discounts in department stores. For a further dis­
cussion of ECI concepts and methodology, see Victor J. Sheifer, “Em­
ployment Cost Index: a measure of change in the ‘price of labor’,”
Monthly Labor Review July 1975, pp. 3-12; Handbook o f Methods for
Surveys and Studies, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1976),
pp. 184-91; and Victor J. Sheifer, “How benefits will be incorporated
into the Employment Cost Index,” Monthly Labor Review, January
1978, pp. 18-26.
ECI data are published quarterly in a press release issued by the
Bureau of I^abor Statistics and subsequently in the Current Labor
Statistics department of the Monthly Labor Review. The data also ap­
pear in Current Wage Developments, a monthly publication of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The puzzling lag in
southern earnings
Business booms but average earnings
remain relatively low in the South;
contributory factors include interregional
differences in urbanization,
and in the racial composition, training,
and union status o f the work force
G e o r g e D. S t a m a s

During the 1970’s, the South experienced rapid econom­
ic growth and a sharp increase in population.1While the
region attracted workers from other parts of the coun­
try, the reversal of the longstanding pattern of migra­
tion to the North accelerated.2 More Southerners found
employment at home, as the boom created thousands of
jobs. Nevertheless, average wages remained considera­
bly lower than in the rest of the country.
This study takes another look at this phenomenon,
finding that a wage differential of about 17 percent
existed between May 1973 and May 1978. In order to
examine the differential, a number of variables (indus­
try, occupation, education, age, race, sex, city size, and
union status) were chosen for their potential contribu­
tion to the observed gross differential in regional earn­
ings. These labor market variables were used in
regression analysis to estimate, sequentially, alternative
specifications of a wage equation. This procedure per­
mits estimates of the interregional wage differential net
of the influence of various combinations of the explana­
tory variables. Accordingly, we were able to explain ap­
proximately 60 percent of the gross differential between
wages in the South and those in the rest of the Nation
George D. Stamas is an economist in the Office of Current Employ­
ment Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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

by controlling for worker characteristics.
The study is based on data from the Current Popula­
tion Survey ( c p s ) from May 1973 to May 1978 with
emphasis on 1978. The CPS not only provides household-derived information on weekly earnings and hours
used to compute an average hourly wage, but also a
wealth of information on the personal characteristics of
workers.3

An overview
Assuming perfect competition and free flow of re­
sources, regional differences in the costs of doing busi­
ness should vanish in the long run. These costs include
outlays for equipment and raw materials (capital) and
workers (labor). A change in output resulting from a
1-unit change in either the capital or the labor input is
a function of the relative amounts of each input used in
the production process. In the region with the most la­
bor relative to capital, an additional unit of capital is
more productive, and so would receive a higher return.
Similarly, an additional unit of labor is more productive
— and receives a higher wage— in the region where la­
bor is least plentiful relative to capital. Thus, capital
should migrate to low-wage areas while labor migrates
from low-wage areas, until each factor cost is the same
in all regions.4 In reality, however, the gross differential
27

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Puzzling Lag in Southern Earnings
in earnings between the low-wage South and the rest of
the Nation has demonstrated a stubborn persistence.5
According to data from the May 1978 CPS, median
earnings of all workers were about 17 percent lower in
the South than in the rest of the country. (See table 1.)
Averaged across all industries, workers in the South
had median hourly earnings of $4.26, compared to
$5.13 in other regions and $4.86 for the Nation as a
whole. Between 1973 and 1978, earnings increased 41
percent in the South and 39 percent elsewhere, resulting
in a small reduction in the interregional wage differ­
ential. In manufacturing industries, however, southern
earnings remained about 25 percent below those outside
the South over the 1973-78 period.
Economists have tried to identify barriers to the free
movement of capital or labor which might explain the
observed wage differences. Theoretically, a regional dif­
ferential could develop and be perpetuated if production
functions or outputs differ, or if there are unusual trans­
portation costs. Under some circumstances capital is
attracted to high-wage areas.6 And some economists
have cited institutional factors such as low union pene­
tration or domination of the labor market by large em­
ployers as evidence that employers in the South may
have an advantage over other employers in their rela­
tionships to employees, thus creating a regional wage
differential.
Alternately, wage differentials across regions may be
compensating for differences in worker skill levels, liv­
ing costs, and other factors. For instance, because
skilled labor is more productive, and often incurs costs
in acquiring its skill, it receives a higher wage than un­
skilled labor. And, differences in area living costs could
persuade workers in the South to accept a smaller nom­
inal wage than other workers. Thus, a regional wage
differential need not be inconsistent with profit maximi­
zation by the firm or utility maximization by workers.

Table 1.

Industry forces
Wages differ by industry for a variety of reasons in­
cluding differences in capital intensity, unionization,
skill requirements, working conditions, and sensitivity
of industry employment to the business cycle. Accord­
ingly, wage differentials could result in part from re­
gional differences in industry composition. Using
Census of Manufactures data for 1952 to standardize
wages for industry composition, Victor Fuchs and Rich­
ard Perlman explained about half of the regional differ­
ential in earnings of manufacturing workers.7
An examination of the distribution of wage and
salary employment by industry in the South and other
regions in 1978 shows that the service-producing sector
accounted for about two-thirds, and the goods-producing sector, one-third of the total in both. Within the
service sector, the distribution by major industry group
was very similar. But within the goods-producing sec­
tor, the proportions of employees in the relatively highwage construction and mining industries and in the
lower-paying nondurable goods industries were a little
higher in the South.
The estimating procedure for the present study in­
cluded controls to standardize wages for industry com­
position. Regression results indicate that standardiza­
tion at the level of aggregation used does not change
the net differential.
At the'industry level as well, earnings were lower in
the South. In both durable and nondurable manufactur­
ing, the earnings ratios of the South to other regions
were about 79 percent. The ratio for all manufacturing
was even lower— about 75 percent— because of the
higher concentration of southern employment in lowwage nondurable industries, especially in labor-intensive
textile and apparel firms.
The regional earnings ratio for workers in construc-

Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in and out of the South, by industry, May 1973 and May 1978
Number employed (in thousands)
May 1973

Median hourly earnings

May 1978

May 1973

Industry

Tota ................................
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries .
Mining ........................................
Construction................................
Manufacturing ............................
Durable ..............................
Nondurable..........................
Transportation and utilities............
Wholesale and retail trade............
Wholesale............................
Retail ..................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Other services ............................
Public administration....................
N ote :

South

Rest of U.S.

South

Rest of U.S.

South

Rest of U.S.

South as a
percent
of
rest of U.S.

South

Rest of U.S.

South as a
percent
of
rest of U.S.

23,285
563
319
1,791
5,627
2,646
2,981
1,616
4,520
896
3,625
1,201
6,115
1,533

52,281
774
308
2,873
14,631
9,433
5,198
3,525
10,276
2,031
8,245
2,906
14,064
2,923

26,772
575
418
1,960
6,016
2,921
3,095
1,873
5,360
1,047
4,313
1,321
7,493
1,757

58,196
986
333
3,025
14,772
9,566
5,207
3,936
11,870
2,418
9,453
3,436
16,676
3,162

$3.03
1.76
4.76
3.81
3.07
3.39
2.74
3.97
2.28
3.28
2.13
3.15
2.69
4.43

$3.69
2.11
4.78
5.32
4.04
4.20
3.66
4.99
2.70
4.13
2.44
3.55
3.20
4.72

82
83
100
72
76
81
75
80
84
79
87
89
84
94

$4.26
2.66
7.24
5.24
4.48
4.94
4.15
6.09
3.28
4.87
3.10
4.34
3.86
5.98

$5.13
3.14
7.79
6.78
5.94
6.23
5.31
6.92
3.60
5.56
3.24
4.93
4.46
6.58

83
85
93
77
75
79
78
88
91
88
96
88
87
91

Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.

Digitized28
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

May 1978

tion was about the same as in manufacturing, 77 per­
cent. This lower wage of construction workers in the
South may have been partly the result of a compensat­
ing differential awarded northern construction workers
for the seasonality in their employment. However, dif­
ferences in union penetration and other factors may
have played a role. For example, 20 percent of the con­
struction workers in the South were unionized com­
pared to 44 percent of those in the rest of the Nation.
The earnings differential was not as large in most of
the other major industry groups. In transportation and
utilities, trade, finance, insurance and real estate, and
public administration, southern workers earned about
10 percent less than workers elsewhere. In mining,
where many of the southern workers were employed in
highly paid oil extraction jobs, the differential appeared
to be even less. Nationwide union agreements in the
mining industry would also tend to make wages more
uniform throughout the country.
Market and institutional factors could interact to
produce the variation in the regional earnings differ­
ential across industries. An excess of unskilled laborers
in the South would bid wages of these workers down,
increasing the regional differential in industries using
unskilled labor. Similarly, differences in industry union­
ization across regions could contribute to variation in
the differential. Industries characterized by national
markets, small numbers of large firms, or multiplant
and geographically dispersed firms would tend to have
more nationally uniform wages, especially if they are
unionized.8 Regions producing a large share of industry
output could be expected to have industry wages as
high or higher than in other regions. Finally, because
capital in the South is more modern and possibly more
efficient, southern workers in capital intensive industries
may be more productive and so receive relatively higher
wages than their counterparts elsewhere.9
Table 2 provides some examples. The petroleum,
chemical, and significant portions of the paper products
industries are relatively capital intensive. In addition,
more than half of the workers in paper products in each
region are unionized, and chemicals workers are more
unionized in the South (34 percent) than elsewhere (26
percent). In these industries, southern workers earn as
much or only slightly less than other workers.
While CPS estimates of the earnings differential for
workers in automobile manufacturing are volatile, the
ratio for other transportation equipment was consistent­
ly well over 90 percent during the May 1973-1978 peri­
od. Transportation equipment industries are highly
concentrated and unionized.
Other industries demonstrate earnings ratios well be­
low average. In food processing, an industry with re­
gional markets and low union penetration in the South
(22 versus 49 percent elsewhere), southern workers earn
less than 80 percent of the wage in other regions. The

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

Table 2. Median hourly earnings in the South as a
percent of those outside the South, selected
manufacturing industries, May 1973-78

Industry

Durables:
Lumber ............
Furniture ..........
Automobiles . . . .
Aircraft..............
Other transport
equipment . . . .
Nondurables:
Food ................
Textiles ............
Apparel ............
Paper and paper
products........
Chemicals ........
Petroleum ........

Number
employed,
May 1978
(In thousands)

Percent

South

Rest of
U.S.

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

257
279
155
81

379
282
1,079
437

65
79
77
101

65
78
77
95

64
77
73
94

60
72
94
93

62
79
85
106

60
84
82
100

165

254

97

93

94

94

101

94

504
610
582

1,304
198
672

71
92
80

71
84
84

69
75
80

74
86
83

71
82
81

78
91
82

206
464
106

472
762
131

90
94
101

88
88
95

94
101
99

92
99
95

101
99
111

95
102
108

lumber products industries provide an extreme example
of a low earnings ratio; southern workers earn 65 per­
cent or less of the levels elsewhere. Their earnings are
about as much as those in the northern region, but only
about half the level in the W est.10 Small, often familyrun, establishments still produce much of the lumber
milled in the South, and employment is less unionized
than in the West.
In general, the interregional wage differential is
smaller between workers covered by union contracts
than it is for workers not covered. Persons with jobs
covered by union contracts earned $6.12 in the South
compared with a median of $6.42 elsewhere, an earn­
ings ratio of 95 percent. Southern workers not covered
by union agreements earned $3.90 compared to $4.35 in
other regions, for an earnings ratio of 90 percent. In
manufacturing, southern workers with no union ties
earned about 75 percent as much as others in this
group. The wage ratio for manufacturing workers cov­
ered by union contracts was much higher— 90 percent.
As already shown, regional differences in union cover­
age vary widely across manufacturing industries. How­
ever, the rate of coverage is about 60 percent as
extensive in the South as elsewhere, both in manufactur­
ing and overall.

Labor market characteristics
Given the lower wages in the South, labor theory pre­
dicts that workers would migrate from the South to a
higher-wage region. This is just what occurred until the
early 1960’s. Subsequently, the South experienced net inmigration, even if one excludes retirees moving to the re­
gion. A net out-migration of the poor continued until
1968, yet the South remained with a high proportion of
unskilled labor.11
This relative surplus of unskilled labor could have
served to depress the wages of these workers below the
29

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Puzzling Lag in Southern Earnings

Table 3.

Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in and out of the South, by occupation, May 1973 and May 1978
Median hourly earnings

Number employed, May 1978
(in thousands)

South

Tota, ................................................
White-collar..................................................
Professional and technical......................
Managerial and administrative ................
Sales....................................................
Clerica ................................................
Blue-collar.....................................................
Craft ....................................................
Operatives, except transport ..................
Transport operatives..............................
Nonfarm laborers..................................
Service........................................................
Private household..................................
Service, except private household ..........
Farmworkers................................................
N ote :

Rest of U.S.

26,772
12,839
3,929
2,558
1,502
4,805
9,877
3,744
3,418
1,110
1,604
3,629
446
3,183
427

58,196
29,739
9.341
5,586
3,542
11,270
19,428
7,247
6,912
2,168
3,101
8,391
665
7,727
638

1978

1973

Occupation
South

$3.03
3.46
4.43
4.49
2.55
2.80
3.07
3.90
. 2.59
3.10
2.56
1.85
1.16
2.03
1.53

Rest of U.S.

South as a
percent of rest
of U.S.

South

Rest of U.S.

South as a
percent of rest
of U.S.

$3.69
3.95
5.06
5.36
2.79
3.17
3.94
4.90
3.34
4.04
3.31
2.31
1.27
2.48
2.02

82
88
88
84
91
88
78
80
78
77
77
80
91
82
76

$4.26
5.01
6.12
6.31
3.62
3.84
4.42
5.64
3.81
4.53
3.44
2.84
2.16
2.93
2.53

$5.13
5.44
6.86
7.03
4.00
4.28
5.57
6.81
4.91
5.68
4.56
3.19
1.80
3.25
2.84

83
92
89
90
91
90
79
83
78
80
75
89
120
90
89

Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.

level outside the South. In contrast, the relative short­
age of skilled labor in the South would have exerted up­
ward pressure on the wage levels of such workers. And,
persons with more education are more likely than oth­
ers to migrate, thus tending to equalize wages national­
ly among the better-educated.
Occupation. For the white-collar occupations, the
regional ratio of wages exceeded the 83-percent level for
all wage and salary workers. (See table 3.) The higher
earnings ratios for white-collar workers may relate to
the aforementioned propensity of these workers to mi­
grate and their relatively limited numbers in the South.
Many white-collar skills are traded in a national labor
market. These higher earnings ratios may also be partly
due to the concentration of the highest-paid Federal
workers and of Federally dependent white-collar work­
ers in the Washington, D.C., area, which is part of the
southern region. Federal white-collar workers of similar
grade are paid the same regardless of where they are lo­
cated in the country.
The differential for each major blue-collar group is
near or below the overall regional differential in median
earnings. This includes workers in crafts usually consid­
ered skilled, indicating that these workers are less in­
clined to migrate and so equalize wages, or that they
are usually in lower-paying trades than craftworkers
elsewhere. Bureau of Labor Statistics Industry Wage
Surveys do show that wage differentials for higher-pay­
ing jobs are smaller than those for lower-paying jobs,
and that there is greater uniformity of wages among
skilled workers than among unskilled workers.12 The
gap for nonfarm laborers is by far the greatest; CPS data
show that southern laborers earn 75 percent of the me­
dian outside the South. In general, blue-collar and ser­
vice labor is exchanged in local markets.

30
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

According to table 3, the earnings ratios were about
the same in 1978 as in May 1973 except among manag­
ers and administrators, service workers, and farmwork­
ers. The increase in the ratios for service and farm occu­
pations could be due to the extended coverage of the
minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards
A ct.1'
Education, age, race, and sex. Two basic determinants
of one’s occupation and earnings are education and
work experience. Although the total amount of work
experience is not measured in the CPS, a reasonable
proxy for experience can be obtained by subtracting
years of schooling from an individual’s age minus six.
Both “human capital” and “dual labor market” theo­
rists recognize the importance of these factors in deter­
mining levels of earnings though they do not agree on
the exact roles they play. Whether they function as an
investment in earnings capacity by the worker (supply
side) or as an employment screening device for the firm
(demand side), the empirical relation between these fac­
tors and earnings is well documented.14 It is clearly fea­
sible that the differences in the distribution of education
and work experience across the work force in each re­
gion could explain, in part, the magnitude of the gross
differential in earnings. And, in fact, education and age
did explain about 60 percent of the regional wage differ­
ential in a 1974 study of men age 25 to 64.15
When education is measured as the highest grade
completed, CPS data for May 1978 show that the rela­
tive differences in median earnings between the South
and the rest of the Nation diminished as years of
schooling increased. (See table 4.) While median years
of education were about the same in each region, the
South had a higher proportion of its population at low­
er education levels; 30 percent of the workers in the

South had not graduated from high school, compared
with 23 percent elsewhere. This supports the notion
that a surplus of lower-skilled workers is depressing the
general wage level in the South. A smaller proportion of
workers in the South have 5 or more years of college (6
compared to 8 percent elsewhere), but because jobs re­
quiring these levels of education are likely to have a na­
tional labor market this is probably more a function of
where the jobs are located, rather than any shortage of
labor supply.
The size of the regional differential increases with age.
This pattern in the differential could be a life cycle phe­
nomenon and the differential might widen for the co­
horts as they age. Alternatively, within younger
cohorts, a narrowing could result from “vintage” im­
provement. Differences in educational attainment, mea­
sured in both quantity and quality, are becoming
smaller with time. James P. Smith and Finis Welch note
this trend among black workers (more than half of
whom reside in the South, making up 17 percent of the
wage and salary workers in the region). They suggest
that the narrowing of the earnings gap between blacks
and whites is the result of a relative improvement in the
human capital stock of blacks and should persist as co­
horts age.16
Nationwide, blacks earn, on average, 82 percent as
much as whites. This gap may be the result of different
levels and quality of education, on-the-job training, and
work experience, but it may also reflect the effect of dis­
criminatory practices. Years of education are lower for
blacks than whites, and both Owen and Welch, as well
as many others, have documented that, on average, the
quality of education received by blacks, though improv­
ing, has been inferior to that received by whites.17 In ad­
dition, on average, blacks tend to experience higher
unemployment and may lack the opportunity for onthe-job training, either by nature of the jobs they hold
or because of discrimination on the job. These factors
Table 4. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary
workers in and out of the South, by education and age,
May 1978
Median hourly earnings

South

Rest of U.S.

South as
percent of
rest of U.S.

$2.78
3.24
3.27
4.23
4.68
6.00
7.39

$2.74
4,18
3.58
4.94
5.36
6.53
7.92

101
78
91
86
87
92
93

3.24
4.93
5.14
4.91
4.28
2.77

3.47
5.62
6.15
6.02
548
3.24

93
88
84
82
78
85

Education and age

Education:
No school....................................
1 8 years....................................
9-11 years ..................................
12 years......................................
13-15 years ................................
16 years......................................
17 years or more ........................
Age:
16-24 years ................................
25-34 years ................................
35-44 years ................................
45-54 years ................................
55-64 years ................................
65 years and o ver........................


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

inhibit accumulation of work experience. Thus, the con­
centration of black workers in the South may partly ex­
plain the gross regional differential in hourly earnings.
The following tabulation shows that the interregional
differential in median earnings is also much larger for
blacks than for whites:
S o u th

Race:
Black ................
White ................
Ratio ................
Sex:
Women .............
Men ..................
Ratio . . . . . . .

E ls e w h e r e

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

$3.50
4.46
78

$5.11
5.14
99

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

$3.46
5.23
66

$3.93
6.25
63

R a tio

68
87
—

88
84
—

Blacks in the South earned 68 percent as much as those
elsewhere, while whites earned 87 percent as much as
other whites. Differences in skill may partly explain
these results. In contrast, the ratio of women’s earnings
to those of men is about the same in each region. And
because women account for about the same proportion
of workers in each region (42 percent), the male-female
gap in earnings, although very wide, does not appear to
play much of a role in the overall wage gap between the
South and the balance of the Nation.
Differences in the average quality of education indi­
cate that there will be error in measuring education
with years of schooling. This error will be associated
with race to the extent the quality of schooling differs
by race. Similarly, differences in labor force participa­
tion, unemployment, and actual on-the-job training will
lead to errors in measurement of experience when expe­
rience is measured as the difference between an individ­
ual’s age and education. These errors will correlate with
race and sex. Therefore, a standardization of wages us­
ing the measures of education and work experience
employed in this analysis should control for race and
sex composition of the population, as well.18
An urban-rural differential. Economists have observed
that workers in larger cities, on average, receive higher
wages than those in smaller cities. As David Segal has
shown, firms in cities may benefit from agglomerative
economies which increase the value of the marginal
product of the labor they employ. In addition, the
higher wage in a larger city could be the result of com­
pensating differentials for higher cost of living, conges­
tion, pollution, and so on.19
A larger proportion of the southern population
resides outside of metropolitan areas. Of persons living
in metropolitan areas, the proportion living in central
cities is lower in the South than elsewhere. A smaller
share live in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more in­
habitants as well.20 Thus, the regional wage differential
may be partly the result of an urban-rural or metropoli­
tan-nonmetropolitan wage differential. Victor Fuchs
31

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Puzzling Lag in Southern Earnings
found that demographic characteristics explained onethird and city size, another one-third of the regional
gap in earnings.21 In the following regression analysis,
observations are controlled for residency in large Stan­
dard Metropolitan Statistical Areas ( s m s a ’s), including
12 SMSA’s in* the South.

Regression results
Regression analysis is often used to estimate the im­
pact of wage-determining variables on wages and to iso­
late net differentials existing between groups which
cannot be explained by any of the variables. In this sec­
tion, May 1978 CPS data on earnings and personal char­
acteristics of 43,826 wage and salary workers are used
to estimate alternative specifications of a standard wage
equation. Usual hourly earnings are the wage measure.
Regression results pertain to the differential in mean
earnings, as opposed to the differentials in median earn­
ings examined above.
The dependent variable in the wage equation, the nat­
ural log of wage, is a linear function of race, sex,
education, experience, experience squared, city size,
union status, occupation, and industry. In addition to
these explanatory variables, the equation has a regional
variable, with residence in the South embodied in the
regression coefficient. In the log-linear formulation, esti­
mated coefficients approximate proportionate impacts of
the associated variables on wages; thus, the coefficient
of the regional variable is an estimate of the proportion­
ate difference between wages of workers in the South
and those elsewhere.22 All data pertain only to the
worker’s primary job. The appendix to this article pres­
ents definitions of the variables as well as their sample
means and standard deviations.
To investigate the gross differential between the
South and the rest of the Nation and the differential net
of the effects of the explanatory variables, the variables
were entered sequentially in eight regression equations.
The first equation, which determined the log of wage
using only the regional variable, provided an estimate of
the gross differential. Each subsequent equation incor­
porated all the variables of the equation preceding it
and additional explanatory variables. The coefficient of
the regional variable in each equation provided an esti­
mate of the regional differential net of the other explan­
atory variables included in that equation. Estimates
underlying the following discussion are presented in ap­
pendix table A -l.
The initial regression, the log of wage regressed on
the regional variable, shows that when other factors in­
fluencing wages were not controlled, the wages of work­
ers in the South were an average 11 percent less than
those elsewhere. In regression 2, race is added as an ex­
planatory variable in the model and the estimated dif­
ferential falls to 9 percent. The introduction of the sex
variable in the third regression does not alter the esti-

Digitized for
32FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

mated differential significantly. However, including the
human capital variables education, experience, and ex­
perience squared reduces the regional differential to 7
percent. Thus, controlling for systematic regional dif­
ferences in race, sex, and human capital reduces the es­
timated wage differential by about one-third.23
Entering the city-size variable into the equation leaves
unexplained an estimated differential of about 5 percent.
Allowing union workers to earn a different average
wage by including the union variable in the model re­
duces the estimate to 2 percent, about one-fifth of the
gross regional differential estimated initially.
Thus far, the results have been expected. Blacks, on
average, earn less than whites and they make up a larg­
er proportion of the population in the South than else­
where. And because women earn about two-thirds as
much as men regardless of regional location and are
represented in equal proportions between regions, sex
would not have a significant influence on the regional
differential. Workers living in larger cities receive a
higher wage, and given the relatively greater concentra­
tion of the population in larger cities outside the South,
these higher earnings would produce higher average
earnings in these regions unless calculations controlled
for city size. Similarly, the concentration of union work­
ers, with their higher wages, outside the South has an
impact on the size of the gross differential.
However, when the series of occupational variables is
introduced, the estimated regional differential does not
decrease. In fact, when both occupational and industry
variables are included in the regression, the estimated
relative distance between wage levels actually increases
to 4 percent. Replacing the occupational and industry
variables with a more detailed list of 25 occupational
and 31 industry-group variables in the wage equation
does not change this estimate significantly. In both
cases, the occupational and industry variables do not
make a significant contribution to explaining the total
variation in wages. Regressing log wage against the re­
gional variable and the occupational variables or the in­
dustry variables alone, or even the regional variable and
the occupational and industry variables combined, will
not yield an estimated net differential smaller than the
11-percent gross differential.24
Much of the information conveyed by the occupa­
tional and industry distribution of workers is related to
human capital. Occupation and industry may actually
provide the estimating process with information on hu­
man capital in addition to that provided by race, sex,
and the human capital variables. Industry and occupa­
tional variables also provide additional information
about unions as some unions influence wages more than
others. Apparently at this level of aggregation, employ­
ment in the South is composed of occupational and in­
dustry groups with wages, on average, as high as or
higher than these workers could command elsewhere.

Controlling for all of the aforementioned variables,
this wage equation estimates the net differential in re­
gional earnings at 4 percent, about two-fifths of the
gross differential estimated initially. The coefficients of
the variables in the same regression equation provide in­
formation in addition to estimates of the regional differ­
ential. The coefficient of the city-size variable, for
example, indicates an 11-percent additional compensa­
tion to a worker living in a large SMSA, while the coeffi­
cient of the union variable estimates that wages of
workers covered by union contracts are on average 22
percent above those of nonunion workers with similar
characteristics. Regression coefficients also show the
well-known wage disparities between blacks and whites
and men and women. The results suggest that blacks,
on average, receive a wage 5 percent less than whites,
and that women receive 26 percent less than men, if
other characteristics, including occupation and industry,
are similar.
As previously indicated, economic conditions of em­
ployment and the ability of some of these proxy vari­
ables, especially the human capital variables, to
represent what they are intended to represent may differ
between blacks and whites. Past and current discrimina­
tion probably results in differences in the stock and rate
of formation of human capital between the two races.
As already mentioned, these conditions produce errors
in measurement of the education and experience vari­
ables, as well as potential structural differences in the
wage equation. To allow for these different conditions,
the same regression equation was estimated separately
for the black and white populations.
Bivariate regressions of the log of wage on the region­
al variable estimate the mean wage of blacks in the
South at 71 percent of the level earned by other blacks,
while mean earnings of whites in the South are 93 per­
cent of those of whites elsewhere. After introduction of
the other explanatory variables to the regression equa­
tion, the estimated net regional differential between the
two black groups is 10 percent while for the white pop­
ulations the estimate is 4 percent. Human capital, union
status, and city size account for most of the regional
differential in earnings within each racial group. Again,
the industry and occupational variables add nominally
to that differential.25
Both the South and the rest of the country can be di­
vided into smaller, more homogeneous regions. With a
wage regression, a range of regional wage levels can be
estimated. Using Census divisions, dummy variables
designating each division, with the exception of the East
North Central division, were added to the final regres­
sion equation. The coefficients of these regional vari­
ables are estimates of the net wage differences between
these divisions and the East North Central. Regression
estimates indicate the following range for gross and net
differentials.


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

D iv is io n

Northeast:
New E n glan d ..................................
Mid-Atlantic ..................................
North Central:
East North C en tr a l........................
West North C entral........................
South:
South Atlantic ................................
East South Central ........................
West South C en tral........................
West:
M ountain..........................................
P a cific...............................................

P e r c e n t d if f e r e n tia l
G r o ss

N et

—10.9
2.5

—6.7
—2.5

0.0
—14.8

0.0
—7.1

—11.2
—14.9
—13.7

—4.7
—7.7
—5.6

—8.3
9.8

—1.4
7.0

After adjustment for the explanatory factors in this
analysis, wage levels in the South do not differ as much
from the geographic majority of the country as do those
in the West. New England and the West North Central
area rank along with the East South Central as the divi­
sions with the lowest adjusted wage levels. Workers in
the South Atlantic States earned higher wages, but not
as high as in the Mid-Atlantic, the East North Central
division, or the West. Even after adjustment, mean
earnings of workers in the Pacific States are 7 percent
higher than in the East North Central area and well
above those in all other divisions. The addition of these
regional variables does little to the estimates of the oth­
er coefficients in the equation.

Explaining the remaining differential
Estimates of the net differentials presented here are
subject to the limitations of the method employed to
produce them. Some of the possible errors in measure­
ment of the variables have already been discussed. Some
relevant variables may have been excluded from the
equation. In addition, this method assumes that the
structure of the wage equation is correct and the same in
each region. An alternative approach would be to fit the
wage equation to data for each region and compare the
average wage a worker earns in his or her home region
with the wage he or she could expect in another region.
Taking the method as a good approximation, com­
pensating differentials, not considered in the regression
standardization process, may partly explain the remain­
ing 4 percent differential between the South and other
regions. A major factor may be regional differences in
price levels and living costs that go beyond those asso­
ciated with the simple city-size variable. The worker
makes most purchases locally and so his or her stan­
dard of living is directly affected by local price levels.
There is no index for comparing price levels in the
South overall with those elsewhere, nor is there any
general index for comparison of living costs between
these two regions. In any case, various pieces of evi­
dence indicate that living costs, including price levels,
are lower in the South.
33

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Puzzling Lag in Southern Earnings
To adjust earnings for differences in regional living
costs and so to compare real wages, some economists
have used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ hypothetical
family budget for a family of four at an intermediate
level of living in specific SMSA’s. In an inter-industry re­
gression analysis of data for five northern cities and five
southern cities, Philip Coelho and Moheb Ghali found
that when wages were deflated by an index of the fami­
ly budgets, the regional wage differential vanished.26
Comparing weighted averages after deflating wages by
the index of family budgets, Donald Bellante also found
no differential in regional real wages.27 These economists
believe that, although nominal earnings have not con­
verged in recent years, real earnings have.
Between 1973 and 1977, the Consumer Price Index
rose 38.6 percent in the South compared to 36.4 percent
for the Nation.28 The increase was especially large in
three components— housing, food, and apparel. Appar­
ently, over this brief period, the gap in price levels of
the South and the United States narrowed. Still, results
similar to those of Coelho and Ghali, and Bellante
could be attained with the CPS usual hourly earnings
data for 1978. The soundness of estimates of the region­
al differential in real earnings, however, rests in the reli­
ability of the family budgets as a measure of regional
cost of living. Other variables, such as fringe benefits or
environmental factors, could also affect the level of the
gross differential.
Even if regional differences in the cost of living play
no role, and if all other compensating differentials have

been considered, the remaining differential between
standardized nominal wages in the South and those
elsewhere could persist because neither individuals nor
firms find the difference in wages sufficient to warrant a
move— that the differential is perceived as being
equivalent to adjustment costs. A firm must not only
compare labor costs with the cost of relocating, but
must also take into account the proximity of any new
location to the resources it needs for production. Simi­
larly, individuals do not look only at the wage they
could receive in another region, but also at the tangible
costs of moving a household, job search (including trav­
el expenses and a spell of unemployment), and the psy­
chic cost of leaving family and friends. With returns of
relocation to the average wage earner of only about
$500 a year, the mover would have to work many years
just to break even.29
But people and businesses still move between regions,
possibly because the differential in earnings varies by type
of labor. The size of the differential each business con­
fronts may depend upon the labor needs of that firm if, as
we have estimated, the differential is larger for unskilled
labor. Also, firms move to take advantage of things other
than lower labor costs, such as State and local tax con­
cessions. And finally, the individual worker may not even
be aware of the magnitude of the regional wage dif­
ferential. He or she probably migrates to take a different
job, for career advancement, or to change from nonunion
to union status. He or she is not moving to a higher pay­
ing region, but rather to a higher paying job.
□

FOOTNOTES
' See Philip L. Rones, “Moving to the sun: regional job growth,
1968 to 1978,” Monthly Labor Review, March 1980, pp. 12-19.
The regions discussed in this paper are census regions. The South
includes the South Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Maryland, North'Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and
West Virginia), the East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Missis­
sippi, and Tennessee), and the West South Central (Arkansas, Louisi­
ana, Oklahoma, and Texas) divisions. The rest of the United States
consists of the Northeast, the West, and the North Central regions.
New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, and Vermont) and the Mid-Atlantic division (New Jer­
sey, New York, and Pennsylvania) make up the Northeast region. The
West is composed of the Mountain States (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and the Pacific
States (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington). And,
the East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wis­
consin) and the West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mis­
souri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) divisions make
up the North Central region.
The Current Population Survey is a household survey conducted
by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Week­
ly earnings information was collected in each May between 1967 and
1978, with the exception of 1968. In May 1978 the sample size was
about 56,000 households. Usual hourly earnings are usual weekly
earnings divided by usual hours worked. Data refer only to the prima­
ry jobs of wage and salary workers. As with all sample data, these
have sampling errors associated with them. In addition, nonsampling
errors due to erroneous response and non-response may be present.
For discussions of these data and their reliability, see Weekly and
Hourly Earnings Data from the Current Population Survey, Special La­

Digitized for
34FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

bor Force Report 195 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1977); and, Techni­
cal Description of the Quarterly Data on Weekly Earnings from the
Current Population Survey, Report 601 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1980).
4 For an exposition of the neoclassical theory, see George H. Borts,
“The Equalization of Returns and Regional Economic Growth,” The
American Economic Review, June 1960, pp. 319-47.
An explanation of why southern wages lag behind those in the
rest of the country has long interested American economists. Joseph
Bloch, in one of the earliest studies, showed that in manufacturing in­
dustries the wage differential was no narrower in 1945 and 1946 than
in 1919, although it was substantially less than during the Depression
years 1931 and 1932.
Victor Fuchs and Richard Perlman, who detected a contraction of
the earnings gap from 1929 to 1947, claim that from 1947 to 1954 the
low position of the South relative to the rest of the Nation was stable
or may even have deteriorated, after considering industry mix. Martin
Segal presented conflicting evidence for the 1947-54 period, showing
that after adjusting for institutional factors wage rates converged, at
least for the majority of industries. See Joseph W. Bloch, “Regional
Wage Differentials, 1907-1946,” Monthly Labor Review, April 1948,
pp. 371-77; Victor Fuchs and Richard Perlman, “Recent Trends in
Southern Wage Differentials,” Review of Economic Statistics, August
1960, pp. 292-300; and Martin Segal, “Regional Wage Differences in
Manufacturing in the Postwar Period,” Review o f Economic Statistics,
May 1961, pp. 248-55.
"Borts, “The Equalization of Returns,” pp. 322-26.
Fuchs and Perlman, “Recent Trends.”
* Segal, “Regional Wage Differences.”
' Harry M. Douty, “Wage differentials: forces and counterforces,”

Monthly Labor Review, March 1968, pp. 74-81.
Although the standard errors associated with all these earnings
ratios are rather large, they are generally in agreement with those that
can be calculated from a sample of social security records. See Annual
Earnings and Employment Patterns of Private Nonagricultural Employ­
ees, 1973-75, Bulletin 2031 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1979), table
C-8 .
" Larry H. Long, Interregional Migration o f the Poor, Current Popu­
lation Reports, Special Studies, Series P-23, No. 73 (Bureau of the Cen­
sus, 1978).
i: For a listing of reports from the Industry Wage Survey program,
see Directory of Occupational Wage Surveys, 1974—79, Report 606 (Bu­
reau of Labor Statistics, 1980).
"Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours Standards Under the Fair
Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Stand­
ards Administration, 1978), p. 12.
14 For a survey of this literature, see Mark Blaug, “The Empirical
Status of Human Capital Theory: A Slightly Jaundiced Survey,” Jour­
nal o f Economic Literature, September 1976, pp. 827-55.
15 Barry R. Chiswick, Income Inequality, Regional Analysis Within a
Human Capital Framework (New York, National Bureau of Economic
Research, 1974), p. 132.
James P. Smith and Finis Welch, “Race differences in earnings: a
survey and new evidence,” in Peter Mieszkowski and Mahlon
Straszheim, eds., Current Issues in Urban Economics (Baltimore, Md.,
Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979), pp. 40-73.
17 See John D. Owens, School Inequality and the Welfare State
(Baltimore, Md., Johns Hopkins University Press, 1974), pp. 135-48;
Finis Welch, “Black-White Differences in Returns to Schooling,” The
American Economic Review, December 1973, pp. 893-907; and Smith
and Welch, “Race differences in earnings.”
IKOther errors in these variables, not necessarily related to race or
sex, include vintage effects in education (changes in quality of educa­
tion over time), and the greater incidence of on-the-job training dur­
ing the early years of work experience which thus distorts the measure
of work experience.
On the agglomeration effect, see David Segal, “Are There Returns
to Scale in City Size?” Review of Economics and Statistics, August
1976, pp. 339-50. John E. Buckley found evidence that wages are re­
lated to area living costs as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics Family Budgets. See “Do wages reflect area living costs?”
Monthly Labor Review, November 1979, pp. 24-29.
' See Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 123 (Bureau of
the Census, 1980), table 44.
1 Victor R. Fuchs, Differentials in Hourly Earnings by Region and
City Size, 1959, Occasional Paper 101 (New York, National Bureau of
Economic Research, 1967), pp. 32-35.

” This approximation is closer the smaller the impact. The estimat­
ed proportionate impact is actually 1 minus the exponentiated value
of this coefficient. All variables in the analysis with the exception of
education, experience, experience squared, and the log wage are dum­
my variables, with workers’ records assigned a 1 if the attribute is
present and a zero otherwise.
This estimated reduction agrees with the estimates of Victor
Fuchs for a sample of the 1960 Census and estimates by Don Bellante
for a sample of the 1970 Census. See Donald Bellante, “The NorthSouth Differential and the Migration of Heterogeneous Labor,” The
American Economic Review, March 1979, pp. 166-75; and Fuchs, Dif­
ferentials in Hourly Earnings.
4 Regressing log wage on the region variable and the less detailed
list of occupations or industries results in an estimate larger than 11
percent, though not significantly so.

The equation estimated for the black population is: InW =
_ .0958 SOUTH - .1776 FEMALE + .0466 ED + .0139
EXP - .0002 EXPSQ + .0970 SMSA + .2394 UNION + .3502
PROF + .3525 MANG + .1408 SALES + .1937 CRAFT + .1031
OPER + .0294 LABOR + .1142 CONSTR + .2853 MFGDUR +
.2286 MFGNON + .3521 TRANS + .1042 TRADE + .1846 FIRE
+ .1366 SERV + .3422 PA. With the exception of LABOR and
TRADE, the coefficients of all variables are significantly different
from zero with 99-percent confidence. Confidence in the estimated coefhicient of TRADE is above the 95-percent level.
The white population included some persons who were neither
white nor black. The estimated equation for this white population is:
InW = .4628 - .0396 SOUTH - .2680 FEMALE + .0518 ED +
.0260 EXP - .0004 EXPSQ + .1140 SMSA + .2137 UNION +
.3725 PROF + .3751 MANG + .1626 SALES + .2426 CRAFT +
.0950 OPER - .0004 LABOR + .1160 CONSTR + .1347
MFGDUR + .0982 MFGNON + .1972 TRANS - .0433 TRADE
+ .1068 FIRE — .0588 SERV + .1398 PA. All coefficients are signifi­
cantly different from zero with 99-percent confidence, with the excep­
tion of that for LABOR.
.3 9 9 4

' Philip R. P. Coelho and Moheb A. Ghali, “The End of the
North-South Wage Differential,” The American Economic Review, De­
cember 1971, pp. 932-37.
' Bellante, “The North-South Differential.”
” Handbook of Labor Statistics 1978, Bulletin 2000 (Bureau of La­
bor Statistics, 1979), tables 117 and 123.
In the South, the average wage and salary worker who usually
worked full time had mean usual hourly earnings of $5.34. Assuming
this worker would work 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year regard­
less of regional location, and given that wages are 4 percent lower in
the South, a worker’s annual earnings would increase $463 if he or
she moved to a similar job in the non-South.

APPENDIX: Elements of the regression analysis
The following tabulation presents the definitions,
means, and standard deviations of the variables used in
the regression analysis:

U N IO N

e r e d b y u n io n c o n t r a c t ; z e r o o th e rw is e .

Variable

Definition

In W

T h e n a t u r a l l o g a r i t h m o f u s u a l h o u r ly

SOUTH

1 if re s id e n c e is in t h e S o u th ; z e r o o t h e r ­

e a rn in g s .
w ise .

Mean

1 .547

.5 7 8

.4 4 2

P ro f e s s io n a l o r te c h n ic a l w o r k e r .

.1 5 5

.3 6 2

MANG

M a n a g e r ia l o r a d m i n i s tr a t i v e w o r k e r.

.0 8 7

.2 8 2

SALES

S a le s o r c le ric a l w o r k e r.

.2 4 5

.4 3 0

CRA FT

C r a f tw o r k e r .

.1 2 7

.3 3 3

OPER

O p e r a tiv e .

.1 5 8

.3 6 5

LABOR

L a b o r e r , e i t h e r f a rm o r n o n f a r m .

PH SV

P r iv a te h o u s e h o ld a n d o t h e r s e r v ic e w o r k ­
e rs.

.2 9 2

.2 6 6

O c c u p a tio n d u m m y v a r ia b le s (1 if tru e ; z e ro o th e rw is e ):
PROF

Standard
deviation

1 if a m e m b e r o f a u n io n o r if j o b is c o v ­

.071

.2 5 7

.1 5 5

.3 6 2

.4 5 5

BLACK

1 if r a c e is b la c k ; z e r o o th e rw is e .

083

.2 7 6

I n d u s t r y d u m m y v a r ia b le s (1 if tr u e ; z e ro o th e rw is e ):

FEM ALE

1 if s e x is fe m a le ; z e ro if m a le .

.4 4 3

.4 9 7

CONSTR

C o n s tr u c t i o n .

.0 7 0

.2 5 5

ED

E d u c a t io n a s m e a s u r e d b y h ig h e s t g r a d e

M FGDUR

D u r a b l e g o o d s m a n u f a c tu r in g .

.1 9 3

.3 9 4

M FGNON

N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s m a n u f a c tu r in g .

.0 9 5

.2 9 3

EXP

P r o x y f o r w o r k e x p e rie n c e ; a g e le s s e d u c a ­
ti o n le s s s i x . ’

TRANS

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d u tilitie s .

.0 6 7

.2 5 0

TRADE

W h o le s a le a n d r e ta il tr a d e .

.2 0 4

c o m p le te d .

EX PSQ

E X P X E X P , e x p e rie n c e s q u a r e d .

SM SA

1 if re s id e n c e in o n e o f t h e la r g e S M S A 's
c o d e d o n C e n s u s p u b lic u s e ta p e s ; z e ro
o t h e r w is e .


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

1 3 .2 4 9

2 .8 8 5

1 6 .4 4 3

1 4 .4 6 9

4 7 9 .7 4 4

6 5 9 .3 8 3

.3 6 6

.4 8 2

.4 0 3

F IR E

F in a n c e , in s u r a n c e , o r re a l e s ta te .

.051

.2 1 9

SERV

O t h e r se rv ic e s .

.2 9 8

.4 5 7

PA

P u b lic a d m i n i s tr a t i o n .

.0 5 9

.2 3 6

AG

A g r ic u ltu r e , f o r e s tr y , a n d fish e rie s.

.0 2 2

.1 4 6

35

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Puzzling Lag in Southern Earnings
Table A-l details the results of the stepwise regres­
sion of the wage equation as sets of variables were add­
ed. As previously indicated, an entry may be interpreted
as the approximate percentage effect on earnings of the

Table A-1.

associated variable. For example, equation 8 predicts
that workers in larger cities ( s m s a ’s ) might expect to
average earnings 11.4 percent greater than workers with
similar characteristics in less populous areas.

Results of a stepwise regression of the natural log of usual hourly earnings on personal characteristics

[Standard errors in parentheses]
Equation number
1

2

3

Intercept......................................................

1.5775
(.0033)

1.5836
(.0033)

1.7555
(.0039)

.4659
(.0123)

SOUTH ......................................................

-.1059
(. 0060)

-.0920
(.0061)

-.0976
(.0058)

-.1216
(.0101)

4

6

7

8

.4431
(.0123)

.3853
(.0120)

.4639
(.0140)

.4623
(.0182)

-.0726
(.0050)

-.0534
(. 0050)

-.0207
(.0049)

-.0369
(.0047)

-.0415
(.0046)

-.0899
(. 0095)

-.0417
(. 0082)

-.0687
(.0082)

-.0989
(.0080)

-.0526
(. 0078)

-.0536
(.0076)

-.3905
(. 0052)

-.3798
(. 0045)

-.3785
(.0044)

-.3453
(. 0044)

-.2967
(. 0048)

-.2606
(.0048)

ED ..............................................................

.0742
(.0008)

.0723
(.0008)

.0722
(.0008)

.0504
(.0010)

.0515
(.0009)

EXP ............................................................

.0355
(.0005)

.0353
(. 0005)

.0317
(.0005)

.0271
(.0005)

.0250
(.0004)

-.0006
(.00001)

-.0006
(.00001)

-.0005
(.00001)

-.0005
(.00001)

-.0004
(.00001)

.1280
(.0047)

.1220
(.0045)

.1163
(.0044)

.1136
(. 0043)

.2470
(.0050)

.2479
(.0050)

.2165
(.0050)

PROF..........................................................

.3892
(.0086)

.3696
(. 0085)

MANG ........................................................

.4255
(. 0095)

.3751
(.0095)

SALES ........................................................

.2152
(. 0069)

.1595
(.0071)

CRAFT........................................................

.3567
(.0085)

2382
(.0090)

OPER..........................................................

.1930
(.0077)

.0923
.0085

LABOR ........................................................

.0592
(. 0097)

-.0034
(.0102)

BLACK........................................................
FEMALE.......................................................

EXPSQ ........................................................
SMSA..........................................................

5

UNION ........................................................

CONSTR ....................................................

.1173
(.0095)

MFGDUR ....................................................

.1445
(.0127)

MFGNON ....................................................

.1061
(.0139)

TRANS ........................................................

2076
(.0146)

TRADE ........................................................

-.0356
(.0131)

FIRE............................................................

.1118
(.0156)

SERV..........................................................

-.0456
(.0132)

PA ..............................................................
Coefficient of determination (R2) 1 ..................

.007

.010

.123

' An estimate of the proportion of the total variation in earnings which appears to be
explained by the inclusion of the associated variables in the wage equation. For example, after
all explanatory variables under consideration had been included, the R2 value for equation 8 in-

Digitized for
36FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.353

.364

.397

.441

.1539
(.0151)
.464

dicates that only 46 percent of the overall earnings variation had been accounted for, or conversely, that 54 percent of the variation must be attributable to factors outside the scope of this
analysis.

Communications
C an th e C u rre n t P o p u la tio n S u rv e y
be used to id e n tify th e disabled?
P h il ip R o n e s

In the September 1980 Monthly Labor Review, Barbara
L. Wolfe compares the labor market experience of the
disabled to that of the nondisabled, using data from the
Current Population Survey ( c p s ) . 1 Because of method­
ological problems, I believe that CPS data are of limited
usefulness in analyzing disability.
The Wolfe study uses data from the March 1977 CPS
to compare the labor force characteristics of the dis­
abled and nondisabled. Because the CPS does not con­
tain specific questions on health or disability status,2
Wolfe employs a three-step approach to identify the
disabled population. First, persons receiving income
from at least one of a number of transfer programs
were automaticaly included if they met certain program
requirements that would identify them as disabled.
These programs included social security disability, Sup­
plemental Security Income, workers compensation, rail­
road disability benefits, and disabled veterans benefits.
Second, persons whose work activity was limited during
the year by reason of ill health or disability were includ­
ed. Their responses to the household survey led to the
following classifications:
•
•
•
•

Did not work last year— ill or disabled
Did not work last week— not in labor force— un­
able to work
Worked less than 50 weeks last year— ill other
weeks
Worked less than 35 hours last week— usually work
part time (due to ill health or disability)

Third, persons whose wage rates were less than $1 an
hour and who were in certain occupations were as­
sumed to be participating in sheltered workshops and
were thus counted as disabled.
These techniques do not provide an adequate distinc­
tion between the disabled and nondisabled. Such a large
portion of these populations becomes misclassified bePhilip Rones is an economist in the Office of Current Employment
analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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

cause of data shortcomings that the analysis and results
Wolfe presents must be questioned.
The two basic questions that must be answered to as­
sess the effects of disability on job market performance
are: how many people have physical handicaps (general­
ly limited to chronic conditions); and how do these
handicaps limit the kind or amount of work or the pay
of those so identified? Wolfe’s analysis seems to focus
on the second question without adequately answering
the first.
Greatest problem. The greatest problem in using CPS
data is the survey’s inability to identify persons who
have handicaps. Hence, at best, only a portion of those
with work-limiting handicaps can be identified. While
this definition of disability is common and appropriate
for many types of research, it seriously limits the useful­
ness of the intergroup comparisons that make up the
core of Wolfe’s findings. For example, under her second
method of identifying the disabled, two persons with
the same health or physical condition will likely be
placed into opposite categories: disabled and non­
disabled, depending on their work status. One person
with a specific chronic health condition who has inter­
mittent labor market experience will be classified as dis­
abled. Another person with the identical condition,
who, for reasons such as extent of education or training,
appropriate job selection, or strong motivation, is able
to have a “normal” (full-time, full-year) worklife, is
classified as nondisabled. Thus, the comparisons be­
tween the disabled and nondisabled yield results that
are, to some extent, predetermined. As a group, the dis­
abled are found to have inferior job market experiences:
lower participation rates; less full-time employment; and
lower wages, largely because they are, by definition,
identified by these poor experiences.
Another weakness. Another problem of data weakness
arises from the need to separate acute illness from dis­
ability. Wolfe states that those who missed work be­
cause of short-term, acute illness would be excluded
from the count of the disabled. But this cannot be done
completely. For instance, someone who worked only 49
weeks, citing ill health or disability as the reason for
not working full year, would automatically be classified
as disabled, in accordance with Wolfe’s third category
37

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Communications
of CPS respondents. Yet it is likely that such limited
work loss could be due to an acute condition. So, al­
though Wolfe is correct in saying that those with short­
term, acute illnesses should be excluded from the dis­
abled group, the data shortcomings and definitional
problems make this difficult.
Wolfe indicates partial support for her method of
identifying the disabled because her estimate of the dis­
abled from the CPS— 12.3 percent of the population age
20 to 64, is only “slightly below” that from the 1972
Survey of the Disabled— 14.6 percent. (A similar esti­
mate from the 1977 National Health Survey is about 15
percent.) But the real difference between the surveys
may be even greater than this. About 1 in 8 of the dis­
abled were included in the CPS count because they were
thought to have participated in sheltered workshops.
(These persons were identified by a combination of their
very low earnings and occupation.) This translates to
about 1.7 million persons; yet fewer than 250,000 per­
sons actually work in such settings. Virtually all shel­
tered workshops must be granted an exclusion from the
minimum wage requirements by the Employment Stan­
dards Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor
and, thus, data on paid workshop employment are
available from that agency. If this overcount of those
identified, ostensibly by their participation in sheltered
workshops, is removed from the estimated CPS disabled
count, as is a small number of those who may be con­
sidered to have been only acutely ill, it is reasonable to
estimate that the proportion of the population that can
be identified from the CPS as disabled may be closer to
10 percent. Hence, fully a third of the disabled (or more
accurately, the handicapped), quite likely many of those
with the best job experience, cannot be identified from
the CPS and are counted in the nondisabled group. The
effect that this undercount of the disabled would have
on intergroup comparisons is obvious; it would cause
excessive discrepancy between the labor force status of
the two groups.
a r e a o f g r e a t e s t c o n c e r n , clearly, is the in­
ability of the CPS to identify a (probably) large group of
people who are able to work full time, full year despite
their physical or mental handicaps. These persons can
only be classified from the CPS as nondisabled unless
they also receive the transfer payments cited. Also, per­
sons with physical limitations who work part time or
part year for reasons other than ill health would be
counted as nondisabled. Thus, when comparisons be­
tween the disabled and nondisabled are made in terms
of their part-time and full-time work status, as was the
case in Wolfe’s analysis, it is difficult to see how these
results can be meaningful, because handicapped persons
who are employed full time would generally end up
classified as nondisabled. Moreover, income compari­

sons between the two groups are heavily influenced by
the failure to include in the disabled group many of the
most successful wage earners. While the labor market
experience of disabled persons is undeniably inferior to
that of the nondisabled, the method used to categorize
workers into these groups may seriously overstate these
differences.
Unfortunately, the entire analysis is presented as a
comparison between the employment characteristics of
the disabled and the nondisabled. But this cannot be
done effectively using CPS data. Without the limitations
discussed above, Wolfe’s work would have been an in­
novative approach to analyzing the relationship between
disability and employment. In fact, had the study been
more narrowly focused— on the characteristics of those
persons whose disability prevented them from working
full time full year— the results might have been very in­
teresting. However, while the CPS does provide some
useful data on the disabled, it is an inadequate data
base for many of the intergroup comparisons presented
in Wolfe’s analysis. The results could well lead to policy
implications that are unwarranted.
□
--------- FOOTNOTES----------

1See Barbara L. Wolfe, “How the disabled fare in the labor mar­
ket,” Monthly Labor Review, September 1980, pp. 48-52.
2Direct collection of data on disabilities within the current frame­
work of the CPS would be quite difficult. First, the extensive battery
of questions required to identify physical and mental conditions
would compromise the quality of response to labor force questions
and might increase nonresponse. Second, self-identification of disabili­
ty would probably have to be restricted to “work-limiting” disability,
a concept whose limitations are discussed in the text of this comment.
The 1971-74 Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES),
conducted by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, provides
data on 21,000 individuals from a household questionnaire, a general
medical history questionnaire, and a series of extensive medical exami­
nations. Because the household questionnaire includes a series of labor
force status questions and because the actual determination of disabil­
ity would be more objective than in a self-response methodology, the
HANES data may be more appropriate for use in researching the re­
lationship between labor force status and disability.

The

Digitized for38
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T h e CPS, w o r k , and
d is a b ility : a r e p ly

B a r b a r a L. W o l f e

There are several advantages in using the Current Popu­
lation Survey to study disability and work: it is
available annually without need for additional, expen­
sive, special surveys; it is nationally weighted; and it is
Barbara L. Wolfe is an assistant professor of economics and preven­
tive medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

readily accessible, permitting updated analysis and com­
parison. Clearly then, CPS data can be effectively used in
research of this kind, provided the definition of disabili­
ty is clear.
Philip Rones questions my definition of disability. He
draws attention to a difficult issue— how to appropri­
ately define disability. Many definitions are used, from
self-reported health, to capacity to work, to medical re­
ports of conditions. All have problems. Thus, in a real
sense, defining disability is an “open game.” Among the
multitude of definitions, mine is yet another. For clar­
ification, it may have been preferable to use an alternate
term, say “individuals with work-limiting health condi­
tions.” However, the group discussed is identifiable re­
gardless of the term, and one for whom a number of
public programs are targeted.
Given this definition, which is clearly laid out in the
analysis, the intergroup comparisons are quite appropri­
ate. Furthermore, because definitions of disabled per­
sons differ, the counts among them will not be equal.
Thus, not surprisingly, the number identified as dis­
abled in my research is not the same as in a self-report­
ed survey. And, as Rones suggests, the 1972 Survey of
the Disabled and the 1977 National Health Survey dif­
fer. Indeed, as I pointed out, the number of persons
identified by my approach was expected to be smaller
than that estimated under other definitions (in part
through lack of information on housewives), and it was.
In addition to this overriding issue, there are some
others raised by Rones. First he suggests the need to
identify people who have specific handicaps. In my
view, this is not necessary in order to analyze work-lim­
iting health conditions. Moreover, emotional and men­
tal problems may also limit work.
Second, Rones argues that under my definition, two
persons with the same health conditions may differ in
terms of work effort. This is true. But, it is also true of
other definitions of disability, such as self-reported dis­
ability or medical records.
Third, Rones states that the 1.7 million persons (1.5
percent of adults age 20-64) identified by low wages in
combination with occupation is too large. Further tabu­
lations reveal that 420,000 are also identified by one or


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

more of the other definitions of disability used in my
analysis, leaving 1.3 million identified only by low
wages and occupation. A more im portant point is that
many of these individuals may work in jobs similar to
those in sheltered workshops, such as informal work
with unreported wage costs or employment by charit­
able groups. Thus, omission of individuals in such jobs
would exclude a sizable group with work-limiting health
conditions.
Fourth, Rones suggests that eliminating individuals
who may be acutely ill, and the “overcount” of those in
official sheltered workshops, would reduce the percent­
age I have defined as disabled to 10 percent. This is in­
accurate. Excluding these two groups would leave 11.03
percent defined as disabled. Furthermore, according to
Levitan and Taggart, there were 410,000 clients in shel­
tered workshops over the 1975 fiscal year, not 250,000
as Rones suggests.1This higher number would place the
percentage at 11.2 percent.
Fifth, Rones suggests throughout that the bias im­
plied by my definition is “a finding of excessive discrep­
ancy between the labor force status of the two groups.”
However, if Rones is correct that some individuals with
acute but not chronic illnesses are included, there is a
bias that works in the opposite way— non disabled
working persons would be included in the definition,
making the labor force status of the groups more alike.
As a result, the difference would be underestimated, not
overestimated.
In conclusion, let me reiterate that defining the dis­
abled is a difficult task. There are two difficulties: agree­
ing on the appropriate definition and finding accurate
ways to measure disability as defined. For many policy
purposes, the focus has been on the inability to perform
any substantial gainful activity. The definition in my
study is based on work-limiting health conditions. As
long as the definition is clearly defined and understood,
research and findings based on it are valid and of po­
tential policy relevance.
□
--------- FOOTNOTE---------See Sar Levitan and Robert Taggart, Jobs for the Disabled
(Baltimore, Md., The Johns Hopkins Press, 1977), p. 29.

39

Productivity
Reports
P r o d u c t iv ity d ro p s, o u tp u t and h o u rs
ris e d u rin g th e fo u r th q u a rte r

L a w r e n c e J. F u lc o

Productivity decreased at a 1.2 percent annual rate in
the private business sector during the fourth quarter of
1980, marking the year’s second quarter of decline.
Among nonfarm businesses, the drop was less pro­
nounced, agriculture posting a sharper decline.
In manufacturing, productivity advanced briskly in
the fourth quarter, registering the largest gain since the
third quarter of 1975. Large productivity movements
are more common in the manufacturing sector than in
the broader-based business measures. Maufacturing cur­
rently accounts for about 27 percent of the nonfarm
business sector.
A summary of annualized fourth-quarter productivi­
ty, output, and hours changes appears in the following
tabulation. Further details may be found in tables 3134 of the Current Labor Statistics section of this Re­
view.
S e c to r

Private business . . .
Nonfarm business .
Manufacturing . . . .
D u r a b le..........
Nondurable . .
Nonfinancial corpo­
rations ................

P r o d u c tiv ity

O u tp u t

H ou rs

- 1 .2
- 0 .4
11.4
13.6
8.6

6.9
7.1
24.0
29.6
16.2

8.3
7.5
11.2
14.1
7.0

0.1

7.9

8.1

-

Private business sector
Although productivity declined during both the
second and fourth quarters of 1980, the underlying rea­
sons were quite different. During the second quarter,
output fell rapidly— the 11.5-percent decline marking
the largest drop of its kind since the first quarter of
1975. At the same time, hours fell: employment
dropped 5.4 percent and average weekly hours went
Lawrence J. Fulco is an economist in the Office of Productivity and
Technology, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Digitized for
40FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

down 4.7 percent (to 36.6 hours per week). This was
the largest decline in average weekly hours during the
postwar period. Thus, hours of all persons engaged in
the private business sector decreased 9.9 percent.
On the other hand, fourth-quarter output grew at a
6.9-percent annual rate, and hours of all persons in­
creased 8.3 percent. The productivity drop in this quar­
ter stemmed from an imbalance in the growth rates of
output and hours, while the larger decline 6 months
earlier occurred during a contraction of both.
Unit labor cost— compensation per unit of output—
posted a double-digit increase during the second-quarter
productivity decline. In the fourth quarter, the 9.7-per­
cent increase in unit labor cost reflected an 8.4-percent
rise in hourly compensation and a 1.2-percent drop in
productivity. During the second quarter, unit labor cost
increased 14.4 percent, as hourly compensation rose
12.2 percent (the largest advance since 1974), while pro­
ductivity slipped 1.9 percent. Unit labor cost rose more
moderately during the first and third quarters as pro­
ductivity increased. The interaction of changes in pro­
ductivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor cost is
shown in chart 1.
Real hourly compensation adjusts employer outlays
for compensation expenses for increases in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers ( c pi -u ).
During the fourth quarter, real hourly compensation de­
clined 4.0 percent in the private business sector— the
third quarterly decrease this year. Since the first quarter
of 1978, real hourly compensation has gone up only
twice. Hourly compensation includes employer pay­
ments for wages and salaries, shift differentials, pay­
ments in kind, social security, health and other fringe
benefits, and employer taxes.
The implicit price deflator for the private business
sector increased 9.9 percent in the fourth quarter. Just
as the CPI-U is the deflator for the mix of goods and ser­
vices which make up consumer spending, the implicit
price deflator for the private business sector is a meas­
ure of price change for the components of the sector’s
output. Changes in this deflator reflect movements in
unit labor cost and unit nonlabor payments— which in­
clude capital consumption allowances, depreciation, in­
direct business taxes, and profits.

Chart 1. Productivity and related measures in four major sectors in the economy, 1967-80
Ratio scale (1967=100)

300
Nonfinancial corporations

'

S

/

‘

Hourly
,.**'
com pensation..*'
/

u n it
labor
cost

y

Productivity
90
1967 68

70

72

74

76

78

80

Nonfarm business sector
Productivity also declined during the second and
fourth quarters in the nonfarm business sector, which
varies from the larger private business sector only by
the farm sector, which currently is about 4 percent as
large as nonfarm employment. However, because of the
volatility of quarterly productivity and cost measures in
the farm sector, the rates of change can differ in the pri­
vate business and nonfarm business sectors. (See
table 1.)
In the second quarter, a rapid increase in farm pro­
ductivity was reflected in the slower rate of productivity
decline in the private business sector than in the non­
farm sector. Conversely, in the fourth quarter, a decline
in farm productivity was manifested in the bigger drop
in the private business sector.

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

1967 68

70

72

74

76

78

80

Similar factors were at work during the second and
fourth quarter declines in nonfarm productivity as were
discussed regarding the private business sector— a
sharp contraction during the second quarter and expan­
sion during the fourth quarter.
In the last 13 quarters, productivity has increased
only twice in the nonfarm business sector.

Manufacturing sector
Productivity in the manufacturing sector increased
strongly in the fourth quarter, as output gains occurred
with less than proportional increases in paid-for hours.
Productivity declined during the second and third quar­
ters of 1980 in manufacturing, and output fell 7.9 per­
cent over the period. Hours dropped 6.3 percent at the
same time, and employment fell 5.0 percent. In the
41

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Productivity Reports

Quarterly changes in productivity by sector, 1977

o
co

Table 1.

[Seasonally adjusted annual rate]

Private business.....................................................................

5.8

0.3

1979

1978

1977

Sector

5.1

1980

1.7

-2.3

0.9

0.5

0.4

-0.8

0.2

1.5

-1.1

1.3

1.9

1.5

1.2

-18.3
1.2

18.9
0.0

3.0
0.6

0.3
0.9

59.3
1.9

4.7
1.4

15.4
0.3

40.5
0.0

33.8
3.0

48.0
3.8

19.1
0.4

Farm .....................................................................................
Nonfarm ...............................................................................

5.9
5.7

33 3
1.2

88.0
2.8

- 30.0
-0.6

3.4
-2.4

Nonmanufacturing..........................................................
Manufacturing................................................................

7.5
2.0

-0.4
4.6

3.1
2.3

-0.6
0.5

1.6
-4.2

-0.4
4.8

2.1
4.4

- 1.5
1.2

0.3
-2.2

4.1
3.3

- 1.2
1.6

0.3
0.1

-0.2
0.6

1.4
5.2

6.5
-1.5

5.5
11.4

Durable..................................................................
Nondurable ............................................................

0.3
4.5

6.7
1.8

1.8
3.1

0.6
-2.3

-5.5
-2.1

7.0
1.4

3.0
6.5

0.2
2.9

4.4
1.5

3.2
3.3

5.9
5.6

0.5
0.6

-1.4
3.6

3.9
7.6

4.1
2.3

13.6
8.6

fourth quarter, output rose at a 24.0-percent annual
rate, its most rapid increase since the third quarter of
1975. Hours advanced 11.2 percent. Despite these rapid
advances both output and hours remained below yearearlier levels in the fourth quarter, reflecting the severity
of the declines which occurred during the first 3 quar­
ters.
Although compensation grew 10.2 percent during the
fourth quarter, unit labor cost declined in manufactur­
ing, reflecting the cost-offsetting effect of productivity
gains. This was the first drop in unit labor cost in man­
ufacturing since the third quarter of 1975.
The gain in manufacturing productivity when the
nonfarm sector as a whole was experiencing a produc­
tivity decline implies that the nonfarm nonmanu­
facturing sector showed a steep drop in productivity.
This “residual” sector includes mining, construction,
communications, transportation, public utilities, whole­
sale and retail trade, services, finance, insurance, and
real estate; and State and local government enterprise.
This sector employs approximately 57 million persons,
whereas manufacturing employment stands at about
20.6 million. Productivity in the nonmanufacturing sec­
tor, by this definition, decreased 7.7 percent in the
fourth quarter, reversing a 6.3-percent gain during
1980’s third quarter.
The output measures compiled by the Bureau of Eco­
nomic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce
as part of the quarterly estimation of the national in­
come and product accounts (which form the basis for
the BLS productivity measurement program) do not in­
clude quarterly estimates of manufacturing output. To
overcome this problem, BLS uses the monthly index of
industrial production for durable and nondurable manu­
facturing industries prepared by the Federal Reserve
Board to compute quarterly productivity measurements
for this sector. Differences in fluctuations of the manu­
facturing output and the Gross National Product series
tend to be reflected in the implied productivity change
in the “ residual” sector. It is impossible to directly con­
struct a quarterly productivity series for the “residual”
to estimate the impact of these discrepancies.
42FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Real compensation and productivity
There has been a close relationship between real
hourly compensation and productivity throughout the
postwar period. Because both variables are expressed in
terms of the same hours, their relationship hinges on
the ratio of real compensation (deflated by the CPI-U)
and real output (deflated by the implicit price deflator).
Because the portion of current-dollar output remitted to
labor in the form of compensation payments— known
as labor share—-has varied in an exceedingly narrow
range over the postwar period, and because there is lit­
tle difference between the CPI-U and the implicit price de­
flator for private business output, the close correlation
between productivity and real hourly compensation is
assured.

Table 2. Trends in hours in the private business sector,
fourth quarter-1980
Worker category

Percent
change
in hours 1

Category
share
of hours

Contribution
to trend

Tota-............................

8 .2 0

Manufacturing......................
Durable........................
Nondurable..................

1 0 .7 7

0.271

2.91

1 3 .5 8

0 .1 6 3

2 .2 2

6 .5 9

0 .1 0 7

0.71

2 .2 3

0 .0 7 0

0 .1 6

2 .3 0

0 .0 3 9

0 .0 9

3 .8 8

0 .0 1 9

0 .0 7

- 0.51

0 .0 1 2

- 0.01

5 .6 9

0 .0 6 4

0 .3 7

Transportation, communication,
and public utilities ............
Transportation..............
Communications ..........
Public utilities................
Finance, insurance, and real
estate ..............................
Services..............................
Mining ................................
Construction........................
Wholesale trade ..................

1 .0 0 0

8 .2 0

4 .2 6

0 .1 2 9

35.11

0 .0 1 5

0 .5 2

1 3 .3 4

0 .0 5 5

0 .7 4

0 .5 5

6 .9 8

0 .0 6 9

0 .4 8

3 .7 9

0 .6 0

Retail trade ........................
Farm employees..................
Farm unpaid family workers . .
Farm proprietors..................
Nonfarm proprietors ............

23.51

0 .1 5 8
0 .0 1 4

1 3 1 .4 9

0 .0 0 4

0 .5 3

1 4 .0 5

0 .0 2 5

0 .3 5

1 0 .6 4

0 .1 0 0

1 .06

Nonfarm unpaid family workers
Government enterprises . . . .
Sum of interaction terms2 . . .

- 7 .2 7

0 .0 0 5

- 0 .0 4

- 4 .7 8

0 .0 2 2

- 0.11

0 .3 2

0 .2 5

1Percent changes in hours refer to preliminary fourth-quarter measures.
2A measure of how much of the total private business change results from the joint effect
of individual worker category movements.

Compensation outlays account for about two-thirds
of output; since 1947 the ratio in the nonfarm business
sector has never been lower than 63.7 percent nor
higher than 69.6 percent. Within this narrow range,
some cyclical deviations in labor share have been ob­
served. The downward rigidity of compensation pay­
ments is reflected during contractions by a rise in the
portion of output devoted to compensation, and a recip­
rocal drop in the fraction available for all other pay­
m ents— nonlabor payments— which include depreci­
ation, capital consumption allowance, indirect business
taxes, and profits. In each postwar business cycle, labor
share has been higher at the trough than the corre­
sponding peak. There has also been a fairly steady rise
in the ratio over the period.
Labor share peaked in the second quarter of 1980—
at 69.6 percent of output— and in the fourth quarter


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

stood at 69.1 percent. The ratio has increased each year
since 1977.

Employment and hours
Employment grew 5.0 percent in the private business
sector, as gains occurred in nearly every subsector. The
largest contribution to the rise in employment was in
the manufacturing sector, where a 6.9-percent increase
occurred. Manufacturing constitutes 27.1 percent of em­
ployment, so the effect of the increase in employment
was to add 1.8 percentage points to the employment
gain. The rise in employment and hours for the sectors
which make up the private business sector are shown in
table 2, together with their associated weights and con­
tributions to the advances in employment and hours in
the fourth quarter.
□

The naked table
No one can use a statistical report honestly who does not take
pains to read the text accompanying the tables. It is in many cases a
mathematical and physical impossibility to put into a table just all
that the table means, and the statistician who does not accompany his
table with a sufficient explanation in the text of its defects and of the
whole method of its construction and the manner in which it is to be
used, has failed in performing his duty.
C a r r o l l D. W r ig h t
“The Limitations and Difficulties
of Statistics,” T h e Y a le R e v ie w ,
August 1894, p. 142.

43

Technical Note
A new le a d in g in d e x o f
e m p lo y m e n t and u n e m p lo y m e n t
G e o f f r e y H. M o o r e

One of the composite leading economic indicators
published by the Commerce Department is the “mar­
ginal employment adjustments” index. Its title derives
from the fact that its components reflect employment
adjustments typically made by employers and employ­
ees during the early stage of the business cycle. Three of
the four components pertain to manufacturing: the aver­
age workweek, the accession rate, and the layoff rate.
The fourth, initial claims for unemployment insurance,
is broader in scope. The workweek reflects changes in
the amount of overtime or in the number of workers
employed part time; such adjustments can usually be
made more promptly, and are easier to reverse when
necessary, than decisions to hire and fire. The accession
rate includes persons newly hired as well as those
rehired after layoff, and the layoff rate includes both
temporary and permanent layoffs. Initial claims repre­
sent the number of persons currently applying for un­
employment compensation, rather than those who are
already receiving it.
Each of the four series typically leads at business cy­
cle peaks and leads or is roughly coincident at troughs.
Thus, the composite of the four series has led at every
one of the seven business cycle peaks and six troughs
between 1948 and 1980. The leads at troughs, however,
have been short; for 4 of the 6 troughs, the lead was
only 1 month. At peaks, the leads averaged 12 months,
and none was shorter than 8 months.
One reason the leads are long at peaks and short at
troughs is that the index, as well as each of its compo­
nents, displays virtually no long-term growth. At its
earliest peak, in January 1948, the index was 102.5
(1967=100). At its latest peak, in December 1978, the
index stood at 99.1. Because the marginal employment
adjustments index does not reflect the substantial

Geoffrey H. Moore, a former Commissioner of Labor Statistics, is di­
rector of the Center for International Business Cycle Research at
Rutgers University.

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

growth of the economy during the intervening 30 years,
its flat trend tends to produce early peaks and late
troughs when compared with aggregate economic activi­
ty. This characteristic is a disadvantage for some pur­
poses and an advantage for others. Warnings of a
recession a year or more ahead are apt to be discount­
ed, in view of the inevitable uncertainties, while signs of
recovery a month ahead of the event are of limited val­
ue. On the other hand, the marginal employment ad­
justments index can be expected to be symmetrical in
its behavior with respect to the peaks and troughs of
some important economic indicators, such as the unem­
ployment rate, the employment ratio, or the capacity
utilization rate, which are also largely trendless.
There is a need, therefore, for a leading index in two
forms, one with a trend corresponding to the growth in
the economy, the other without. The trend requirement
can be met by the same procedure used in the Com­
merce Department’s comprehensive leading index,
namely, reverse trend adjustment. Here the long-term
trend in the index is set equal to a “target trend” ob­
served over a certain period, and the current figures are
adjusted by the same monthly increment required to
achieve the target trend in the given period. In addition,
it would be desirable to take advantage of component
series that are available promptly, and at the same time
reduce the considerable weight given to manufacturing
in the existing index (3 out of 4 series). Less emphasis
on a single sector may reduce the size of subsequent re­
visions of the index and smooth out erratic fluctuations,
especially if the expanded sector coverage is provided
by series from different sources.
With these objectives in mind, the Rutgers Center for
International Business Cycle Research has constructed a
new index based upon four components. Two are in­
cluded in the existing index: average workweek and ini­
tial claims. The third series is average weekly overtime
hours in manufacturing. This is a component of the av­
erage workweek, but is included as well because it is
smoother and less frequently affected by holidays. The
fourth series is the ratio of voluntary to involuntary
part-time employment. The cyclical movements in this
ratio are attributable primarily to the denominator,
which reflects employers’ decisions to shorten work
hours in response to current or anticipated adverse busi­
ness conditions. It behaves as a leading indicator at

peaks and is roughly coincident at troughs.1It is based
on data from the Current Population Survey of house­
holds and hence is statistically independent of the other
series in the index, which are based on the Bureau of
Labor Statistics establishment survey (average work­
week and overtime hours) or unemployment insurance
records (initial claims). Also, it covers all sectors of the
economy, not just manufacturing.
Hence the new index includes two series that are re­
stricted to manufacturing (average workweek and over­
time hours) and two that are broader in scope (initial
claims and part-time employment ratio). Only two of
the series are from the same data source. Moreover, all

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

the components are usually available by the end of the
first or second week of the month following the month
to which they refer. As a result, the new leading index
is compiled by the Rutgers Center concurrently with
other employment data, and about 3 weeks earlier than
the existing index. In its original form the index has vir­
tually no long-run trend, but it is also compiled with a
growth trend equal to that used in the Commerce De­
partm ent’s leading, coincident, and lagging indexes,
namely 3.3 percent annually, or 0.272 percent per
m onth.2
The new index without the target trend factor yields
results very similar to those from the present index.
45

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Technical Note

Five of the turning points are in the same month in
both indexes, one is 6 months earlier in the new index,
six are a month later, and one is 2 months later. Thus,
the new index is often not quite as prompt as the
existing one in reaching its high and lows. However, the
new index is somewhat smoother. Its relation to the un­
employment rate is shown in table 1. It reaches its
highs and lows prior to the corresponding turns in un­
employment in every instance except the January 1948
peak, and the average lead is about 6 months. Hence
the new index should prove to be a useful leading indi­
cator of unemployment, especially if, as we expect, it is
less subject to revision than the present index.

46
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Not only does the new index lead, but the magnitude
of its changes are rather closely correlated with subse­
quent changes in the unemployment rate. (See chart 1.)
For example, a regression of the year-to-year change in
unemployment on the change in the new index during
the last 6 months of the preceding year yields a correla­
tion coefficient of —.90 during the period 1949-80 (31
observations). Thus, by this simple method, the unem­
ployment rate was forecast for the year ahead with an
average error of about half a percentage point.
The new index with the target trend bears a fairly
close relationship to nonfarm employment. (See chart
2.) However, the trend is steeper because the trend rate

of growth in nonfarm employment is 2.2 percent annu­
ally, compared with the 3.3-percent target trend in the
new index; the latter figure was selected to permit com­
parison with series other than nonfarm employment.
The new index leads employment at 12 of the 13 peaks
and troughs between 1948 and 1980, and is coincident
once. The average lead is 3 months and the leads are
about as long at troughs as at peaks (table 2).
C o m p a r e d w i t h t h e existing index of this type, the
new leading index of employment and unemployment
has a broader economic coverage and is available more
promptly. In its trendless form the new index is compa­
rable with other series that are essentially trendless,
such as the unemployment rate, employment ratio, or
capacity utilization rate. It consistently leads the unem­
ployment rate at both peaks and troughs by about 6
months on average. The index is also constructed with a
trend, in which form it is comparable with series that
grow with the economy, such as the employment level,

Table 1. Relationship of the unemployment rate and the
new leading index of employment (without target trend) to
the business cycle, 1948-80
[In months]

Business cycle

Lead ( - ) or lag ( + ) at business
cycle turns
Lead ( - ) or lag
( + ) of new
New leading in­ index at turns in
Inverted
dex of employ­ unemployment
unemployment
ment without
rate
rate
target trend

Peak: November 1948 ...............
Trough: October 1949 ...............

'-1 0
0

Peak: July 1953 ........................
Trough: May 1954 ....................

+4

Peak: August 1957 ..................
Trough: April 1958 ....................

+3

Peak: April 1960 ......................
Trough: February 1961...............

+3

Peak: December 1969 ...............
Trough: November 1970 .............

+9

Peak: November 1973 ...............
Trough: March 1975 ..................
Peak: January 1980 ..................
Mean lead or lag:
At peaks ............................
At troughs ..........................
At both turns ......................

-1

’ -10
-5

'0

-7

-21
0

-17

-11
-2

-9
-5

-14
0

-7
-9

+2

-7
0

-6
-2

-6

-13

-7

-4

-12
-1
-7

-8
-5
-6

-2
-7
-1

+4

-1

-5

-3

11nitial month of series. Hence, peak might have been earlier and index might have led the
unemployment rate.


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

[In months]

Business cycle

Lead ( - ) or lag ( + ) at business
cycle turns
Lead ( - ) or lag
( + ) of new
New leading index at turns in
index of em­
Nonfarm
employment
ployment, with
employment
rate
target trend1

Peak: November 1948 ................
Trough: October 1949 ................

-2
0

-4
-6

-2
-6

Peak: July 1953 ..........................
Trough: May 1954 ......................

-1
+3

-3
-2

-2
-5

Peak: August 1957 ......................
Trough: April 1958 ......................

-5
+1

-8
0

-3
-1

Peak: April 1960 ........................
Trough: February 1961 ................

0
0

-3
-2

-3
-2

Peak: December 1969 ................
Trough: November 1970 ..............

+3
0

0
0

-3
0

Peak: November 1973 ................
Trough: March 1975 ....................

+ 11
+2

0
0

-11
-1

Peak: January 1980 ....................

+1

0

-1

Mean lead or lag:
At peaks ............................
At troughs ..........................
At both turns ......................

+1
+1
+1

-2
-2
-2

-4
-2
-3

1Target trend is that used in Business Conditions Digest composite indexes, 0.272 percent
per month.

which it leads by 2 or 3 months at both peaks and
troughs. The new index, therefore, offers an early warn­
ing of cyclical shifts in employment and unemploy­
ment.
□

-5

-8
-1

-4

Table 2. Relationship of nonfarm employment and the
new leading index of employment (with target trend) to
the business cycle, 1948-80

-----=— FOOTNOTES--------A c k n o w l e d g m e n t : The author wishes to thank Richard Conger,
who did the statistical work underlying this article. Research for the
project was supported by a grant from the Economic Development
Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce; however, that
agency bears no responsibility for the content of the article. For fur­
ther details on the new index, including historical and current data,
please contact the Center for International Business Cycle Research,
Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. 07102 (201-648-5217).
See Geoffrey H. Moore, Business Cycles, Inflation and Forecasting
(Cambridge, Mass., Ballinger Publishing Company, 1980), Ch. 18.
The trend rates are compound monthly rates between average lev­
els during the peak-to-peak specific cycles 1948-53 and 1974-79. The
target trend is the average for the four components of the coincident
index: nonfarm employment, real personal income less transfer pay­
ments, industrial production, and real manufacturing and trade sales.
It is almost the same as the rate for real gross national product. See
Business Conditions Digest, March 1979, p. 107, for more details.

47

Research
Summaries

W o r k e x p e rie n c e o f th e
p o p u la tio n in 1979

Sy l v ia L a zo s T e r r y

In any year, millions of Americans leave the labor force
to enroll in school, take care of a home, raise a family,
enjoy the fruits of retirement, or recover from an illness.
Meanwhile, millions more enter the labor force to re­
place outgoing workers and to take the additional jobs
the economy provides each year. Among the entrants
are high school and college graduates seeking their first
jobs, homemakers reentering the labor market, and vet­
erans of the Armed Forces seeking civilian jobs. In ad­
dition, there are millions of workers who are in the
labor market for the entire year but who change jobs or
experience one period or more of unemployment.
The work experience data from the March Current
Population Survey show many of these transitions1and
provide a picture of labor market activities of the entire
population during the course of a year. The total num­
ber of Americans who worked for at least 1 week in
1979 was 113 million, 16 percent larger than the aver­
age employment level for that year. That is, more per­
sons work at some time during the year than at any
given time of the year. Similarly, many more persons
experience unemployment during the year than in any
given month. Many workers become unemployed but
quickly find other jobs while others remain unemployed
for many weeks. Turnover of unemployed workers dur­
ing 1979 amounted to 18 million persons. This figure is
three times larger than the average number of persons
who were unemployed during the year.
This report examines the extent to which Americans
participated in the labor force, worked, or looked for
work during 1979. It also takes a look at changes in
work activity over the past decade as reflected in the
work experience data.

Employment highlights
The 113 million persons 16 years of age and over
who were employed during all or part of 1979 repre­

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

f

0 a 0i

/ flT ,

a

sented an increase of 2.4 million over the 1978 total.
(See table 1.) This gain was not as large as increases
posted during the 1976-78 period, when, with the econ­
omy recovering from the 1975 recession, the number of
persons with some employment during the year was
growing by an average of 3 million annually.
Women continued to enter the labor market in record
numbers during 1979. About 1.5 million more women
worked at some time during the year than during 1978,
and almost 700,000 more were working all year at full­
time jobs. Women, ages 25 to 34, the “baby boom co­
horts,” continued to account for the bulk of the em­
ployment gains, which made up 1.0 of the 1.5-million
increase in women with jobs. Higher levels of educa­
tion, smaller families, changing social attitudes, and the
rising cost of raising a family, help to account for the
large increases in the employment of women in this age
group.
Although men accounted for more than one-third of
the employment gains in 1979, most of their employ­
ment increase was in full-time year-round jobs. This
type of work accounted for about 80 percent of the in­
crease in jobs among men. As in the case of women, the
group of men with the largest employment gains were
those 25 to 34 years old, a rapidly expanding popula­
tion group.
As in 1978, white women were more likely to have
worked during the year than either black or Hispanic
women (58 vs. 56 and 54 percent). However, black and
Hispanic women who do work have relatively more full­
time employment than white women (75 and 76 vs. 67
percent). Hispanic women traditionally have been less
likely to work outside the home but since 1976, the first
year data were available on Hispanics, there has been a
significant increase in the number of Hispanic women
who worked during the year. In this 4-year period, the
number of Hispanic women with jobs has increased by
24 percent compared with an 11-percent increase among
white women, and a 13-percent increase among black
women.
Hispanic men have always had high labor force parSylvia Lazos Terry is an economist in the Office of Current Employ­
ment Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ticipation rates even though their educational attain­
ment levels are low, usually a strong indicator of a
group’s labor force activities. Hispanic and white men
were more likely to have worked in 1979 than black
men (84 and 82 vs. 72 percent). From 1978 to 1979,
however, the proportion of black men who worked full
time all year increased by 2 percentage points over the
pervious year. Nevertheless, both black and Hispanic
men were still less likely to have worked all year at full­
time jobs than white men (59 and 61 vs. 67 percent).
The number of persons experiencing unemployment
at some time during the year rose slightly in 1979. (See
table 2.) The number of persons with unemployment
Table 1. Work experience during the year of persons 16
years and over, by extent of employment, race, and sex,
1978 and 1979
Extent of employment

Both sexes
1978

1979’

Men
1978

Women

19791

1978

I 19791

Numbers in thousands
ALL PERSONS

Population ........................
Worked during the year2:
Number ....................
Percent of population ..

160,756 163,410

76,070

77,362

84,686

86,048

110,290 112,721
68.6
69.0

61,917
81.4

62,843
81.2

48,373
57.1

49,879
58.0

100.0
67.8
43.7
24.1
32.2
10.9
21.3

100.0
68.1
43.7
24.3
31.9
10.8
21.1

Percent distribution
Persons who worked during
the ye a r........................
Full time3 ......................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............
Part-time4 ....................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............

100.0
79.1
56.4
22.7
20.9
7.0
13.9

100.0
79.0
56.4
22.5
21.0
7.1
13.9

100.0
87.9
66.3
21.6
12.1
4.0
8.1

100.0
87.6
66.5
21.1
12.4
4.2
8.2

Numbers in thousands
WHITE

Population ........................
Worked during the year2:
Number ....................
Percent of population ..

140,999 143,114
97,603
69.2

99,773
69.7

67,187

68,241

73,812

74,873

55,378
82.4

56,183
82.3

42,226
57.2

43,591
58.2

100.0
66.8
43.0
23.7
33.2
11.2
22.0

100.0
67.1
43.3
23.8
32.9
11.2
21.7

Percent distribution
Persons who worked during
the y e a r........................
Full time3 ......................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............
Part-time4 ....................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............

100.0
78.9
56.8
22.1
21.1
7.2
13.9

100.0
78.8
56.8
22.0
21.2
7.3
13.9

100.0
88.1
67.2
20.9
11.9
4.1
7.8

100.0
87.8
67.3
20.5
12.2
4.3
7.9

Numbers in thousands
BLACK5

Population ........................
Worked during the year2:
Number ....................
Percent of population ..

16,794

17,201

7,475

7,664

9,319

9,537

10,655
63.4

10,844
63.0

5,426
72.6

5,525
72.1

5,229
56.1

5,320
55.8

100.0
74.9
47.8
27.1
25.1
9.0
16.1

100.0
75.0
47.2
27.8
25.0
8.3
16.7

Percent distribution
Persons who worked during
the ye a r........................
Full time3 ......................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............
Part-time4 ....................
50 to 52 weeks..........
1 to 49 weeks............

100.0
80.7
52.5
28.1
19.4
6.2
13.2

100.0
80.3
53.4
26.9
19.7
6.0
13.8

100.0
86.2
57.1
29.1
13.8
3.4
10.4

100.0
85.4
59.3
26.1
14.6
3.7
10.9

The 1970’s in perspective

1Data for 1979 have been updated from what was previously issued in Press Release
80-575.
2Time worked includes paid vacation and sick leave.
3Usually worked 35 hours or more.
4Usually worked 1 to 34 hours per week.
5Blacks only.


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

dropped, reaching 17.7 million in 1978, compared with
the 1975 recession high of 21.1 million. Between 1978
and 1979, unemployment increased by 230,000, and to­
taled 18.0 million. This was attributable to an increase
of 380,000 in the number of persons who encountered
some unemployment but also worked during the year
and a decline of 150,000 in the number who looked for
work but never held a job during the year. The number
of unemployed persons in 1979 represented 15.7 percent
of all those who worked or looked for work, not much
different than the percentage in 1978, but well below
the 20.2 percent in 1975.
Although the probability of women becoming unem­
ployed during the course of a year is slightly higher
than for men (16 vs. 15 percent), the average spell of
unemployment is shorter for women than for men.
About 66 percent of all women who encountered unem­
ployment in 1979 searched for jobs for less than 15
weeks, compared with 59 percent of all men. Women
are also less likely than men to experience two periods
or more of joblessness during the year. In 1979, 28 per­
cent of all women who worked during the year and
were unemployed at some time had two periods or
more of unemployment compared with 36 percent of all
men.
Close to 1 million women who were unemployed in
1979 might be classified as “casual jobseekers,” that is,
they looked for employment for shorter periods, were
unable to find the jobs they wanted, and then dropped
out of the labor force. Women who did not work dur­
ing the year and looked for employment for less than
15 weeks totaled 923,000 and made up 11 percent of all
women who were unemployed at some time in 1979. By
comparison, the number of men in this same category
numbered 339,000 and made up only 3 percent of all
men with unemployment in 1979.
Whites continued to experience less unemployment
during 1979 than either blacks or Hispanics (15 vs. 24
and 22 percent). Blacks and Hispanics also were unem­
ployed for longer periods. (See tables 2 and 3.) Close to
half of all blacks with unemployment during 1979
looked for work unsuccessfully for 15 weeks or more,
while less than one-third of all whites were unemployed
for that long a period.

One of the most significant developments of the
1970’s was the continuing rapid entry of women into
the labor force. Since 1969, the number of women who
worked during the year has increased by 11.8 million,
while the gain among men has only been 8.5 million.
Since 1973, the year-to-year increase in employment has
always been larger for women than for men.
Since 1969, the proportion of working-age women
with jobs during the year has increased by 5 percentage
49

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Research Summaries
points while the proportion of men with work declined
by 4. By far, the age group that h a s' contributed the
most to these gains are women 25 to 34 years. In 1969,
56 percent of all women in this age group held jobs; in
1979, that figure had jumped to 74 percent, an increase
of 18 percentage points. By contrast, the proportion of
employed men in this same age group slipped slightly,
from 98 to 96 percent over the same period. The
expanded participation of women 25 to 34 years of age
and the large increase in their numbers caused by the
inflow of the baby boom cohorts have made this demo­

graphic group one of the major growth components of
the employment picture in the 1970’s. (See table 4.)2
As in past years, decreasing participation among
older workers continued to be observed in 1979. Both
men and women 55 years and older are less likely to
work today than their counterparts of a decade ago.
From 1969 to 1979, the proportion of men over age 55
with some employment during the year has declined
from 64 to 52 percent and the proportion of women
with jobs has dropped from 32 to 27 percent. In spite
of legislation minimizing mandatory retirement, many

Table 2. Persons 16 years and over who experienced some unemployment during the year, by race and sex, 1975, 1978,
and 1979
Both sexes
1975

1978

Men
1979’

1978

Women
19791

1979

1978

63,490
15.4
9,764
647
339
308
9,117

49,683
16.4
8,166
1,310
867
442
6,856

51,158
16.0
8,207
1,280
923
356
6,927

100.0
6.4
93.6
21.2
37.3
35.0
35.7

100.0
3.4
96.6
32.4
33.1
31.1
29.3

100.0
3.6
96.4
32.0
33.5
30.9
27.6

56,632
14.5
8,236
450
7,786

43,087
15.3
6,624
861
5,763

44,465
14.9
6,614
874
5,740

100.0
6.9
93.1
21.8
38.3
32.9
35.3

100.0
3.5
96.5
33.9
33.2
29.4
28.7

100.0
3.9
96.1
33.7
33.9
28.6
26.9

5,710
23.8
1,357
185
1,172

5,646
24.1
1,360
417
943

5,695
24.7
1,407
375
1,032

100.0
4.2
95.8
16.3
30.6
48.9
38.7

100.0
2.2
97.8
23.2
32.7
41.6
32.3

100.0
2.4
97.6
22.4
30.9
44.4
31.8

Numbers in thousands
ALL PERSONS

Persons who worked or looked for work during the year..................................
Percent with unemployment.....................................................................
Persons with unemployment...........................................................................
Did not work but looked for w ork............................................................
1 to 14 weeks.................................................................................
15 weeks or more...........................................................................
With work experience .............................................................................

104,442
20.2
21,104
3,202
1,692
1,510
17,903

112,362
15.8
17,738
2,072
1,235
837
15,666

114,648
15.7
17,971
1,927
1,262
664
16,045

62,680
15.3
9,572
763
368
394
8,809
Percent distribution

Unemployed persons with work experience....................................................
Year-round workers2 unemployed 1 or 2 weeks ......................................
Part-year workers3 unemployed ............................................................
1 to 4 weeks...................................................................................
5 to 14 weeks.................................................................................
15 weeks or m ore...........................................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment..........................................................

100.0
4.7
95.3
21.1
31.2
42.9
31.3

100.0
4.3
95.7
25.9
35.7
34.1
32.5

100.0
5.2
94.8
25.8
35.7
33.2
32.2

100.0
5.0
95.0
20.8
37.7
36.5
35.0
Numbers in thousands

WHITE

Persons who worked or looked for work during the year..................................
Percent with unemployment.....................................................................
Persons with unemployment...........................................................................
Did not work but looked for w ork............................................................
With work experience .............................................................................

92,229
19.1
17,660
2,285
15,375

98,985
14.7
14,548
1,382
13,166

101,097
14.7
14,850
1,324
13,526

55,899
14.2
7,924
521
7,403
Percent distribution

Unemployed persons with work experience....................................................
Year-round workers2 unemployed 1 or 2 weeks ......................................
Part-year workers3 unemployed .............................................................
1 to 4 weeks...................................................................................
5 to 14 weeks.................................................................................
15 weeks or m ore...........................................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment...........................................................

100.0
4.9
95.1
21.7
31.7
41.7
30.9

100.0
4.5
95.5
27.5
35.8
32.2
31.7

100.0
5.6
94.4
26.9
36.5
31.1
31.7

100.0
5.2
94.8
22.5
37.9
34.4
34.1
Numbers in thousands

BLACK"

Persons who worked or looked for work during the year..................................
Percent with unemployment.....................................................................
Persons with unemployment...........................................................................
Did not work but looked for w ork.............................................................
With work experience.............................................................................

10,496
29.5
3,100
866
2,234

11,304
25.0
2,831
649
2,182

11,405
24.2
2,764
560
2,204

5,658
26.0
1,471
232
1,239
Percent distribution

Unemployed persons with work experience....................................................
Year-round workers2 unemployed 1 or 2 weeks ......................................
Part-year workers3 unemployed ............................................................
1 to 4 weeks...................................................................................
5 to 14 weeks.................................................................................
15 weeks or m ore...........................................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment...........................................................

100.0
3.8
96.2
16.6
28.8
50.9
33.9

1Data for 1979 have been updated from what was previously issued In Press Release 80575.
2Worked 50 weeks or more.


50
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

100.0
3.2
96.8
16.2
35.3
45.3
37.3

100.0
3.3
96.7
19.1
30.8
46.7
35.5

3Worked less than 50 weeks.
4Black only.

100.0
3.9
96.1
10.9
37.2
48.2
40.9

Table 3. Persons of Hispanic origin: work experience and
unemployment during 1979
Item

Both sexes

Men

Women

Population ............................................
Persons who worked during 1979
Number (thousands)......................................
Percent.........................................................

8,268

4,074

4,194

5,683
68,7

3,410
83.7

2,272
54.2

Worked during the year ....................................
Full time ......................................................
50 to 52 weeks ........................................
1 to 49 weeks ..........................................
Part tim e ......................................................
50 to 52 weeks ........................................
1 to 49 weeks ..........................................

100.0
83.2
54.1
29.1
16.8
4.9
11.9

100.0
88.0
61.2
26.8
12.0
3.5
8.5

100.0
76.1
43.5
32.5
23.9
7.0
17.0

Persons who worked or looked for work during
1979 ............................................................
Percent with unemployment ..........................

5,822
22.0

3,459
21.5

2,363
22.7

Persons with unemployment..............................
Did not work but looked for work....................
With work experience....................................

1,280
139
1,140

744
49
695

535
91
445

Unemployed persons with work experience........
Year-round workers unemployed
1 or 2 weeks ............................................
Part-year workers unemployed ......................
1 to 4 weeks ............................................
5 to 14 weeks ..........................................
15 weeks or more ....................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment..........

100.0

100.0

100.0

3.9
96.1
22.5
37.2
36.5
33.6

4.5
95.5
20.2
38.4
36.8
36.3

2.8
97.2
26.0
35.3
35.7
29.5

workers have chosen to retire at an earlier age because
of liberal pension plans, improved disability provisions,
and increased social security benefits. In addition, em­
ployers have increasingly instituted monetary incentives
to encourage older workers to retire early, not only as
cost saving measures but also to open up slots for
younger workers.3
Another significant development of the 1970’s is the
widening of the gap in the proportion of black and
white populations engaged in work. Previous to 1971,
blacks4 were more likely to work during the year than
were whites. In 1979, not only were blacks less likely to
work during the year, but that difference— 63 versus 70
percent— was the largest since data were first collected
in 1951.5(See table 5.)
Several factors have been responsible for this develop­
ment. Black women have traditionally been very active
in the labor force and their participation has remained
high. However, over the last two decades, the attitudes
of white women towards work outside the home have
markedly changed and their labor market activities have
increased considerably. The result is that whereas in
1969, black women were more likely to be working
than white women (59 vs. 52 percent), in 1979, white
women were more likely to work during the year than
black women (58 vs. 56 percent).
While the difference in the proportion of black and
white women working during the year was gradually
converging throughout much of the decade, the gap be­
tween the employment experience of black and white
men has greatly increased since 1969. The proportion of
employed black men during the year declined by 11
percentage points from 1969 (from 83 to 72 percent)

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

which is more than three times greater than the decline
experienced by white men (from 86 to 82 percent).
Black men were particularly affected by the 1973-75
recession. During this period, the proportion of black
men with work during the year declined from 78 to 72
percent, and this ratio has not yet returned to
prerecession levels. Two age groups show particularly
sharp declines, especially when compared to the em­
ployment experience of white workers: teenagers (16 to
19 years old) and young adults (20 to 24 years old).
While the proportion of white teenagers holding jobs
during the year has not changed substantially in the
past decade (70 percent in 1969 and 71 percent in
1979), the proportion of black teenagers with jobs, de­
clined from 56 percent in 1969 to 42 percent in 1979.
Most of this decline is attributable to the sharp drop in
the employment of black men (from 67 to 45 percent)
as compared with young black women (from 40 to 39
percent). Many reasons have been cited for the low em­
ployment of black teenagers, among them the lack of
jobs in the inner city areas where most black youths re­
side, the minimum wage which makes it too costly for
businesses to hire inexperienced black youths, and high
dropout rates.6
Much of the controversy that surrounds policy dis­
cussions dealing with the status of black teenagers has
been fueled by the sharp rise in their unemployment
rates. In 1979, the average monthly unemployment rate
of black teens was about 2.3 times greater than that of
white teens (32 vs. 14 percent).7 When viewed from a
“work experience” standpoint, this difference persists,
but not to the same extent. Table 6 shows that close to
38 percent of the black teens with labor force experi­
ence during 1979 encountered some unemployment
compared to 25 percent of the white teenagers. Thus,
over a year, a black teenage worker is 1.5 times as like­
ly as a white teenage worker to experience unemploy­
ment. The reason the monthly unemployment ratio
between the two groups is much higher is that black
teenage unemployment lasts longer. In 1979, 44 percent
of all unemployed black youths looked for work for 15
weeks or more, while the proportion of white teens in
this category was only 29 percent.
The proportion of black teenagers encountering unTable 4. Proportion of all persons 16 years and older
who worked during the year, by age and sex, 1969 and
1979
Men
Age

All persons
16 to 19 years . . .
20 to 24 years . ..
25 to 34 years . . .
35 to 54 years . . .
55 and older . . . .

Women

1969

1979

Change

1969

1979

Change

85.2
74.4
89.8
97.8
97.0
63.7

81.2
70.6
91.7
96.0
94.5
52.2

-4.0
-3.8
+ 1.9
-1.8
-2.5
-11.5

52.6
58.3
73.5
55.5
59.6
32.3

58.0
62.3
78.5
73.6
67.7
27.3

+ 5.4
+ 4.0
+ 5.0
+ 18.1
+ 8.1
-5.0

51

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Research Summaries

Table 5.

Proportion of all persons 16 years and older who worked during the year, by race, age, and sex, 1969 and 1979
Men

Both sexes

Women

Race and age
1969

1979

Change

1969

1979

Change

1969

1979

Change

68.4
67.7
70.2
81.2
75.077.3
46.1

70.6
69.7
70.8
87.5
85.1
81.2
38.4

+ 2.2
+ 2.0
+ 0.6
+ 6.3
+ 10.1
+ 3.9
-7.7

86.0
85.5
75.5
90.2
98.0
97.3
63.9

83.0
82.3
75.1
93.5
96.9
95.3
52.8

-3.0
-3.2
-0.4
+ 3.3
-1.1
-2.0
-11.1

52.7
51.9
61.3
74.1
53.4
58.5
31.7

59.4
58.2
66.5
81.6
73.7
67.8
27.0

+ 6.7
+ 6.3
+ 5.2
+ 7.5
+ 20.3
+ 9.3
-4.7

72.1
70.0
56.3
77.5
82.3
79.3
49.0

66.3
63.0
41.9
69.0
80.7
76.6
36.7

-5.8
-7.0
-14.4
-8.5
-1.6
-2.7
-12.3

84.0
82.7
67.3
87.2
96.3
93.5
61.7

74.5
72.1
45.0
80.3
89.8
88.1
45.6

-9.5
-10.6
-22.3
-6.9
-6.5
-5.4
-16.3

62.2
58.7
40.0
69.7
70.8
67.6
38.3

59.7
55.8
39.0
60.1
73.8
67.3
29.9

-2.5
-2.9
-1.0
-9.6
+ 3.0
-0.3
-8.4

WHITES

Percent who worked or looked for work during
year ..........................................................
Percent who worked during year......................
16 to 19 ........................................................
20 to 24 ........................................................
25 to 34 ........................................................
35 to 54 ........................................................
55 and older ..................................................
BLACKS

Percent who worked or looked for work during
year ..........................................................
Percent who worked during year......................
16 to 19 ........................................................
20 to 24 ........................................................
25 to 34 ........................................................
35 to 54 ........................................................
55 and o ld e r..................................................

employment during the course of a year has not varied
significantly from 1969 levels (from 36 to 38 percent).
However, the composition of black teenage unemploy­
ment has undergone a major change over the last 10
years. Specifically, black teenagers who never worked in
the year but nevertheless searched for jobs made up 40
percent of all black teens with unemployment in 1979—
a sharp increase from the 26 percent in 1969. By com­
parison, the proportion of white teenagers who never
worked but searched for jobs showed little change over
the decade. (See table 6.)
The employment situation of young black adults, 20
to 24, to some extent parallels the experience of black
teenagers. The proportion of blacks in this age group
who worked during the year has declined (from 78 per­
cent in 1969 to 69 percent in 1979). During the same
period, the proportion of whites in this age group who
worked during the year has increased (from 81 percent

Table 6. Incidence of unemployment and nonworkers as
percent of unemployed, by race and age, 1969 and 1979
Whites
Item

Blacks

1969

1979

Change

1969

1979

Change

11.6
21.4
18.9
9.7
7.2

14.7
25.1
23.9
12.6
7.1

+ 3.1
+ 3.7
+ 5.0
+ 2.9
-0.1

19.7
36.3
30.6
15.9
10.8

24.2
37.6
38.4
21.1
11.4

+ 4.5
+ 1.3
+ 7.8
+ 5.2
+ 0.6

8.9
16.2
6.4
6.8
9.8

8.9
13.5
6.7
7.9
12.4

0
-2.7
+ 0.3
+ 1.1
+ 2.6

14.7
25.7
18.3
8.2
13.5

20.3
40.2
19.2
16.5
9.2

+ 5.6
+ 14.5
+ 0.9
+ 8.3
-4.3

Percent of the labor force with un­
employment during the year
All persons....................
16 to 19 years..........................
20 to 24 years..........................
25 to 54 years..........................
55 and o ld e r............................
Nonworkers who looked for work
as percent of the unemployed
All persons....................
16 to 19 years..........................
20 to 24 years..........................
25 to 54 years..........................
55 and older ............................


52
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

in 1969 to 88 percent in 1979).
Part of the decline in the annual employment experi­
ence of young black adults is reflected in rising unem­
ployment levels. In 1969, 31 percent of blacks 20 to 24
with labor force experience during the year encountered
some unemployment; in 1979, this proportion had in­
creased to 38 percent. Whites in this age group have
also experienced a rise in the incidence of unemploy­
ment, although not to the same extent as blacks. In
1969, 19 percent of all young white adults experienced
some unemployment; in 1979, it was 24 percent.
□
--------- FOOTNOTES---------1 The data for this report are based on responses to special “work
experience” questions included in the March 1980 Current Population
Survey (CPS), conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the
Bureau of the Census. The work experience questions refer retroac­
tively to the civilian work experience of persons during the entire pre­
ceding year. Because many persons enter and leave the labor force
during the course of the year, the number of persons with employ­
ment and with unemployment as determined through the work experi­
ence questions is much greater than the annual average for the same
year based on the monthly survey conducted during the year. Persons
who reached age 16 during January, February, or March 1980 are in­
cluded. However, the work experience of persons who were in the ci­
vilian labor force during 1979 but were not in the civilian noninstitutional population in March 1980 is not included. Similarly, data on
persons who died in 1979 or 1980, before the survey date, are not re­
flected.
This is the latest in a series of reports on this subject. Data from
the March 1979 survey were published in the Monthly Labor Review,
March 1980, pp. 43-47, and issued with additional tabular data and
explanatory notes as Special Labor Force Report 236. This report will
be reprinted with additional data from the March 1980 survey as a
Special Labor Force Report later this year.
2 Increased participation of women in the labor force has been thor­
oughly documented in other BLS publications. See, for example, Janet
L. Norwood and Elizabeth Waldman, “Women in the Labor Force:
Some New Data Series,” Report 575 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1979).
' The Wall Street Journal reported early retirement inducements
were recently being promoted by such companies as General Motors,

Sears, Eaton Corp., Caterpillar, United Airlines, American Airlines,
and B. F. Goodrich. For further details see, Joann S. Lublin and Mi­
chael L. King, “More Employers Offer an Early Retirement,” The
Wall Street Journal, Nov. 12, 1980. Also, for a discussion of the labor
force impact of legislation dealing with mandatory retirement, see
Philip L. Rones, “The retirement decision: a question of opportuni­
ty?” Monthly Labor Review, November 1980, pp. 14-17.
4 Previous to 1976, data for all persons other than white were used
to represent data for blacks. In 1969, blacks represented 92 percent of
all persons who were not white.
The monthly CPS employment-population ratios show similar
trends.
"For an in-depth analysis of the discouragement of black youth, see
Norman Bowers, “Young and marginal: an overview of youth em­
ployment” and Morris J. Newman, “The labor market experience of
black youth, 1954-78,” Monthly Labor Review, October 1979, pp. 4 16 and 17-27.

7Employment and Earnings,

January 1980, pp. 158-59.

W ages in m e a tp a c k in g and p re p a re d
m e a t p ro d u c ts p la n ts , M a y 1979

Straight-time hourly earnings of production workers in
meatpacking plants averaged $6.97 an hour in May
1979, and $6.52 an hour for workers in prepared meat
products plants, where slaughtering is not performed.
Earnings averaged about 50 percent higher than in
March 1974, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics con­
ducted a similar survey of wages and related benefits.1
During the same period, earnings rose 54 percent in all
manufacturing industries, according to the Bureau’s
Hourly Earnings Index.
Earnings in meat products manufacturing ranged
widely from the May 1979 Federal minimum of $2.90
an hour to more than $10. Contributing to this relative­
ly high degree of dispersion were broad differences in
skill levels for various manufacturing processes. The
middle 50 percent of workers in meatpacking earned be­
tween $5.64 and $8.06 an hour. In prepared meat prod­
ucts, the corresponding range was $4.84 to $8.01 an
hour.
Regionally, average earnings were highest in the Pa­
cific States ($8.10 an hour in meatpacking and $8.37 in
prepared meat products) and lowest in the Southeast
($4.69 in meatpacking and $4.73 in prepared meat
Meatpacking workers in the Middle West, slightly more
than one-third of the 104,000 production workers stud­
ied, averaged $7.84 an hour. In prepared meat products,
the Great Lakes region had the largest employment,
with three-tenths of the industry’s nearly 49,000 pro­
duction workers. These workers averaged $7.03 an
hour.
The occupations studied separately represent various
pay levels and skills in meatpacking and prepared meat
products plants. Hourly averages in meatpacking plants

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

ranged from $4.52 for beef stunners who use devices
other than pneumatic hammers or captive-bolt pistols2
to $9.63 for millwrights. Hourly earnings for the most
numerous jobs (1,500 or more incumbents) averaged
$6.71 for night cleaners; $6.41 for shipping packers;
$6.12 for truckdnvers other than semi-or trailer; $7.38
for general utility maintenance workers; and $7.09 for
boxers of entire beef carcasses.
In prepared meat products plants, averages ranged
from $5.26 for baggers of boxed beef to $8.77 an hour
for stationary engineers. Shipping packers, the most nu­
merous job studied, averaged $6.29 an hour. Other nu­
merically important jobs included: night cleaners, $6.42,
and general utility maintenance workers, $7.77.
Workers in the meatpacking industry were about
equally divided between plants employing fewer than
500 workers and those with 500 or more; however, less
than one-tenth of the prepared meat products employees
worked in plants with 500 workers or more. In both in­
dustries, establishments within the scope of the survey
employed a minimum of 20 workers, and were, for the
most part, located in metropolitan areas. Four-fifths of
the meatpacking workers and seven-tenths of the pre­
pared meat products employees were covered by labormanagement agreements. The Amalgamated Meat Cut­
ters and Butcher Workmen of North America ( a f l -C I o )
was the major union. In June 1979, this union merged
with the Retail' Clerks International Union to form the
United Food and Commercial Workers International
Union.
Wages tended to be higher in metropolitan areas or
union establishments than in smaller communities or
nonunion plants. Similarly, employees in large establish­
ments (those with at least 500 workers in meatpacking,
and at least 100 workers in prepared meats) and in
multiplant establishments averaged higher earnings than
employees performing comparable tasks in smaller or
single-plant establishments. Pay advantages recorded
for such comparisons were typically 20 percent or more
above the lower averages.
Nearly every plant surveyed provided paid holidays,
paid vacations, and at least part of the cost of life and
various health insurance plans. Eight to 10 holidays an­
nually were typical, as were 1 to 5 weeks of vacation
pay, depending on years of service.
A comprehensive report (Industry Wage Survey: Meat
Products, May 1979, Bulletin 2082) is available from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D.C. 20212, or
its regional offices.
□
--------- FOOTNOTES------------1 For an account of the earlier study, see Harry B. Williams, “Meat
industry wages in March 1974,” Monthly Labor Review, pp. 53-55,
December 1975.

' These workers stun beef preparatory for slaughtering.

53

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Research Summaries

C o s t o f liv in g in d e xe s
fo r A m e ric a n s liv in g a b ro a d

The U.S. Department of State has prepared new indexes
of living costs abroad for 19 major foreign cities. The
changes in the indexes range from a 15-percent decline
for Tokyo and Buenos Aires to a 25-percent increase
for Mexico City and Johannesburg. The periods be­
tween price survey dates were 2Vi to 3 years for Mexico
City and Johannesburg, and 5 to 18 months for the
other cities.
The indexes of living costs abroad are used to com­
pute post allowances for Americans assigned to foreign
posts where living costs, based on an American pattern
of living, are significantly higher than in Washington,
D.C. The indexes compare the cost in dollars of repre­
sentative goods and services, excluding housing and ed­
ucation, purchased at foreign posts and in Washington,
D.C. Table 1 shows indexes of living costs abroad for
30 major foreign cities.
For Americans in Tokyo, living costs in dollars de­

Table 1. Indexes of living costs abroad, excluding
housing and education, January 1981
[Washington, D.C. = 100 ]
Country and city

Survey
date

Monetary
unit

Rate of
exchange
per
U.S. dollar

Local
index

1836
0.8547
13.3
0.3800
28.0

155
127
154
142
157

Argentina: Buenos Aires ..............
Australia: Canberra......................
Austria: Vienna............................
Bahrain: Manama........................
Belgium: Brussels........................

June
May
Feb.
Nov.
Mar.

1980
1980
1980
1979
1980

Peso
Dollar
Shilling
Dinar
Franc

Brazil: Sao Paulo ........................
Canada: Ottawa..........................
China: Beijing..............................
France: Paris..............................
Germany: Frankfurt ....................

Oct.
Nov.
July
Mar.
May

1980
1979
1980
1980
1980

Cruzeiro
Dollar
Yuan
Franc
Mark

58.3
1.18
1.46
4.00
1.76

96
100
96
168
155

Hong Kong: Hong Kong ..............
India: New Delhi..........................
Israel: Tel A viv ............................
Italy: Rome ................................
Japan: Tokyo..............................

June
July
Dec.
Feb.
Feb.

1980
1979
1979
1980
1980

Dollar
Rupee
Shekel
Lira
Yen

4.95
8.11
3.30
832
226

117
93
123
125
156

Korea: Seoul ..............................
Mexico: Mexico, D .F ....................
Netherlands: The Hague..............
Nigeria: Lagos ............................
Philippines: Manila ......................

June
Apr.
Feb.
Mar.
Jan.

1980
1980
1980
1980
1979

Won
Peso
Guilder
Naira
Peso

587
22.7
1.98
0.5774
7.38

135

Saudi Arabia: Al Kohbar (Dhahran)
Singapore: Singapore..................
South Africa: Johannesburg..........
Spain: Madrid..............................
Sweden: Stockholm ....................

May
May
June
Dec.
June

1980
1979
1980
1979
1980

Riyal
Dollar
Rand
Peseta
Krona

2.15
0.7634
66.0
4.18

139
115
112
124
168

Switzerland: Geneva....................
United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi ..
United Kingdom: London..............
U.S.S.R.: Moscow........................
Venezuela: Caracas....................

May
Aug.
Apr.
Jan.
Oct.

1980
1980
1980
1980
1980

Franc
Dirham
Pound
Ruble
Bolivar

1.58
3.66
0.4169
0.6575
4.28

176
135
154
135
137

S ource:

U.S. Department of State, Allowances Staff.


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

3.33

99

151
173
89

clined 15 percent, as average prices rose less than in
Washington, D.C., and the foreign exchange cost of the
yen declined 6 percent. In eight other foreign cities, av­
erage prices paid by Americans also rose less than in
the United States. In Frankfurt, The Hague, Geneva,
and Abu Dhabi, these relative price trends were offset
in part by increases in foreign exchange costs. Living
costs in dollars, as measured by the local index, de­
clined 8 percent in Abu Dhabi, 6 percent in Frankfurt,
4 percent in Geneva, and 2 percent in The Hague. For
Americans in A1 Khobar and Stockholm, the relative
price trends were fully reflected in lower living costs in
dollars (down 6 percent for A1 Khobar and 3 percent
for Stockholm), because the exchange rates were un­
changed. In Brussels and Paris, on the other hand, the
relative price trends were almost exactly offset by in­
creased exchange rate costs, and living costs in dollars
were unchanged.
For Americans in Caracas, living costs in dollars
were unchanged, as prices rose at the same rate as in
Washington, D.C., and the exchange rate for the Boli­
var was also unchanged relative to the dollar.
In the remaining foreign cities, average prices paid by
Americans rose more than in the United States. In
Buenos Aires, Canberra, and Mexico City, lower ex­
change rates offset part of the steeper price trends,
while in Hong Kong, Johannesburg, and London,
higher exchange rate costs added to living costs in dol­
lars. For Americans in Rome, the exchange rate was
unchanged. New local indexes were up 5 percent for
Hong Kong, 8-10 percent for Buenos Aires, Canberra,
and Rome, 18 percent for London, and about 25 per­
cent for Mexico City and Johannesburg.
For Mexico City, as well as Sao Paulo, living costs in
dollars were nevertheless still lower than in Washing­
ton, D.C. On the other hand, for Tokyo and the Euro­
pean cities (except Rome), living costs for Americans
were 50 to 75 percent higher. It is advisable to check
the prevailing exchange rates whenever using the index­
es of living costs abroad because the rates are subject to
sudden shifts, and different rates would substantially af­
fect living costs in dollars.
The indexes for 165 foreign cities are published in
quarterly reports entitled U.S. Department o f State In ­
dexes o f Living Costs Abroad and Quarters Allowances.
Data for all cities are published in April, and subse­
quent revisions are published in July, October, and Jan­
uary. The methods of compiling and using the indexes
are explained in U.S. Department o f State Indexes o f
Living Costs Abroad and Quarters Allowances: A Techni­
cal Description, Report 568 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1980). The reports are available on request from the
Office of Publications, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Washington, D.C.' 20212.
□

M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of collective bargaining agreements expiring in July 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.

A m a lg a m a te d S u g a r C o . (Id a h o & O r e g o n )

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

A s s o c ia t e d G e n e r a l C o n t r a c t o r s o f A m e r ic a , I n c ., G e o r g i a B r a n c h a n d 2

F o o d p ro d u cts

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

N u m b er of
U n io n 1

In d u stry

E m p lo y e r an d lo c a tio n

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

1 ,8 0 0

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

3 ,0 0 0

G r a in M ille r s

C o n s t r u c t i o n .........................................

C a rp en ters

w orkers

o t h e r s ( G e o r g ia )
B a y A r e a S o ft D r i n k B o t t le r s A s s o c i a t i o n ( C a l i f o r n i a ) .............................................

F o o d p ro d u cts

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

T e a m s t e r s ( I n d .)

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

1 ,2 0 0

B r a n iff A i r w a y s , C le r ic a l ( I n t e r s t a t e ) 2 ...................................................................................

A ir t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ............................

T e a m s te r s ( I n d .)

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

3 ,6 0 0

C a r b o r u n d u m C o ., 7 D i v i s i o n s ( N i a g a r a F a l ls , N . Y . ) ................................................

S t o n e , c la y , a n d g l a s s p r o d u c t s

O il, C h e m ic a l, a n d A t o m i c W o r k e r s

. .

2 ,3 0 0

C e n t u r y B r a s s P r o d u c t s , I n c ., W a t e r b u r y D i v i s i o n ( C o n n e c t i c u t ) .....................

P r im a r y m e t a l s

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

A u t o W o r k e r s ( I n d . ) ..........................................

1 ,6 5 0

D e l t a A i r li n e s , I n c . ( I n t e r s t a t e ) 2 ................................................................................................

A ir t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ...........................

A i r L in e P i l o t s .......................................................

3 ,0 0 0

F o o d E m p l o y e r s C o u n c il , I n c ., R e t a il F o o d , B a k e r y , C a n d y , a n d G e n e r a l

R e t a il tr a d e

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

F o o d a n d C o m m e r c ia l W o r k e r s ..............

6 0 ,1 5 0

C o m m u n i c a t i o n ...................................

C o m m u n i c a t i o n s W o r k e r s ............................

2 ,7 0 0

R e t a il tr a d e

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

M a c h in is t s

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

1 ,9 5 0

T r a n s p o r t a tio n e q u ip m e n t . . . .

M a c h in is t s

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

1 ,4 0 0

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

I n str u m e n ts

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

A u t o W o r k e r s ( I n d . ) .........................................

1 ,4 0 0

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

R e t a il t r a d e

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

F o o d a n d C o m m e r c ia l W o r k e r s ..............

8 ,5 0 0

L o n g sh o rem en an d W a reh o u sem en

8 ,4 0 0

M e r c h a n d is e A g r e e m e n t (C a lif o r n ia )
G e n e r a l T e l e p h o n e C o . o f O h io

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

G r e a t e r S t. L o u is A u t o m o t i v e A s s o c ia t i o n a n d 1 o t h e r ( M is s o u r i a n d
I ll in o is )
I n t e r n a t io n a l H a r v e s t e r C o ., S o la r G r o u p (S a n D i e g o , C a lif.)
L e a r S ie g le r , I n c ., I n s tr u m e n t D i v i s i o n ( G r a n d R a p id s , M ic h .)
M e ij e r , I n c . a n d S u b s id ia r ie s ( M i c h i g a n )

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

P a c ific M a r it im e A s s o c i a t i o n ( C a lif o r n ia , O r e g o n , a n d W a s h i n g t o n ) ..............

W a t e r T r a n s p o r t a t i o n .....................

( I n d .)
S o u t h e r n I ll in o is C o n t r a c t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n ............................................................................

C o n s t r u c t i o n .........................................

L a b o r e r s .....................................................................

2 ,0 0 0

T r a n s W o r ld A i r li n e s , F l ig h t A t t e n d a n t s ( I n t e r s t a t e ) 2

A ir t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ............................

I n d e p e n d e n t A i r li n e U n io n

3 ,2 0 0

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

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

U n io n C a r b id e C o r p ., N u c l e a r D i v i s i o n ( P a d u c a h , K y . ) .........................................

C h e m i c a l s ................................................

O il, C h e m ic a l, a n d A t o m i c W o r k e r s

. .

1 ,4 0 0

U n i o n E le c tr ic C o . ( I n t e r s t a t e ) ....................................................................................................

U t i li t i e s

O p e r a t in g E n g i n e e r s .........................................

1 ,4 5 0

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

G o v er n m e n t a c tiv ity

Io w a :

D e s M o in e s I n d e p e n d e n t C o m m u n i t y S c h o o l D i s t r i c t , P r o f e s s io n a l

E m p lo y e e o r g a n iz a t io n 1

E d u c a t i o n ................................................

N a t i o n a l E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia t i o n ( I n d .)

2 ,3 0 0

E d u c a t i o n ................................................

N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c ia t i o n ( I n d .)

1 ,5 5 0

E m p lo y e e s
M ic h ig a n :

L a n s in g S c h o o l D i s t r i c t , B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , T e a c h e r s ..............

1Affiliated with A F L -C IO except where noted as independent (Ind.)
in form ation is from newspaper reports.


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

Developments in
industrial Relations
Union members rebuff negotiators, accept accord
Members of the Association of Western Pulp and Pa­
per Workers approved a contract with six companies in
Oregon, Washington, and California, even though the
union’s negotiators had rejected the proposed terms.
Union president Farris Bryson said the 3-year accord
fell short of inflationary trends and that the employers
had capitalized on the lingering effects of long strikes in
1978 and 1979.
The contract for the 6,700 pulp and paper workers
provided for wage increases of 9 percent effective imme­
diately, 90 cents an hour on the first anniversary, and
85 cents on the second. The swing shift differential was
increased to 44 cents (from 34 cents) and the graveyard
shift differential was increased to 66 cents (from 56
cents) in stages over the contract term.
Other provisions included a 14th paid holiday; 5
weeks of paid vacation after 15 years of service (former­
ly 16) and 6 weeks after 20 years (formerly 21); and em­
ployer payment of all premium cost increases needed to
maintain hospital, medical, surgical, dental, and vision
care benefits.
Bryson would not speculate on the extent to which
the agreement might influence coming settlements with
individual companies for 11,000 employees. The unified
bargaining by the six companies was a departure from
their practice of negotiating individually with the union.
The companies are Boise Cascade Corp., Crown
Zellerbach Corp., G-P Corp., ITT-Rayonier Inc., Menasha Corp., and Weyerhaeuser Corp.

Mesta workers give up part of escalator increase
Employees of the Mesta Machine Co.’s West Home­
stead, Pa., plant approved a new 3-year contract, end­
ing a 45-day walkout. However, Mesta indicated that it
was still considering closing the facility, which produces
rolling mill equipment for the steel industry, citing a
very low volume of orders. The company has a smaller
operation in New Castle, Pa.; Mesta lost $12.1 million

“Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben
and other members of the staff of the Division of Trends in Employee
Compensation, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is largely based on in­
formation from secondary sources.


56
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

in 1980 and $4.8 million in 1979.
The settlement with United Steelworkers Local 7174
did not provide for an immediate wage increase. In the
second contract year, the workers will receive a 10-cent
general increase and a 1-cent increase in the increment
between job grades. All employees will receive a flat
30-cent increase in the third year. The existing formula
for cost-of-living adjustments was continued, but part
of each resulting quarterly increase will be withheld— 9
cents in the first contract year, 6 cents in the second,
and 3 cents in the third.
There were a number of improvements in insurance
benefits, all of which were effective in the second and
third years, except for first-year improvements in sick­
ness and accident benefits. There were no changes in re­
tirement benefits, but the contract is subject to
reopening on this issue if Mesta shows a profit for three
consecutive quarters.

Pattern-setting contract in cement industry
Lone Star Industries, Inc., and the Cement, Lime and
Gypsum Workers negotiated a 3-year contract that set
a pattern for 16,000 employees of other cement compa­
nies. The Lone Star accord, which covered 1,300 work­
ers, provided for a 65-cent-an-hour wage increase on
May 1, 1981, a 20-cent increase on November 1, 1981,
55 cents on May 1, 1982, and 50 cents on May 1, 1983.
New employees assigned to the lowest pay grade will
start at $1 an hour below the standard rate for the
grade and receive a 25-cent-an-hour increase every 3
months until they attain the standard rate. Lone Star
officials said the provision “recognizes the value of the
worker’s on-the-job experience.” Previously, new grade
1 employees started at the standard rate, the approach
that still applies to new employees in all other grades.
The cost-of-living calculation rate remained at 1 cent
an hour for each 0.3-point movement in the Bureau of
Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
Earners and Clerical Workers, but the clause specifies
that the quarterly pay adjustments, which start in the
second year, are payable only if the calculated total in­
crease exceeds 50 cents in the second year and 45 cents
in the third year. In addition, a new “corridor” concept
specified that only that portion of the CPI rise up to 12
percent and that portion in excess of 14 percent will be

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Developments in Industrial Relations
used in calculating adjustments.
Pension improvements included a $1-increase in the
normal rate in each contract year, bringing it to $20.50
a month for each year of credited service. There also
was a $15.75-a-month increase in the pensions of work­
ers who retired prior to May 1, 1978. Other improve­
ments were in Supplemental Unemployment Benefits
and hospital, medical, surgical, and dental benefits.
The other companies that agreed to terms similar to
Lone Star included General Portland Inc., Martin Mari­
etta Corp., and Lehigh Stone Co. Overall, the round of
bargaining involved 142 facilities throughout the Na­
tion.

Apparel workers get pay increase
More than 200,000 members of the Ladies Garment
Workers’ union were expected to receive wage increases,
a result of cost-of-living wage reopening clauses of con­
tracts negotiated in 1979. The negotiations, which cen­
tered in the outerwear industry, began last November
when dress workers in the New York City area asked
for a wage increase to help offset a 20-percent rise in
prices since the inception of their contract. After unsuc­
cessful bargaining, the issue was resolved through bind­
ing arbitration.
Arbitrator Milton Ruben decided that a 7-percent
wage increase already scheduled for June 1, 1981,
should be advanced to March 15, 1981, and increased
to 11 percent. This wage improvement was then extend­
ed to the other types of apparel production in the New
York City area and at various other locations. In a few
cases, where the 7-percent increase had been scheduled
for July 1981, the 11-percent total increase was made
effective in April 1981.

Philadelphia-area transit workers end strike
A 19-day strike affecting 400,000 Philadelphia-area
commuters ended when the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority and the Transport Workers
union negotiated a 2-year contract. Two major issues in
the dispute were resolved by retaining provisions bar­
ring layoffs and the use of part-time employees. The
Transportation Authority wanted to fill about 5 percent
of the 5,000 jobs in the bargaining unit with part-time
employees who would work during either the morning
or the evening rush hours at lower pay and benefit lev­
els than full-time employees. This would have resulted
in the layoff of some full-time workers. Currently, about
60 percent of the 4,900 employees are on split shifts,
working both rush hour periods.
In exchange for retention of these provisions, the
union agreed to somewhat smaller wage increases than
it had been seeking. The contract calls for a 2-percent
increase effective March 15, 1981, 4 percent on July 5,


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

1981, and 6.5 percent on March 14, 1982. The existing
cost-of-living clause was retained: it provides for in­
creases of up to 12 cents an hour in December of 1981
and 1982, calculated at 1 cent an hour for each 0.4-per­
cent rise in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers from July to November of the respective years.
The pension for employees retiring under the “ 30
years and out” provision was increased to $300 a
month plus $15 (formerly $12) for each year of service
in excess of 30 accrued prior to age 62 and $20 (former­
ly $12) for each subsequent year. Future retirees and
their dependents benefit from a new company-financed
plan that covers all but $2 of each prescription drug
purchase. The spouse of an employee who had been eli­
gible for retirement at the time of death will now re­
ceive a survivor benefit of half the monthly amount the
employee would have received if retired, payable for 12
months.
A change in insurance financing provided that the
Transportation Authority pays 80 percent of premium
costs for the first 24 months after an employee is hired
and the full cost thereafter. Previously, this occurred af­
ter 30 months of service. Improvements in insurance
benefits included a $ 1,000-increase in life insurance for
employees and $500 for retirees, bringing the coverages
to $7,000 and $3,000; a $ 10,000-increase in the $60,000
assault coverage; and coverage of additional hospital
treatment procedures. The Transportation Authority’s
financing of dental benefits was increased to 9 cents an
hour, from 5 cents.

Debarment procedures against Firestone revoked
A Department of Labor order barring Firestone Tire
& Rubber Co. from doing business with the Federal
Government because of alleged employment discrimina­
tion has been revoked. A judge in the Federal district
court in Beaumont, Tex., held that the Department had
erroneously relied on an internal memorandum that “is
unreasonable, inconsistent with the regulation it inter­
prets and past agency practice and, thus, entitled to no
weight by the court.” The judge ruled that the Depart­
ment would have to repeat the entire contract debar­
ment procedure if it still wanted to prevent Firestone
from obtaining government business.
The controversy started in February 1980 when the
Department contended that Firestone had failed to de­
velop an acceptable equal employment opportunity plan
for its Orange, Tex., facility. After unsuccessful negotia­
tions, the Department issued the debarment order in
July 1980. (See Montly Labor Review, September 1980,
pp. 60-61.) However, implementation of the order was
delayed pending a judicial decision, allowing Firestone
to continue to conduct business with the Federal Gov­
ernment.
57

High court further defines job bias
The Supreme Court unanimously held that an em­
ployer found guilty of job bias does not have the right
to force a union to pay part of the damages, even
though the discrimination results from provisions of a
collective bargaining agreement. The proceedings that
led to this decision began in 1970, when Northwest Air­
lines lost a suit in which it was charged with paying fe­
male stewards less than their male counterparts for
more than 20 years. In its defense, Northwest said the
pay difference resulted from provisions of its contracts
with the Transport Workers union (which represented
flight attendants for part of the period) and with the
Air Line Pilots Association (which represented them
during the balance of the period). In accord with this
assertion, the airline then sued the unions, claiming that
they, as parties to the contracts, should pay part of the
damages.
In rejecting Northwest’s position, the Supreme court
held that neither the Equal Pay Act of 1963 nor the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically provides that a
party guilty of job bias can seek to have the cost of
claims shared with other responsible parties.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
which filed a friend-of-the-court brief, contended that
forcing unions to share the burden of damages would
reduce the incentive for employers to avoid pay discrim­
ination and that the present policy of separate liability
for employers and unions encourages vigorous collective
bargaining and efforts to end discrimination.
In another case, the Supreme Court ruled that em­
ployers charged with discrimination do not have to
prove that a person hired or promoted was better quali­
fied than the person passed over. Instead, the employer
need only provide adequate evidence that race or sex
was not a factor in the decision.
The case originated when Joyce Burdine, an employee
of the Public Service Commission, Texas Department of
Community Service, in Austin, charged her employer
with sex discrimination. Burdine had been a field ser­
vices coordinator and had assumed additional duties
when the commission’s director resigned. Concerned
about the commission’s alleged inefficiencies, the U.S.
Department of Labor threatened to cut off funding un­
less certain conditions were met. Among these condi­
tions were the appointment of a permanent project
director and a complete reorganization. Subsequently, a
male employee from another division of the agency was
selected to head the commission and, in the reorganiza­

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

tion process, Burdine and two other employees were
fired, while another male employee was retained.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Texas found no evidence of sex discrimination. Howev­
er, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed
the District Court’s decision, saying that, although
Burdine was not discriminated against when she was
not selected as project director, the decision to termi­
nate her employment was discriminatory.
A crucial issue in the case was the degree of proof re­
quired of employers in responding to charges initiated
under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A Texas Depart­
ment of Community Affairs official testified that
Burdine was fired because she did not work well with
fellow employees.
The unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court, writ­
ten by Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., said that although
Federal law prohibits discrimination, it does not de­
mand that an employer give preferential treatment to
minorities or women; that an employer does not have to
prove that its action is lawful, rather the employer need
only produce evidence which would allow a judge to
conclude that the decision had not been motivated by
discriminatory animus.

Bargaining rights of State employees reaffirmed
The California Supreme Court has upheld a 1977 law
that gave collective bargaining rights to 130,000 State
employees whose unions previously had only the right
to “meet and confer” with their agencies on salaries and
other issues. Implementation of the State Employer-Em­
ployee Relations Act had been blocked by the Pacific
Legal Foundation, which contended that the Act violat­
ed civil service provisions of the State constitution, a
position that had been upheld by an appellate court.
In reversing the lower court finding, the State Su­
preme Court said the Act extended logically from earli­
er acts that established collective bargaining procedures
for teachers and other employees of State-supported
schools.
Prior to the 1977 law, the governor and the legisla­
ture decided on overall lump-sum amounts for salary
increases, which were then allocated among the various
job classifications by a personnel board, after discus­
sions with the unions involved.
Although the 1977 law permits collective bargaining,
any resulting salary increases are still contingent on ap­
propriation of the required funds by the legislature. The
law forbids strikes by covered employees.
□

Getting America recharged
The Zero-Sum Society. By Lester Thurow. New York,
Basic Books, 1980. 230 pp. $12.95.
What ails America? Why can’t we recognize, analyze,
and solve our urgent economic problems? Are the ob­
stacles inadequate knowledge or an insufficient will?
Lester Thurow believes that the U.S. economy has
gotten flabby. If we cannot quickly spur investment to
get back on a fast growth track, the United States is
condemned to fall further behind fast growing Europe­
an nations and the OPEC oil inheritors. The “heart of
the problem [is] deciding whose income should fall to
make room for more investment’’ (p. 10). Thurow advo­
cates a reindustrialization fund to channel investment
into “sunrise” industries, deregulated energy prices, and
the formation of conglomerates. Corporate taxes should
be abolished and all taxes indexed for inflation.
America’s problems have multiple roots but a single
solution. We shifted focus “from international cold war
problems to domestic problems” without first adapting
our political system “to impose large economic losses
explicitly” (p. 9). Domestic problems are contentious
because solutions produce American gainers and Ameri­
can losers. Our political system has become more sensi­
tive to all kinds of minority interests. Minority interests
have learned that “to be able to delay a program is of­
ten to be able to kill it” (p. 13). The fine art of delay
continues the economic status quo, because “destruc­
tive” economic progress undermines the economic secu­
rity of some individuals and groups. The result is
political and economic paralysis.
How did we lose the ability to get things done? Con­
servatives argue that high taxes and excessive regulation
stifle personal initiative. Simply “returning to the vir­
tues of hard work and free enterprise” will restore rapid
economic growth. But government’s share of the gross
national product (gnp ) and the extent of regulation do
not universally produce economic stagnation; what hap­
pened in Britain did not happen in Germany. The con­
servative push for simple solutions to complex problems
obscures the fact that there are few universal truths in
political economy.
Renewing economic growth will require changes. Ev­
ery change divides the population into gainers, losers,
and those unaffected. Thurow believes that zero-sum
changes are required to get America moving; in the

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

short run, economic gains will be offset by economic
losses, even though most people will benefit in the long
run. Until we recognize that the “heart of the problem
[is] a consensus on whose income ought to go down . . .
we are paralyzed” (p. 24).
Energy provides a classic illustration of “our funda­
mental dilemma. “The basic current problem . . . is not
scarcity but a cartel that controls the marginal source
[and price] of energy” (p. 36). To immediately adopt a
free market solution by deregulating prices is to transfer
$150 billion from oil consumers to producers, most of it
($120 billion) to the domestic producers who supply 80
percent of our oil. The gains accrue largely to the
richest 10 percent of the population owning 90 percent
of all corporate stock; the losses are felt most by the
poorest 10 percent spending one-third of their pretax in­
come on energy. Free-market deregulation lost out to
regulation which forced domestic oil producers to subsi­
dize imports. The result? Subsidized oil did not encour­
age Americans to save energy but subsidies made oil
importing as profitable as production, discouraging the
search for new oil and energy substitutes. The search
for substitutes is complicated by the fact that the true
cost of pumping a barrel of Saudi Arabian oil is 40
cents, making private investors wary of expensive in­
vestments in oil substitutes which can easily be under­
cut by OPEC. The free market will not automatically
produce energy independence but will redistribute in­
come within America, ensuring political paralysis.
Energy paralysis compounds to inflation conundrum.
Thurow traces our current inflation back to the excess
demand resulting from President Johnson’s failure to
seek tax increases in 1965-67 to pay for the Vietnam
war. Johnson’s error was exacerbated by President Nix­
on’s bad judgment (slapping on wage-price controls
when restraint policies were slowly working) and bad
luck (food price inflation and OPEC’s tripling of oil
prices). From 1973 to 1978, prices rose 46.3 percent.
Is this deeply rooted inflation the source of our eco­
nomic malaise? Thurow thinks not. Real per capita dis­
posable income rose 17 percent in the boom period,
1966-1972, and 16 percent between 1972 and 1978.
Thurow traces the malaise in the latter period to money
illusion— the rapid rise in money income but the much
slower rise in real income. Thurow also observes that
inflation can obscure the real source of ever-present in­
come redistributions, for example, did the relative in59

come of college professors slide because of inflation or
because too many Ph.D .’s sought to teach too few stu­
dents? Thurow finds the distribution of money income
virtually unchanged despite inflation.
Endemic inflation is rooted in the price and wage ri­
gidities of modern economies. Prices fall only after mas­
sive excess capacity appears, that is, depression. Thurow
traces wage rigidity to his view that the labor market
allocates training slots. The “job queue” ranks appli­
cants by the cost of job training. This training can be
accomplished only on the job, meaning that workers inplace must have seniority protection before they will
train newly hired workers who could replace them.
Wages are “set in a social process” (p. 58) sensitive to
wage differentials and the team nature of work. The re­
sult is (money) wage rigidity in an inflexible wage struc­
ture, a rigidity reinforced by the spread of indexed wage
and price agreements.
Inflation cures are zero-sum games, producing gainers
and losers. Tolerating inflation leaves the unprotected
further behind. Attacking inflation with restrictive eco­
nomic policies produces recessions with their unequal
impacts. Wage-price controls lock existing wage-price
structures in place and require a complex administrative
apparatus. Government can attempt to “balance up­
ward price shocks with downward price shocks” (p.
68), for example, deregulation to offset oil price boosts,
but there is producer resistance to massive downward
price movements. The Carter Administration’s policy of
gradualism— moderately restrictive economics, volun­
tary wage-price guidelines, and some deregulation — was
doomed to fail. Our “fundamental dilemma” is our de­
mand for an inflation cure with no costs.
Rapid economic growth is often hailed as the remedy
for a wide range of economic problems. Thurow argues
that productivity-—output per man-hour— governs our
ability to produce and consume. Reducing inflation
slows productivity growth because it results in idle ca­
pacity. The roots of the productivity dilemma are famil­
iar— “to increase investment someone’s share of
national income must decline” (p. 77). In addition, we
must move capital and labor from dying to expanding
industries, or practice “disinvestment.” Despite capital­
ism’s “doctrine of failure,” the efficient minority do not
drive the inefficient majority out of business because the
inefficient obtain government protection from efficient
competitors.
Salvation resides in government intervention. Govern­
ment should duplicate agricultural experiment stationtype research in other sectors, for the need for better
“processes” to make existing products (rather than
making new ones) is one route to higher productivity
that private firms cannot follow for competitive market­
ing reasons. “Accelerating disinvestment” by using a
“national investment committee” to direct funds into

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

“sunrise industries” will produce a better mix of high
productivity firms and industries. Finally, abolition of
the corporate income tax and simply taxing all income
at progressive rates will increase investment while pro­
moting equity. The problem with these three solutions
is straightforward. “Someone’s income will have to go
down and these losses are going to be substantial. For
those that lose, the existence of even larger social gains
are irrelevant” (p. 102).
Environmental and regulatory problems are “special
interest” distributional issues. Thurow argues that zero
economic growth is demanded by the upper middle
class in a Maslow-type preference ordering. The distri­
bution issue is central because collective action is neces­
sary to achieve largely unmeasurable benefits. Thurow
believes that markets, however imperfect, are the best
devices to collect effluent taxes from polluters and price
nonrenewable natural resources. Zero economic growth
is rejected because “it does not make much sense” (p.
120). Indeed, zero economic growth would change the
structure of work and the economy in a way which
would leave many poor persons worse off.
“Whatever the overt objective, the implicit objective
[of regulations] is always to alter the distribution of in­
come, [thus] no one can say that a regulation is good or
bad without a vision of what distribution of income
should exist” (p. 123). The United States, still has fewer
regulations than most industrialized countries, but our
legal-administrative system for enacting and interpreting
regulations results in more regulatory conflict. More im­
portantly, we are still absorbing the late 1960’s-early
1970’s wave of regulations meant to cope with externali­
ties and income security. Thurow provides eight conven­
ient “rules of regulation” — for example, all economies
are sets of rules, deregulation redistributes income, reg­
ulations arise from real problems— and concludes that
our best policy is to abandon most antitrust efforts and
concentrate on taxes and subsidies (p-regulations) which
influence the production of goods and services.
Government now redistributes 10 percent of the gross
national product from one individual to another.
Thurow believes that U.S. earnings inequalities tend to
increase over time. Since 1960, this trend to inequality
was curbed by massive new income transfers (social se­
curity, welfare, CETA) and the rise of working wives
with low-wage husbands, many employed directly or in­
directly by government. In the 1980’s, an influx of highincome wives and threatened cutbacks in relatively
high-wage government jobs may further increase income
inequality.
One way to reverse this drift toward inequality is to
revise the tax system. But “taxation requires explicit eq­
uity decisions” (p. 167), the type the political system is
least capable of making. Thurow believes that real tax
reform is stifled by the middle class, fearful that it will

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Book Reviews
lose more from closing loopholes than can be gained
from a general tax cut. These middle-class fears arise
from the fact that the rich have “so little taxable in­
come, as it is officially defined, that it is impossible to
promise substantial income tax reductions for the rest
of the population by raising the tax rates of the rich”
(p. 169). A more equitable system would tax wealth,
which Thurow holds to be generated in a “random
walk” lottery process which can neither predict nor re­
peat winners.
The redistributive mechanisms of the postwar era—
income transfers for the poor, direct and indirect gov­
ernment jobs for the middle class, and little or no taxa­
tion for wealthy capitalists— are threatened by 1980’s
inflation, antigovernment sentiments, and tax-cut fever
to spur investment. Complicating our remedial efforts is
the rise of group demands “not for more but parity” (p.
190). Our individualistic economic and political philoso­
phies are not accustomed to dealing with black, Hispan­
ic, or female group demands for the same income and
employment results enjoyed by white men. Thurow is
pessimistic about our ability to resolve these demands
for group justice. Remedial efforts are closing economic
gaps slowly while resistance to affirmative action
mounts. Group competition for income shares is soci­
ety’s “paradigm zero-sum game” (p. 189).
What is to be done? Thurow advocates deregulation
to induce offsetting upward (energy) and downward
(transportation) price shocks. He envisions a U.S.A.,
Inc. composed of conglomerates sensitive to the envi­
ronment and willing to shift resources internally to
“sunrise” industries and products. Government would
play a series of new roles. A budget surplus would gen­
erate funds for public investment, guaranteed jobs, and
a system to compensate the losers from economic
change. To minimize inequality, the tax system must be
reformed, transfer payments increased, and taxes cut for
the middle class.
The Zero-Sum Society is a call for a changed govern­
ment role in the economy. Thurow wants government
to provide individual safety nets and work for a more
“equitable” income distribution but reduce its antitrust
and regulatory efforts. The book concludes on a pessi­
mistic note when it argues that our political process
cannot make decisions which result in economic losses.
This book deserves much of the attention it receives.
Our sociopolitical system does appear paralyzed when it
confronts today’s economic problems. This paralysis is
bad only if we assume that problems will get worse (in­
stead of solving themselves) and that solutions are at
hand. Paralysis is easier to understand if one remembers
that the few people trying to work on comprehensive
reform are likely to slight at least some important areas
while the mass of special interest groups willingly aban­
dons the forest for specific trees. Like other comprehen­

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

sive reformers, Thurow is somewhat uneven, often rely­
ing on very casual empiricism to justify a proposal. His
proposals may still be valid but the “losers” can be
expected to demand more convincing arguments.
Lester Thurow is one of today’s most provocative
economists. The Zero-Sum Society is a well written at­
tempt to sketch our economic problems and solutions.
It is well worth reading.
— P hilip M artin
Associate Professor
University of California, Davis

The baby boom generation: assessing its impact
Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Genera­
tion. By Landon Y. Jones. New York, Coward,
McCann and Geoghegan, 1980. 380 pp. $15.95.
Demography has become a popular subject of late,
along with articles forecasting (1) empty beds (and full
ones) in maternity wards (2) job openings (and layoffs)
for teachers, and (3) bankruptcy (and glut) in the Social
Security Trust Fund. The American public has become
acutely aware that a change in the number of births has
substantial impact for many years after the fact.
One indication of the recent interest in demographic
information is reflected in the new periodical, “Ameri­
can Demographics.” “Born” in January 1979, the
young magazine now has circulation of about 7,000,
primarily corporate managers, market research special­
ists, and government planners. It takes its place along
with the several academic journals in the field. Also, ar­
ticles on demographic subject now are published regu­
larly in general periodicals and newspapers.
It is against this backdrop that this book by Landon
Y. Jones appears. Written in a snappy style, with atten­
tion paid both to detail and to the larger picture, the
book is at one level a popular history of the United
States during 1950-80. In that context, the book can be
seen as a nostalgia trip for those who want to recall the
music, films, and other developments of the time. And,
it is as a social history that the book is at its best; the
author has woven together many fascinating strands as
it “looks at history through the window of a single gen­
eration as it ages.”
What is weaker is the central proposition of the
book: “No single generation has had more impact on us
than the baby boom, and no single person has been un­
touched. The baby boom is, and will continue to be, the
decisive generation of our history.”
The author seems to know the weakness of his case;
the introduction contains four warnings which effective­
ly dilute his argument at least in its most extreme form.
He is aware that: the baby boom is not monolithic; the
61

baby boom is not the sole cause of all recent change;
demography is not necessarily destiny; and the baby
boom is not the only generation to register social
change today. Yet, after administering these “warn­
ings,” he largely ignores them in order to tell a dram at­
ic story.
The story he tells is, indeed, dramatic. It is also
comprehensive, covering the rise of the suburbs, trends
in child rearing, the educational establishment, the im­
pact of the Vietnam war, the drug culture, and the de­
cline in SAT scores. Unquestionably these developments
occurred— what is questionable is how much different
they would have been without the baby boom. That
question is not easily answered, but Jones has provided
his view with conviction and a capacity to entertain.
— D eborah P isetzer K lein
Office of Current Employment Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Economic growth and development
Abramovitz, Moses, “Welfare Quandaries and Productivity
Concerns,” T h e A m e r ic a n E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , March 1981,
pp. 1-17.
Devarajan, Shantayanan and Anthony C. Fisher, “Hotelling’s
‘Economics of Resources,’: Fifty Years Later,” J o u r n a l o f
E c o n o m ic L ite r a tu r e , March 1981, pp. 65-73.
Gold, Bela, “Changing Perspectives on Size, Scale, and Re­
turns: An Interpretive Survey,” J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic L i t ­
e r a tu r e , March 1981, pp. 5-33.
Howrey, E. Philip and others, “The U.S. Economic Outlook
for 1981,” E c o n o m ic O u tlo o k U S A , Winter 1981, pp. 3-9.
Meltzer, Allan H., “Keynes’s General Theory: A Different
Perspective,” J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic L ite r a tu r e , March
1981, pp. 34-64.
Plaut, Thomas R. and Mildred C. Anderson, T h e G r o ss R e ­
g io n a l P r o d u c t o f T e x a s a n d I t s R e g io n s . Austin, The Uni­
versity of Texas, Bureau of Business Research, 1981, 54
pp., bibliography. $6.

Industrial relations
Angell, George W., ed.

F a c u lty a n d T e a c h e r B a r g a in in g : T h e

Lexington, Mass., D.C.
Heath and Co., Lexington Books, 1981, 114 pp. $15.95.

I m p a c t o f U n io n s o n E d u c a tio n .

P u b lic a tio n s re c e iv e d
Agriculture and natural resources
Adkins, Lynn, “Enough Food for All?”
1981, beginning on p. 94.

D u n 's R e v ie w ,

April

Congressional Quarterly, Inc., E n e r g y P o lic y . 2d ed. Washing­
ton, 1981, 274 pp., bibliography. $8.50.
Gray, John A.,

T h e T r e e s B e h in d th e S h o r e : T h e F o r e s ts a n d

Hull,
Quebec, Economic Council of Canada, 1981, 114 pp.,
bibliography. $9.95, Canada; $11.95, other countries.
Available from Canadian Government Publishing Center,
Supply and Services Canada, Hull, Quebec.
F o r e s t I n d u s tr ie s o f N e w f o u n d l a n d a n d L a b r a d o r .

Roseblaum, Walter A., E n e r g y , P o litic s a n d P u b lic P o lic y .
Washington, Congressional Quarterly Press, 1981, 229
pp. $7.50.

Economic and social statistics
Arthur, W. B., “The Economics of Risks to Life,”
c a n E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , March 1981, pp. 54—64.
Foot, David K.,

Labour

M arket

A n a ly s is

w ith

T h e A m e r i­

C a n a d ia n

Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, University of Toronto, Center for Industrial Re­
lations and Labor Market Information and Analysis
Unit, Ontario Manpower Commission, 1980, 111 pp.,
bibliography.
M a c r o e c o n o m e tr ic M o d e ls : A

Freeman, Richard B.,
e f fic ie n t

R e v ie w .

A n E m p i r i c a l A n a ly s is o f th e F ix e d C o ­

“M a n p o w e r

R e q u i r e m e n t s ” M o d e l,

1 9 6 0 -1 9 7 0 .

Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re­
search, Inc., 1980. Reprinted from T h e J o u r n a l o f H u m a n
R e s o u r c e s , Spring 1980, pp. 176-99. (NBER Reprint
107.) $1.50.
Hartog, Joop, P e r s o n a l I n c o m e D is tr ib u tio n : A M u lti c a p a b i l i t y
T h e o ry . The Hague, The Netherlands, Martinus NijhofF
Publishing, 1981, 221 pp. Available from Kluwer Boston,
Inc., Hingham, Mass.

62
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Australia, Commonwealth Department of Science and Tech­
nology, “Employee Communication— Trade Union Atti­
tudes,” by Brian Gibson and Russel Craig, W o r k a n d
P e o p le , Vol. 6, No. 2, 1980, pp. 9-12.
Becker, Brian E. and Stephen M. Hills, “Youth Attitudes and
Adult Labor Market Activity,” I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s , Win­
ter 1981, pp. 60-70.
Bloom, Gordon F. and Herbert R. Northrup, E c o n o m ic s o f
L a b o r R e la tio n s . 9th ed. Homewood, 111., Richard D. Ir­
win, Inc., 1981, 860 pp. $21.95.
Chaison, Gary N., “Union Growth and Union Mergers,”
d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , Winter 1981, pp. 98-108.

In ­

Cohen, Kenneth P., “Information and Antitrust: Information
Exchanges Relating to Wages and Other Conditions of
Employment,” L a b o r L a w J o u r n a l, January 1981, pp. 5560.
Dannin, Ellen Jean, “Union Mergers and Affiliations:
Discontinuing the Continuity of Representation Test,”
L a b o r L a w J o u r n a l, March 1981, pp. 170-79.
Gruender, Daniel F. and Philip M. Prince,” Union Authoriza­
tion Cards: Why Not Laboratory Conditions?” L a b o r
L a w J o u r n a l, January 1981, pp. 13-22.
Kolb, Deborah M., “Roles Mediators Play: State and Federal
Practice,” I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , Winter 1981, pp. 1-17.
Lawler, John, “Wage Spillover: The Impact of Landrum-Griffin,” I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , Winter 1981, pp. 85-97.
Lazar, Joseph,

D u e P r o c e s s in D is c ip lin a r y H e a r in g s : D e c is io n s

Los Angeles,
University of California, Institute of Industrial Relations,
1980, 459 pp. (Industrial Relations Monograph Series,
25.)
o f th e N a t i o n a l R a i l r o a d A d j u s t m e n t B o a r d .

Lowe, Graham S.,

B ank

U n io n iz a tio n in C a n a d a : A P r e lim i­

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, University of
Toronto, Center for Industrial Relations, 1980, 124 pp.
n a r y A n a ly s is .

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Book Reviews
“Liability Through Agency— The Needless Lawsuit?”
L a w J o u r n a l, March 1981, pp. 180-84.

L abor

International economics
de Vries, Rimmer, “Urgent Tasks on the International Scene,”
C h a lle n g e , March-April 1981, pp. 42-49.
“Judicial Decisions in the Field of Labour Law,” I n te r n a tio n a l
L a b o u r R e v ie w , January-February 1981, pp. 49-66.
Nordhaus, William D., “Oil and Economic Performance in In­
dustrial Countries,” B r o o k in g s P a p e r s o n E c o n o m ic A c ti v i ­
ty , 2, 1980, pp. 341-99.
Perlman, Mark, “Population and Economic Change in Devel­
oping Countries: A Review Article,” J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic
L ite r a tu r e , March 1981, pp. 74-82.
Rostow, W. W., “Working Agenda for a Disheveled World
Economy,” C h a lle n g e , March-April 1981, pp. 5-16.

Brunner, Nancy R., “Blue-Collar Women,”
April 1981, pp. 279-82.

P e r s o n n e l J o u r n a l,

Davis, Philip A., “Building a Workable Participative Manage­
ment System,” M a n a g e m e n t R e v ie w , March 1981, begin­
ning on p. 26.
Ellis, Darryl J. and Peter P. Pekar, Jr.,

P la n n in g

fo r

New York,
a m a c o m , A division of American Management Associa­
tions, 1980, 152 pp., bibliography. $12.95.
N o n p la n n e r s : P la n n in g B a s ic s f o r M a n a g e r s .

Leach, John J., “The Career Planning Process,”
J o u r n a l, April 1981, pp. 283-87.

P erso n n el

Loveridge, Ray, “What is Participation? A Review of the Lit­
erature and Some Methodological Problems,” B r itis h
J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , November 1980, pp. 297317.

Schregle, Johannes, “Comparative Industrial Relations: Pitfalls and Potential,” I n t e r n a tio n a l L a b o u r R e v ie w , Janu­
ary-February 1981, pp. 15-30.

Lyons, Morgan, “The Older Employee as a Resource: Issues
for Personnel,” P e r s o n n e l J o u r n a l, March 1981, beginning
on p. 178.

Labor force

McAfee, R. Bruce, “Performance Appraisal: Whose Func­
tion?” P e r s o n n e l J o u r n a l, April 1981, pp. 298-99.

Acton, Norman, “Employment of Disabled Persons: Where
Are We Going?” I n t e r n a tio n a l L a b o u r R e v ie w , JanuaryFebruary 1981, pp. 1-14.

Malinowski, Frank A., “Job Selection Using Task Analysis,”
P e r s o n n e l J o u r n a l, April 1981, pp. 288-91.

Betcherman, Gordon,

S k i l l s a n d S h o r ta g e s : A S u m m a r y G u id e

Hull,
Quebec, Economic Council of Canada, 1980, 19 pp. $2,
Canada; $2.40, other countries. Available from Canadian
Government Publishing Center, Supply and Services Can­
ada, Hull, Quebec.
to

th e F in d in g s o f th e H u m a n

R e so u rce s S u rvey.

Bjorklund, Anders and Bertil Holmlund, “The Duration of
Unemployment and Unexpected Inflation: An Empirical
Analysis,” T h e A m e r ic a n E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , March 1981,
pp. 121-31.
Brown, Charles, E q u a liz in g D if fe r e n c e s in th e L a b o r M a r k e t.
Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re­
search, Inc., 1980. Reprinted from T h e Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l
o f E c o n o m ic s , February 1980, pp. 113-34. ( n b e r Reprint
103. ) $1.50.
Freeman, Richard B.,
M a r k e t:

U n io n ism ,

T he E x it-V o ic e
Job

T en u re,

T r a d e o f f in th e L a b o r
Q u its,

a n d S e p a r a tio n s .

Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re­
search, Inc., 1980. Reprinted from T h e Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l
o f E c o n o m ic s , June 1980, pp. 643-73. ( n b e r Reprint
104. ) $1.50.
Levy, Frank, “Changes in Employment Prospects for Black
Males,” B r o o k in g s P a p e r s o n E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity , 2, 1980,
pp. 513-38.
Meltz, Noah M.,

A n A n a ly s is o f L a b o u r M a r k e t P r o b le m s in

C a n a d a a n d O n ta r io . Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Univer­
sity of Toronto, Center for Industrial Relations, 1979, 49
pp.

Management and Organization theory

Medoff, James L. and Katharine G. Abraham, T h e R o le o f
S e n io r ity a t U .S . W o r k P la c e s : A R e p o r t on S o m e N e w E v ­
id e n c e . Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic
Research, Inc., 1981, 17 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series,
618.) $1.50.
Myers, M. Scott, E v e r y E m p lo y e e a M a n a g e r . 2d ed. New
York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1981, 285 pp. $16.50.

Monetary and fiscal policy
Brainard, William C., John B. Shoven, Laurence Weiss, “The
Financial Valuation of the Return to Capital,” B r o o k in g s
P a p e r s o n E c o n o m ic A c ti v i t y 2 , 1980, pp. 453-511.
Hale, George E. and Marian Lief Palley, T h e P o litic s o f F e d e r ­
a l G r a n ts . Washington Congressional Quarterly Press,
1981, 178 pp., bibliography. $7.50, paper.
“How to Avoid an Economic Dunkirk,” by David A. Stockman; “Problems Yes, Crisis No,” by Charles L. Schultze,
C h a lle n g e , March-April 1981, pp. 17-23.
Penner, Rudolph G., “Cutting the Budget: The Painful
Choices,” C h a lle n g e , March-April 1981, pp. 24-30.
Rivlin, Alice M., “Congress and the Budget Process,
le n g e , March-April 1981, pp. 31-37.
Rose, Sanford, “Banks Should Look to the Futures,”
Apr. 20, 1981, beginning on p. 185.

C h a l­

F o r tu n e ,

Rosen, Gerald R., “Can the White House Curb ‘Off-Budget’
Financing?” D u n 's R e v ie w , April 1981, beginning on p.
46.

B u s in e s s

Santomero, Anthony M. and Jeremy J. Siegel, “Bank Regula­
tion and Macro-Economic Stability,” T h e A m e r ic a n E c o ­
n o m ic R e v ie w , March 1981, pp. 39-53.

Arnold, John D., “The Why, When, and How of Changing
Organizational Structures,” M a n a g e m e n t R e v ie w , March
1981, pp. 17-20.

Wojnilower, Albert M., “The Central Role of Credit
Crunches in Recent Financial History,” B r o o k in g s P a p e r s
on E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity , 2 , 1980, pp. 277-339.

“An Aging Work Force Strains Japan’s Traditions,”
W e e k , Apr. 20, 1981, beginning on p. 72.


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

63

Prices and living conditions

tendent of Documents, Washington 20402.

Blinder, Alan S., “The Consumer Price Index and the Mea­
surement of Recent Inflation,” B r o o k in g s P a p e r s o n E c o ­
n o m ic A c tiv ity , 2, 1980, pp. 539-73.

Reid, Frank, “Control and Decontrol of Wages in the United
States: An Empirical Analysis,” T h e A m e r ic a n E c o n o m ic
R e v ie w , March 1981, pp. 108-20.

Humphrey, Thomas M., E s s a y s o n I n f la tio n . 2d ed.
Richmond, Va., Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond,
1980, 206 pp.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, C o lle c tiv e B a r g a in in g in th e
R a i l r o a d I n d u s tr y . Prepared by Marcy Jacobs. Washing­
ton, 1981, 15 pp. (Report 632.)

Okun, Arthur M., P r ic e s a n d Q u a n titie s : A M a c r o e c o n o m ic
A n a ly s is . Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1981,
367 pp. $19.95, cloth; $7.95, paper.

--------- M u n ic ip a l

Productivity and technological change

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Kansas City, Mo., U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Mountain-Plains Regions VII and VIII,
1981, 64 pp. (Report 26.)

--------- W a g e

Harvey, R. A. and Shirley E. Morris, P a th w a y s to P r o d u c tiv ity
I m p r o v e m e n t. Reprinted from O m e g a , The International
Journal of Management and Science, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1981,
pp. 143-53.

G o v e r n m e n t W a g e S u r v e y : S t. L o u is , M is s o u ­

ri, S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 9 .

C h r o n o lo g y : P a c ific C o a s t S h ip b u ild e r s a n d V a r i­

1 9 7 7 - 8 0 . Washington, 1981, 6 pp. (Supple­
ment to Bulletin 1982.) Stock No. 029-001-02565-3,
$1.25, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
o u s U n io n s,

--------- W a g e

C h r o n o lo g y : R o c k w e l l I n t e r n a tio n a l (E le c tr o n ic s ,

T e c h n o lo g y , P r o d u c tiv ity , a n d

N o r th A m e r ic a n A e r o s p a c e O p e r a tio n s ) a n d th e ¡JA W , O c to ­

L a b o r in th e B itu m in o u s C o a l I n d u s tr y , 1 9 5 0 - 7 9 . Wash­
ington, 1981, 69 pp. (Bulletin 2072.) Stock No. 029-00102556-4. $4, Superintendent of Documents, Washington
20402.

b e r 1 9 7 7 - J u n e 1 9 8 1 . Washington, 1981, 9 pp. (Supple­
ment to Bulletin 1983.) $1.25, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington 20402.

Zimbalist, Andrew, ed., C a s e S tu d ie s on th e L a b o r P ro c e ss.
New York, Monthly Review Press, 1979, 314 pp., bibli­
ography. $16.50.

--------- W a g e

D if fe r e n c e s A m o n g L a r g e C ity G o v e r n m e n ts a n d

C o m p a r is o n s

w ith

In d u s tr y

and

F e d era l

P ay,

1 9 7 8 -7 9 .

Washington, 1981, 10 pp. (Report 633.)

Welfare programs and social insurance
Social institutions and social change
“America Enters the Eighties: Some Social Indicators,” T h e
A n n a ls of the American Academy of Political and Social
Science, January 1981, pp. 1-253.
Elsasser, Nan, Kyle MacKenzie, Yvonne Tixier y Vigil,

Las

Old
Westbury, N.Y., The Feminist Press, 1980, 163 pp. $5.95,
paper.
M u je r e s : C o n v e r s a tio n s f r o m

a H is p a n ic C o m m u n ity .

Gunderson,

Morley and James E. Pesando,

M a n d a to r y

R e tir e m e n t:

E c o n o m ic s

and

E lim in a tin g

H um an

R ig h ts .

Toronto, Ontario, University of Toronto, Center for In­
dustrial Relations, 1980, 21 pp. (Working Paper, 7904.)
Kumar, Pradeep and Alister M. M. Smith,

P e n sio n R e f o r m in

Kingston,
Ontario, Canada, Queen’s University at Kingston, Indus­
trial Relations Center, 1981, 49 pp. (Research and Cur­
rent Issues Series, 40.) $5, paper.
C a n a d a : A R e v ie w o f th e I s s u e s a n d O p tio n s.

Urban affairs
Hendershott, Patric H„ “Real User Costs and the Demand
for Single-Family Housing,” B r o o k in g s P a p e r s o n E c o ­
n o m ic A c tiv ity , 2, 1980, pp. 401-52.
Muller, Thomas, “Regional — Urban Policy: Should the Gov­
ernment Intervene?” C h a lle n g e , March-April 1981, pp.
38-41.

Wages and compensation
American Chemical Society,

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Or­
ganizations, I n v e s tm e n t o f U n io n P e n sio n F u n d s . Wash­
ington, 1981, 133 pp. $2, paper.

S t a r t i n g S a la r ie s a n d E m p l o y m e n t

S t a t u s o f C h e m is tr y a n d C h e m ic a l E n g in e e r in g G r a d u a te s :
1 9 8 0 S u r v e y R e p o r t. Washington, American Chemical So­
ciety, 1981, 75 pp. $5, Special Issue Sales.

Hughes, James J„ “The Reduction in the Working Week: A
Critical Look at Target 35,” B r itis h J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l
R e la tio n s , November 1980, pp. 287-96.
McGaughey, William, Jr., A S h o r te r W o r k w e e k in th e 1 9 8 0 s.
White Bear Lake, Minn., Thistlerose Publications (5161
East County Line Road), 1981, 308 pp. $6.95 plus $1 for
postage and handling

Rogers, Gayle Thompson, “Aged Widows and o a s d i : Age at
and Economic Status Before and After Receipt of Bene­
fits,” S o c ia l S e c u r ity B u lle tin , March 1981, pp. 3-19.
Schiller, Bradley R., “Welfare: Reforming Our Expectations,”
T h e P u b lic I n te r e s t, Winter 1981, pp. 55-65.
Schobel, Bruce D., “Administrative Expenses Under OASDI,”
S o c ia l S e c u r ity B u lle tin , March 1981, pp. 21-28.
Swoboda, Frank, “How Food Stamps Became a National
Welfare Program,” D u n 's R e v ie w ,- April 1981, beginning
on p. 117.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “Tokyo’s Welfare Measures
for the Elderly in an Aging Society and Their Future Di­
rection,” T o k y o M u n ic ip a l N e w s , December 1980, pp. 13.

Worker training and development

Nakao, Takeo, “Wages and Market Power in Japan,” B r itis h
J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , November 1980, pp. 36568 .

Doeringer, Peter B. ed., W o r k p la c e P e r s p e c tiv e s o n E d u c a tio n
a n d T r a in in g . Hingham, Mass., Martinus Nijhoff Pub­
lishing, 1981, 172 pp.

National Commission on Unemployment Compensation, U n ­
e m p l o y m e n t C o m p e n s a tio n : F in a l R e p o r t. Arlington, Va.,
National Commission on Unemployment Compensation,
1980, 264 pp. Stock No. 052-003-00779-7. $7, Superin­

Ryan, Paul, “The Costs of Job Training for a Transferable
skill,” B r itis h J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s , November
1980, pp. 334-52.


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

64

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, 1950-80
Employment by State ................................................................................................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group ................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted ........................................
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 g r o u p ..............................................................................
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, 1960 to date .....................................................

Unemployment insurance data. Definitions and notes

67
67
68
69
70
71
71
71
72
73
73
74
75
76
76
77
78
79
80
80
81
82
83
83

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

84
85
85
91
92
93
94
96
96
96

Price data. Definitions and notes

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

66

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

21. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations

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

66

........................................................................................................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 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 and notes

........................................................................................................
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 date .....................
37. Work stoppages, 1947 to date ................................................................................................................................................


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

99
99
100
100
101
102

102
103
103

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 e v ie w . 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 Review 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 The X -ll ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment
Method 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 BLS Handbook o f Labor
Statistics, Bulletin 2070, provides more detailed data and greater his­
torical coverage for most of the statistical series presented in the
Monthly Labor Review.- More information from the household and es­
tablishment surveys is provided in Employment and Earnings, a
monthly publication of the Bureau, and in two comprehensive data
books issued annually — Employment and Earnings, United States and
Employment and Earnings, States and Areas. More detailed informa­
tion on wages and other aspects of collective bargaining appears in
the monthly periodical, Current Wage Developments. More detailed
price information is published each month in the periodicals, the CPI
Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes.

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
Title and frequency
(monthly except where indicated)
Employment situation ..................................................................
Producer Price Index ..................................................................
Consumer Price Index ................................................................
Real earnings ............................................................................
Labor turnover in manufacturing ..................................................
Work stoppages..........................................................................
Productivity and costs:
Nonfarm business and manufacturing ......................................
Major collective bargaining settlements ........................................

66


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

Release
date

Period
covered

Release
date

Period
covered

June 5
June 5
June 23
June 23
June 30
June 30

May
May
May
May
May
May

July 2
July 7
July 23
July 23
July 29
July 29

June
June
June
June
June
June

1-11
26-30
22-25
14-20
12-13
37

2d quarter
2d quarter

31-34
35-36

July?
July?

MLR table
number

EM PLOYM ENT DATA FRO M TH E H O U SEH O LD SURVEY

E m p l o y m e n t 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 65,000
households beginning in January 1980, 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.

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 Employment
and Earnings.
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]
Total labor force

Year

Total non­
institutional
population

Civilian labor force
Employed

Number

Percent of
population

Total

Unemployed

Total

Agriculture

Nonagricultural
industries

Number

Percent of
labor
force

Not in
labor force

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
597

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
6.0
5.8
7.1

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

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


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

67

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data

2.

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

[Numbers in thousands]
1981

1980

Annual average
Employment status

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

1979

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

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

165,693
106,519
163,601
104,427
97,225
3,262
93,963
7,202
6.9
59,174

165,886
107,148
163,799
105,060
97,116
3,352
93,764
7,944
7.6
58,739

166,105
106,683
164,013
104,591
96,780
3,232
93,548
7,811
7.5
59,422

166,391
107,119
164,293
105,020
96,999
3,267
93,732
8,021
7.6
59,273

166,578
107,059
164,464
104,945
97,003
3,210
93,793
7,942
7.6
59,519

166,789
107,101
164,667
104,980
97,180
3,399
93,781
7,800
7.4
59,687

167,005
107,288
164,884
105,167
97,206
3,319
93,887
7,961
7.6
59,717

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

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

69,329
55,127
51,935
2,334
49,601
3,192
5.8
14,202

69,428
55,440
51,871
2,337
49,494
3,569
6.4
13,988

69,532
55,182
51,624
2,301
49,323
3,558
6.4
14,350

69,664
55,344
51,714
2,306
49,408
3,630
6.6
14,320

69,756
55,403
51,791
2,301
49,490
3,612
6.5
14,353

69,864
55,475
51,823
2,389
49,434
3,652
6.6
14,389

69,987
55,495
51,963
2,351
49,612
3,532
6.4
14,492

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
6.2
14,728

70,320
55,443
52,091
2,378
49,713
3,352
6.0
14,877

70,413
55,445
52,134
2,289
49,844
3,312
6.0
14,968

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

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

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

77,981
40,098
37,597
560
37,037
2,501
6.2
37,883

78,090
40,193
37,600
598
37,002
2,593
6.5
37,897

78,211
40,182
37,613
550
37,063
2,569
6.4
38,029

78,360
40,383
37,728
564
37,164
2,655
6.6
37,977

78,473
40,523
37,890
555
37,335
2,633
6.5
37,950

78,598
40,317
37,804
592
37,212
2,513
6.2
38,281

78,723
40,486
37,754
576
37,178
2,732
6.7
38,237

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
6.8
38,389

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

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
6.6
37,978

79,377
41,481
38,760
603
38,157
2,721
6.6
37,896

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

16,291
9,202
7,693
368
7,325
1,509
16.4
7,089

16,281
9,427
7,645
377
7,268
1,782
18.9
6,854

16,271
9,227
7,543
381
7,162
1,684
18.3
7,044

16,268
9,293
7,557
397
7,160
1,736
18.7
6,975

16,235
9,019
7,322
354
6,968
1,697
18.8
7,216

16,205
9,188
7,553
418
7,135
1,635
17.8
7,017

16,174
9,186
7,489
392
7,097
1,697
18.5
6,988

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

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

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

143,254
92,044
86,389
5,655
6.1
51,210

143,403
92,501
86,251
6,250
6.8
50,902

143,565
92,134
86,007
6,127
6.7
51,431

143,770 143,900
92,335 92,288
86,075 86,067
6,260
6,221
6.8
6.7
51,435 51,612

144,051
92,317
86,307
6,010
6.5
51,734

144,211
92,516
86,371
6,145
6.6
51,695

144,359 144,500
92,562 92,383
86,409 86,377
6,153
6,006
6.6
6.5
51,797 52,117

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

144,774 144,882
93,035 93,313
86,940 87,291
6,095
6,022
6.5
6.6
51,739 51,569

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

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

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

20,346
12,401
10,838
1,563
12.6
7,945

20,395
12,546
10,842
1,704
13.6
7,849

20,448
12,491
10,809
1,682
13.5
7,957

20,564
12,630
10,902
1,728
13.7
7,934

20,617
12,677
10,894
1,783
14.1
7,940

20,673
12,686
10,884
1,802
14.2
7,987

20,771
12,668
10,895
1,773
14.0
8,103

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

20,892
12,765
11,020
1,745
13.7
8,127

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

TOTAL
Total noninstitutional population1 ..........................
Total labor force ......................................
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ................................
Employed ......................................
Agriculture ..............................
Nonagricultural Industries ........
Unemployed ..................................
Unemployment rate ........................
Not in labor force ..................................
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not In labor force ........................................
Both sexes, 16-19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................
White
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employee ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not In labor force ........................................
Black and other
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................

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

Digitized for 68
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

20,523
12,661
10,902
1,759
13.9
7,862

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

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

NOTE: The monthly data in this table have been revised to reflect seasonal experience through 1980.

3.

Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted

[ Number in thousands]
Annual average

1980

1981

Selected categories
1979

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

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

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

97,225
56,054
41,171
38,373
23,094

97,116
55,914
41,202
38,197
23,145

96,780
55,597
41,183
38,220
23,131

96,999
55,678
41,321
38,049
23,118

97,003
55,589
41,414
37,987
23,126

97,180
55,754
41,426
38,027
23,027

97,206
55,881
41,325
38,142
22,993

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

49,342
15,050

50,809
15,613

50,465
15,528

50,627
15,540

50,836
15,682

51,023
15,717

51,307
15,751

51,074
15,540

51,101
15,780

51,148
15,863

51,065
15,810

51,594
15,965

51,698
15,813

51,746
15,827

51,801
15,754

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

10,773
6,048
18,116
31,120
12,713
10,450
3,495
4,462
13,009
2,682

10,877
6,072
18,138
30,800
12,551
10,379
3,458
4,412
12,947
2,730

10,901
6,046
18,207
30,443
12,357
10,233
3,429
4,424
12,941
2,625

10,999
6,130
18,177
30,276
12,403
10,189
3,354
4,330
13,017
2,694

11,109
6,140
18,307
30,232
12,346
10,147
3,478
4,261
12,928
2,620

11,007
6,316
18,211
30,436
12,490
10,202
3,434
4,310
12,943
2,757

10,979
6,277
18,065
30,521
12,485
10,210
3,443
4,383
12,891
2,735

11,016
6,155
18,114
30,550
12,424
10,247
3,429
4,450
12,888
2,729

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

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
6,220
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

1,413
1,580
304

1,384
1,628
297

1,377
1,602
287

1,396
1,642
292

1,369
1,606
278

1,360
1,631
295

1,282
1,640
280

1,417
1,688
309

1,363
1,640
325

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

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

86,789
15,635
71,154
1,151
70,003
6,804
363

86,722
15,720
71,002
1,197
69,805
6,698
406

86,370
15,817
70,553
1,204
69,349
6,728
445

86,432
15,718
70,714
1,230
69,484
6,801
426

86,490
15,531
70,959
1,196
69,763
6,881
403

86,395
15,575
70,820
1,125
69,695
6,977
416

86,587
15,597
70,990
1,144
69,846
7,005
417

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

86,513
15,653
70,860
1,110
69,750
6,973
396

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

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

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

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

88,041
71,986
3,803
1,680
2,123
12,252

87,974
71,501
4,276
1,998
2,278
12,197

87,994
71,454
3,969
1,734
2,235
12,571

87,431
70,825
4,086
1,794
2,292
12,520

88,195
71,526
4,143
1,709
2,434
12,526

88,246
71,929
4,183
1,701
2,482
12,134

88,488
72,071
4,220
1,685
2,535
12,197

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

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over ......................
Men ............................................................
Women........................................................
Married men, spouse present ........................
Married women, spouse present....................
OCCUPATION
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 ......................................................
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
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 ..................................
PERSONS AT WORK 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................

’ 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

NOTE: The monthly data in this table have been revised to reflect seasonal experience through 1980.

69

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.

Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

[Unemployment rates]
1981

1980

Annual average
Selected categories

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

1979

1980

Apr.

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

5.8
4,1
5,7
16,1

7.1
5.9
6.3
17.7

6.9
5.8
6.2
16.4

7.6
6.4
6.5
18.9

7.5
6.4
6.4
18.3

7.6
6.6
6.6
18.7

7.6
6.5
6.5
18.8

7.4
6.6
6.2
17.8

7.6
6.4
6.7
185

7.5
6.4
6.7
18.6

7.4
6,2
6.8
17.8

7.4
6.0
6.7
19.0

7.3
6.0
6.5
19.3

7.3
5.9
6.6
19.1

7.3
5.8
6.6
19.1

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

5,1
3.6
5.0
13.9

6.3
5,2
5,6
14.8

6.1
5.2
5.5
14.8

6.8
5.8
5.7
17.1

6.7
5,7
5.7
16.1

6.8
5.8
5.8
16.5

6.7
5.8
5.8
16.6

6.5
5.8
5.5
15.1

6.6
5.7
5.8
16.0

6.6
5,7
5.8
16.4

6.5
5.5
5.9
15.4

6.7
5.5
6.0
16.8

6.6
5.4
5.7
17.4

6.5
5.4
5.6
169

6.5
5.2
5.7
17.2

Black and other, total....................................
Men, 20 years and over ........................
Women, 20 years and o v e r....................
Both sexes, 16-19 years........................

11.3
8.4
10.1
33.5

13.2
11.4
11.1
35.8

12.6
10.8
11.1
31,8

13.6
11.7
11.6
35.3

13.5
12,2
10.9
34.8

13.9
12.5
11.3
35.9

13.7
12.5
109
376

14.1
13.2
10.6
37.8

14.2
12.1
12.3
37.4

14.0
12.0
12.2
36.6

14.0
11.6
12.3
37.5

12.9
10.5
11.0
36.5

13.1
10.8
11.9
35.4

13.7
10.8
12.6
37.3

13.2
10.6
11.8
36.1

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

2.7
5.1
8.3
5.3
8.7
1.2
6.3

4.2
5.8
9.1
6.8
8.7
1.7
7,9

4.0
5.7
9.0
6.5
8.8
1.5
7.6

4.6
6.1
8,3
7.3
9.0
1.6
8.6

4.6
6.0
8.5
7.2
8.8
1.7
8.1

4.9
6.1
8.8
7.4
8.8
1.8
8.4

4.8
6.0
9.0
7.3
8.7
2.0
8.3

4.7
5.7
9.0
7.3
8.7
2,2
8.2

4.6
6.0
10.2
7.3
9.1
2.2
8.4

4.4
5.9
9.9
7.4
8.6
2.2
8.3

4.3
5.8
10.4
7.3
8.2
2.3
8.2

4.2
6.2
10.5
7.1
9.2
2.2
8.2

4.1
5.8
9.6
7.1
9.1
2.1
8.1

4.1
6.0
9.4
7.1
9,0
2.1
8.1

3.8
5.9
9.8
6.9
9.0
2.0
8.2

3.3
2.4

3.7
2.5

3.7
2.4

3.8
2.6

3.7
2.5

3.7
2,4

3.7
2.4

3.8
2.5

3.9
2.6

3.9
2.5

4.0
2.6

3.9
2.8

3.7
2.6

3.9
2.7

4.0
3.2

1.9
3.9
4.6
6.9
4.5
8.4
5.4
10.8
7,1
3.8

2.4
4.4
5.3
10.0
6.6
12.2
8.8
14.6
7.9
4.4

2.6
4.5
5.1
9,6
6.5
11.6
8.4
14.1
7.8
4.8

2.6
4.4
5.3
10.9
7.5
13.7
8.7
14.9
8.2
4.7

2,5
4.4
5.2
11.1
7.5
13.4
100
15.7
8.1
4.5

2.6
4.2
5.4
11.3
7.2
14.4
10.0
15.8
8.3
4.6

2.5
4.2
5.4
11.1
7.6
13.3
9.8
16.1
8.5
5.5

2.4
4,3
5.4
10.8
7.4
13.0
10.4
15.2
8.1
4.3

2.5
4.6
5.6
10.8
7.1
13.2
10.6
15.3
8.3
4.4

2.4
4.8
5.6
10.7
7.1
13.0
10.6
15.0
8.3
4.0

2.5
4.7
5.8
10.5
7.1
12.9
8.8
14,8
7.8
4.0

2.4
4.4
5.7
10.2
6.8
12.1
9.1
15.0
8.0
5.0

2.4
4.0
5.3
10,1
7.2
11.9
8.3
14.9
8.7
4.7

2.6
3.8
5.9
9.8
7.1
11.3
9.3
14.1
8.1
5.1

2.4
4.0
5.6
9.6
6.8
11.5
8.1
13.8
8.5
3.7

5.7
10.2
5.5
5.0
6.4
3.7
6.5
4.9
3.7
9.1

7.4
14.2
8.5
8.9
7.9
4,9
7.4
5.3
4.1
10.8

7.0
14.5
7,9
8.3
7.3
4.7
7.0
5.1
4.3
11.7

8.0
16.6
9.7
10.4
8.6
5.0
7.5
5.6
4.2
11.4

8.0
15.6
9.7
10,9
7,9
5.1
7.7
5.6
3.5
104

8.0
15.8
9.8
10.7
8.5
5.6
7.6
5.6
4.1
10.8

8.0
17.3
9.3
10.1
8.0
5.6
7.7
5.5
4,0
13.2

7.8
15.9
9.2
10.0
7.9
5.3
7.7
5.4
4.1
10.7

7.8
14.6
9.2
9.5
8.9
5.3
7.8
5.6
4.4
11.1

7.8
14.8
8.9
9.0
8.6
4.9
8.2
5.5
4.2
10.1

7.7
13.8
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

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

7.2
14.4
7.4
7.3
7.6
5.7
7.3
5.9
4.9
9.1

CHARACTERISTIC

OCCUPATION
White-collar workers ..........................................
Professional and technical ............................
Managers and administrators, except
farm ........................................................
Salesworkers ..............................................
Clerical workers ..........................................
Blue-collar workers ............................................
Operatives, except transport ........................
Transport equipment operatives ....................
Nonfarm laborers ........................................
Service workers..................................................
Farmworkers......................................................
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage-and-salary workers2
Construction ................................................
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 ..................

’ Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a
percent of potentially available labor force hours.
2 Includes mining, not shown separately.

Digitized for70
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

NOTE: The monthly data in this table have been revised to reflect seasonal experience through
1980.

5.

Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
1981

1980

Annual average
Sex and age

Dec.

Mar.

Feb.

Apr.

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Total, 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..................................

5.8
16.1
18.1
14.6
9.0
3.9
4.1
3.0

7.1
17.7
20.0
16.1
11.5
5.0
5.4
3.3

6.9
16.4
19.0
14.5
11.3
5.0
5.3
3.3

7.6
18.9
21.2
17.4
12.5
5.3
5.6
3.4

7.5
18.3
20.0
17.6
12.1
5.4
5.8
3.3

7.6
18.7
20.5
17.4
12.1
5.5
5.9
3.4

7.6
18.8
22.1
16.5
12.0
5.4
5.9
3.4

7.4
17.8
20.1
16.0
12.0
5.4
5.9
3.4

7.6
18.5
20.9
16.7
12.3
5.4
5.9
3.4

7.5
18.6
21.4
16.5
12.1
5.4
5.9
3.3

7.4
17.8
19.9
16.4
11.7
5.3
5.8
3.5

7.4
19.0
21.0
17.5
11.9
5.3
5.7
3.5

7.3
19.3
21.4
17.9
11.8
5.1
5.5
3.6

7.3
19.1
21.3
17.7
11.7
5.2
5.5
3.7

7.3
19.1
22.0
17.2
12.1
5.0
5.4
3.3

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
8.6
3.3
3.4
2.9

6.9
18.2
20.4
16.7
12.5
4.7
5.1
3.3

6.7
16.3
18.8
14.4
12.3
4.7
4.9
3.3

7.5
19.4
21.5
17.6
13.5
5.1
5.4
3.4

7.5
19.1
21.5
18.8
13.4
5.2
5.6
3.6

7.6
19.5
20.9
18.4
13.2
5.4
5.8
3.6

7.6
19.9
23.7
17.1
13.6
5.3
5.7
3.6

7.6
18.9
21.2
16.9
13.5
5.4
6.0
3.5

7.4
19.8
21.8
18.1
13.8
5.1
5.6
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
12.8
4.9
5.2
3.4

7.1
20.1
22.1
18.7
12.7
4.8
5.2
3.4

7.0
19.5
21.1
18.6
13.0
4.7
5.1
3.2

6.9
19.3
22.7
17.0
13.2
4.6
4.9
3.1

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
16.4
18.3
15.0
9.6
4.8
5.2
3.2

7.4
17.2
19.5
15.6
10.3
5.5
5.9
3.2

7.2
16.5
19.3
14.8
10.1
5.4
5.8
3.3

7.6
18.3
20.9
17.2
11.3
5.5
6.0
3.3

7.4
17.3
18.3
16.3
10.6
5.5
6.0
2.9

7.7
17.7
20.1
16.2
10.9
5.7
6.1
3.1

7.6
17.6
20.2
15.9
10.2
5.7
6.2
3.1

7.2
16.6
18.8
15.1
10.2
5.4
5.9
3.3

7.7
17.0
19.8
15.1
10.6
5.9
6.4
3.4

7.7
17.2
20.3
15.1
10.8
5.8
6.2
3.4

7.7
16.5
19.3
14.8
10.8
5.9
6.3
3.9

7.7
17.5
18.7
16.4
10.8
5.8
6.3
3.6

7.6
18.4
20.5
17.0
10.8
5.6
5.9
3.9

7.7
18.7
21.6
16.5
10.1
5.9
6.2
4.5

7.7
18.9
21.1
17.4
10.9
5.6
6.0
3.7

6.

Nov.

Jan.

1979

Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
1981

1980

Reason for unemployment
Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

3,581
1,422
2,159
905
1,909
752

4,164
1,771
2,393
930
1,975
871

4,468
1,954
2,514
887
1,834
872

4,364
1,832
2,532
866
1,868
893

4,319
1,699
2,620
890
1,883
870

4,387
1,744
2,643
855
1,844
862

4,240
1,692
2,548
870
2,013
880

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

4,226
1,470
2,756
813
1,869
868

3,847
1,258
2,590
907
2,039
1,000

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

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

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

100.0
50.1
19.9
30.2
12.7
26.7
10.5

100.0
52.4
22.3
30.1
11.7
24.9
11.0

100.0
55.4
24.2
31.2
11.0
22.8
10.8

100.0
54.6
22.9
31.7
10.8
23.4
11.2

100.0
54.2
21.3
32.9
11.2
23.6
10.9

100.0
55.2
21.9
33.3
10.8
23.2
10.8

100.0
53.0
21.1
31.8
10.9
25.2
11.0

100.0
53.5
18.4
35.1
11.3
24.0
11.2

100.0
54.3
18.9
35.4
10.5
24.0
11.2

100.0
49.4
16.1
33.2
11.6
26.2
12.8

100.0
50.7
16.5
34.2
11.5
25.7
12.1

100.0
49.7
16.8
32.9
11.2
26.4
12.7

100.0
49.7
16.7
33.1
11.1
26.3
12.9

3.4
.9
1.8
.7

4.0
.9
1.9
.8

4.3
8
1.8
.8

4.2
.8
1.8
.9

4.1
.8
1.8
.8

4.2
.8
1.8
.8

4.0
.8
1.9
.8

4.0
.9
1.8
.8

4.0
.8
1.8
.8

3.6
.9
1.9
.9

3.7
.8
1.9
.9

3.6
.8
1.9
.9

3.6
.8
1,9
.9

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Lost last job ......................................................................................
Or layoff ....................................................................................
Other job losers ..........................................................................
Left ast ,o b ........................................................................................
Reentered labor force ........................................................................
Seeking first jo b ..................................................................................
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed ..............................................................................
Job losers..........................................................................................
Or layoff ....................................................................................
Other job losers ..........................................................................
Job leavers........................................................................................
Reentrants ........................................................................................
New entrants......................................................................................
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF
THE CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers..........................................................................................
Job leavers........................................................................................
Reentrants ........................................................................................
New entrants......................................................................................

7.

Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
1981

1980

Annual average
Weeks of unemployment

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

1979

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

2,869
1,892
1,202
684
518
10.9

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

3,258
2,373
1,599
931
668
11.2

3,714
2,589
1,686
980
706
10.6

3,281
2,812
1,777
1,024
753
11.7

3,317
2,649
1,935
1,093
842
11.8

3,255
2,533
2,150
1,239
911
12.5

3,042
2,586
2,295
1,366
929
13.0

3,186
2,500
2,292
1,256
1,036
13.3

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
1,001
1,104
13.7

NOTE: The monthly data in these tables have been revised to reflect seasonal experience through 1980.


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

71

EMPLOYMENT, HOURS, AND EARNINGS DATA FROM ESTABLISHMENT 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 porr
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

72

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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 1980 data, published in the August 1980 issue of the Re­
view. Consequently, data published in the Review 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 1980 and seasonally adjusted data from January
1974 through March 1980) and in Employment and Earnings, United
States, 1909-78, 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 Review. For a detailed discussion of the
recalls series, along with historical data, see "New Series on Recalls
from the Labor Turnover Survey,” Employment and Earnings. 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,” Monthly Labor Review, December 1969, pp. 9-20. See also BLS
Handbook o f Methods for Surveys and Studies, 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 1978-80, see Employment and Earnings,
March 1980, 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, 1950-80

[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]

Year

Total

Mining

Government

Construc­
tion

Manufac­
turing

Trans­
portation
and
public
utilities

Whole­
sale
and
retail
trade

Wholesale
trade

Retail
trade

Finance,
insur­
ance,
and real
estate

Services
Total

Federal

State
and local

1951 ..........................................................
1952 ..........................................................
1953 ..........................................................
1954 ..........................................................
1955,..........................................................

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

8,594
8,890
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
11,839
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
14,686

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
89,886
90,657

779
813
851
960
1,025

3,576
3,851
4,229
4,483
4,469

18,997
19,682
20,505
21,062
20,361

4,582
4,713
4,923
5,141
5,156

17,755
18,516
19,542
20,269
20,573

4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5,281

13,209
13,808
14,573
15,066
15,292

4,271
4,467
4,724
4,974
5,162

14,551
15,303
16,252
17,078
17,741

14,871
15,127
15,672
15,920
16,170

2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866

12,138
12,399
12,919
13,147
13,304

’ Data include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.

9. Employment by State
[Nonagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
State

Mar. 1980

Feb. 1981

Mar. 1981 p

State

Mar. 1980

Feb. 1981

Mar. 1981 p

Alabama ..................................................................
Alaska......................................................................
Arizona ....................................................................
Arkansas ..................................................................
California..................................................................

1,361.9
159.3
1,017.4
746.7
9,853.3

1,353.3
162.8
1,018.4
740.6
9,825.2

1,349.9
164.9
1,020.8
745.5
9,870.6

Montana..............................................................
Nebraska............................................................
Nevada ..............................................................
New Hampshire ...................................................
New Jersey ..................................................

274.6
629.5
394.7
378.9
3,022.1

275.2
618.9
402.8
383.0
3,015.1

276.4
621.0
407.9
384.0
3,034.5

Colorado ..................................................................
Connecticut ..............................................................
Delaware..................................................................
District of Columbia.....................................................
Florida......................................................................

1,240.8
1,418.1
255.5
610.0
3,574.0

1,256.6
1,420.6
250.2
609.9
3,734.9

1,260.5
1,428.6
254.5
611.7
3,750.5

New Mexico........................................................
New York............................................................
North Carolina .....................................................
North Dakota ......................................................
Ohio ..................................................................

463.5
7,155.7
2,381.4
240.5
4,413.3

458.6
7,116.3
2,378.1
240.9
4,297.0

461.2
7,160.9
2,385.7
241.9
4,331.5

Georgia....................................................................
Hawaii......................................................................
Idaho........................................................................
Illinois ......................................................................
Indiana......................................................................

2,146.4
407.9
329.0
4,884.9
2,143.4

2,150.7
404.6
325.8
4,762.4
2,110.9

2,162.9
406.4
325.5
4,786.4
2,110.9

Oklahoma ..........................................................
Oregon ..............................................................
Pennsylvania .......................................................
Rhode Island .......................................................
South Carolina .....................................................

1,121.3
1,055.1
4,753.5
393.1
1,190.7

1,153.2
994.8
4,661.6
391.7
1,180.5

1,165.3
1,005.7
4,688.7
392.9
1,184.6

Iowa ........................................................................
Kansas ....................................................................
Kentucky ..................................................................
Louisiana..................................................................
Maine ......................................................................

1,116.1
952.3
1,198.7
1,550.0
406.2

1,069.9
942.6
1,194.0
1,610.5
409.1

1,076.2
950.2
1,195.6
1,616.7
408.7

South Dakota......................................................
Tennessee ..........................................................
Texas ................................................................
Utah ..................................................................
Vermont..............................................................

235.6
1,789.7
5,761.5
549.9
198.6

229.0
1,705.2
6,014.7
552.6
204.6

229.8
1,715.4
6,048.6
556.1
204.2

Maryland ..................................................................
Massachusetts' ........................................................
Michigan ..................................................................
Minnesota ................................................................
Mississippi ................................................................
Missouri....................................................................

1,685.8
2,633.2
3,491.2
1,753.2
834.1
1,974.0

1,665.2
2,629.1
3,420.9
1,723.2
825.6
1,920.7

1,686.0

Virginia................................................................
Washington ........................................................
West Virginia ......................................................
Wisconsin............................................................
Wyoming ............................................................

2,097.5
1,602.4
639.9
1,932.4
200.8

2,106.7
1,582.0
634.1
1,910.1
200.7

2,117.5
1,589.9
637.4
1,909.6
200.8

Virgin Islands ......................................................

37.8

36.6

36.9

3440.7
1,733.5
826.0
1,943.9

1Revised series, not strictly comparable with previously published data.


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

73

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
10.

Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Nonagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
1981

1980

Annual average
Industry division and group

TOTAL
MINING

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

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.'1

Apr.p

91,693

91,846

90,082

90,245

90,828

91,365

1,055

1,064

1,069

1,073

1,088

944

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

90,072

90,729

91,332

1,029

1,035

1,039

1979

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

89,886

90,657

90,761

90,849

91,049

89,820

960

1.025

1,006

1,024

1,049

1,030

4,483

4,469

4,311

4,471

4,611

4,633

4,712

4,690

4,700

4,618

4,431

4,080

3,985

4,129

4,271

MANUFACTURING
Production workers................................

21,062
15,085

20,361
14,277

20,533
14,466

20,250
14,172

20,201
14,093

19,754
13,657

20,044
13,947

20,269
14,182

20,302
14,204

20,368
14,260

20,316
14,199

20,1,55
14,047

20,149
14,046

20,254
14,138

20,345
14,228

Durable goods
Production workers................................

12,772
9,120

12,215
8.468

12,414
8,672

12,150
8,409

12,065
8,307

11,774
8,025

11,827
8,075

12,028
8,281

12,100
8,343

12,195
8,430

12,186
8,413

12,110
8,340

12,082
8,317

12,165
8,389

12,234
8,461

Lumber and wood products ..........................
Furniture and fixtures....................................
Stone, day, and glass products ....................
Primary metal industries................................
Fabricated metal products ............................
Machinery, except electrical..........................
Electric and electronic equipment..................
Transportation equipment..............................
Instruments and related products ..................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ........................

766.1
499.3
709.7
1,250.2
1,723.7
2,481.6
2,124.3
2,082.8
688.9
445.6

686.9
473.7
667.9
1,133.3
1,627.1
2,488.8
2,126.3
1,889.8
699.7
422.0

678.4
488.7
675.5
1,193.8
1,671.4
2,523.5
2,156.2
1,891.1
702.2
433.0

654.8
469.1
668.1
1,149.8
1,619.8
2,509.3
2,120.2
1,835.1
699.4
424.6

668.0
460.8
666.2
1,112.9
1,598.6
2,486.1
2,102.2
1,847.0
702.9
420.1

666.8
438.1
656.0
1,055.5
1,538.4
2,440.2
2,066.5
1,810.2
698.3
404.0

683.0
454.6
663.2
1,059.6
1,567.6
2,417.8
2,080.7
1,785.4
697.8
417.6

689.2
466.6
667.4
1,081.8
1,594.5
2,449.6
2,103.5
1,857.9
695.5
422.2

686.9
470.3
665.5
1,093.1
1,604.6
2,456.7
2,119.3
1,885.7
695.9
422.1

682.8
679.8
473.8
475.8
654.3
667.2
1,111.9 1,124.6
1,615.6 1,614.6
2,475.2 2,492.5
2,134.9 2,143.9
1,912.2 1,888.4
700.6
702.2
410,1
421.2

668.1
475.0
637.4
1,125.5
1,598.6
2,491.3
2,140.1
1,872.0
700.6
401.5

667.8
476.9
632.9
1,125.7
1,596.8
2,498.2
2,138.5
1,840.8
697.9
406.3

670.2
477.4
642.2
1,129.5
1,605.2
2,505.1
2,148.1
1,878.5
699.6
409.1

676.2
481,2
654,6
1,133.7
1,614.1
2,506.1
2,160.3
1,897.4
698.3
412.5

Nondurable goods
Production workers................................

8,290
5,965

8,146
5,809

8,119
5,794

8,100
5,763

8,136
5,786

7,980
5,632

8,217
5,872

8,241
5,901

8,202
5,861

8,173
5,830

8,130
5,786

8,045
5,707

8,067
5,729

8,089
5,749

8,111
5,767

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

1,728.1
69.9
888.5
1,312.5
706.7
1,239.5
1,110.7
210.0
775.6
248.0

1,690.4
69.0
863.8
1,296,5
693.9
1,271.7
1,112.6
197.3
7107
240.1

1,626.2
62.9
882.1
1,304.2
698.8
1,270.4
1,120.6
173.6
737.2
243.3

1,638.5
62.7
870.6
1,299.0
692.4
1,267.8
1,119.5
203.4
702.4
243.2

1,676.8
64.6
853.2
1,310.5
695.0
1,271.3
1,122.2
209.1
688.5
244.7

1,709.5
63.9
820.6
1,236.9
682.3
1,264.5
1,112.0
212.0
659.3
218.9

1,795.3
71.3
854.1
1,299.9
688.7
1,264.3
1,108.4
212.4
680.4
242,6

1,790.5
75.5
854.7
1,309.2
688.6
1,267.9
1,106.3
210.9
695.8
241.1

1,738.8
76.4
856.8
1,307.5
690.7
1,272.2
1,104.9
210.4
703.4
240.6

1,696.6
75.6
859.4
1,302.3
691.6
1,281.0
1,106.1
210,2
708.3
241.5

1,667.2
74.7
858.3
1,281.7
691.7
1,291.6
1,107.6
207.8
710.3
238.8

1,625.0
72.0
852.5
1,266.2
687.9
1,281.7
1,106.3
207.6
708.9
237.1

1,617.3
70.4
853.0
1,284.6
687.9
1,286.8
1,108.8
206.6
711.2
239.9

1,609.0
68.0
853.5
1,299.6
689.0
1,291.9
1,113.1
208.5
714.5
241.4

1,605.7
66.3
856.0
1,306.9
690.7
1,292.5
1,114.9
209.9
722.8
244.9

5,141

5,156

5,147

5,167

5,185

5,145

5,144

5,170

5,178

5,158

5,163

5,075

5,089

5,101

5,114

20,269

20,573

20,373

20,497

20,562

20,506

20,579

20,692

20,708

20,937

21,313

20,555

20,396

20,494

20,710

5,204

5,281

5,265

5,263

5,287

5,278

5,284

' 5,291

5,313

5,313

5,318

5,278

5,275

5,295

5,321

15,066

15,292

15,108

15,234

15,275

15,228

15,295

15,401

15,395

15,624

15,995

15,277

15,121

15,199

15,389

4,974

5,162

5,104

5,137

5,201

5,229

5,232

5,194

5,204

5,215

5,229

5,226

5,235

5,253

5,284

SERVICES

17,078

17,741

17,636

17,747

17,846

17,973

17,966

17,915

17,949

17,951

17,978

17,788

17,945

18,107

18,296

GOVERNMENT ..................................................
Federal........................................................
State and local ............................................

15,920
2,773
13,147

16,170
2,866
13,304

16,651
3,103
13,548

16,556
2,963
13,593

16,394
2,995
13,399

15,550
2,949
12,601

15,366
2,862
12,504

15,764
2,754
13,010

16,252
2,774
13,478

16,391
2,776
13,615

16,352
2,782
13,570

16,134
2,773
13,361

16,373
2,774
13,599

16,402
2,772
13,630

16,401
2,776
13,625

CONSTRUCTION

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

Digitized for
74FRASER
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

Industry division and group
Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

91,125

91,481

91,652

91,714

91,494

TOTAL ........................................................................................

90,951

90,468

90,047

89,867

90,142

90,384

90,710

90,961

MINING ..............................................................................................

1,012

1,023

1,029

1,013

1,013

1,028

1,037

1,054

1,072

1,086

1,095

1,102

950

CONSTRUCTION

4,467

4,436

4,379

4,322

4,359

4,404

4,442

4,475

4,508

4,610

4,518

4,508

4,426

MANUFACTURING
Production workers ................................................................

20,642
14,550

20,286
14,186

20,014
13,931

19,828
13,759

19,940
13,872

20,044
13,972

20,157
14,065

20,282
14,179

20,312
14,195

20,345
14,219

20,374
14,240

20,400
14,266

20,455
14,311

Durable goods
Production workers ................................................................

12,442
8,686

12,140
8,386

11,947
8,205

11,819
8,084

11,860
8,123

11,955
8,212

12,043
8,288

12,146
8,381

12,160
8,386

12,188
8,408

12,196
8,411

12,226
8,441

12,264
8,476

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

689
491
680
1,193
1,678
2,518
2,167
1,885
703
438

654
472
663
1,144
1,620
2,517
2,127
1,819
700
424

648
461
647
1,096
1,584
2,476
2.094
1,831
696
414

650
449
641
1,049
1,551
2,448
2,079
1,839
698
415

662
456
648
1,059
1,569
2,437
2,083
1,840
697
409

674
464
655
1,074
1,587
2,452
2,091
1,851
697
410

677
466
656
1,096
1,595
2,469
2,107
1,873
697
407

683
469
661
1,119
1,606
2,475
2,120
1,901
701
411

688
472
660
1,133
1,608
2,480
2,135
1,868
701
415

693
475
663
1,133
1,608
2,484
2,147
1,866
702
417

692
477
661
1,134
1,610
2,491
2,149
1,865
700
417

690
477
663
1,135
1,612
2,495
2,157
1,880
702
415

687
483
659
1,133
1,621
2,501
2,171
1,892
699
418

Nondurable goods
Production workers ................................................................

8,200
5,864

8,146
5,800

8,067
5,726

8,009
5,675

8,080
5,749

8,089
5,760

8,114
5,777

8,136
5,798

8,152
5,809

8,157
5,811

8,178
5,829

8,174
5,825

8,191
5,835

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

1,690
69
884
1,302
702
1,272
1,123
175
740
243

1,691
70
869
1,291
692
1,268
1,120
203
703
239

1,677
71
843
1,287
685
1,269
1,112
205
681
237

1,683
69
833
1,276
680
1,266
1,103
207
663
229

1,690
67
851
1,296
682
1,266
1,100
208
680
240

1,672
68
851
1,299
686
1,269
1,104
208
692
240

1,682
69
856
1,292
690
1,272
1,105
209
699
240

1,686
71
856
1,291
692
1,278
1,108
209
705
240

1,684
70
z-857
1,291
693
1,284
1,112
210
711
240

1,680
70
858
1,289
694
1,284
1,115
213
713
241

1,685
71
856
1,292
696
1,289
1,118
213
716
242

1,671
72
855
1,297
695
1,294
1,118
213
717
242

1,669
73
858
1,304
694
1,294
1,117
212
726
244

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES ......................................

5,178

5,167

5,134

5,114

5,129

5,124

5,147

5,132

5,137

5,142

5,156

5,158

5,145

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ....................................................

20,531

20,487

20,459

20,506

20,589

20,620

20,641

20,660

20,638

20,762

20,885

20,932

20,808

5,286

5,268

5,245

5,247

5,263

5,280

5,292

5,297

5,302

5,315

5,328

5,327

5,342

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE ..................................................................................

15,245

15,219

15,214

15,259

15,326

15,340

15,349

15,363

15,336

15,447

15,557

15,605

15,466

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE ......................................

5,119

5,137

5,150

5,167

5,180

5,194

5,214

5,225

5,245

5,268

5,277

5,285

5,300

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

17,618

17,659

17,652

17,760

17,788

17,861

17,913

17,969

18,068

18,133

18,181

18,216

18,278

GOVERNMENT ..................................................................................
Federal ........................................................................................
State and local..............................................................................

16,384
3,115
13,269

16,273
2,960
13,313

16,230
2,951
13,279

16,157
2,893
13,264

16,144
2,828
13,316

16,109
2,765
13,344

16,159
2,788
13,371

16,164
2,790
13,374

16,145
2,789
13,356

16,135
2,801
13,334

16,166
2,794
13,372

16,113
2,789
13,324

16,132
2,787
13,345

SERVICES


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

75

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, 1977 to date

12.

[Per 100 employees]
Year

Annual
average

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug,

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

4.3
4.4
4.3
3.8

5.3
5.4
5.0
4.5

4.6
4.9
4.5
4.3

3.9
4.3
4.1
3.6

3.1
3.3
3.0
2.7

2.4
2.4
2.2
2.2

3.0
3.3
3.1
2.1

4.0
4.2
3.7
2.5

3.5
3.9
3.4
2.6

3.0
3.5
3.1
2.2

2.2
2.6
2.2
1.6

1.6
1.7
1.5
1.2

.9
.8
.9
1.4

1.0
.9
.9
1.7

.8
.7
8
1.4

.6
.6
.7
1.1

.6
.5
.5
.9

.6
.5
.5
.8

4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2

5.1
5.3
5.7
4.8

4.9
4.9
4.7
4.1

3.8
4.1
4.2
3.7

3.4
3.5
3.8
3.0

3.4
3.4
3.5
3.1

1.9
2.1
2.0
1.4

3.1
3.5
3.3
2.2

2.8
3.1
2.7
1.9

1.9
2.3
2.1
1.4

1.5
1.7
1.6
1.1

1.2
1.3
1.1
.9

1.5
1.1
1.4
2.0

1.0
.8
1.3
1.7

1.1
.8
1.1
1.4

1.1
.9
1.2
1.5

1.1
1.0
1.5
1.3

1.5
1.4
1.7
1.6

Total accessions
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

4.0
4.1
4.0
3.5

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
p3.4

3.8
4.0
3.9
3.1

4.6
4.7
4.7
3.4

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

2.8
3.1
2.9
2.1

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
p2.0

2.7
2.9
2.9
2.1

3.5
3.6
3.6
2.1

4.9
4.9
4.8
3.9

New hires
3.7
3.9
3.8
2.4

Recalls
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

.9
.7
.7
1.1

1.2
1.0
.9
1.1
1.3

1.3
.7
.7
.9
1.0

1.1
.8
.7
.9
»1.1

.9
.8
.7
.8

.8
.8
.8
1.0

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
p3.2

3.4
3.6
3.7
4.7

3.5
3.7
3.8
4.8

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

1.8
2.1
2.0
1.5

1.4
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.2

1.3
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.1

1.6
1.8
1.9
1.6
»1.2

1.7
2.0
2.0
1.5

1.9
2.1
2.1
1.5

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

1.1
.9
1.1
1.7

1.7
1.2
1.1
1.6
1.6

1.4
.9
.8
1.2
1.2

1.0
.9
.8
1.3
»1.2

.9
.8
.9
2.3

.8
.7
.7
2.5

.8
.7
.7
1.2

Total separations
3.5
3.8
3.9
4.4

Quits
1.9
2.2
2.1
1.4

Layoffs

13.

.8
.7
.9
2.2

Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by major industry group

[Per 100 employees]
Accession rates
Major industry group

Total

New hires

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

Mar.
1981»

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

MANUFACTURING
Seasonally adjusted..............

3.5
3.6

3.0
3.6

3.4
3.5

2.3
2.5

Durable goods
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........

3.1
4.4
4.0
3.9
2.7
3.6
2.5
2.9
3.1
2.8
4,6

2.8
4.5
3.4
3.2
2.5
3.2
2.4
2.4
3.0
3.1
4.1

3.2
5.4
4.0
4.4
2.6
3.9
2.4
2.7

Nondurable goods
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 ......................
FRASER
Leather and leather products........

4.0
5.2
1.9
4.3
5.4
2.4
3.1
1.7
2.2

3.2
3.9
2,3
3.0
4.8
2.1
2,9
1.5
1.7

3.6
4.5

4.1
7.1

3.6
4.9

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

Separation rates
Recalls

Total

Quits

Layoffs

Mar.
1981»

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

Mar.
1981»

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

Mar.
1981»

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

Mar.
1981»

Mar.
1980

Feb.
1981

Mar.
1981»

1.8
2.3

■2.0
2.2

0.9

1.0

1.1

3.7
4.3

3.1
3.8

3.2
3.6

1.6
1.9

1.1
1.5

1.2
1.4

1.3
1.5

1.2
1.4

1.2
1.4

2.0
2.9
3.2
2.0
1.1
2.3
1.8
2.1
1.4
2.4
3.0

1.6
2.7
2.5
1.5
.8
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.6
2.3

1.8
3.0
2.9
1.7
1.0
2.0
1.6
1.8

.8
1.3
.7
1.7
1.2
1.0
.4
.4
1.2
.2
1.4

1.0
1.7
.7
1.5
1.5
1.2
.7
.6
1.4
.3
1.6

1.1
2.1
.9
2.5
1.4
1.5
.6
.6

3.5
6.4
4.5
3.8
2.7
4.0
2.6
2.9
4.1
2.3
4.8

2.9
4.8
3.5
3.5
2.6
3.2
2.2
2.7
3.3
2.1
3.7

2.9
4.9
4.0
3.3
2.3
3.2
2.1
2.4

1.3
2.3
2.5
1.3
.7
1.5
1.1
1.3
.9
1.2
2.0

.9
1.8
1.6
.9
.5
1.0
.8
.9
.8
.9
1.2

1.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
.5
1.1
.8
1.0

1.4
3.2
.9
1.6
1.2
1.6
.8
.6
2.3
.4
1.8

1.2
2.3
1.0
1.9
1.3
1.4
.8
.9
1.6
.5
1.6

1.1
2.0
1.0
1.6
1.1
1.3
.7
,6

2.1
2.1
1.0
2.1
2.9
1.3
2.3
1.1
1.4

2.3
2.4

3.3
4.6
4.7
3.0
4.4
2.4
2.6
1.4
1.7

1.4
1.6
.6
1.5
2.0
.7
1.4
.5
.5

1.8
2.2
.8
1.6
.6
.5

1.2
2.1
3.7
.5
1.4
1.0
.6
.3
.7

1.3
2.3
3.1
.7
1.7
1.0
.7
.4
.5

1.3
2.5

3.4
4.9
2.5
2.8
1.5
1.8

2.0
2.2
.4
2.5
3.0
1.0
1.8
.7
.8

1.5
1.6

.7
1.8
.7
.5
.3
.3

4.0
5.2
5.4
4.0
5.2
2.8
3.1
1.5
2.1

4.1
5.5

2.9
4.6

2.3
3.2

2.5
4.0

.9
2.1

1.0
1.6
.8
.6
1.8
.7
.5
.3
.3
✓
1.1
1.5

3.5
5,0

2.4
3.3
1.3
2.5
1.2
1.7

1.0
1.8
,5
.6
1.3
.7
.4
.3
.5

1.1
1.8

3.4
5.3
2.1
3.1
1.7
2.1

2.8
3.1
.7
3,4
3.9
1.6
2.7
1.3
1.5

1.2
1.3

4.8
6.5

3.6
4.9

3.3
5.1

2.2
3.3

1.3
2.3

1.4
2.7

1.6
2.1

1.4
1.8

1.0
1.5

2.4
4.5

'

1.9
2.5

.3
1.8

2.3
3.7

1.1
1.3

.5
1.4

.7
1.9
1.0
.6
.3
.7

14.

Hours and earnings, by industry division, 1950-80

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagriculturai payrolls]
Year

Average
weekly
earnings

Average
weekly
hours

Average
hourly
earnings

Average
weekly
earnings

Average
weekly
hours

Average
hourly
earnings

Average
weekly
earnings

Average
hourly
earnings

Average
weekly
earnings

Average
weekly
hours

Average
hourly
earnings

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining

Total private

Average
weekly
hours

$53.13

398

$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
38.8
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
2.28
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 ..................
1959' ................
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
389
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

38.6
38.7
38.8
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
3.353.60
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
4.42
4.83

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

175.45
189.00
203.70
219.30
235 10

36.1
36.0
35.8
35.6
35.3

4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6.66

273.90
301.20
332.88
365.50
396.58

42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.2

6.46
6.94
7.67
8.50
9.18

283.73
295.65
318.69
342.99
367.78

36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0

7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.94

209.32
228.90
249.27
268.94
288.62

40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7

5.22
5.68
6.17
6.69
7.27

1950 ..................
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955

Transportation and public
utilities

1951
1952

1964 ..................
1965 ..................

Finance, insurance, and
real estate

Wholesale and retail trade

Services

$44.55

40.5

$1.100

$50.52

37.7

$1.340

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

1.45
1.51
1.58
1.65
1.70

57.48 ’
59 60
61 76
64 41
66 01

39.1
38.7
38 6
38.8
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

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

$118.78
125.14

41.1
41.3

$2.89
3.03

67 41
69 91
72 01
74.66
76.91

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
83.97
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
325.98
352.04

39.8
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6

6.45
6.99
7.57
8.17
8.89

133.79
142.52
153.64
164.96
175.91

33.7
33.3
32.9
32.6
32.1

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
362

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

1Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959,


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

77

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • 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]

TOTAL PRIVATE

1981

1980

Annual average

35.3

35.0

43.2

42.8

35.3

35.3

35.6

43.5

43.5

43.5

44.1

43.1

43.2

35.6

35.3

35.5

41.9

35.3

42.7

May

Dec.

35.3

35.0

Apr.

Nov.

Sept.

July

1980

Oct.

Aug.

June

1979

Apr.p

Feb.

Mar.p

35.1

34.9

35.2

35.1

43.5

42.8

42.1

43.0

Jan.

MINING

43.0

CONSTRUCTION

37.0

37.0

36.7

36.9

37.9

37.7

37.3

37.9

37.9

36.8

37.1

36.4

35.0

37.2

36.8

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours......................................

40.2
3.3

39.7
2.8

39.4
2.7

39.3
2.5

39.4
2.5

38.8
2.4

39.3
2.7

39.7
3.0

39.8
2.9

40.2
3.1

40.8
à.3

39.9
2.9

39.5
2.8

39.9
2.8

39.7
2.6

Durable goods
Overtime hours......................................

40.8
3.5

40.2
2.8

39.9
2.7

39.7
2.5

39.8
2.4

39.1
2.3

39.7
2.6

40.2
2.9

40.3
2.9

40.7
3.1

41.5
3.4

40.4
2.9

39.9
2.8

40.5
2.8

40.2
2.7

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

37.1
37.9
40.4
40.6
40.2

37.6
37.3
40.6
39.3
39.9

38.4
37.3
41.0
39.1
40.1

382
36.2
40.3
38.6
39.2

39.2
37.6
40.7
39.0
40.0

39.3
38.3
41.1
39.9
40.5

39.2
38.5
41.3
39.9
40.5

39.2
38.4
41.4
40.8
40.9

39.6
39.6
41.6
41.6
41.6

38.8
38.1
40.4
41.1
40,4

38.4
38.2
39.6
40.7
40.0

39.1
38.8
40.7
41.1
40.5

39.1
38.1
40.7
40.9
40.2

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

41.1
39.8
40.6
40.5
38.7

41.1
39.6
39.8
40.4
38.4

40.8
39.3
39.9
40.3
38.2

40.8
39.4
39.9
40.5
38.3

40.0
38.5
39.5
39.6
37.8

40.4
39.2
40.0
39.9
38.5

41.0
39.7
40.7
40.1
39.1

40.7
39.9
41.1
40.3
38.9

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
39.9
41.1
39.9
38.3

Nondurable goods
Overtime hours......................................

39.3
3.1

39.0
2.8

38.7
2.7

38.7
2.5

38.8
2.5

38.5
2.6

38.9
2.9

39.1
3.0

39.1
2.9

39.3
3.0

39.8
3.1

39.1
2.9

38.8
2.8

39.0
2.7

388
2.6

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
40.0
35.4
42.3

38.9
38.2
39.9
35.3
42.2

39.7
38.7
39.8
35.3
41.6

39.6
38.3
39.6
35.6
41.7

39.9
36.5
38.5
35.3
41.4

40.3
36.8
39.2
35.4
41.8

40.3
38.2
39.8
35.2
42.4

39.7
40.1
39.9
35.4
42.2

40.1
40.0
40.3
35.4
42.8

40.3
38.1
40.8
35.9
43.7

40.0
38.5
39.9
35.2
42.8

39.3
38.4
39.8
35.3
42.3

39.2
37.2
40.0
35.8
42.4

39.4
37.0
39.5
35.0
42.4

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

36.8
41.6
41.1
39.7
36.7

36.9
41.3
42.3
39.0
37.0

36.7
41.2
42.3
39.3
37.4

36.8
40.7
42.7
38.6
36.4

37.2
40.9
42.2
40.0
36.6

37.3
41.3
43.4
40.3
36.2

37.2
41.4
43.7
40.7
36.5

37.2
42.0
43.6
41.1
36.3

38.1
42.1
43.3
41.6
36.9

37.1
41.5
42.6
40.9
36.6

36.8
41.5
42.5
40.1
36.6

37.0
41.5
42.5
40.7
37.0

36.8
41.4
43.1
40.4
36.5

39.9

39.6

39.5

39.3

39.6

39.9

39.7

39.7

39.8

39.7

40.0

39.4

39.5

39.4

39.3

32.1

31.8

31.9

32.3

32.5

32.7

32.1

32.1

32.0

32.4

31.7

31.7

31.8

32.0

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ....................

32.6

WHOLESALE TRADE..........................................

38.8

38.5

38.4

38.5

38.2

38.2

38.4

38.5

38.7

38.6

38.9

38.5

38.3

38.5

38.5

RETAIL TRADE

30.6

30.1

29.7

29.9

30.4

30.7

30.9

30.1

30.0

30.0

30.5

29.5

29.6

29.7

29.9

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE ..........................................................

36.2

36.2

36.2

36.1

36.4

36.2

36.3

36.1

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.4

36.3

36.1

SERVICES

32.7

32.6

32.4

32.3

32.8

33.1

33.1

32.5

32.6

32.6

32.6

32.5

32.6

32.6

32.6


78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

I

16.

Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1980

Industry division and group

TOTAL PRIVATE ..............................................

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

1981
Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

35.4

35.4

35.5

35.3

35.3

35.3

35.3

35.1

35.0

34.9

35.1

35.2

35.3

MINING ................................................

42.8

42.7

43.2

41.9

43.1

43.5

43.5

43.5

44.1

43.5

42.8

42.1

43.0

CONSTRUCTION ..................................................

36.7

36.8

37.1

36.8

36.5

37.4

37.0

37.2

37.1

38.5

36.3

37.6

36.8

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours............................................

39.8
3.0

39.3
2.6

39.1
2.4

39.0
2.5

39.4
2.7

39.6
2.7

39.7
2.8

39.9
2.9

40.1
3.1

40.4
3.1

39.8
2.9

40.0
2.8

40.1
2.9

Durable goods
Overtime hours............................................

40.3
3.0

39.7
2.5

39.5
2.4

39.4
2.4

39.9
2.6

40.1
2.7

40.1
2.8

40.5
3.0

40.6
3.2

40.9
3.1

40.2
2.9

40.5
2.9

40.7
3.0

Lumber and wood products ................................
Furniture and fixtures..........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ..........................
Primary metal industries......................................
Fabricated metal products ..................................

37.3
38.5
40.6
40.6
40.8

37.5
37.6
40.3
39.2
39.9

37.6
37.0
40.4
38.8
39.7

38.1
36.6
40.2
38.6
39.6

38.9
37.4
40.3
39.2
40.1

38.8
38.0
40.9
39.7
40.4

38.7
38.0
40.9
40.1
40.4

39.3
38.0
41.1
40.9
40.6

39.4
38.6
41.3
41.4
40.6

40.1
38.9
41.6
41.2
40.7

38.9
38.8
40.6
40.8
40.4

39.5
38.8
40.9
41.1
40.6

39.3
38.7
40.9
40.9
40.8

Machinery, except electrical................................
Electric and electronic equipment........................
Transportation equipment....................................
Instruments and related products ........................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..............................

41.5
39.9
40.5
40.7
38.5

41.0
39.5
39.7
40.3
38.3

40.7
39.2
39.5
40.4
38.2

40.6
39.0
39.6
40.1
38.3

40.8
39.4
40.9
40.1
38.6

40.9
39.5
40.6
40.1
38.9

40.7
39.9
40.8
40.2
38.7

41.0
40.0
41.4
40.5
38.6

41.0
40.2
41.3
40.5
39.0

41.3
40.4
41.9
41.0
39.0

40.8
39.7
40.5
40.6
38.8

41.0
40.2
41.1
40.4
38.7

41.3
40.2
41.9
40.2
38.4

Nondurable goods
Overtime hours............................................

39.1
3.0

38.9
2.6

38.6
2.5

38.5
2.6

38.7
2.8

38.8
2.7

39.0
2.8

39.0
2.9

39.3
3.0

39.7
3.1

39.3
3.0

39.1
2.8

39.2
2.9

Food and kindred products..................................
Tobacco manufactures ......................................
Textile mill products............................................
Apparel and other textile products ......................
Paper and allied products ..................................

39.6
38.2
40.3
35.8
42.5

39.9
38.2
39.7
35.3
41.7

39.6
37.3
39.1
35.2
41.4

39.7
38.5
38.8
35.1
41.4

39.8
37.3
39.2
35.1
41.8

39.7
37.5
39.7
35.1
42.2

39.6
39.5
39.9
35.3
42.2

39.8
38.9
40.0
35.0
42.6

39.8
37.2
40.3
35.6
43.0

40.3
39.7
40.5
36.0
43.1

39.9
39.4
40.1
35.8
42.8

39.6
37.2
39.9
35.7
42.7

40.1
37.0
39.9
35.5
42.7

Printing and publishing........................................
Chemicals and allied products ............................
Petroleum and coal products ..............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ........
Leather and leather products ..............................

37.2
41.5
41.1
40.1
37.3

37.1
41.3
42.5
39.3
36.7

36.8
41.1
42.3
39.2
36.7

36.9
40.8
42.2
39.0
36.1

37.1
41.0
42.2
40.2
36.5

36.9
41.3
42.7
40.1
36.2

37.1
41.4
43.1
40.4
36.5

36.8
41.7
43.2
40.8
36.2

37.4
41.7
43.2
40.9
36.6

37.7
41.8
43.4
41.3
37.1

37.2
41.8
43.5
40.1
37.0

37.0
41.5
42.8
40.6
37.5

37.2
41.3
43.1
40.8
37.1

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

39.5

39.3

39.6

39.9

39.7

39.7

39.8

39.7

40.0

39.4

39.5

39.4

39.3

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

32.0

32.1

31.9

31.8

32.0

32.1

32.2

32.2

32.1

32.3

32.2

32.1

32.2

•

WHOLESALE TRADE

38.5

38.6

38.0

38.0

38.2

38.5

38.5

38.6

38.7

38.8

38.7

38.6

38.6

RETAIL TRADE

30.0

30.1

30.0

29.8

30.1

30.1

30.2

30.2

30.0

30.2

30.2

30.1

30.2

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE ..............................................

36.2

36.1

36.4

36.2

36.3

36.1

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.4

36.3

36.1

SERVICES ..............................................

32.6

32.5

32.6

32.6

32.6

32.5

32.6

32.7

32.6

32.7

32.8

32.8

32.8


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

79

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • 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]
Annual average

1980

1981

Industry division and group
1979

1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

TOTAL PRIVATE..................................................

$6.16

$6.66

$6.53

$6.57

$6.61

$6.64

$6.68

$6.80

$6.86

$6.93

$6.94

$7.03 .

$7.07

$7.10

$7.11

MINING......................................................................

8.50

9.18

9.10

9.08

9.16

9.08

9.18

9.32

9.37

9.51

9.58

9.78

9.87

9.86

9.71

CONSTRUCTION........................................................

9.27

9.94

9.69

9.77

9.81

9.91

10.05

10.19

10.25

10.25

10.35

10.43

10.42

10.43

10.44

MANUFACTURING ....................................................

6.69

7.27

7.09

7.13

7.20

7.29

7.30

7.42

7.49

7.59

7.69

7.73

7.74

7.79

7.86

Durable goods....................................................
Lumber and wood products ............................
Furniture and fixtures......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ......................
Primary metal industries..................................
Fabricated metal products ..............................

7.13
6.08
5.06
6.85
8.97
6.84

7.76
6.56
5.48
7.51
9.76
7.44

7.56
6.28
5.39
7.34
9.53
7.27

7.60
6.40
5.42
7.45
9.61
7.32

7.69
6.56
5.49
7.53
9.65
7.42

7.77
6.72
5.52
7.60
9.82
7.42

7.78
6.76
5.54
7.64
9.84
7.48

7.93
6.80
5.58
7.69
9.95
7.62

8.02
6.76
5.59
7.74
10.09
7.68

8.13
6.79
5.62
7.82
10.28
7.75

8.24
6.77
5.69
7.83
10.35
7.86

8.25
6.82
5.70
7.87
10.36
7.87

8.27
6.84
5.73
7.89
10.56
7.90

8.33
6.81
5.76
7.92
10.55
7.98

8.39
6.86
5.81
8.03
10.68
8.03

Machinery, except electrical............................
Electric and electronic equipment....................
Transportation equipment................................
Instruments and related products ....................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..........................

7.32
6.32
8.54
6.17
5.03

8.04
6.96
9.34
6.81
5.45

7.81
6.79
9.04
6.63
5.37

7.91
6.78
9.06
6.72
5.40

7.97
6.87
9.24
6.80
5.42

8.05
6.96
9.34
6.86
5.46

8.07
7.02
9.35
6.86
5.46

8.28
7.14
9.56
6.92
5.51

8.36
7.20
9.77
6.95
5.55

8.44
7.29
9.89
7.02
5.60

8.57
7.39
10.11
7.14
5.72

8.59
7.42
9.98
7.19
5.81

8.63
7.45
9.94
7.20
5.81

8.66
7.49
10.09
7.24
5.84

8.71
7.53
10.14
7.28
5.89

Nondurable goods..............................................
Food and kindred products..............................
Tobacco manufactures....................................
Textile mill products........................................
Apparel and other textile products ..................
Paper and allied products................................

6.00
6.27
6.65
4.66
4.23
7.13

6.54
6.86
7.66
5.07
4.57
7.85

6.36
6.75
7.79
4.91
4.46
7.63

6.42
6.82
7.64
4.90
4.45
7.65

6.48
6.84
7.97
4.93
4.51
7.79

6.60
6.89
8.06
5.06
4.50
7.97

6.62
6.90
7.74
5.19
4.60
7.99

6.69
6.93
7.42
5.24
4.70
8.06

6.72
6.95
7.56
5.26
4.73
8.09

6.80
7.09
7.74
5.30
4.75
8.18

6.86
7.13
8.00
5.33
4.81
8.28

6.94
7.21
8.42
5.34
4.89
8.27

6.95
7.25
8.47
5.34
4.87
8.28

6.98
7.30
8.54
5.35
4.94
8.29

7.04
7.37
8.76
5.34
4.97
8.37

Printing and publishing....................................
Chemicals and allied products ........................
Petroleum and coal products ..........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products . . .
Leather and leather products ..........................

6.95
7.60
9.36
5.96
4.22

7.54
8.29
10.09
6.49
4.57

7.34
8.12
9.83
6.30
4.52

7.44
8.17
10.07
6.34
4.53

7.46
8.24
10.22
6.39
4.54

7.53
8.35
10.25
6.48
4.54

7.63
8.39
10.22
6.57
4.59

7.73
8.46
10.33
6.63
4.61

7.75
8.52
10.39
6.70
4.64

7.79
8.59
10.52
6.79
4.68

7.88
8.68
10.37
6.89
4.73

7.92
8.73
11.06
6.96
4.85

7.96
8.79
11.32
6.95
4.87

8.02
8.81
11.20
6.98
4.89

8.02
8.90
11.28
7.07
4.90

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES..............

8.17

8.89

8.71

8.72

8.75

8.90

8.95

9.04

9.20

9.28

9.31

9.35

9.46

9.42

9.52

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ............................

5.06

5.48

5.40

5.42

5.43

5.48

5.48

5.56

5.59

5.64

5.61

5.80

5.84

5.85

5.86

WHOLESALE TRADE..................................................

6.39

6.97

6.87

6.89

6.95

6.99

7.01

7.08

7.10

7.20

7.24

7.33

7.39

7.43

7.44

RETAIL TRADE..........................................................

4.53

4.88

4.80

4.82

4.83

4.88

4.89

4.95

4.98

5.02

4.99

5.18

5.20

5.20

5.22

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE ..................................................................

5.27

5.78

5.68

5.70

5.77

5.77

5.82

5.87

5.91

6.01

6.00

6.10

6.21

6.18

6.12

SERVICES..................................................................

5.36

5.85

5.75

5.79

5.81

5.79

5.81

5.93

6.00

6.10

6.12

6.22

6.28

6.29

6.29

18.

Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls, by industry division

[Seasonally adjusted data: 1967=100]
1980

1981

Industry

TOTAL PRIVATE (in current dollars)
Mining..........................................
Construction ................................
Manufacturing ..............................
Transportation and public utilities . . .
Wholesale and retail trade ............
Finance, insurance, and real estate .
Services ......................................
TOTAL PRIVATE (in constant dollars)


80
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

246.2

Mar. 1981
to
Apr. 1981

Apr. 1980
to
Apr. 1981

248.3

250.9

252.1

254.0

255.4

257.9

260.9

261.9

264.4

266.6

268.5

269.2

0.3

9.3

283.7
284.2
233.0
234.2
252.4
255.0
267.2 . 268.7
238.0
239.8
224.9
226.3
243.0
245.7

286.3
235.3
258.3
270.6
241.8
230.2
248.4

285.3
236.7
260.6
272.8
243.5
229.0
247.6

288.9
239.0
262.4
273.2
245.3
232.7
249.8

290.4
239.3
264.5
274.0
246.5
233.1
251.7

294.4
241.6
266.6
280.2
247.7
234.8
254.2

298.7
243.0
268.9
283.4
250.9
239.3
258.5

302.3
245.3
270.4
284.1
250.9
238.0
259.4

306.6
247.8
272.6
285.9
254.6
240.2
261.3

309.2
248.1
274.6
289.6
256.7
244.1
263.9

311.0
249.8
276.7
291.1
258.6
245.2
265.7

309.1
250.2
279.2
292.7
258.4
241.9
265.6

-.6
.2
.9
.5
-.1
-1.4

8.9
7.4
10.6
9.6
8.6
7.5
9.3

101.5

101.6

102.1

102.0

101.5

101.4

101.5

100.8

101.0

100.9

101.0

101.5

19.

Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group

[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Annual average

1980

Industry division and group
1979

TOTAL PRIVATE

1980

Apr.

May

1981

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

$242.16

$244,63

$247.06

$246.75

$246.74

$249,92

$249,56

$219.30

$235.10

$233.33

$234.39

$237.14

$240.04

MINING

365.50

396.58

389.48

387.72

395.71

380 45

395.66

405.42

407.60

413.69

422.48

425.43

422.44

415.11

417.53

CONSTRUCTION

342.99

367.78

355.62

360.51

371.80

373.61

374.87

38620

388.48

377.20

383.99

379.65

364.70

388.00

384.19

MANUFACTURING

268.94

28862

279.35

280.21

283.68

28285

286.89

294.57

298.10

305.12

313.75

308.43

305.73

310.82

312.04

Durable goods
Lumber and wood products........................
Furniture and fixtures ................................
Stone, clay, and glass products..................
Primary metal industries ............................
Fabricated metal products..........................

290.90
239.55
195.82
284.28
371.36
278.39

311.95
253.22
208,79
306.41
391.38
300.58

301.64
232.99
204.28
296.54
386.92
292.25

301.72
240.64
202.17
302.47
377.67
292.07

306.06
251.90
204.78
308.73
377.32
297.54

303.81
256.70
199.82
306.28
379.05
290.86

308.87
264.99
208.30
310.95
383.76
299.20

318.79
267.24
213.71
316.06
397.01
308.61

323.21
264.99
215.22
319.66
402.59
311.04

330.89
266.17
215.81
323.75
419.42
316.98

341.96
268.09
225.32
325.73
430.56
326.98

333.30
264.62
217.17
317.95
425.80
317.95

329.97
262.66
218.89
312.44
429.79
316.00

337.37
266.27
223.49
322.34
433,61
323.19

337.28
268.23
221.36
326.82
436.81
322.81

Machinery except electrical........................
Electric and electronic equipment................
Transportation equipment ..........................
Instruments and related products................
Miscellaneous manufacturing......................

305.98
254.70
350.99
251.74
195.16

330.44
277.01
379.20
275.81
210.92

320.21
268 88
359.79
267.85
206.21

322.73
266.45
361.49
270.82
206.28

325.18
270.68
368.68
275.40
207.59

322.00
267.96
368.93
271.66
206.39

326.03
275.18
374.00
273.71
210.21

339.48
283.46
389.09
277.49
215.44

340.25
287.28
401.55
280.09
215.90

348.57
294.52
412.41
287.12
218.96

361.65
302.99
435.74
294.17
225.94

353.91
297.54
408.18
291.91
224.27

352.10
295.02
398.59
291.60
223.10

356.79
301.10
414.70
293.94
227.18

355.37
300.45
416.75
290.47
225.59

Nondurable goods
Food and kindred products ........................
Tobacco manufactures ..............................
Textile mill products ..................................
Apparel and other textile products..............
Paper and allied products ..........................

235.80
250.17
252.70
188.26
149.32
303.74

255.06
272.34
291.85
202.80
161.78
332.06

246.13
26258
297.58
195.91
157.44
321.99

248.45
270.75
295.67
195.02
157.09
318.24

251.42
270.86
305.25
195.23
160.56
324.84

254.10
274.91
294.19
194,81
158.85
329.96

257.52
278.07
284.83
203.45
162.84
333.98

261.58
279.28
283.44
208.55
165.44
341.74

262.75
275.92
303.16
209.87
167.44
341.40

267.24
284.31
309.60
213.59
168.15
350.10

273.03
287.34
304.80
217.46
172.68
361.84

271.35
288.40
324.17
213.07
172.13
353.96

269.66
284.93
325.25
212.53
171.91
350.24

272.22
286.16
317.69
214.00
176.85
351.50

273.15
290.38
324.12
210.93
173.95
354.89

Printing and publishing................................
Chemicals and allied products....................
Petroleum and coal products......................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products....................................
Leather and leather products......................

260.63
318.44
409.97

279.73
344.04
421.76

270.11
337.79
404.01

274.54
337.42
425.96

273.78
339.49
432.31

277.10
339.85
437.68

283.84
343.15
431.28

288.33
349.40
448.32

288.30
352.73
454.04

289.79
360.78
458.67

300.23
365.43
449.02

293.83
362.30
471.16

292.93
364.79
481.10

296.74
365.62
476.00

295.14
368.46
486.17

241.38
154.03

260.25
167.72

250.11
165.88

247.26
167.61

251.13
169.80

250.13
165.26

262.80
167.99

267.19
166.88

272.69
169.36

279.07
169.88

286.62
174.54

284.66
177.51

278.70
178.24

284.09
180.93

285.63
178.85

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

325.98

35204

344.05

342.70

346.50

355.11

355.32

358.89

366.16

368.42

372.40

368.39

373.67

371.15

374.14

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

164.96

175.91

171.72

172.90

175.39

178.10

179.20

178,48

179.44

180.48

181.76

183.86

185.13

186.03

187.52

WHOLESALE TRADE

247.93

268.35

263.81

265.27

265.49

267.02

269.18

272.58

274.77

277.92

281.64

282.21

283.04

286.06

286.44

RETAIL TRADE

138.62

146.89

142.56

144.12

146.83

149.82

151.10

149.00

149.40

150.60

152.20

152.81

153.92

154.44

156.08

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

190.77

209.24

205.62

205.77

210.03

208.87

211.27

211.91

214.53

218.16

217.80

221.43

226.04

224.33

220.93

SERVICES........................................................

175.27

190.71

186.30

187.02

190.57

191.65

192.31

192.73

195.60

198.86

199.51

202.15

204.73

205.05

205.05


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

$228.55 $229.95

81

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data

20.

Gross and spendable weekly earnings, in current and 1967 dollars, 1960 to date

[Averages for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Private nonagricultural workers

Year and month

1960 ..........................................

Gross average
weekly earnings

Manufacturing workers

Spendable average weekly earnings
Worker with no
dependents

Spendable average weekly earnings

Married worker with
3 dependents

weekly earnings

Worker with no
dependents

Married worker with
3 dependents

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

Current
dollars

1967
dollars

$80.67

$90.95

$65.59

$73,95

$72.96

$82.25

$89.72

$101.15

$72.57

$81.82

$80.11

$90.32

1961
1962
1963
1964
1965

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

82.60
85.91
88,46
91.33
95.45

92.19
94.82
96.47
98.31
101.01

67.08
69.56
71.05
75.04
79.32

74.87
76.78
77.48
80.78
83.94

74.48
76.99
78.56
82.57
86.63

83.13
84.98
85.67
88.88
91.67

92.34
96.56
99.23
102.97
107.53

103.06
106.58
108.21
110.84
113.79

74.60
77.86
79.51
84.40
89.08

83.26
85.94
86.71
90.85
94.26

82.18
85.53
87.25
92.18
96.78

91.72
94.40
95.15
99.22
102.41

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

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

98.82
101,84
107.73
114.61
119.83

101.67
101.84
103.39
104.38
103.04

81.29
83.38
86.71
90.96
96.21

83.63
83.38
83.21
82.84
82.73

88.66
90.86
95.28
99.99
104.90

91.21
90.86
91.44
91.07
90.20

112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33

115.42
114.49
117.57
117.95
114.64

91.45
92.97
97.70
101.90
106.32

94.08
92.97
93.76
92.81
91.42

99.33
100.93
106.75
111.44
115.58

102.19
100.93
102.45
101.49
99.38

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975

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

127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53

104.95
109.26
109.23
104.78
101.45

103.80
112.19
117.51
124.37
132.49

85.57
89.54
88.29
84.20
82.19

112.43
121.68
127.38
134.61
145.65

92.69
97.11
95.70
91.14
90.35

142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79

117.43
123.47
125.06
119.70
118.36

114.97
125.34
132.57
140.19
151.61

94.78
100.03
99.60
94.92
94.05

124.24
135.57
143.50
151.56
166.29

102.42
108.20
107.81
102.61
103.16

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

175.45
189.00
203.70
219.30
235.10

102.90
104.13
104.30
100.73
95.18

143.30
155.19
165.39
177.55
188.82

84.05
85.50
84.69
81.56
76.45

155.87
169.93
180.71
194.35
206.40

91.42
93.63
92.53
89.27
83.56

209.32
228.90
249.27
268.94
288.62

122.77
126.12
127.63
123.54
116.85

167.83
183.80
197.40
212.43
225.79

98.43
101.27
101.08
97.58
91.41

181.32
200.06
214.87
232.07
247.01

106.35
110.23
110.02
106.60
100.00

1980: April ................................
May ................................
June................................

228.55
229.95
233.33

94.21
93.82
94.16

184.25
185.23
187.59

75.95
75.57
75.70

201.43
202.49
205.06

83.03
82.62
82.75

279.35
280.21
283.68

115.15
114.32
114.48

219.49
220.08
222.43

90.47
89.79
89.76

239.97
240.63
243.26

98.92
98.18
98.17

July..................................
August ............................
September ......................

234.39
237.14
240.04

94.51
95.01
95.29

188.33
190.25
192.28

75.94
76.22
76.33

205.86
207.95
210.15

83.01
83.31
83.43

282.85
286.89
294.57

114.05
114.94
116.94

221.87
224.61
229.82

89.46
89.99
91.23

242.63
245.69
251.52

97.83
98.43
99.85

October............................
November........................
December........................

242.16
244.63
247.06

95.30
95.41
95.50

193.76
195.48
197.18

76.25
76.24
76.22

211.76
213.63
215.47

83.34
83.32
83.29

298.10
305.12
313.75

117.32
119.00
121.28

232.22
236.98
242.60

91.39
92.43
93.78

254.20
259.52
265.84

100.04
101.22
102.76

1981: January ............................
February..........................
March p ............................
Aprilp ..............................

246.75
246.74
249.92
249.56

94.65
93.64
94.24
(’ )

195.68
195.67
197.88
197.63

75.06
74.26
74.62
(’ )

213.96
213.95
216.34
216.07

82.07
81.20
81.58

308.43
305.73
310.82
312.04

118.31
116.03
117.20
(’ )

237.60
235.81
239.11
239.89

91.14
89.49
90.16

260.36
258.40
262.09
262.97

99.87
98.06
98.83
(’ )

(’ >

( ')

'Not available.
NOTE: The earnings expressed in 1967 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 Cal-

Digitized for82
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

culation, Employment and Earnings and Monthly Report on the Labor Force, February 1969,
PP
®ee a*so Spendable Earnings Formulas, 1979-81, Employment and Earnings, March
1981, pp. 10-11.

UNEM PLOYM ENT INSURANCE DATA

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. De­
partment of Labor from records of State and Federal unem­
ployment insurance claims filed and benefits paid. Railroad
unemployment insurance data are prepared by the U.S. Rail­
road Retirement Board.

ployed. Persons not covered by unemployment insurance (about onethird 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

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.

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.
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]
1981

1980
Item

Apr.

Mar.
All programs:
Insured unemployment ......................
State unemployment insurance
program:'
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 claims' ....................................
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 ............................

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Mar.

Feb.

3,652

3,629

3,680

3,790

4,140

3,911

3,961

3,661

3,726

4,085

4,621

4,264

1,705

2,190

2,248

2,319

2,737

1,829

1,702

1,808

1,673

2,544

2,653

1,806

3,356
3.9

3,278
3.8

3,343
3.9

3,455
4.0

3,692
4.3

3,408
3.9

3,087
3.6

2,903
3.3

2,983
3.4

3,321
3.8

3,844
4.4

3,669
4.2

13,170

12,689

12,302

12,441

14,398

12,786

11,689

11,443

9,524

12,603

14,228

12,882

$99.15
$99.52
$99.55
$99.88
$98.75
$99.68
$99.86
$92.32
$1,218,231 $1,232,173 $1,196,836 $1,213,595 $1,397,508 $1,249,782 $1,144,885 $1,125,416

3,948

3,382
3.9

$102.34
$101.89
$101.96
$101.43
$1,055,065 $1,242,957 $1,416,513 $1,313,507

21

21

20

23

27

23

25

23

17

21

19

17

63

52

50

45

58

55

56

56

54

55

57

54

249
$24,928

246
$24,518

220
$22,025

122
$11,761

331
$33,342

244
$24,560

245
$24,804

255
$25,880

216
$21,024

261
$27,015

257
$26,646

221
$22,517

12

11

12

14

17

15

19

21

14

18

22

13

30

25

22

20

26

25

29

32

35

37

41

40

123
$11,901

108
$10,323

88
$8,280

50
$4,665

124
$11,296

93
$8,707

105
$9,699

130
$11,917

118
$11,365

150
$14,184

160
$15,432

148
$14,573

5

4

6

24

44

13

10

9

7

11

13

5

5

51

36

Railroad unemployment insurance:
Applications ......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Number of payments ........................
Average amount of benefit
payment........................................
Total benefits paid ............................

30
68

27
62

23
54

27
55

44
66

39
86

40
89

38
84

38
70

39
83

53
118

50
104

44
115

$210.79
$13,884

$201.87
$13,002

$193.44
$9,953

$199.06
$10,140

$207.08
$13,320

$211.87
$17,336

$211.99
$18,809

$208.49
$17,789

$209.00
$14,269

$212.27
$18,046

$209.38
$20,303

$214.56
$22,049

$214.93
$23,233

Employment service:5
New applications and renewals ..........
Nonfarm placements..........................

8,708
1,853

10,021
2,143

11,446
2,413

12,864
2,730

14,249
3,105

15,431
3,445

16,632
3,827

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.


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

4,476
871

4 Includes the Virgin islands. Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with State pro­
grams.
5Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Data computed quarterly.
NOTE: Data for Puerto Rico included. Dashes indicate data not available.

83

PRICE DATA

P 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).

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 mea­
sures 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.

84


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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 are 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 Standard Industrial Classification Manual 1972
(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 Review, 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 Facts About the Revised Consumer Price Index, a pamphlet in
the Consumer Price Index Revision 1978 series. See also The
Consumer Price Index: Concepts and Content Over the 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 Handbook
o f Labor Statistic*. 1977, Bulletin 1966 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1977), tables 122-133. Additional data and analysis on price changes
are provided in the CPI Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price
Indexes, 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 BLS Handbook o f Methods
for Surveys and Studies, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1976), chapters 13-15. See also John F. Early, “Improving the mea­
surement of producer price change,” Monthly Labor Review, April
1978, pp. 7-15. For industry prices, see also Bennett R. Moss, “In­
dustry and Sector Price Indexes,” Monthly Labor Review, August
1965, pp. 974-82.

22.

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, annual averages and changes, 1967-80

[1967 = 100]
Food and
beverages

All items
Year
Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Apparel and
upkeep

Housing

Index

Percent
change

Index

Transportation

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Medical care

Index

Other goods
and services

Entertainment

Percent
change

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

1967
1968
1969
1970

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

100.0
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
1238
1377
150.6

52
1j
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
202.4
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
6.5
8.5

162.7
172.2
183.2
196.3
213.6

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 Workers,
U.S. city average— general summary and groups, subgroups, and selected items
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary

1980
Mar.

Oct.

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

1980
Mar.

Mar.

1981

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

All items........................................................................

239.8

253.9

256.2

258.4

260.5

263.2

265.1

239.9

254.1

256.4

258.7

260.7

263.5

265.2

Food and beverages ....................................................................
Housing........................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep......................................................................
Transportation ..............................................................................
Medical care ................................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................................
Other goods and services..............................................................

241.0
254.5
176.0
243.7
260.2
200.6
2089

255.5
271.1
183.9
256.1
272.8
210.9
221.5

257.4
27^.8
184.8
259.0
274.5
211.2
222.8

259.3
279.9
183.9
261.1
275.8
212.0
224.6

261.4
279.1
181.1
264.7
279.5
214,4
226.2

263.7
280.9
182.0
270.9
282.6
216.7
227.4

265.0
282.6
185.1
273.5
284.7
218.2
228.7

241.2
254.4
175.1
244.3
260.9
199.5
208.3

256.6
271,0
182.8
256.6
274.3
209.2
219.9

258.7
273.7
183.3
259.7
276.3
209.9
221.0

260.5
277.1
182.9
261.9
277.6
210.1
223.0

262.1
279.1
180.8
265.7
281.4
212.2
224.4

264.3
280.7
181.8
272.1
284.4
215.0
225.6

265.5
282.2
184.3
274.4
287.0
216.1
226.8

Commodities............................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ....................................
Nondurables less food and beverages..................................
Durables............................................................................

228.0
218.4
237.5
203.0

240.7
230.2
244.4
218.1

242.5
232.0
245.3
220.6

243.8
232.9
246.8
221.1

245.4
234.3
250.2
221.0

248.3
237.4
258.6
220.3

249.8
239.0
263.1
219.8

228.1
218.7
239.8
201.2

240.8
230.0
246.1
216.3

242.9
232.0
247.1
218.9

244.3
233.1
248.8
219.7

245.8
234.7
252.6
219.5

248.8
237.9
261.4
218.6

250.2
239.4
265.7
217.8

Services ......................................................................................
Rent, residential..................................................................
Household services less rent ..............................................
Transportation services........................................................
Medical care services..........................................................
Other services....................................................................

261.3
186.6
307.3
233.4
281.5
212.9

277.9
197.1
327.4
250.8
294.8
226.7

280.9
198.3
331.9
253.3
296.6
2272

284.7
199.6
338.4
255.8
297.9
228.1

287.7
200.9
342.3
258.7
302.1
230.4

290.1
201.9
345.4
260.5
305.2
232.3

292.5
203.0
348.8
262.5
307.5
233.2

261.7
186.4
309,6
232.7
282.2
213.5

278.6
196.8
330.3
249.6
296.6
227.4

281.5
198.0
334.8
252.2
298.7
227.9

285.5
199.4
341.9
254.7
300.0
228.4

288.4
200.6
345.5
257.7
304.3
230,2

290.8
201.6
348.5
259.7
307.4
232.1

293.1
202.7
351.8
261.3
310.2
233.0

All Items less food ................................................................
All items less mortgage interest costs ............................................
Commodities less food..................................................................
Nondurables less food ..............................................................
Nondurables less food and apparel................................................
Nondurables ................................................................................
Services less rent ........................................................................
Services less medical ca 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........................................................

237.1
229.8
216.7
232.6
264.1
240.3
275.4
257.4
231.2
270.2
355.0
230.8
225.7
196.5
398.5
259.6

250.9
243.0
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

253.2
244.5
230.0
240.5
272.1
252.4
296.4
277.2
249.2
278.9
366.1
247.7
242.4
211.2
400,2
278.6

255.5
245.9
231.0
242.0
274.7
254.1
300.7
281.2
251.1
276.2
370.4
249.7
244.5
211.7
404.9
282.4

257.6
247.8
232.4
245.3
281.1
256.9
304.2
284.2
252.4
276.2
381.7
251.2
245.7
211.5
c 420.4
285.4

260.4
250.6
235.4
253.2
292.4
262.3
306.9
286.5
254,0
273.0
401.1
252.5
246.8
211.7
449.0
287.6

262.3
252.3
237.0
257,5
297.3
265.2
309.5
288.9
255.4
270.9
409.3
253.8
248.1
212.2
460.0
289.9

237.3
230.2
216.9
234.8
266.3
241.4
275.9
257.7
231.0
272.3
359.6
230.0
224,6
195.1
400.3
260.0

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

253.4
245.1
230.1
242.2
273.9
253.8
297.4
277.7
249.1
280.7
369.5
247.2
241.5
209.9
401.3
279.3

255.7
246.7
231.2
243,9
276.6
255.6
302.0
281.9
251.1
278.4
373.7
249.3
243.6
210.6
405.9
283.4

257.9
248,5
232.7
247.5
283.0
258.3
305.2
284.7
252.1
277.9
385.2
250.6
244.8
210.4
421.3
286.2

260,8
251.4
236.0
255.9
294.7
263.8
307.9
287.0
253.9
275.1
405.4
251.8
245.8
210.5
450.1
288.4

262.6
252.9
2374
259.9
299.5
266.6
310.4
289.2
254.9
273.9
413.7
252.9
246.9
210,7
460.9
290.6

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1 ....................

$0,417

$0,394

$0,390

$0,387

$0,384

$0,380

$0,377

$0,417

$0,394

$0,390

$0,387

$0,384

$0,380

$0,377

Special indexes:


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

85

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary

1980

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981

1980

1981

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

241.0

255.5

257.4

259.3

261.4

263.7

Food..................................................................................................

247.3

262.4

264.5

266.4

268.6

270.8

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 cornmeal (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) ..........

243.6
238.6
126.6
126.6
126.0
127.6
126.1
212.0
125.6
127.0
124.4
124.4
120,2
125.0

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

262.1
255.8
138.7
132.9
141.1
140.5
134.3
224.9
133.1
134.6
133.4
133.1
125.6
135.3

263.9
258.5
140.8
133.5
143.8
143.1
135.4
226.3
134.1
135.4
135.3
134.9
126.9
135.9

265.6
262.9
143.2
135.9
145.8
146.0
137.7
229.5
137.1
137.6
138.5
138.0
127.0
138.0

267.3
265.3
144.5
137.5
146.5
147.9
139.0
231.4
137.3
138.9
139.5
139.0
128.6
140.4

127.9

135.3

136.2

137.5

139.7

141.4

141.9

124.0

130.9

132.4

134.0

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........................................................
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, liverwurst, 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 ......................................................................................

237.8
243.8
245.7
269.1
275.3
286.2
244.2
254.2
254.3
153.8
202.6
187.6
190.7
95.8
257.6
219.3
113.6
245.8
244.6
135.5
121.8
142.3
180.7
179.5
116.8
118.2
322.6
120.4
124.3
164.5

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

254.9
260.7
261.1
277.9
277.1
291.7
251.2
263.8
271.8
161.8
228.6
229.5
208.5
107.9
283.5
237.7
128.4
261.8
262.6
148.4
129.7
146.1
204.1
208.7
131.8
128.0
343.0
136.0
127.5
185.2

255.7
259.9
260.0
275.3
276.1
288.5
245.7
260.2
267.6
160.4
229.1
231.9
208.7
107.8
285.6
238.4
127.6
262.8
264.0
149.1
129.9
146.6
202.7
206.9
131.6
126.6
346.9
136.4
129.6
206.6

255.1
260.6
259.7
275.3
276.3
285.3
250.0
262.4
264.9
160.3
228.2
228.1
211.6
104.1
287.8
241.1
127.4
262.9
262.5
151.2
130.3
145.0
202.4
202.5
132.7
128.7
358.0
137.4
135.7
190.2

252.5
257.9
256.4
272.3
272.8
288.1
248,0
259.0
262.0
157.7
223.6
221.7
210.3
100.0
282.3
238.0
125.4
260.8
259.4
149.4
129.8
144.1
203.7
207.0
131.9
128.5
355.0
138.0
133.5
188.2

250.5
256.2
254.4
270.3
269.7
284.1
243.9
256.1
259.8
157.8
221.6
218.5
209.3
98.7
281.0
236.6
124.2
258.5
257.8
147.0
128.1
144.7
201.6
203.1
131.6
127.6
358.8
138.9
135.3
180.5

237.1
243.0
245.0
270.8
278.7
293.4
244.5
251.1
256.0
153.7
203.0
189.4
190.5
94.7
259.8
217.4
113.7
241.5
242.8
132.2
118.8
144.3
■177.4
172.5
116.3
117.7
320.2
119.5
123.5
164.3

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
2352
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

254.2
259.9
260.3
279.1
280.4
301.9
249.9
261.8
274.9
160.3
228.5
232.3
204.8
106.0
285.9
242.2
128.8
259.0
262.6
145.7
127.5
147.7
201.4
203.5
131.6
126.5
340.0
133.5
127.0
185.7

255.0
259.2
259.3
276.8
281.0
296.0
246.6
257.6
269.7
159.2
228.8
234.1
206.8
105.7
287.2
242.6
127.4
259.4
263.4
145.2
127.7
148.5
201.1
202.2
132.3
126.2
343.1
133.7
128.8
206.6

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)................................

220.3
124.1
204.0
122.7
125.1
218.3
124.9
125.1
121.6

232.7
129.1
211.3
129.1
134.9
238.9
133.4
138.0
129.0

235.4
130.4
213.3
130.5
136.9
241.5
135.9
139.1
130.6

238.0
131.9
216.2
131.4
138.2
241.0
137.0
141.4
132.4

240.1
133.0
218.2
132.1
139.6
242.7
138.2
143.6
133.3

242.1
134.0
219.3
134.2
140.8
242.2
139.2
145.9
134.5

242.6
134.3
219.9
134.4
141.1
243.0
139.8
145.3
135.1

221.1
124.2
203.8
123.1
126.2
220.9
125.5
127.2
121.9

233.1
129.1
211.0
129.5
135.8
242.5
133.8
139.1
129.4

235.9
130.4
213.0
131.0
137.9
244.4
136.2
140.9
131.9

238.8
132.2
216.5
131.9
139.2
244.1
137.4
143.2
133.1

Fruits and vegetables ..............................................................
Fresh fruits and vegetables ................................................
Fresh fruits ....................................................................
Apples........................................................................
Bananas ....................................................................
Oranges ....................................................................
Other fresh fruits (12/77 = 100)..................................
Fresh vegetables............................................................
Potatoes ....................................................................
Lettuce ......................................................................
Tomatoes ..................................................................
Other fresh vegetables (12/77 = 100) ........................

232.4
229.9
245.4
250.2
243.9
238.1
127.4
215.5
203.3
208.3
201.4
125.4

254.2
262.3
272.9
242.2
233.4
312.9
145,4
252,4
295.6
249.1
237.3
129.7

253.3
258.3
258.6
213.5
235.7
316.6
134.9
258.0
293.0
273.5
192.2
139.6

255.6
262.0
251.8
218.8
244.1
299.3
128.6
271.5
297.7
255.3
206.1
156.3

257.6
263.9
245.6
220,8
237.8
272.9
127.8
281.1
326.1
234.2
247.2
157.8

267.3
278.1
256.8
217.1
256.9
284.9
135.9
298.0
350.2
220.4
312.8
163.5

278.2
293.9
265.2
227.9
264.1
287,4
141.1
320.8
363.9
225.2
367.8
177.0

230.1
227.4
245.4
249.0
240.8
240.9
126.9
211.3
200,3
203.8
197.2
123.0

252.3
259.6
270.4
243.7
230.2
301.5
145.6
249.9
292.0
241.3
235.6
129.6

251.4
255.7
255.5
213.0
232.0
300.4
136.4
256.0
289.9
267.2
188.9
140.0

Processed fruits and vegetables ........................................
Processed fruits (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 = 100)....................
Fruit juices and other than frozen (12/77 = 100) ..........
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 - 100) ........................
Processed vegetables (12/77 = 100)..............................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 = 100)................................

237.2
123.9
117.7
127.2
125.5
114.6
112.6

247.5
127.8
118.8
131.0
132.0
120.8
120.3

250.1
129.1
120.5
131.9
133.3
122.2
121.8

250.9
129.0
120.6
131.6
133.1
123.1
122.1

253,0
129.9
120.7
133.2
134.1
124.2
124.1

257.8
133.5
127.1
137.2
134.9
125.5
124.4

263.3
137.6
135.3
141.2
135.7
127.0
126.9

235.0
123.9
116.5
127.4
125.9
113.0
111.9

246.4
128.5
118.8
131.9
132.7
119.6
120.3

248.8
129.4
120.7
132.3
133.5
121.0
121.7

Digitized for
86FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

265.0

241.2

256.6

258.7

260.5

262.1

264.3

265.5

272.2

247.5

263.4

265.7

267.6

269.2

271.4

272.6

268.6
266.7
145.2
138.5
146,9
148,9
139.7
232.9
137.9
140.1
140.0
139.7
129.1
141.1

243.1
239.3
127.7
127.5
126.6
129.4
126.2
212.1
129.3
124.9
123.2
125.6
121.8
126.2

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

262.0
256.8
139.7
133.6
141.5
142.7
134.7
225.2
137.0
134.1
133.1
134.5
125.7
136.1

263.9
259.5
142.3
134.4
145.0
145.8
135.7
226.6
137.9
135.1
134.2
136.1
126.5
136.4

265.1
263.0
144.5
136.8
147.2
147.8
137.5
229.4
139.4
136,4
136.8
139.0
126.8
138.5

267.0
265.0
145.5
137.9
148.0
149.3
138.5
230.9
140.1
136.9
138.1
139.8
128.6
140.0

268.1
266.5
146.5
139.4
148.5
150.5
139.2
231.2
140.3
138.4
139.5
140.6
129,6
140.7

135.2

136.3

137.6

254.1
259.4
259.2
276.4
279.3
295.2
249.6
255.5
266.3
159.5
228.5
232.5
210.2
102.2
288.5
243.3
127.9
260.4
262.6
148.0
128.1
147.8
199.2
197.2
131.3
127.9
350.0
135.3
132.0
190.1

251.6
257.0
256.0
273.8
275.7
298.6
247.5
254.7
263.5
156.9
223.2
225.7
207.6
98.2
282.0
240.6
125.0
259.1
261.0
146.0
128.6
146.5
201.3
201.7
131.9
127.8
349.5
135.9
131.4
187.0

249.9
255.7
254.2
272.6
272.9
295.6
248.8
253.3
264.5
156.7
221.3
221.6
206.9
96.3
282.7
237.9
124.3
256.0
257.2
144.7
126.4
146.0
200.6
200.9
130.1
128.9
351.5
136.2
132.5
180.5

240.7
133.4
218.5
132.9
140.1
246.5
138.3
144,3
132.9

242.5
134.1
219.3
134.4
141.6
246.0
139.6
146.8
135.0

242.7
134.1
219.4
134.5
141.8
246.4
140.0
146.1
136.1

253.9
260.2
248.6
216.9
239.2
287.0
129.2
270.9
298.0
253.8
204.5
156.2

255.1
260,3
241.1
216.8
228.9
258.9
128.4
277.8
322.9
229.9
239.8
156.9

266.5
277.6
254.4
218.2
249.4
269,4
137.9
298.7
347.1
225.6
308.6
164.8

275.0
289.4
259.0
225.7
258.8
268.4
139.9
316.9
359.6
219.3
354.0
177.1

249.0
129.1
119.9
132.2
133.3
121.5
121.2

251.3
129.9
119.6
133.2
134.7
123,0
123.3

256.4
133.8
127.1
137.1
135.8
124.4
124.0

261.3
137.5
134.6
140.7
136.3
125.8
126.4

Dec.

Jan.

Feb,

Mar.

23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary

1980

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981

1980

1981

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

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 (12/77=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) ..

116.0
114.8
292.0
313.5
123.8
153.0
120.4
236.8
248.8
117.9
123.7
387.1
259.3
123.5
437.6
381.7
118.6
224.1
118.0
128.2
124.1
124.9
126.0
122.2
122.2

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

124.1
121.5
314.8
381.3
135.7
225.9
132.5
247.4
254.9
127.4
129 0
405.5
284.0
133.8
399.2
364.9
126.7
239.9
125.1
136.6
135.2
133.5
133.3
133.5
128.6

124.5
122.9
317.1
386.3
136.9
230.3
133.7
251.9
253.6
139.6
129.1
405.2
285.2
134.8
389.7
356.5
127.5
242.4
127.2
137.6
138.6
134.2
133.5
133.8
130.3

126.0
123.4
320.5
385.4
138.6
222.8
137.1
260.4
256.9
156.0
130.3
409.7
290.8
137.5
380.7
354.6
1291
244.9
128.1
138.6
141.1
135.2
134.4
135.4
131.6

128.2
124.7
323.0
385.4
141.1
217.7
137.7
267.3
256.8
171.8
131.0
411.9
295.3
140.1
364.9
345.3
130.8
246.9
128.7
140.0
142.3
137.2
135.8
135.8
132.4

128.4
126.4
324.1
383.2
142.8
209.7
139.3
268.9
255.7
179.3
129.9
412.2
295.9
140.5
359.4
340.8
132.4
249.4
128.4
142.3
143.9
139.1
138.1
135.9
134.1

115.4
112.3
290.9
314.1
123.9
153.8
119.3
236.8
248.3
118.5
123.4
384.4
255.4
121.1
432.3
380.3
118.1
224.0
117.6
127.1
125.3
124.0
126.6
122.2
122.0

120.9
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

121.8
120.3
315.7
383.9
136.8
225.9
131.9
248.2
256.9
128.0
128.8
407.8
283.6
133.2
395.5
364.0
126.2
240.4
125.6
133.5
136.1
132.8
136.5
133.8
128.9

122.8
121.0
317.8
388.9
137.4
231.4
133.1
252.6
254.6
139.9
129.1
407.4
284.0
133.5
386.2
358.1
127.7
242.8
128.0
134.8
140.1
133.4
136.3
133.5
130.2

124.5
122.1
320.8
387.3
139.4
223.4
135.5
261.8
257.4
156.4
131.0
410.7
288.2
135.0
376.4
355.8
129.6
245.1
127.9
136.9
141.7
134.5
136.3
135.2
132.1

126.5
123.5
323.6
387.7
142.0
217.9
137.3
268.9
258.3
172.7
131.4
413.6
293.4
137.8
360.3
347.0
130.9
247.1
129.3
137.8
143.5
136.3
137.3
136.0
132.4

126.3
125.3
325.2
384.6
143.6
209.6
138.2
270.5
257.7
180.0
130.3
415.4
295.4
138.7
355.0
343.9
132.7
250.0
129.2
139.6
145.5
137.9
140.0
136.2
134.4

Food away from hom e..........................................................................
Lunch (12/77-100) ......................................................................
Dinner (12/77=100) ......................................................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77=100) ............................................

260.9
127.0
127.0
124.9

273.1
132.9
132.4
131.8

275.3
134.3
133.4
132.5

277.7
135.7
134.4
133.7

280.9
137.2
136.2
134.7

284.7
138.6
138.2
137.0

286.1
139.2
138.8
137.9

2627
127.6
128.1
126.2

277.4
134.4
135.1
133.9

279.5
135.7
136.1
134.5

281.8
137.3
136.7
135.6

284.2
138.5
138.2
136.4

287.3
139.8
139.4
138.5

288.6
140.3
140.1
139.3

Alcoholic beverages ..........................................................................

181.7

190.4

190.9

191.6

193.7

195.9

197.1

182.8

192.5

192.8

193.7

195.5

197.6

198.7

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)................................

118.2
182.0
132.8
204.1
107.4
120.0

124.0
191.7
137.7
215.4
•112.5
125.1

124.4
192.0
138.9
215.2
112.9
125.3

124.9
192.9
138.9
217.6
112.7
125.8

126.1
194.5
140.0
221.7
113.7
127.6

127.4
197.6
140.0
224.0
113.9
129.7

128.1
198.2
141.6
224.3
115.0
131.1

119.3
181.7
134.4
208.4
107.2
119.1

125.6
192.0
139.0
224.2
111.6
125.3

125.9
192.2
139.8
224.0
112.0
125.5

126.5
192.9
140.2
227.2
112.1
126.2

127.6
194.5
141.5
229.4
113.2
127.4

128.8
197.2
142.0
231.6
113.3
129.4

129.6
198.5
142.3
233.6
114.0
129.9

FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Food

Continued

Continued

Food at home— Continued

HOUSING............................................................................................

254.5

271.1

273.8

276.9

279.1

280.9

282.6

254.4

271.0

273.7

277.1

279.1

280.7

282.2

Shelter................................................................................................

271.6

290.4

294.7

298.5

300.1

300.5

301.6

272.7

292.0

296.4

300.4

301.7

301.7

302.6

Rent, residential....................................................................................

186.6

197.1

198.3

199.6

200.9

201.9

203.0

186.4

196.8

198.0

199.4

200.6

201.6

202.7

Other rental costs ................................................................................
Lodging while out of town................................................................
Tenants’ insurance (12/77-100) ....................................................

258.6
276.8
118.6

268.8
286.0
125.4

268.3
284.2
126.5

267.7
2826
126.9

273.9
291.5
127.6

278.5
297.4
129.3

283.6
304.8
130.1

258.6
275.7
119.3

268.8
284.9
126.0

268.4
283.3
126.8

267.3
281.0
127.2

273.6
289.9
128.0

278.3
296.0
129.9

283.5
303.2
130.8

Homeownership....................................................................................
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) ..........

302.0
244.0
379.9
335.7
188.2
483.0
194.4
278.8
303.2
221.4

323.8
265.5
404.7
362.0
192.0
518.1
192.6
292.8
317.0
236.3

329.4
267.3
416.9
364.5
192.8
536.7
198.0
294.2
318.6
237.1

334.2
267.2
429.4
365.8
194.5
555.5
205.1
296.8
321.5
239.1

335.8
266.2
435.2
369.8
196.0
563.5
209.0
296.8
321.3
239.7

335.8
263.0
437.1
373.1
198.5
565.0
211.9
302.8
328.7
242.4

336.8
261.1
441.1
375.6
199.0
570.9
216.0
306.1
332.6
243.9

304.0
243.8
384.1
337.4
189.9
484.1
194.8
278.2
303.5
222.3

326.7
266.4
410.8
365.3
193 8
521.2
193.0
290.4
315.1
235.0

332.3
268.2
423.1
367.8
194.7
539.7
198.4
291.1
315.9
235.6

337.5
268.0
436.0
369.0
196.4
558.7
205.5
294.2
320.3
236.2

3386
266.4
441.3
373.2
197.9
565.9
209.4
294.1
319.8
236.7

3382
262.7
442.6
376.6
200.6
566.5
212.3
299.9
327.7
238.6

338.3
260.2
446.4
379.9
201.0
572.0
216.7
302.7
331.3
239.9

125.0
117.6

136.9
122.4

137.4
122.3

139.2
123.2

139.5
123.4

141.6
124.0

143.7
123.3

123.6
119.9

133.1
122.5

134.7
122.0

134.9
122.9

135.1
122.7

136.9
122.3

138.5
122.4

116.4
117.0

123.8
123.3

124.2
123.7

124.8
124.2

125.2
124.7

127.3
125.2

127.6
125.9

119.3
118.2

126.6
125.9

124.6
126.4

124.9
126.3

124.5
127.9

127.0
127.8

127.8
128.8

Fuel and other utilities

268.0

287.6

285.7

289.9

296.7

304.5

308.4

268.7

288.0

286.3

290.7

297.5

305.6

309.4

Fuels ..................................................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled gas..........................................................
Fuel o il....................................................................................
Other fuels (6/78 - 100) ........................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity ..............................................................
Electricity................................................................................
Utility (piped! gas ....................................................................

333.9
553.4
577.9
138.3
284.0
237.9
343.9

362.8
558.7
581.5
143.1
317.1
265.3
384.6

358 7
567.0
589.8
145.7
310.5
258.7
379.0

364.7
585.3
610.0
148.4
313.9
262,3
381.5

375.4
625.9
656.0
152.3
318.5
266.9
385.3

387.4
675.6
712.0
157.5
322.9
271.3
389.0

393.7
693.4
730.9
161.5
326.7
273.9
395.2

333.9
554.1
577.9
139.5
283.9
238.1
342.6

362.1
559.9
581.8
144.8
316.0
265.3
380.9

358.2
568.3
590.3
147.3
309.8
258.4
376.7

364.5
587.0
610.9
150.1
313.4
262.1
379.7

375.0
627.9
657.1
154.1
317.7
266.5
383.3

387.3
678.5
714.2
159.4
322.1
271.1
386.8

393.4
696.3
733.2
162.9
325.9
273.5
392.8


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

87

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price index— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)

All Urban Consumers
General summary

1981

1980

1981

1980
Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

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

161.9
133.2
103.3
97.4
98.7
253.9

167.8
137.5
106.6
102.1
100.1
266.2

169.0
138.7
108.3
101.7
100.6
267.0

170.6
140.3
110.5
101.8
100.9
267.8

171.9
141.1
111.6
101.8
101.0
271.4

173.6
142.4
113.5
101.8
101.2
274.7

174.2
142.5
113.6
101.8
101.2
277.1

161.9
133.1
103.2
97.5
98.6
254.7

167.8
137.4
106.5
102.1
99.9
267.3

169.1
138.7
108.3
101.8
100.5
268.0

170.7
140.3
110.6
101.8
100.7
268.7

172.0
141.1
111.7
101.9
100,8
272.5

173.9
142.5
113.6
101.9
101.0
276.3

174.4
142.6
113.7
101.9
101.0
279.0

Household furnishings and operations

201.3

210.1

211.0

211.6

212.6

214.9

216.9

199.2

206.8

208.1

209.0

209.7

211.7

213.7

170.4
185.3
113.2
118.2
187.9
119.2
112.7
111.9
121.3
139.0
105.5
102.9
108.7
160.7
161.4
116.6
110.7

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

176.4
195.7
122.6
121.2
193.9
125.5
113.6
115.6
124.6
141.4
106.1
103.8
109.1
165.2
169.2
120.2
112.4

176.9
196.6
122.7
122.4
194.4
125.7
114.7
115.2
124.7
142.0
106.1
103.7
109.2
166.3
170.9
121.4
112.8

176.9
193.4
117.0
124.6
193.6
125.1
113.2
114.3
125.6
142.7
106.5
104.2
109.4
167.6
171.7
121.9
114.0

178.5
196,9
121.4
124,4
195.6
127.7
113.2
115.2
126.6
142.9
106.6
104.2
109.6
167.8
172.3
122.8
113.7

180.2
201.4
124.1
127.2
198.0
129.4
114.1
116.7
128.3
143.4
106.4
104.3
109.3
169.0
172.7
124.3
114.5

HOUSING - Continued
Fuel and other utilities — Continued

177.9
1959
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

178.1
192.4
117.3
122.7
196.5
128.6
114.2
113.3
127.9
142.6
107.4
105.1
110.6
166.2
166.1
122.0
114.2

178.3
193.2
117.2
123.8
197.0
129.2
115.3
113.1
127.8
142.4
107.2
105.2
110.1
165.9
166.5
123.4
113.1

178.7
191.9
114.6
124.9
196.6
128.3
114.2
113.1
128.7
143.1
107.4
105.6
110.2
167.2
168.0
123.6
114.2

110.9

112.4

113.0

112.0

114.8

115.1

115.1

111.1

112.1

112.6

113.9

115.7

114.2

115.2

111.6
117.3

116.2
124.1

115.5
124.6

114.3
124.8

113.6
125.6

115.7
127.9

116.9
129.1

110.2
116.0

113.0
122.2

112.1
123.2

111.5
123.1

112.0
123.8

113.1
125.6

113.7
126.9

116.4
114.9

123.3
121.6

124.3
121.4

124.6
121.7

125.7
122.3

128.7
124.1

130.7
125.7

110.8
112.3

118.2
119.4

119.0
119.2

118.4
118.8

118.9
119.2

120.8
121.7

123.2
121.7

122.6
112.2

130.0
117.9

130.6
118.4

130.8
118.7

131.9
118.7

134.8
119.9

135.6
120.8

120.8
115.0

126.3
120.9

127.4
122.3

127.6
122.3

128.0
123.8

131.0
123.8

132.1
125.1

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)..........................................

238.0
232.1
117.0
123.9
113.8
120.9
121.4

253.6
248.7
125.7
134.2
118.6
129.5
126.9

256.0
252.4
126.7
135.6
118.3
131.1
128.0

257.7
254.0
127.6
136.1
119.5
132.5
128.4

259.5
255.6
128.8
137.3
119.9
132.6
130.0

262.8
256.2
129.3
138.4
121.4
135.9
134.0

264.2
255.3
129.7
137.9
122.3
137.3
136.6

235.5
230.0
116.9
125.8
113.6
118.3
114.0

251.2
245.6
125.1
136.2
118.2
126.7
121.0

253.5
248.2
1262
136.6
118.8
128.4
122.5

256.0
252.3
127.6
137.6
120.0
129.5
122.5

257.5
253.4
129.0
139.2
120.7
129.3
122.7

260.1
254.3
129.6
139.2
122.4
132.2
126.1

261.2
253.8
130.3
138,1
123.7
133.2
128.5

Housekeeping services............................................................................
Postage ..........................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 = 100) ..............................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 = 100) ....................................

2636
257.3

274.5
257.3

276.1
257.3

277.1
257.3

279.6
257.3

281.6
257.3

284.8
274.3

262.7
257.2

271.0
257.3

272.5
257.3

273.8
257.3

276.4
257.3

279.4
257.3

283.3
274.2

125.4
115.8

133.3
120.3

134.6
120.7

134.4
121.4

137.0
122.4

138.2
123 6

139.0
124.5

126.1
116.0

130.2
119.2

131.4
119.7

131.8
120.6

134.3
121.5

137.8
122.4

139.0
123.8

APPAREL AND UPKEEP

176.0

183.9

184.8

183.9

181.1

182.0

185.1

175.1

182.8

183.3

182.9

181.8

184.3

Apparel commodities

169.2

176.4

177.2

176.0

172.6

173.2

176.3

168.7

175.6

176.0

175.3

172.6

173.3

175.8

172.7
175.0
110.2
103.2
97.9
127.2
118.0
104.7
113.7
106.5
121.2
116.5
157.5
104.4
157.9
166.4
99.3
117.8
93.0
106.4
101.2
106.2

165.7
166.0
104.4
96.4
96.9
113.2
112.0
102.7
107.5
105.0
110.7
108.2
154.9
103.7
167.0
157.5
101.0
111.5
100.2
100,1
95.7
99.8

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

172.5
174.8
110.2
99.4
101.9
119.7
120.4
108.7
112.7
112.5
115.2
111.9
159.9
106.6
175.5
157.7
102.8
116.4
102.8
105.3
99.1
106.8

171.6
174.4
109.9
98.2
101.9
120.0
120.7
108.1
112.6
111.8
116.2
112.0
158.2
105.3
172.2
154.3
102.4
116.6
98,2
104.9
98.6
106.6

168.7
171.7
107.9
95.1
97.4
119.9
116.7
108.2
111.6
107.9
115.8
112.9
153.9
102.3
162.1
147.3
100.1
115.6
95.5
102.5
94.4
104.4

169.6
172.2
108.2
96.1
96.0
120.2
116.8
108.7
111.9
107.0
116.1
114,2
155.4
103.5
159.1
150.5
99.7
116.0
103.6
102.7
93.5
105.8

172.3
174.9
110.1
98.5
98.9
121.5
119.2
110.0
112.9
109.5
117.4
113.9
158.9
105.5
156.9
154.3
101.6
117.7
109.5
106.4
98.4
109.1

115.6

107.8

112.8

112.6

112.2

112.2

112.5

114.6

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) .

171.5
187.2
113.9
119.7
189.2
122.5
110.9
110.8
122.6
138.8
105,7
104,0
108.3
160.2
157,9
116.8
111.2

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 arc girls’ ..........................................................................
Women’s (12/77 = 100)............................................................
Coats and jackets ..............................................................
D'esses ..............................................................................
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)..............................................


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

180.8
195.1
118.6
124.8
199.3
131.3
114.5
115.9
129,1
143.9
107.9
105.7
111.0
168.2
168.4
123.7
115.4

166.2
165.6
104.3
99.9
96.9
115.0
111.9
98.7
107.5
102.5
112.0
109.8
155.5
103.8
167.6
169.3
99,8
111.0
91.6
101.8
98.9
100.8

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

173.9
174.8
110.1
104.7
100.5
123.3
119.6
103.5
113.3
109.4
118.4
114.3
159.9
106.3
164.7
168.1
102.9
116.7
97.4
106.5
102.7
105.9

172.5
174.3
109.8
103.5
99.7
123.9
119.7
103.4
113.1
108.6
118.7
114.3
157.4
104.4
161.4
163.8
101.4
116.8
91.9
106.1
101.3
106.1

168.9
171.1
107.5
99.9
95.2
123.9
115.4
103.4
112.0
104.8
119.1
114.8
152.1
100.8
150.4
155.5
98.2
116.0
87.8
102.9
96.0
103.6

169.6
171.6
107.8
100.5
95.6
125,3
114.8
102.7
112.6
104.3
119.1
116.6
153.4
101.9
160.7
156.9
97.1
116.4
90.0
102.8
94.4
104.2

108.4

113.8

114.0

113.8

113.1

113.9

182.6
199 8
123.1
126.1
201.6
133.2
115.8
116.5
130.8
144.2
108.0
105.6
111.2
168.9
168.5
124.5
115.9

180.8

23.

Continued — Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Ail Urban Consumers
General summary

1980

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981

1980

1981

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apparel commodities less footwear—Continued
Infants' and toddlers’ ......................................................................
Other apparel commodities ............................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) ............................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 = 100) ........................................

231.4
199.9
107.1
138.6

244.1
211.8
111.9
147.5

248.9
213.7
110.3
149.9

250.1
213.3
110.6
149.5

249.7
214.2
111.9
149.7

254.3
212.3
112.2
147.9

255.3
212.2
113.3
147.3

237.3
197.8
107.2
137.3

249.2
204.1
112.0
141.1

254.0
204.0
110.2
141.8

255.4
204.4
110.0
142.3

2569
205.3
110.8
142.8

264.0
204.4
112.2
141.3

266.4
204.5
113.3
140.9

Footwear..............................................................................................
Men's (12/77 = 100) ....................................................................
Boys' and girls' (12/77 = 100) ......................................................
Womens' (12/77 = 100)................................................................

187.0
119.0
119.5
114.2

196.1
124.7
125.8
119.6

196.5
125.4
126.2
119.4

196.6
124.6
126.6
120.0

194.9
124.4
125.7
118.1

194.9
125.0
125.3
117.9

197.4
125.2
127.6
120.0

186.3
120.9
119.5
110.9

195.6
125.8
126.9
116.3

196.4
126.7
127.4
116.5

196.7
126.0
127.8
117.5

195.5
126.1
127.0
115.9

194.9
125.7
126.2
115.9

195.9
125.4
127.3
117.0

Apparel services
Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 = 100)............
Other apparel services (12/77 = 100) ..................................................

225.9
132.5
122.1

240.0
141.1
129.2

241.9
142.4
130.0

243.4
143.5
130.5

246.3
145.3
131.7

249.9
147,6
133.3

252.4
149.6
133.7

223.5
132.3
119.6

238.1
140.9
127.4

239.9
141.6
129.1

242.2
143.2
129.9

245.5
145.5
131.1

248.7
147.3
132.9

251.5
149.3
133.9

APPAREL AND UPKEEP
Apparel commodities

Continued
Continued

TRANSPORTATION

243.7

256.1

259.0

261.1

264.7

270.9

273.5

244.3

256.6

259.7

261.9

265.7

272.1

274.4

Private................................................................................................

244.0

254,5

257.4

259.4

262.9

269.4

271.7

244.6

255.5

258.6

260.8

264.4

271.0

273.2

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) ..........................

175.0
195.2
370.9
260.9
127.3

181.9
222.7
370.5
276.0
135.0

184.3
230.8
370.5
278.4
136.1

184,5
234.4
373.3
280.1
136.8

185.3
234.0
385.2
282.7
137.3

184.8
234,3
410.8
285.4
139 2

182.9
235.4
420.7
287.7
140.3

175.4
195.2
372.7
261.7
127.2

182.0
222.7
371.7
276.6
134.6

184.5
230.8
371.7
278.9
135.9

184.6
234.4
374.4
280.6
136.7

185.7
234.0
386.6
283.2
137.3

185.0
234.4
412.5
285.4
139.2

182.7
235.4
422.3
288.2
140.2

124.1
123.1
123.5
216.5
192.7
126.4
124.3
170.1
127.2
225.0
244.0
137.4
110.8
145.3
104.7
119.7
122.0

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

133.6
131.0
131.3
228.8
203.1
137.8
130.3
181.7
127.3
237.9
251.9
154.4
115.0
146.6
105.0
123.2
130.7

134.0
131.6
132.7
231.0
203.6
138.8
130.6
182.1
127.6
240.6
252.5
159.4
115.8
146.9
105.3
124.3
132.7

135.8
132.5
134.4
232.4
203.7
139.1
130.6
181.5
128.6
242.4
252.3
163.4
116.2
146.9
105.3
124.8
133.7

136.8
133.7
135.5
234.2
205.8
141.6
131.8
183.5
129.3
244.0
253.7
165.1
116.7
146.9
105.4
125.8
134.7

137.7
134.8
137.0
234.7
206.2
141.6
132.1
184.1
129.2
244.6
254.4
164.3
118.2
146.9
105.4
1261
138.4

126.1
122.8
124.0
217.1
193.2
126.1
124.7
172.5
124.4
225.7
243.8
135.2
111.6
145.5
104.4
120.2
127.0

133.9
130.2
129.6
228.0
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

135.0
131.1
130.8
230.6
203.4
137.3
130.6
182.5
126.9
240.1
251.5
153.2
116.7
146.6
104.7
123.9
140.0

135.6
131.7
132.2
233.2
205.7
139.0
132.0
184.7
127.8
242.9
252.0
157.9
117.5
147.0
105.1
125.1
142.0

137.5
132.7
133.5
235.0
206.2
139.2
132.4
184.8
128.9
244.9
251.8
161.7
118.2
146.9
105.1
125.6
144.1

138.3
133.5
134.7
236.9
207.5
139.0
133.4
186.6
129.3
247.0
253.2
163.9
119.3
147.0
105.1
126.6
147.2

140.2
134.7
135.9
237.3
208.0
139.8
133.7
186.9
129.5
247.4
253.9
163.4
119.9
147.0
105.1
126.7
148.9

Public......................................................................................

232.1

273.6

277.0

280.1

286.4

288.1

293.9

226.1

266.5

269.2

271.8

279.0

280.6

285.1

Airline fare............................................................................................
Irterc ty bus fare ..................................................................................
Intracity mass transit ............................................................................
Taxi fare ..............................................................................................
Intercity train fare..................................................................................

259.9
290.7
200.8
245.6
237.2

315.0
307.1
235.6
267.9
255.6

321.8
308.0
236.1
269.2
2556

327.4
310.1
237.1
269.7
270.1

331.9
310.7
247.1
271.0
276.4

334.1
312.8
248.4
271.4
276.5

343.7
323.2
250.8
273.8
276.7

259.3
290.2
198.6
251.2
237.1

313.0
306.9
235.2
274.7
255.7

319.8
308.0
235,6
275.6
255.7

325.7
309.8
236.5
275.9
270.3

330.2
310.6
246.5
277.5
276.8

332.7
312.2
247.8
277.7
276.9

342.3
323.9
249.1
280.5
277.1
287.0

MEDICAL CARE ................................................................................

260.2

272.8

274.5

275.8

279.5

282.6

284.7

260.9

274.3

276.3

277.6

281.4

284.4

Medical care commodities

163.5

172.5

173.8

175.1

176.7

179.2

180.7

164.4

173.0

174.1

175.6

177.5

179.6

181.2

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 and supplies (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 100) ..............................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 100)................................................

150.9
117.9
122.2
113.3

158.5
124.1
127.1
117.3

159.6
124.6
128.9
118.3

160.7
124.7
130.2
119.1

162.7
127.7
130.7
120.6

165.0
129.2
131.9
121.9

166.5
130.5
132.8
122.2

152.0
120.1
122.2
114.7

159.5
125.1
126.2
119.3

160.2
125.6
127.7
119.9

161.5
126.4
128.6
120.2

163.4
128.6
129.4
121.3

165.3
129.5
130.7
122.9

166.8
131.0
131.5
123.7

130.0
120.5

139.6
126.3

140.4
126.7

142.3
126.9

143.9
128.7

147.4
130.9

148.2
132.7

129.6
121.3

138.8
128,7

139.6
128.3

141.7
129.6

143.8
131.4

146.5
133.3

147.8
134.1

115.5

120.4

121.2

122.4

123.2

124.5

126.3

116.5

122.1

122.3

123.1

123.8

125.2

126.5

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)........

117.3
114.1
182.2
115.1

124.4
121.0
193.5
121.3

125.3
121.2
195.8
121.5

126.2
120.8
198.1
122.5

127.1
121.5
199.3
123.6

128.9
123.1
202.7
124.5

129.9
124.6
204.2
125.0

118.0
114.5
183.0
116.1

124.4
119.6
194.0
121.8

125.5
120.2
195.8
123.0

126.5
120.4
198.0
123.7

127.9
121.1
200.4
125.1

129.4
122.3
203.0
126.5

130.5
122.6
205.5
127.1

Medical care services

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

281.5

294.8

296.6

297.9

302.1

305.2

307.5

282.2

296.6

298.7

300.0

304.3

307.4

310.2

Professional services ............................................................................
Physicians’ services........................................................................
Dental services..............................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100)......................................

245.3
262.3
234.1
119.5

259.0
276.0
247.5
127.6

260.4
278.0
248.0
128.5

261.7
280.3
248.6
128.5

264.7
283.9
251.4
129.3

267.2
287.7
252.8
130.0

269.6
290.3
254.9
131.5

247.8
266.2
235.7
119.3

261.9
281.8
249.0
125.1

263.8
283.8
250.4
126.7

265.0
285.7
251.3
126.6

268.7
290.0
254.9
127.6

271.6
293.9
257.0
128.5

274.2
296.3
259.8
129.9

Other medical care services..................................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 - 100)..........................
Hospital room..........................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 = 100)............

325.3
128.8
405.8
127.8

338.0
139.3
435.8
139.0

340.5
141.1
441.0
140.9

341.6
141.7
443.7
141.4

347.3
144.5
453.8
143.7

351.1
146.1
458.2
145.5

353.4
147.1
460.9
146.7

324.4
127.7
401.2
126.9

339.2
138.9
435.3
138.4

341.6
140.5
439.8
140.2

342.9
141.3
443.1
140.6

347.8
143.7
451.9
142.7

351.3
145.2
455.9
144.4

354.4
146.7
459.2
146.3


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

89

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.

Continued— Consumer Price Index — U.S. city average

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary

1980

Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981

1980

1981

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Mar.

ENTERTAINMENT................................................................................

200.6

210.9

211.2

212.0

214.4

216.7

218.2

199.5

Entertainment commodities................................................................

203.4

213.7

214.5

215.3

217.1

219.7

222.1

200.3

Reading materials (12/77 = 100)..........................................................
Newspapers ..................................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100)............................

119.4
232.4
120.8

127.0
245.3
129.6

127.6
245.6
130.7

128.2
246.2
131.5

130.0
249.7
133.4

130.9
253.8
132.9

133.2
256.6
136.2

119.1
232.0
120.7

126.6
244.6
129.6

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) ........................

117.2
118.7
109.5
177.2
112.9

121.8

122.8
( 1)
114.7
185.7
119.9

122.9

124.7
126.5
115.9
187.2
120.6

126.1
128.5
116.2
188.4
121.2

112.4
110.8
109.3
177.8
113.4

(’ )

(')

116.2
184.7
120.4

123.5
( 1)
115.7
185.9
120.9

(’ )

114.5
185.3
118.2

112.5
185.4
117.8

112.2
185.8
119.1

113.4
184.9
119.3

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 expense (12/77 - 100) ........................................

116.9
115.7
118.2
118.2

122.8
120.9
123.1
125.8

122.8
120.7
121.8
127.3

123.5
121.3
122.0
128.4

124.4
122.4
121.5
130.1

126.3
124.7
122.6
132.0

127.2
125.6
124.0
132.3

116.4
114.9
116.9
119.0

120.9
117.4
122.3
126.4

121.6
118.4
122.7
126.8

(')

(’ )

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

209.2

209.9

210.1

209.0

210.2

210.9

127.1
244.9
130.8

127.6
245.5
131.5

116.3

117.0

Feb.

Mar.

212.2

215.0

216.1

213.0

216.2

218.0

129.6
249.4
133.5

130.7
254.0
132.9

133.0
256.7
136.3

118.5
114.5
186.7
119.2

119.3
118.1
115.3
188.3
119.2

120.3
119.5
115.2
189.4
119.3

121.8
118.5
122.4
127.6

122.9
119.4
122.3
129.7

125.8
123.0
124.4
131.9

126.3
123.1
125.5
132.8

117.8

Jan.

f)

Entertainment services ......................................................................

197.0

207.2

206.9

207.8

210.9

213.0

213.0

199.1

210.6

210.5

209.7

212.0

213.9

213.8

Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 100)..............................................
Admissions (12/77 = 100)....................................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 = 100)..........................................

117.5
119.1
113.2

125.5
122.7
119.0

125.2
122.6
118.7

125.7
123.1
119.4

128.1
124.7
120.1

129.4
125.3
122.0

129.8
125.3
121.0

118.8
120.0
113.9

127.0
124.2
121.6

126.7
124.3
121.6

125.9
124.0
121.8

127.8
125.2
122.0

129.0
126.2
123.0

129.6
125.9
121.7

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES..........................................................

208.9

221.5

222.8

224.6

226.2

227.4

228.7

208.3

219.9

221.0

223.0

224.4

225.6

226.8

Tobacco products ..............................................................................

198.4

204.5

207.3

210.8

211.9

212.3

212.5

198.6

204.3

206.8

210.4

211.7

211.9

212.4

Ciga-ettes ............................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 100)............

201.2
116.3

206.8
123.2

209.6
124.3

213.5
124.9

214.6
125.4

214.8
126.5

214.8
128.0

201.6
115.7

206.7
123.1

209.3
123.9

213.2
124.5

214.5
125.4

214.5
126.4

214.9
128.1

Personal care ....................................................................................

208.1

217.8

219.0

220.9

222.5

224.6

226.9

207.7

218.0

218.5

220.0

221.1

223.2

225.1

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)

200.2
116.6
119.2

211.8
124.5
126.0

212.4
124.5
127.2

215.2
125.2
128.4

216.9
126.3
130.8

219.5
128.3
132.9

222.4
131.4
135.3

199.6
114.9
118.4

212.1
123.6
125.3

212.7
123.2
125.9

214.3
125.3
125.4

216.1
126.2
128.3

218.5
126.7
131.2

220.9
128.4
133.3

115.1
114.7

121.3
120.8

120.8
122.2

122.6
124.8

122.9
125.5

123.2
127.5

123.9
128.3

114.8
116.6

121.1
123.6

121.0
125.3

121.4
126.8

122.2
126.6

122.8
129.0

123.4
130.7

Personal care services..........................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women....................................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . . .

215.7
217.9
119.7

223.8
225.2
125.3

225.5
227.5
125.6

226.8
228.7
126.4

228.3
230.1
127.3

230.0
231.7
128.5

231.7
233.6
129.2

215.8
217.8
120.1

224.0
225.6
125.0

224.4
226.1
125.2

225.8
227.5
126.0

226.3
227.6
126.7

228.1
229.4
127.6

229.4
230.8
128.4

Personal and educational expenses ..................................................

228.3

251.1

251.3

251.5

253.6

254.4

255.2

228.2

251.2

251.4

251.7

254.0

255.0

256.0

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)..................................................

206.9
233.6
118.6
117.9
120.9
125.0

221.9
257.8
132.2
131.5
134.4
132.4

221.9
258.1
132.2
131.5
134.4
133.0

222.1
258.2
132.2
131.5
134.4
133.4

228.6
259.7
132.6
132.0
134.4
135.7

229.8
260.4
132.7
132.1
134.4
137.1

230.5
261.2
132.8
132.3
134.4
138.7

210.7
232.9
118.7
117.9
120.7
122.1

225.6
257.5
132.4
131.5
134.3
131.0

225.6
257.8
132.4
131.5
134.3
131.6

225.8
258.1
132.4
131.5
134.3
132.2

232.4
259.6
132.8
132.0
134.3
134.4

233.6
260.6
132.9
132.1
134.3
136.3

234.4
261.6
133.0
132.3
134.4
138.1

365.5
326.3
230.9
292.0

365.5
346.4
254.9
304.7

365.5
355.3
253.1
306.4

368.3
364.5
255.8
308.4

379.9
368.9
259.4
309.5

404.8
370.7
262.3
314.6

414.5
373.6
265.2
318.3

367.2
325.6
230.2
292.0

366.6
346.7
253.5
302.4

366.7
355.6
251.6
303.5

369.4
364.7
254.4
306.6

381.2
368.8
258.0
307.4

406.3
370.4
261.0
313.4

415.9
373.0
263.6
317.2

Special indexes:
Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other products......................................
Insurance and finance ..........................................................................
Utilities and public transportation............................................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance services ......................................
1 Not available.

Digitized 90
for FRASER
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]
Size class A
(1.25 million or more)

Size class B
(385,000-1.250 million)

Size class C
(75,000-385,000)

Size class D
(75,000 or less)

Category and group
1980
Oct.

1981
Dec.

Feb.

1980
Oct.

1981
Dec.

1980

Feb.

Oct.

1981

1980

1981

Dec.

Feb.

Oct.

Dec.

Feb.

Northeast
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ......................................................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................................................
Housing ....................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................................................
Transportation..............................................................................................
Medical care................................................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................................................
Other goods and services ............................................................................

130.5
131.0
131.8
116.2
139.4
126.3
120.0
121.2

132.8
132.8
135.2
114.8
141.9
128 0
120.7
122.7

135.7
135.2
138.0
114.9
147.3
130.5
124.6
123.7

137.2
133.7
141.9
116.2
145.3
127.2
122.7
124.0

139.8
135.8
144.6
116.8
149.4
129.3
123.2
127.5

143.2
137.6
149.0
114.0
155.0
131.2
127.5
128.5

141.2
134.7
151.0
124.6
142.8
129.1
120.1
127.8

143.8
137.7
153.7
124.8
146.5
130.1
120.4
130.3

146.6
139.8
156.3
119.5
153.0
132.1
124.2
131.1

135.6
131.5
139.9
118.6
143.1
126.9
125.2
122.0

137.8
132.8
142.0
120.3
146.5
130.7
126.7
124.4

141.6
134.8
147.5
119.1
151.0
134.4
126.7
126.5

COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities....................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..........................................................
Services ............................................................................................................

131.8
132.3
128.8

133.7
134.3
131.6

137.0
138.2
134.0

138.3
140.5
135.4

140.8
143.2
138.3

144.3
147.6
141.5

139.9
142.3
143.4

142.1
144.1
146.7

144.6
146.8
149.8

136.6
139.1
134.0

138.1
140.7
137.3

141.7
145.0
141.4

North Central
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All Items ................................................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................................................
Housing ..............................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................................................
Transportation..............................................................................................
Medical care................................................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................................................
Other goods and services ............................................................................

140.8
133.1
151.9
112.1
143.2
129.1
124.5
122.6

143.3
135.0
155.3
110.8
146.4
130.5
125.1
124.2

144.0
137.1
152.7
109.4
151.8
134.6
127.5
126.3

137.6
130.8
143.7
118.2
143.0
129.6
121.1
128.4

140.0
132.9
146.0
118.8
146.8
131.4
121.3
130.3

142.8
136.4
147.7
116.9
152.3
136.2
124.2
132.7

135.1
133.7
137.9
115.3
142.9
130.6
124.3
122.5

136.6
135.1
139.1
114.8
146.2
132.4
124.0
123.9

139.7
137.0
141.5
114.5
153.1
136.7
126.8
126.4

134.6
135.8
135.3
115.5
142.2
133.3
121.1
128.4

136.2
139.1
135.9
116.2
145.4
134.6
120.8
129.8

139.6
139.6
140.5
114.1
150.3
140.1
124.8
131.1

COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commod.t.es......................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..........................................................
Services ............................................................................................................

138.1
140.4
144.9

139.9
142.3
148.4

140.3
141.8
149.4

135.0
136.8
141.8

136.5
138.0
145.6

139.5
140.9
148.1

133.9
134.0
137.1

135.2
135.3
138.9

138.2
138.7
142.2

132.6
131.2
137.7

133.4
130.9
140.6

136.0
134.5
145.3

South
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All 'terns ............................................................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................................................
Housing ..................................................................................................
Apparel ana upkeep ....................................................................................
Transportation..............................................................................................
Medical care................................................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................................................
Other goods and services ............................................................................

136.7
134.6
139.8
119.9
145.0
126.8
120.2
126.4

139.0
136.8
143.1
120.0
146.8
127.9
120.4
128.1

142.1
138.8
146.1
119.3
152.9
130.4
123.5
129.4

138.1
133.0
143.5
116.4
144.5
130.9
125.3
126.8

140.9
135.4
146.7
117.3
147.9
132.1
127.9
128.8

144.9
138.6
151.5
117.1
153.4
135.1
129.0
131.0

136.1
134.8
139.7
111.8
143.0
132.7
125.0
124.7

138.6
137.2
142.5
114.1
145.7
133.7
127.5
126.7

142.1
138.4
146.6
113.0
152.2
136.8
129.0
128 6

134.1
134.5
133.7
110.5
142.2
140.2
132.4
128.2

136.5
136.9
137.5
108.9
144.8
140.7
130.7
129 9

138.8
140.2
138.4
105.6
151.4
144.0
131.0
130.5

COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities ......................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ..........................................................
Services ............................................................................................................

135.4
135.8
138.4

137.2
137.3
141.5

140.1
140.7
144.8

135.2
136.1
142.6

137.5
138.3
146.1

140.8
141.7
151.2

134.1
133.8
139.2

136.3
135.9
142.3

139.1
139.5
146.6

133.4
133.0
135.0

135.6
135.0
138.0

138.4
137.6
139.3

West
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................................................
Food and oeverages ....................................................................................
Housing ............................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................................................
Transportation..............................................................................................
Medical care..................................................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................................................
Other goods and services ............................................................................

137.7
132.7
141.6
117.9
144.9
133.0
122.3
126.2

140.7
134.3
146.0
117.9
146.7
134.3
123.8
127.7

142.6
136.8
147.2
116.4
150.8
137.5
127.0
129.1

139.5
135.0
144.7
121.5
144.3
130.7
125.7
128.1

141.4
136.5
146.7
123.8
146.6
133.1
125.0
129.0

144.0
139.4
1487
122.3
151.9
136.0
126.6
131.4

136.3
131.7
139.4
111.2
145.9
133.3
126.9
122.3

138.4
132.7
142.1
112.0
148.5
134.5
126.3
125.2

141.2
134.8
145.2
112.1
152.6
137.5
126.6
126.8

136.9
135.6
136.2
129.1
145.9
134.9
131.2
128.1

139.8
137.3
140.6
129.0
148.0
136.6
133.5
130.4

141.0
140.8
138.3
129.8
154.1
139.6
140.5
131.5

COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities......................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverage ............................................................
Services ............................................................................................................

134.2
134.8
142.5

135.3
135.7
147.8

137.3
137.6
149.6

136.3
136.8
144.0

137.5
138.0
146.7

140.0
140.3
149.4

134.1
135.1
139.5

135.2
136.2
142.9

137.1
138.0
146.9

135.7
135.7
138.7

137.2
137.1
143.8

139.7
139.3
142.9


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

91

M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
25.

Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average, and selected areas

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)

All Urban Consumers
Area1

1980

1981

1980

1981

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Mar.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

U.S. city average 2 ..............................................................

239.8

253.9

256.2

258.4

260.5

263.2

265.1

239.9

254.1

256.4

258.7

260.7

263.5

265.2

Anchorage, Alaska (10/67=100) ........................................
Atlanta, Ga...........................................................................
Baltimore, Md.......................................................................
Boston. Mass........................................................................
Buffalo, N.Y..........................................................................

223.5

Chicago, lll.-Northwestern Ind.................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind..........................................................
Cleveland, O hio..................................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex............................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo............................................................

235.5
247.8

Detroit, Mich.........................................................................
Honolulu, Hawaii ................................................................
Houston, Tex........................................................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas ....................................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif................................

242.9

Miami, Fla. (11/77-100) ....................................................
Milwaukee, Wis.....................................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis..............................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J...........................................
Northeast, Pa. (Scranton)....................................................

127.7
242.7
231.2
229.0

Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J..............................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa.......................................................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash............................................................
St. Louis, Mo.-lll....................................................................
San Diego, Calif....................................................................

253.6
238.1
258.3

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif................................................
Seattle-Everett, Wash...........................................................
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.......................................................

243.8
238.8

236.5
250.2

239.6
253.7

234.6

260.3

264.3
234.6
272.3
254.8
252.6

266.4

255.5

247.9
256.3

244.7
247.0
249.2

259.0
247.3

250.5
262.0

251.9

259.4

249.4
252.4
253.2

259.7
266.1

235.2
249.7

281.4

259.4

270.2
243.3
281.5
261.9
261.6

268.2

2424

263.3

243.9

140.0
269.9

128.8
247.8

260.6
252.7

253.9
257.6

230.8
231.3

255.9
265.5

264.9
257.2

232.0
252.4

252.8

258.3

235.1
251.7
238.5
255.6

271.1
262.3

241.3
239.2

263.6

258.4

249.5
257.6

244.2
249.5
251.1

265.5
237.0
272.1
257.2
262.2

260.6
247.2

252.3
262.9

258.9
267.7

273.9
272.9
285.8

264.4

262.7

265.5
243.5
277.7
260.1
265.0

138.8
271.9

260.7
254.2
275.1

249.1
255.1
255.5

263.6

266.5
141.7
274.6

262.4
252.7

258.1
266.4

265.0
255.9
282.9
255.7

259.4
255.7

258.8

282.2

135.6
267.5
256.6
242.6

269.3
261.8
249.7

258.1
266.3

266.7
268.2

252.6

Area is used for New York and Chicago.
2 Average of 85 cities.

258.9

276.7
261.4
233.5
269.4
253.0
254.9

236.2
266.4

262.6
255.7
245.2

258.9
236.5

264.2
262.9

268.1
259.3
293.1

235.0
260.3

257.4
249.2
238.2

260.5

254.9
262.6
253.6

'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


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

268.5

266.4
255.7
287.7

261.9
253.8
279.1

243.9
234.2

273.5
274.4

137.3
266.2

133.9
262.1
255.5
243.1

259.6

277.3
269.7
236.1
274.8
259.1
258.7

220.2

270.3
262.3
251.4

258.9
264.5

266.5
269.5
271.9

241.1
263.0

264.3
256.4
246.5

259.9
262.1

2646
264.9
255.2

241.3

240.1
258.3

258.4
248.8

245.0
234.2

253.7
260.6
259.5
267.0
259.4
288.0

261.6
262.3
259.4

267.9
264.2

26.

Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing

[1967 = 100]
Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Finished goods....................................................................

246.8

242.1

243.4

244.9

Finished consumer goods..............................................
Finished consumer foods ..........................................
Crude ..................................................................
P'ocessed ............................................................
Nondurable goods less foods ....................................
Durable goods..........................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . . .
Capital equipment ........................................................

248.8
239.4
237.1
237.7
283.9
205.9
192.1
239.5

243.7
230.1
224.1
228.8
281.5
202.3
188.5
236.2

245.2
231.9
229.1
230.3
284.2
201.9
189.6
236.7

246.8
233.0
224.5
231.8
285.9
204.1
191.1
2378

Intermediate materials, supplies, and components..................

280.1

275.7

277.0

Materials and components for manufacturing..................
Materials for food manufacturing................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing ......................
Materials for durable manufacturing............................
Components for manufacturing ..................................

265.5
263.7
259.5
301.0
231.4

260.6
241.5
258.1
296.1
227.6

262.5
2553
260.4
294.1
229.0

Commodity grouping

1980

1981

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

249.3

251.4

251.4

255.4

256.2

r 257.2

259.8

262.4

265.3

267.7

251.7
241.6
240.9
239.7
288.4
207.5
192.8
240.6

254.1
246.5
247.0
244.4
290.0
208.1
193.9
241.9

254.1
247,4
259.8
244.3
290.9
206.2
194.6
241.8

257.9
248.9
250.5
246.7
293.9
213.1
196.9
250.2

r 258.9
'249.3
'254.8
'246.7
'296.2
'213.5
'197.6
'250.9

261.4
250.6
257.3
247.9
301.1
213.8
200,5
253.9

264.0
250.9
265.0
247,6
307.1
213.9
203.0
256.3

267.3
251.8
279.1
247.3
314.7
213.7
204.5
257.8

269.6
251.5
278.8
247.0
318.8
216.2
206.5
260.5

278.8

281.6

284.3

285.3

287.7

289.1

'291.9

295.5

297.8

301.4

305.4

264.3
259.7
261.0
297.0
230.3

265.6
264.4
261.7
297.3
2324

268.9
277.9
263.4
299.2
235.6

269.5
275.8
263.2
300.5
237.0

273.3
295.1
265.0
304.7
238.4

273.9
299.0
266.7
303.8
238.3

'275.7
'279.6
'268.5
'304.3
'246.3

278.7
277.9
273.4
306.9
249.0

279.7
273.8
275.8
305.5
251.7

281.0
267.9
278.7
306.5
253.5

283.9
264.0
283.8
310.2
255.2

FINISHED GOODS

257.0
248.0
237.8
246.9
291.7
214.0
195.6
249.2

INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS

Materials and components for construction ....................

268.2

265.5

265.2

266.9

2696

271.4

271.7

272.4

274.0

'276.6

279.2

280.2

282.6

287.7

Processed fuels and lubricants......................................
Manufacturing industries............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries......................................

502.7
425.3
570.7

496.6
415.2
566.7

498.2
420.9
565.9

502.0
425.4
569.6

514.2
431.0
586.1

517.4
436.0
588.4

519.5
440.8
588.9

516.2
440.6
583.7

521.3
445.2
589.3

'539.4
'457.9
'611.4

551.4
468.8
624.2

568.3
481.5
644.8

595.8
501.6
678.7

607.0
506.9
695.2

Containers ..................................................................

254.5

253.2

254.4

256.2

257.0

257.4

257.9

260.1

259.5

'260.6

264.7

268.0

270.6

274.2

Supplies......................................................................
Manufacturing industries............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................
Feeds ..................................................................
Other supplies ......................................................

244.5
231.8
251.1
229.2
253.5

239.7
229.0
245.4
205.2
253.0

240.0
230.5
245.0
207.5
251.9

241.2
232.8
245.7
205.1
253.4

245.3
234.2
251.1
225.2
254.7

247.7
235.4
254.1
234.7
255.8

250.3
236.1
257.6
246.8
256.9

252.3
237.5
259.9
250.3
258.8

255.2
238.7
263.8
259.2
261.3

'255.0
'239.5
'263.0
'251.5
'262.4

257.3
242.2
265.1
252.2
264.9

257.5
244.6
264.3
238.1
267.6

258.6
246.7
265.0
232.2
270.1

262.1
250.3
268.4
239.5
272.4

CRUDE MATERIALS
Crude materials for further processing..................................

304.2

286.2

289.3

288.4

304.3

317.0

319.3

322.8

324.6

'323.5

321.3

335.5

333.0

335.2

Foodstuffs and feedstuffs..............................................

259.1

235.8

243.0

243.0

263.4

276.8

276.6

279.1

277.3

271.6

270.6

267.1

262.0

263.4

Nonfood materials........................................................

399.9

393.4

387.5

384.6

390.8

401.9

409.8

415.4

424.9

'433.8

428.7

481.7

484.8

488.8

Nonfood materials except fuel....................................
Manufacturing industries ........................................
Construction..........................................................

344.5
355,8
237.2

342.0
353.5
232.4

333.3
343.8
232.8

328.9
338.9
234.1

333.9
343.9
239.1

344.8
355.4
243.7

351.4
362.6
244.8

355.6
367.1
245.3

363.9
376.1
246.5

'373.3
'386.5
'247.4

365.8
377.5
254.3

428.1
445.7
257.9

430.6
448.2
260.2

432.7
450.4
262.3

Crude fu e l................................................................
Manufacturing industries ........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ..................................

614.9
690.2
566.9

591.4
659.0
549.3

600.0
670.3
555.9

604.0
675.7
558.8

615.1
690.5
567.1

626.3
705.4
575.5

639.1
722.0
585.4

650.9
738.1
593.8

664.9
755.8
605.2

'670.2
'762.9
'608.9

677.6
772.2
614.9

679.0
773.1
616.8

685.2
781.4
621.5

697.2
795.9
631.6

Finished goods excluding foods............................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods......................
Finished consumer goods less energy............................

247.7
248.5
216.9

244.5
247.7
212.5

245.6
249.0
213.4

247.3
250.9
214.9

250.2
253.9
219.7

251.4
255.0
221.9

251.1
254.6
221.9

256.2
258.7
225.0

257.0
259.5
225.5

'258.2
'260.9
'226.0

261.2
263.8
227.7

264.4
267.3
228.9

268.0
271.7
229.8

271.2
275.1
231.3

Intermediate materials less foods and feeds..........................
Intermediate materials less energy ................................

281.3
265.8

279.1
260.7

2796
261.9

281.5
263.5

283.8
265.5

285.8
268.3

286.6
269.2

288.2
272.2

289.3
273.3

'293.5
'274.9

297.4
277.7

300.4
278.6

304.7
280.0

309.0
283.4

SPECIAL GROUPINGS

Intermediate foods and feeds ..............................................

252.2

229.5

239.7

242.0

251.4

263.7

265.9

280.3

285.7

'270.0

269.0

261.9

256.0

255.6

Crude materials less agricultural products ............................
Crude materials less energy..........................................

480.3
256.7

437.7
238.7

430.2
241.0

428.6
239.0

434.6
256.1

447.1
268.5

454.1
269.9

463.2
272.4

473.8
271.7

'482.8
'267.5

478.0
265.9

543.7
262.6

547.5
259.4

551.9
261.1

' Data for December 1980 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.
r=revised.


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

NOTE: Figures in this table may differ from those previously reported because stage-of-processing
indexes from January 1976 through December 1980 have been revised to reflect 1972 input-output
relationships.

93

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
27.

Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
Code

1981

1980

Commodity group and subgroup
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

All commodities ........................................................................
All commodities (1957-59 - 100)..............................................

268.6
285.0

262.8
278.8

264.2
280.3

265.6
281.8

270.4
286.9

273.8
290.5

274.6
291.4

277.8
294.7

279.1
296.1

280.8
297.9

283.5
300.8

286.9
304.4

289.6
307.3

292.8
310.7

Farm products and processed foods and feeds
Industrial commodities

244.6
274.5

229.3
271.3

233.8
271.9

234.3
273.5

246.6
276.2

255.1
278.2

256.5
278.8

259.4
282.0

260.5
283.4

257.0
286.6

257.3
289.9

254.9
294.8

253.1
298.9

253.6
302.8

01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01=1
01-5
01-6
01-7
01-8
01-9

FARM PRODUCTS AND PROCESSED FOODS
AND FEEDS
Farm products ............................................................................
Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables ........................................
Grains......................................................................................
Livestock ................................................................................
Live poultry..............................................................................
Plant and animal fibers..............................................................
Fluid milk ................................................................................
Eggs........................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds ....................................................
Other farm products ................................................................

249.3
238.5
239.0
252.7
202.1
271.1
271.2
171.0
247.1
298.1

228.9
223.2
210.8
230.5
171.9
266.9
265.4
153.3
205.1
304.8

233.5
244.0
219.0
233.3
171.3
272.7
265.4
140.5
206.9
311.0

233.4
233.5
215.3
240.0
166.6
247.0
265.5
146.8
207.4
309.4

254.3
252.0
244.8
260.5
227.2
267.0
265.8
159.3
251.4
292.4

263.8
254.0
256.5
275.7
224.5
280.8
271.6
176.9
261.5
282.7

267.0
266.2
260.6
266.8
241.0
295.2
275.5
188.4
280.7
292.0

263.6
240.9
269.2
263.0
222.9
278.5
280.9
175.2
284.4
285.8

264.9
246.6
270.9
254.8
221.0
287.2
284.7
194.0
298.3
296.6

265.3
r 245.1
265.2
251.4
218.9
294.1
290.5
217.5
310.2
296.0

264.4
257.7
277.7
244.3
213.1
284.1
288.4
185.7
311.8
296.1

262,3
270.4
267.5
244.6
220.8
268.4
289,5
184.8
295.0
295.1

260.6
291.6
261.8
239.3
213.5
270.1
289.5
180.4
289.5
295.9

263.2
285.2
264.7
246.6
195.4
274.2
287.2
196.2
2963
295.9

02
02-1
02-2
02-3
02=1
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 ......................................................

241.0
235.9
243.0
230.7
228.9
321.2
232.4
226.8
227.2
226.9

228.6
232.4
226.0
227.5
224.6
275.0
227.9
214.5
225.1
205.0

233.1
234.7
224.5
228.5
225.4
327.8
231.2
212.0
223.7
207.2

233.9
233.2
226.6
229.5
227.2
325.4
234.3
212.8
223.4
205.0

241.5
234.7
248.5
230.1
229.8
313.5
234.6
226.9
223.5
223.9

249.4
235.8
259.9
232.6
230.7
347.1
237.1
240.2
224.0
232.4

249.8
238.3
257.8
233.7
231.3
341.4
236.1
238.3
226.8
243.4

256.1
241.5
256.0
238.0
233.8
404,7
239.5
231.0
230.6
246.9

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

252.4
250.8
248.8
245.2
237.4
338.6
240.4
230.4
244.2
247.9

250.0
251.7
243.9
245.5
244.1
324.7
242.2
228.3
248.0
235.3

248.1
251.9
242.0
245.5
251.8
302.6
242.8
230.0
249.2
231.5

247.4
253.5
239.2
245.8
258.7
286.0
243.4
232.6
249.9
237.8

INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES
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............................................................

183.4
134.8
122.2
137.7
115.7
172.2
208.3

181.2
130.4
122.1
137.0
114.5
170.0
201.6

182.0
133.2
124.2
136.5
115.3
170.2
202.6

183.0
134.5
122.8
134.8
115.8
172.7
202.7

184.7
136.0
122.4
135.7
116.6
174.4
210.7

185.6
137.5
123.2
137.5
116.8
175.1
211.0

186.6
139.5
124.3
141.0
117.0
175.0
212.9

188.1
140.2
125.1
143.5
118.3
176.2
213.8

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

192.4
147.3
129.2
142.8
121.5
178.6
223.9

193.1
147.8
129.6
143.1
122.2
179.3
225.4

194.5
149.6
133.9
144.0
122.5
180.1
225.4

196.5
151.6
134.6
145.7
124.1
182.1
226.3

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

248.6
370.9
311.6
233.2
218.1

243.5
328.6
297.6
231.9
216.2

240.7
289.7
290.4
231.9
217.4

240.9
315.7
284.4
231.9
215.9

245.1
356.6
292.2
232.7
217.5

251.3
398.4
314.2
233.7
218.7

247.8
356.1
298.1
235.5
218.8

251.2
381.5
301.9
236.6
221.8

255.4
409.1
317.3
237.5
222.6

'256.9
392.8
332.4
'236.9
'225.3

258.5
377.8
332.6
238.6
230.7

257.4
367.3
310.0
240.8
235.8

262.4
<2>
322.5
240.5
243.4

264.9
(2)
337.8
241.1
243.5

05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05=4
05-61
05-7

Fuels and related products and power ..........................................
Coal........................................................................................
Coke ......................................................................................
Gas fuels3 ..............................................................................
Electric power..........................................................................
Crude petroleum4 ....................................................................
Petroleum products, refined5 ....................................................

573.4
467.5
430.6
160.4
321.6
551.7
674.4

566.6
465.2
430.6
730.1
310.1
533.9
678.0

572.1
466.5
430.6
745.1
316.5
540.1
680.9

576.5
466.6
430.6
749.2
326.0
549.0
681.7

585.5
467.5
430.6
762.1
331.1
551.4
693.9

590.6
468.7
430.6
772.6
333.6
566.8
697.6

593.5
471.3
430.6
786.2
338.3
571.3
696.4

592.9
470.7
430.6
802.2
337.4
579.6
690.4

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

625.9
477.5
430.6
857.9
341.7
615.2
736.0

663.8
480.8
430.6
858.8
345.4
842.9
767.8

692.2
481.3
430.6
867.6
350.4
843.0
822.4

703.8
486.4
430.6
884.5
355.8
842.6
839.1

06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7

Chemicals and allied products......................................................
Industrial chemicals6 ................................................................
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..........................................

260.2
323.8
235.4
273.8
174.4
297.9
256.9
279.4
224.6

259.8
322.1
231.5
272.1
172.6
298.2
258.5
287.6
223.1

262.5
328.5
238.8
273.9
172.8
294.7
258.5
288.4
224.8

262.8
329.5
238.8
275.0
174.4
255.8
257.6
287.6
226.9

263.3
328.7
238.8
277.2
175.7
260.0
258.7
285.7
228.5

264.4
330.0
238.8
278.4
176.1
307.6
260.0
281.5
229.0

263.4
327.5
239.3
278.9
176.8
304.5
260.6
276.5
229.1

264.8
330,0
239.3
279.6
178.4
302.0
260.6
276.1
230.9

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

273.6
342.8
243.3
283.1
184.7
310.6
265.8
275.2
244.1

277.2
349.4
246.9
286.4
187.4
289.7
271.3
276.1
246.7

279.4
352.5
246.9
288.3
189.1
295.7
274.8
278.3
247.8

285.8
360.8
248.5
295.2
190.9
312.7
277.3
285.4
256.4

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) ..................................................

217.3
237.7
263.9
236.6
227.6
120.9

214.1
233.4
264.7
231.8
222.1
119.7

215.0
234.7
263.9
233.2
224.0
119.9

217.3
236.8
264.1
235.6
226.4
121.4

218.8
239.0
263.4
238.0
229.3
122.0

220.5
240.2
264.3
238.0
232.0
123.2

222.0
242.6
267.3
242.1
232.1
123.7

222.8
244.6
271.7
245.2
232.0
123.6

223.4
245.0
271.0
245.2
233.3
124.0

'223.3
'244.9
'268.5
'245.2
'234.0
'123.9

224.9
246.9
278.0
240.5
241.1
124.7

226.5
249.2
280.8
243.1
243.0
125.3

228.8
253.0
280.6
248.2
246.5
125.9

230.9
253.9
279.1
250.3
246.8
127.8

08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08=1

Lumber and wood products..........................................................
Lumber....................................................................................
Millwork ..................................................................................
Plywood ..................................................................................
Other wood products................................................................

288.8
325.6
260.5
246.6
239.1

275.6
310.1
257.5
219.8
241.7

272.1
301.4
251.8
230.6
240.7

279.8
313.0
253.0
241.7
238.7

289.2
327.2
255.9
252.8
236.9

296.1
333.7
260.3
266.0
236.2

292.2
328.0
264.5
252.6
236.8

289.0
320.6
264.5
252.9
236.7

293.4
324.9
270.0
256.6
236.6

299.4
333.0
273.3
263.5
236.2

296.6
331.6
273.6
251.1
238.5

294.5
327.8
273.8
248.6
238.1

293.6
324.7
275.7
246.7
239.3

298.1
331.3
276.5
254.4
238.2

See footnotes at end of table.


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

27.

Continued— Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Code

Commodity group and subgroup

INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES

Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

1981

1980

Continued

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

249.3
250.7
381.1
208.5
256.9
235.0
238.6
206.0

247.8
249.4
385.6
242.5
253.5
232.1
236.7
201.3

249.2
250.6
385.6
226.1
256.1
235.5
237.6
206.8

251.1
252.4
387.7
206.6
257.9
238.9
239.8
208.9

251.7
252.9
388.3
194.0
258.2
237.1
241.2
211.8

252.4
253.8
388.3
193.8
258.6
238.4
242.3
210.3

252.8
254.1
388.2
192.5
258.7
239.5
242.7
210.2

254.3
255.6
389.6
193.5
262.1
239.9
243.7
212.7

255.0
256.2
390.2
192.3
264.1
241.7
243.5
216.5

r 256.7
'257.9
'390.2
'191.5
'269.4
'239.6
'244.7
'219.7

262.0
261.0
392.6
191.5
271.0
251.0
247.0
219.1

266.2
264.6
392.6
186.1
273.1
253.2
252.0
225.2

268.4
266.9
392.6
185.1
274.0
255.9
255.1
227.3

270.6
269.1
396.6
184.2
275.5
257.8
257.4
231.9

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 steel ..........................................................................
Steel mill products....................................................................
Nonferrous metals....................................................................
Metal containers ......................................................................
Hardware ................................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings............................................
Heating equipment....................................................................
Fabricated structural metal products..........................................
Miscellaneous metal products....................................................

286.2
305.1
302.7
304.2
298.6
240.1
246.6
206.2
270.4
250.2

284.4
307.2
304.1
298.3
304.1
237.3
243.8
204.2
269.1
246.1

281.8
304.8
305.5
289.7
302.7
238.4
247.5
204.0
269.9
246.7

281.9
303.4
305.8
288.8
302.7
240.5
248.6
205.0
270.1
250.4

282.5
300.6
301.0
292.6
303.0
242.6
249.7
296.2
272.2
251.1

285.1
302.6
301.0
298.4
303.2
243.3
250.4
208.0
273.0
253.2

287.3
304.5
301.0
302.2
303.2
245.9
250.6
208.8
274.1
255.0

291.9
310.5
307.5
309.4
304.4
246.6
250.6
210.6
276.9
256.3

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

293.6
322.8
322.7
290.6
311.4
252.5
255.5
215.4
283.0
261.3

293.7
323.0
322.9
286.2
313.8
256.0
259.0
216.1
285.6
264.0

296.1
328.0
328.7
285.5
314.1
256.5
259.2
217.6
289.4
265.7

298.7
330.9
331.8
288.0
314.1
256.4
265.2
218.8
293.5
268.1

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

239.6
258.1
289.2
274.3
264.3
275.9
201.7
229.8

236.4
254.4
284.2
270.2
261.1
271.9
198.9
227.2

237.6
256.4
285.9
272.9
262.8
273.0
199.9
227.3

239.2
257.1
287.6
275.4
264.8
274.3
201.6
228.2

241.5
258.6
291.5
278.0
266.1
276.7
203.7
231.1

242.6
259.9
293.4
278.8
267.0
277.1
205.0
232.1

244.7
263.9
295.7
280.2
270.0
283.0
206.0
233.6

246.8
265.4
299.1
282.5
272.5
286.0
207.0
236.5

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

252.7
273.5
304.9
289.3
278.2
295.3
211.9
241.8

254.8
277.2
308.4
291.2
279.9
299.3
213.6
243.7

256.9
278.7
311.3
294.7
281.3
300.9
215.9
245.4

259.2
281.2
314.7
298.1
283.1
303.8
217.8
248.1

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

187.3
204.2
235.9
163.0
173.8
91.0
277.7

184.4
200.3
233.6
162.2
171.1
91.4
267.3

185.4
203.0
233.9
161.9
173.2
92.0
265.6

186.5
204.0
235.5
162.1
175.5
91.8
266.5

188.0
206.5
237.2
163.2
175.8
91.7
271.5

188.9
208.0
237.3
163.8
176.3
91.3
275.9

189.5
208.5
237.8
163.9
177.2
91.6
276.2

190.9
209.8
241.4
164.4
177.5
91.5
281.8

191.5
210.9
242.2
165.5
178.5
91.2
281.2

'193.1
'212.1
242.4
'170.7
'179.5
91.0
'285.7

193.2
211.3
246.1
172.3
181.0
91.0
278.3

194.6
212.1
251.2
172.4
182.3
91.7
280.2

195.4
214.4
253.2
174.0
183.0
91.3
277.6

196.4
216.9
254.3
176.2
183.8
91.3
276.2

13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9

Nonmetallic mineral products........................................................
F at glass ................................................................................
Concrete ingredients ................................................................
Concrete products....................................................................
Structural clay products excluding refractories............................
Refractories ............................................................................
Asphalt roofing ........................................................................
Gypsum products ....................................................................
Glass containers ......................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals........................................................

282.8
196.5
273.4
273.9
231.5
264.9
396.7
256.3
292.7
394.0

283.7
195.3
271.7
272.9
235.0
261.7
408.9
264.0
294.3
399.6

284.0
195.3
272.4
275.2
230.0
264.4
401.1
256.5
294.3
400.7

283.4
193.6
273.2
275.8
230.1
265.8
400.9
257.1
294.3
394.8

284.8
194.3
275.9
275.9
230.1
268.7
413.8
253.1
294.3
396.9

286.0
199.5
278.6
276.0
229.7
270.6
411.2
251.8
294.3
397.1

286.8
199.7
278.9
277.3
230.1
270.6
407.9
251.8
294.6
400.7

288.6
200.7
279.0
277.5
233.3
273.2
408.5
249.5
306.2
402.7

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

296.3
203.9
287.5
285.6
240.0
283.5
404.1
259.6
311.5
417.9

297.7
204.3
289.6
286.6
240.4
294.4
389.3
257.3
311.5
424.7

301.2
204.8
291.9
286.9
245.2
297.1
400.7
257.6
311.5
441.7

310.2
208.1
296.4
289.5
245.6
297.3
416.3
256.8
326.0
479.9

14
14-1
14-4

Transportation equipment (12/68 - 100)......................................
Motor vehicles and equipment ..................................................
Railroad equipment ..................................................................

206.6
208.7
313.0

203.2
205.4
309.9

202.5
204.5
310.5

203.1
205.2
312.2

206.2
208.6
316.4

208.8
211.7
318.0

204.4
205.6
320.0

217.4
218.2
323.3

217.8 '224.3
218.6 '226.2
323.6 '323.9

226.4
228.5
327.8

228.5
230.2
334.4

228.5
229.9
335.8

231.5
233.2
341.8

15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-51
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 ..................................................

258.7
198.4
245.5
217.2
203.0
149.9
363.3

252.8
195.4
238.1
216.8
212.3
149.4
340.9

251.7
196.0
247.7
217.0
199.6
150.4
340.2

258.0
197.5
248.1
217.0
201.7
150.6
360.2

261.7
200.2
248.2
221.7
201.6
151.2
370.9

260.1
201.3
248.2
223.8
200.9
151.4
364.6

265.1
202.3
248.2
223.9
200.9
151.7
381.9

266.0
202.7
249.4
224.0
200.8
153.2
383.4

263.6
202,8
254.4
224.1
206.7
152.7
367.0

263.0
207.8
254.3
227.0
207.3
152.3
359.5

263.2
209.5
255.3
247.3
209.6
152.5
353.2

262,4
210.4
255.4
247.3
211.1
154.4
346.7

265.5
211.7
268.4
248.4
211.6
155.2
347.8

1Data for December 1980 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

'265.3
'205.7
'254.8
225.0
'206.6
'153.0
'370.5

4 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.

95

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices

28.

Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual

1981

1980

Commodity grouping
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

All commodities less farm products
All foods
Processed foods
Industrial commodities less fu e ls ......................................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 - 1 0 0 ) ...........
H osiery..............................................................................
Underwear and nightwear.................................................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and manmade fibers and yarns ....................................
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........................................

269.4
244.5
246.6
243.4
124.4
123.3
185.5

264.8
231.9
234.1
240.5
122.2
121.1
182.4

265.9
237.3
239.0
240.6
122.9
121.5
182.8

267.5
237.7
239.9
242.0
123.7
122.2
187.1

270.9
245.9
247.3
243.9
125.5
123.5
188.3

273.8
254.1
255.7
245.6
126.0
125.9
189.3

274.3
254.3
254.9
246.0
126.6
126,4
189.5

278.1
258.8
261.7
249.6
127.5
126.2
189.7

279.4
259.7
261.9
250.3
128.1
126.7
190.3

'281.2
r 254.3
r 255,5
r 252.3
'129.3
'126.4
'190.6

284.2
255,1
256.4
255.0
131.8
129.2
199.5

288.0
253.9
254.2
256.6
132.7
130.1
201.2

291.1
253.2
252.2
258.2
133.1
130.5
201.6

294.3
251.6
250.5
261.4
134.6
134.1
202.1

250.7
167.1

250.0
165.6

252.8
165.9

253.8
167.6

254.2
168.1

254.7
168.4

254.0
168.8

255.4
170.8

257.0
173.7

258.2
174.6

264.2
177.1

268.0
179.7

270.2
181.8

276.0
184.0

303.8
258.3
258.2
222.1
230.1

284.7
255.8
255.9
222.0
226.7

282.0
254.0
256.8
212.2
227.1

293.5
254.4
2586
208.5
228.3

306.9
256.2
259.9
214.5
231.0

315.5
259.0
261.2
220.4
232.9

307.4
257.8
262.6
214.1
232.1

302.3
265.7
264.3
216.5
239.2

306.5
265.7
265.2
215.7
240.2

314.2
'268.6
266.3
'210.8
'244.1

309.2
271.3
270.0
207.8
246.7

305.7
272.2
272.6
205.9
248.8

303.0
273.5
274.7
205.2
250.0

310.1
276.4
277.3
207.5
252.6

Machinery and equipment, except electrical....................
Agricultural machinery, including tra c to rs ........................
Metalworking machinery...................................................
Numerically controlled machine tools (Dec. 1971 = 100)
Total tractors.....................................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less parts ...........
Farm and garden tractors less parts ...............................
Agricultural machinery excluding tractors less parts . . . .
Industrial valves................................................................
Industrial fittings................................................................
Abrasive grinding wheels .................................................
Construction materials .....................................................

261.8
266.2
299.5
225.6
286.5
260.2
268.0
265.0
287.1
291.8
( 2)
266.3

258.2
261.9
293.6
223.8
280.8
256.2
263.7
260.7
287.8
289.9
261.4
262.3

259.6
263.9
296.8
226.9
282.9
258.0
264.7
263.6
288.4
291.5
261.3
261.8

261.2
264.7
299.7
228.5
284.0
258.7
264.8
265.0
290.1
295.9
261.3
264.2

263.7
266.3
303.3
228.7
288.3
260.8
267.2
265.9
291.1
296.1
261.5
267.0

264.6
268.1
304.5
229.3
291.1
262.2
270.3
266.6
291.3
296.1
261.5
269.6

270.2
272.9
306.5
230.0
295.8
266.5
277.3
269.7
292.4
296.1
261.3
269.3

273.0
274.8
309.6
231.7
298.3
268.3
278.0
272.5
294.6
298.6
263.4
269.9

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
'282.4
'280.9
'297.8
298.6
273.8
'274.1

276.6
283.3
318.9
235.0
304.8
276.3
283.6
283.3
297.9
298.6
<2)
276.7

278.9
285.8
320.0
235.4
310.2
279.0
286.4
285.5
302.7
296.0
( 2)
277.1

280.9
286.7
323.3
236.1
310.9
280.2
286.8
286.9
306.8
298.8
(2)
279.0

283.5
287.8
325.7
236.1
315.6
281.7
288.5
287.5
310.4
302.7
( 2)
283.4

' Data for December 1980 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.

2 Not available,

Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product

[1967 = 100]
Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

Total durable g o o d s.......................................................
Total nondurable goods .................................................

251.2
2823

247.7
274.4

247.1
277.6

248.7
278.8

251.2
285.6

253.1
2903

253.7
291.2

258.4
293.0

258.6
295.2

'261.0
'296.3

261.9
300.7

263.1
306.0

264.5
310.0

267.4
313.3

Total manufactures .......................................................
Durable.....................................................................
Nondurable ..............................................................

261.4
250.5
272.9

257.0
246.7
267.9

258.3
246.7
270.7

259.8
248.5
271.7

263.0
251.0
275.9

265.7
252.7
279.5

265.8
253.1
279.5

269.6
257.8
282.1

270.5
257.9
284.0

'272.0
'260.4
'284.3

276.4
261.5
292.5

278.7
262.7
295.9

281.8
264.0
301.0

284.8
266.9
304.3

Total raw or slightly processed goods ...........................
Durable.....................................................................
Nondurable ..............................................................

305.4
278.0
306.4

290.4
286.0
289.8

292.7
262.2
294.0

293.8
249.9
296.1

307.7
255.2
310.6

315.7
265.8
318.4

319.9
274.9
322.2

319.6
282.7
321.3

322.9
285.6
324.6

'326.2
'284.0
'328.2

318.6
275.7
320.7

328.9
275.7
331.7

329.7
280.8
332.2

333.3
286.2
335.6

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

Commodity grouping

1981

1980

1Data for December 1980 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.

Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code

Industry description

Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

152.9
331.2
466.8
640.2
252.0
136.0

152.6
337.5
464.6
612.5
248.6
136.6

152.6
337.5
466.0
619.6
249.3
136.6

152 6
322.9
466.0
631.5
250.0
136,6

155.8
331.2
466.9
638.0
254.8
136.6

155.8
329.1
467.9
656,7
255.8
136.6

155.8
335.4
470.3
667.6
258.5
136.6

155.8
338.7
469.7
681,8
261.8
137.2

155.8
343.7
474.2
704.6
263.2
132.1

155.8
325.0
'473.9
'731.7
'264.3
133.7

155.8
297.9
475.8
722.9
269.0
137.1

168.1
324,5
478.3
885.6
271.7
137.1

168.1
335.4
478.8
889.6
274.9
137.1

168.1
354.1
483.9
895.9
277.3
137.1

244.3
219.9
191.9
258.5

225.6
197.9
164.5
252.7

227.2
193.3
164.7
253.7

230.0
190.9
164.2
255,7

249.1
213.7
214.2
256.3

265.3
233.0
212.1
268.5

257.1
240.0
226.0
265.8

258.0
247.0
211.3
273.2

251.4
249.5
205,9
273.3

'249.0
'247.4
201.8
274.8

245.8
235.3
201.9
273.7

237.3
232.7
208.3
273.5

236.1
229.9
203.9
273.6

237.7
227.1
186.7
273.4

1981

1980
Dec.1

MINING
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............................................................

MANUFACTURING

See footnote at end of table.


96
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

30.

Continued — Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code

Industry description

Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

1981

1980
Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

2022
2024
2033
2034
2041
2044
2048
2061
2063
2067

MANUFACTURING Continued
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 ..............................................................

205,0
193.3
221.7
160.2
189.1
243.4
124.3
414.1
349.6
290.7

201.9
191,3
216.3
157.5
175.0
260.4
116.5
320.2
296.6
282.0

201.9
192.1
217.3
156.4
182.3
254.5
116.9
456.1
339.9
282.0

202.5
195.2
219.9
156.3
180.8
236.0
116.2
402.4
348.0
282.0

203.4
195.2
222.9
157.7
188.6
225.3
122.2
381.8
342.3
282.4

206.8
195.5
223.4
159.6
193.1
219.9
126.6
484.0
365.5
282.4

208.0
196.1
224,3
159.9
196.1
225.9
129,6
458.9
384.5
302.4

213.7
199.5
227.6
162.6
201.5
237.2
129.2
588.2
460.1
322.4

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

217,8
210,1
233.7
172.9
203,4
289.6
132.9
418.0
375.6
323.0

217.4
210.6
238.3
170.1
198.0
289.6
129.7
367.1
403,1
323.0

217.5
210.6
241.7
172.9
195.1
298.0
127.0
318.8
375.0
323.1

218.1
211.4
245.0
174.5
201.5
300,9
128,8
275.7
360.7
323.1

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
244.2
290,1
249.9
123.0
174.0
367.1
269.3
233.8
254,6

154.7
211.9
274.0
244.1
118.7
170.2
370.5
273.9
230.5
246.3

150.4
212.9
262,9
244.1
118.9
173.1
360.0
273.9
230.5
257.3

155.1
208.6
238.9
244.1
120.5
175.3
361.2
283.1
230.5
257.4

191.3
37.4
274.5
244.1
121.0
175.9
363.7
274.5
230.5
257.4

215.1
256.9
297.4
244.1
127.7
177.5
365.2
274.7
230.5
257.4

232.9
275.2
307,0
244.1
127.7
178.6
355.0
263.9
239.3
257.4

218.7
279.2
311.0
267.4
127.9
180.0
353.8
257.0
243.6
257.8

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
187.0
375.4
238.2
243.6
263.5

193.7
253.0
287.2
286.1
133.9
186,8
367.2
238,3
243.6
263.9

204.4
253.0
284.2
286.1
133.9
187.6
385.7
238.3
243.6
263.9

218.3
257.7
301.7
286.1
133.9
187.8
394.9
238.5
243.6
278.3

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) ................

157.7
278.2
215.6
124.5
106.4
190.0
104.5
135.1
113.6

155.3
279.2
211.3
123.0
105.0
186.8
104.0
132.4
110.7

155.3
278.6
212.9
122.4
105.4
187.1
104.4
134.5
111.8

159.8
278.6
212.9
121.2
105.4
190.4
105.0
134.6
112.1

159.9
279.5
217.7
123.0
105.4
192.6
105.4
137.2
113.8

159.9
279.7
219.0
124.9
108.8
192.9
105.7
137.3
114.1

159.9
279.7
221.9
127.7
108.8
194.1
105.8
136.9
115.3

163.7
295.0
223.4
130.7
108.7
194.2
106.7
139.1
117.3

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

163.6
294.2
227.2
131.5
109.1
205.5
107.9
142.4
121.6

162.6
310.4
230.2
131.8
109.2
208.6
108.2
144.5
123.0

164.2
310.4
232.3
132.9
109.0
209.4
107.8
144.6
124.2

165.6
320.4
235.2
134.2
114.2
209.7
109.3
146.8
124.8

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
114.8
139.1
123.6
212.5
204.1
208.0
112.6
174.5

137.3
203.7
114.8
134.6
123.6
209.7
204.0
204.2
112.4
174.9

137.1
204.5
118.1
143.0
123.8
210.9
203.7
204.3
112.4
174.9

137.4
202.8
115.8
142.9
125.0
211.6
205.1
208.5
112.4
175.1

137.7
202.9
115.0
143.0
125.0
214.9
206.5
211.1
112.4
175.3

138.3
204.3
115.8
143.1
125.0
'214.9
206.7
211.2
112.4
175.3

138.3
206.2
117.2
143.1
125.0
214.9
207.7
212.8
112.4
175.3

138.8
207.9
118.2
143.8
127.1
216.2
208.0
212.8
112.4
180.2

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
217.0
121.5
144.1
129.3
218.1
203.1
224.8
115.4
180.4

148.2
218.1
121.6
144.3
129.3
219.7
203.9
229.0
115.4
180.4

150.2
220.6
129.5
148.4
130.9
220.4
205.0
230.9
115.4
180.4

152.5
221.0
130.6
150.8
132.7
220.5
205.3
230.9
115.4
185.7

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 = 1 0 0 )......................

240.4
110.0
114.7
154.5
126.6
109.8
268.6
124.0
122.4
227.5

241.2
107.6
113.9
153.1
125.4
106.3
267.5
123.4
122.3
215.8

241.8
107.6
113.9
153.2
125.4
105.6
271.1
123.4
122.3
209.4

242.6
107.8
114.0
155.0
126.6
108.0
271.1
123.4
122.3
218.1

244.8
111.4
114.0
155.4
127.8
112.7
271.1
123.4
122.3
228.9

244.1
112.6
115.4
156.9
129.0
112.7
271.1
123.4
122.3
234.2

243.9
112.6
115.4
155.4
129.0
112.2
271.1
123.9
122.3
229.0

244.3
114.0
116.3
156.0
129.0
112.7
271.1
125.1
122.3
223.2

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

241.6
114.8
116.4
166.1
132.1
117.1
284.9
127.4
131.0
232.4

241.7
114.8
116.7
168.0
133.2
117.7
289.1
127.4
131.0
230.0

241.9
115.1
117.9
168,0
134.5
118,0
289.1
128.4
131.0
228.1

246.2
115.2
118.2
169.5
134.5
119.2
289.1
129.9
131.0
231.9

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
155.8
160.1
150.0
161.1
183.6
162.6
179.0
235.3
240.8

121.9
158.2
164.6
149.5
161.9
180.0
160.9
172.8
233.9
243.8

130.3
152.1
162.8
150.5
167.3
182.2
161.1
176.0
233.9
243.9

140.5
152.1
159.7
150.7
171.7
183.5
162.5
176.0
234.0
243.9

150.4
152.1
157.1
151.3
168.7
185.1
166.1
180.8
235.5
244.5

160.7
152.2
156.0
151.4
169.4
186.4
166.2
186.4
235.5
244.5

149.6
155.5
154.9
151.8
163.7
187.7
166.2
186.4
235.5
244.4

149.1
156.2
154.6
153.2
159.8
188.1
167.7
186.5
239.7
246.1

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
152.4
162.7
191.2
166.9
186.2
244.0
249.1

147.0
157.0
152.8
152.5
169.1
191.7
167.2
188.2
250.3
249.1

145.3
157.1
152.7
154.5
171.0
193.4
170.0
192.1
253.5
249.1

151.2
158.3
153.0
155.3
179.6
195.3
173.4
194.5
254.6
253.4

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) ............................

145.6
139.1
322.3
216.4
151.0
249.3
143.1
255.5
132.6
124.1

145.0
137.9
316.7
212.9
146.6
241.2
146.4
256.8
128.5
123.6

145.8
139.5
319.3
215.5
148.7
246.5
147.3
259.3
131.7
124.5

146.2
141.2
321.2
217.2
150.6
250.0
146.9
259.6
132.8
123,4

146.4
140.3
327.4
218.2
155.2
251.9
146.1
259.8
133.4
122.6

146.7
141.1
331.1
220.3
155.2
257.3
144.4
260.5
134,9
123.7

146.7
141.7
331.1
222.3
155.2
257.2
141.5
260.1
137.1
127.2

148.2
142.3
332.6
222.3
155.5
257.9
141.5
260.9
138,0
130.3

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
148.3
339.2
233.2
157.7
282.5
142.7
274.6
144.8
135.1

152.8
149.4
343.6
236.5
159.7
290.5
143.5
279.5
145.4
137.9

153.5
151.0
344.1
239.1
159.7
292.4
144.4
282.8
148.1
141.6

154.3
152.0
344.2
240.4
159.9
293.6
148.1
286.9
150.8
147.1

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) ............................

237.1
246.6
269.7
248.5
171,5
173.3
202.9

237.2
245.2
271.4
250.5
172.7
178.2
199.1

236.3
248.5
272.8
253.0
172.7
174.8
200.1

235.7
249.0
273.7
253.3
172.6
175.0
202.2

234.8
249.8
273.8
255.9
174.7
180.9
204.1

240.6
249.3
273.4
256.9
175.1
179.8
204.1

240.8
250.2
273.3
256.4
176.0
178.3
207.4

239.3
250.6
273.5
254.6
176.2
178.6
209.9

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

247.5
255,9
288.7
268.1
182.1
176.5
206.6

248.4
267.2
295.3
279.1
185.4
170.0
209.0

250.8
269.1
3038
298.2
189.1
174.3
213.5

249.0
271.8
324.8
305.7
199.0
180.6
215.2


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

97

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
30.

Continued

Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries

[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code

Industry description

Annual
average
1980

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

184.4
195.1
126.2
151.4

1981

1980

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) ..............................................................
G.ass containers............................................................................

178.0
184.0
121.5
147.1
149.6
159.9
213.5
137.9
161.3
292.6

173.7
185.9
120.3
140.8
145.4
158.5
213.8
132.1
160.8
294.2

173.7
186.5
120.5
137.9
145.4
158.5
213.8
140.8
160.8
294.2

173.8
186.5
122.2
134.6
145.4
158.5
213.8
140.9
158.9
294.2

181.8
186.5
122.7
137.7
151.1
158.5
214.2
140.9
159.5
294.2

181.9
185.9
123.9
147.9
151.1
159.5
214.3
140.0
162.6
294.2

182.0
185.9
124.4
140.0
151.1
161.5
215.2
140.9
162.8
294.2

182.0
184.0
124.2
<2)
153.5
161.6
217.1
140.9
163.8
306.1

182.4
184.1
124.6
149,3
158.2
162.4
217.1
140.9
166.4
306.1

r 182.3
r 186.7
r 124.5
156.6
154.9
162.4
r 217.1
140.9
166.3
311.4

183.2
188.3
125.1
157.0
(2)
164.7
217.9
149.5
167.1
311.4

183.7
192.1
125.6
145.5
( 2)
166.4
220.0
149.5
167.5
311.4

( 2)
167,4
218.8
149,7
168.1
311.4

183.7
195,2
128.4
158.6
( 2>
168.4
218.7
149,7
171.7
325.9

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

309.8
277.3
122.5
274.1
202.8
234.8
317.3
295,4
152.6
257.3

312.6
276.4
130.4
273.9
203.1
227.6
313.4
295.1
151.4
259.3

313.8
278.5
117.6
275.6
204.1
236.1
313.4
293.9
151.5
259.4

313.8
278.5
117.6
275.9
204.4
235.8
318.6
294.7
152.7
259.4

313.3
278.5
117.6
279.2
204.7
237.2
318.3
294.6
152.7
259.5

313.1
277.6
117.6
279.5
205.0
240.4
318.3
294,6
152.7
259.5

312.3
278.5
117.6
279.7
204.8
241.1
318.7
296.4
153.3
260.5

311.8
282.6
120.1
280.2
204,9
241.5
327.4
297.9
155.4
259.4

310.5
282.9
120.1
280.7
205.0
242.6
327.4
297.9
155.5
259.4

'310.5
r 282.9
120.1
'280.7
'205.1
245.0
327.4
'297.9
'155.5
259.4

319.2
287.5
127.1
293.1
209.9
244.7
327.4
298.3
155.4
264.1

319.1
287.0
127.1
306.9
213.3
248.9
327.4
298.3
155.4
264.9

321.3
296.2
127.2
309.9
213.5
249.4
328.0
307.6
158.4
263.2

329.0
297.0
127.2
310.3
213.1
252.0
328.2
307.6
158.5
267.3

3273
3274
3275
3291
3297
3312
3313
3316
3317
3321

Ready-mixed concrete....................................................................
Lime (12/75 - 100) ......................................................................
Gypsum 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
157.8
256.7
212.6
161.2
310.4
117.7
283.9
291.0
282.0

278.8
157.1
264.6
212.0
157.4
312.0
118.7
285.9
286.8
279.8

281.5
157.3
257.0
211.8
159.7
313.3
118.6
288.1
286.9
280.5

282.5
157.7
257.5
213.5
161.2
313.5
118.7
288.2
290.4
2825

282.6
159.6
253.5
215.2
162.8
308.6
117.1
282.2
292.4
283.0

282.6
160.2
252.3
215.7
164.9
308.5
117.1
282.3
292.6
283.2

283.6
158.8
252.2
217.1
164.8
308.6
117.2
282.3
292.6
283.3

282.7
160,8
250.0
218.8
167.8
314.8
117.3
288.1
294.2
289.7

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
220.6
167.6
'320.7
117.3
'293.3
'308.4
'290.7

294.0
165.8
259.9
222.7
172.4
328.7
119.9
302.8
315.0
291.9

295.4
171.9
257.6
226.9
177.5
328.9
119.9
303.1
315.7
293.0

296.1
172.8
257.9
229.7
179.0
334.0
120.0
306.1
326.2
293.0

298.6
172.4
257.1
232.0
178.9
336.6
120.8
308.3
333.1
296.9

3333
3334
3351
3353
3354
3355
3411
3425
3431
3465

Primary z in 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 c a r s ....................................................................................
Hand saws and saw blades (12/72 - 100) ....................................
Metal sanitary ware........................................................................
Automotive stampings (12/75 - 100) ............................................

269.9
298.3
227.6
158.2
167.7
146.2
291.6
182.0
248.3
137.0

274.3
276.0
227.4
157.8
167.7
143.8
295.1
178.0
245.5
133.5

268.2
287.0
222.8
157.6
167.7
145.2
295.2
181.5
249.7
133.8

268.6
290.1
220.2
157.8
167.7
146.7
294.9
181.9
249.9
137.8

255.9
312.1
222.8
158.2
168.3
147.4
295.6
183.5
250.9
137.8

255.9
312.2
226.2
157.6
168.4
147.6
295.9
185.4
251.4
139.8

264.0
313.0
220.2
157.6
168.2
147.5
296.1
185.8
251.4
140.1

269.9
325.6
222.0
161.5
173.2
150.7
297.9
186.8
251.5
140.2

282.0
328.5
222.9
163.3
176.3
151.2
297.2
187.2
252.2
140,9

'288.7
'328.0
'222.8
165.1
176.4
'151.1
'297.3
'190.5
'253.8
'141.2

289.4
333.9
221.9
169.3
176.8
155.5
302.1
195.0
255.9
143.3

296.3
334.9
215.4
170.7
177.1
157.5
303.0
195.1
256.3
144.1

296.0
334.8
212.0
172.1
177.3
157.5
304.7
197.6
256.6
144.5

308.0
334.6
212.1
173.9
180.6
157.5
304.7
197.8
262.9
145.2

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 = 100)..........................

146.8
230.2
229.7
315.5
274.9
140.9
258.3
337.7
239.2
279.6

141.7
229.2
229.4
313.0
270.6
138.6
256.0
329.8
232.6
274.3

141.4
229.2
229.9
313.1
271.6
139.5
257.3
333.1
234.1
275.1

144.6
230.3
231.8
313.8
271.7
140.3
258.2
337.4
242.8
279.2

145.1
230.3
232.5
317.2
276.8
141.8
259.4
342.6
244.2
284.3

147.3
230.8
232.7
317.2
278.6
142.7
262.0
345.7
243.8
285.3

145.3
231.9
233.3
319.9
283.2
143.8
264.1
347.3
246.4
285.6

145.8
233.0
235.8
325.0
285.2
146.0
266.0
352.9
248.3
286.8

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

158.2
238.2
239.0
335.7
293.0
148.9
271.9
366.5
250.3
298.1

163.2
239.0
240.8
335.7
294.2
150.4
273.5
373.7
250.3
298.5

163.2
239.4
243.4
338.5
298.5
151.5
275.7
375.8
250.3
301.8

163.2
240.6
245.9
358,8
304.2
154.3
279.1
380.7
251.1
302.9

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)..................................

132.0
216.6
212.6
212.7
156.5
185.0
209.7
133.0
120.9
162.0

129.0
213.4
212.3
207.5
152.6
180.5
207.0
129.7
119.3
160.3

131.2
213.6
212.1
208.2
153.0
181.5
209.2
133.1
119.4
161.7

131.1
217.0
213.7
208.6
153.5
182.9
211.0
134.7
122.0
162.3

133.5
221.7
215.9
215.4
158.6
186.0
212.1
134.9
122.2
161.2

134.5
222.1
216.0
226.2
159.3
190.6
212.1
134.4
122.2
163.6

135.3
222.3
216.0
226.2
160.1
190.7
211.7
134.7
123.3
165.5

136.6
223.8
217.0
226.3
164.9
193.9
214.4
134.8
124.1
166.1

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

141.7
231.1
222.9
219.8
168.7
195.2
218.3
140.1
126.2
169.7

143.9
233.7
223.1
221.1
170.6
197.0
220.0
140.8
126.1
170.1

144.8
236.6
225.0
224.2
170.8
204.4
221.1
140.9
126.2
170.9

146.4
241.0
225.8
225.9
171.9
206.2
223.8
140.3
128.1
171.1

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 type ..........................................................
Semiconductors and related devices ..............................................
Electronic capacitors (12/75 - 100) ..............................................
Electronic resistors (12/75 - 100)..................................................

152.2
128.9
260.1
220.3
139.3
139.9
251.8
90.6
162.6
134.1

148.6
129.2
252.3
217.4
138.0
139.4
254.0
90.4
157.0
131.9

149.3
129.2
251.3
218.2
138.5
140.2
254.7
91.2
160.7
133.0

155.8
129.2
258.1
220.4
139.2
140.7
255.2
92.0
160.5
135.2

158.4
130.0
266.3
220.3
139.2
140.7
255.5
92.1
168.6
135.3

158.5
130.0
268.1
220.7
140.4
140.9
255.6
91.8
172.6
136.3

158.6
130.0
269.2
220.9
142.3
143.2
255.7
92.0
174.0
136.9

158.8
130.3
268.7
221.8
142.8
143.3
264.6
91.8
170.1
137.7

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

152.6
129.7
265.9
235.3
145.6
146.3
284.3
90.6
170.3
138.1

149.9
129.7
271.2
238.5
148.5
146.8
284.5
90.8
170.6
138.8

151.8
131.3
272.6
242.9
151.9
152.7
285.1
91.7
172.5
139.5

131.2
275.5
244,9
156.6
153.2
285.1
91.7
171.4
139.7

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)....................................

148.2
176.5
136.6
126.8
204.5
132.9
131.2
143.7

146.5
176.8
135.5
127.7
205.0
131.5
128.4
143.2

146.8
176,4
134.5
128.4
205.3
133.3
130.3
143.3

148.7
176.4
134.6
128.4
205.9
136,4
132.2
143.3

148.9
176.4
137.3
128.4
206.0
135.0
132.2
146.1

149.1
176.7
137.9
128.4
206.0
135.0
132.2
146.6

149.6
176.8
131.4
128.4
206.6
135.0
132.9
146.6

149.7
176.9
144.5
128.3
207.0
135.0
132.9
146.6

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

152.6
179.0
145.0
129.0
210.4
133.1
135.0
148.6

153.7
183.3
145.1
129.1
214.7
136.4
135.0
148.6

154.1
184,2
144.7
129.1
217.2
136.5
138,1
148.7

153.8
184.2
147.7
130.6
219.2
136.9
138.1
151.5

1Data for December 1980 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
98
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2Not available,
r= revised.

151.8

PRODUCTIVITY DATA

P r o d u c t i v i t y d a t a 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.

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 Review, 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,” Monthly Labor
Review, October 1976, pages 40-42.

Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1950-80

[1977 = 100]
Item
Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor c o st................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor c o 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 c o s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
’ Not available.


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

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

99.4
119.2
99.5
119.9
110.9
116.9

r 99.1
131.1
96.4
r 132.3
r 118.4
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
822
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
99.0
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

99.0
118.8
99.2
120.0
108.5
116.2

'98.6
r 130.5
r96.0
132.4
' 117.6
127.4

(’ )
n
(’ )
(’ )
(’ )
(’ )

(’ )
(’ )
(')
(')

(’ )
(’ )

66.3
36.3
74.2
54.7
54.6
54.7

79.9
43.0
82#
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

100.3
118.6
99.0
118.2
108.3
114.8

'100.8
130.4
95.9
'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

101.9
118.7
99.1
116.5
105.7
113.4

101.4
131.2
96.5
'129.4
(’ )
(’ )

r = revised.

99

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW June 1981 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
32.

Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1970-80
Annual rate
of change

Year
Item

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

1960-80

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

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

-0.4
9.9
-1.2
10.4
5.5
8.8

' -0.3
10.0
-3.1
r 10.3
r 6.8
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

-0.8
9.6
-1.5
10.4
4.8
8.6

r -0.4
'9.8
-3.3
r 10.3
'8.3
'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

-0.1
9.6
-1.5
9.7
4.4
7.9

'0.5
'10.0
'-3 .1
'9.5
'8.3
9.1

( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
( ')
( 1)
(’ )

2.0
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
0.0
11.2
3.1

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

1.0
9.7
-1.4
8.6
0.9
6.4

0.5
10.5
-2.7
11.0
( 1)
<1)

r2.4
5.6
2.0
3.1
4.6
4.5

2.4
6.7
1.5
4.2
8.3
7.6

’ Not available.

33.

1950-80

1970

r = revised.

Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted

[1977 = 100]

Item

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

100

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

Quarterly indexes

Annual
average

1981

1980

1979

1978

1979

1980

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

I

99.4
119.2
99.5
119.9
110.9
116.9

'99.1
131.1
96.4
'132.3
'118.4
127.6

100.0
109.4
100.5
109.4
106.7
108.5

99.9
111.9
' 100.3
112.1
109.1
111.1

99.7
115.0
'100.6
115.4
109.6
113.4

99.6
118.0
'100.3
118.5
110.4
115.8

99.2
120.5
99.0
121.4
111.5
118.1

99.0
123.0
' 97.8
124.2
112.3
120.2

99.3
126.0
96.5
127.0
115.3
123.0

98.8
129.7
'96.3
131.3
116.0
126.1

99.2
132.8
96.7
133.9
119.8
129.1

'98.9
135.5
'95.7
'137.0
'122.8
132.2

»99.8
»139.2
»95.7
»139.5
»125.2
»134.7

99.0
118.8
99.2
120.0
108.5
116.2

'98.6
' 130.5
'96.0
132.4
'117.6
127.4

99.9
109.4
100.5
109.5
105.1
108.0

99.8
111.9
' 100.3
112.2
107.0
110.5

99.5
114.9
100.4
115.4
107.1
112.6

99.1
117.6
'99.9
118.7
107.7
115.1

98.7
119.9
98.6
121.5
109.3
117,4

98.6
122.7
'97.6
124.4
110.2
119.7

98.6
125.6
96.2
127.4
114.0
122.9

97.9
129.0
95.7
131.8
115.2
126.3

98.8
131.9
96.1
133.5
119.2
128.8

'98.7
135.0
'95.4
' 136.8
'122.1
131.9

»99.6
»138.6
»95.3
»139.2
»125.2
»134.5

100.3
118.6
99.0
116.8
118.2
112.7
99.0
114.8

'100.8
130.4
95.9
'129.7
' 129.4
'130.2
'90.2
125.2

100.4
109.2
100.2
107.6
108.7
104.4
105.9
107.4

100.5
111.5
'99.9
109.6
111.0
106.0
108.9
109.6

100.6
114.5
100.1
112.2
113.8
107.8
105.6
111.5

100.6
117.5
'99.8
115.3
116.8
111.2
100.7
113.7

100.3
119.8
98.5
118.2
119.5
114.6
97.5
115.9

99.7
122.4
'97.3
121.3
122,8
117.2
92.2
118.1

100.0
125.3
95.9
124.2
125.4
120.9
95.5
121.0

99.8
128.9
'95.7
129.2
129.1
129.3
83.4
124.1

101.5
132.1
'96.2
131
130.2
133.8
89.1
126.4

»101.5
»135.1
»95.4
»134.1
»133.1
»136.9
»92.4
»129.5

( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
(’ )
(’ )

101.9
118.7
99.1
116.5

101.4
131.2
96.5
'129.4

101.7
109.1
100.2
107.3

102.0
111.5
' 100.0
109.3

101.4
*14.5
' 100.2
112.9

102.3
118.5
' 100.7
115.9

101.9
119.7
98.4
117.5

101,9
122,0
'97.0
119.8

'102.0
125.0
95.7
'122.5

'100.7
129.6
'96.2
' 128.7

' 100.3
133,5
'97.2
'133.1

103.0
136.8
' 96.7
132.8

r = revised.

V)
(')
(')

»103.5
»140.3
»96.5
»135.6

34. Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted at annual rate
[1977 = 100]
Quarterly percent change at annual rate
Item

Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ....................
Compensation per hour ..............................
Real compensation per hour........................
Unit labor c o 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........................
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 c o st............................................

III 1979
to
IV 1979

IV 1979
to
I 1980

-1.1
8.6
' -4.9
9.8
2.6
7.4

1.3
10.4
' -5.2
9.0
11.3
9.7

-0.3
9.6
-4.0
9.9
3.3
7.8

I 1980
to
II 1980

-1.9
12.2

II 1980
to
III 1980

III 1980
to
IV 1980

Percent change from same quarter a year ago
IV 1980
to
I 1981

IV 1978
- to
IV 1979

I 1979
to
I 1980

II 1979
to
II 1980

III 1979
to
III 1980

IV 1979
to
IV 1980

IV 1980
to
I 1981

14.4
2.6
10.5

1.5
9.7
'1.8
8.1
13.6
9.8

' -1.2
8.4
-4.0
'9.7
'10.3
9.9

'3.9
'11.5
'0.1
'7.4
'8.2
'7.6

-0.9
9.9
-2.5
10.9
2.9
8.2

-0.4
9.6
' -4.1
10.0
5.2
8.4

-0.8
9.9
' —4.0
10.8
5.1
9.0

0.0
10.2
-2.3
10,3
7.4
9.4

' -0.1
10.2
'-2 .1
'10.3
'9.4
10.0

»0.5
»10.5
» -0.7
»9.9
»8.6
»9.5

0.0
9.9
'- 5 .7
9.9
14.6
11.3

-3.0
11.2
r -1.7
14.6
4.2
11.3

3.8
9.3
'1.4
5.3
14.9
8.2

' -0.4
9.6
' -2.9
'10.1
'10.0
10.0

'3.6
'11.3
'-0 .1
'7.5
' 10.5
'8.4

-1.1
9.6
-2.7
10.9
3.0
8.3

-0.9
9.4
'- 4 .3
10.4
6,4
9.1

-1.2
9.7
'- 4 .2
11.0
6.9
9,7

0.1
10.0
'- 2 .5
9.9
9.1
9.6

'-0 .1
10.0
'- 2 .3
'9.9
'10.8
10.2

»1.0
»10.3
»-0.8
»9.3
»9.8
»9.5

-2.4
8.9
'- 4 .6
11.0
11.6
9.3
-20.2
7.8

1.2
9.8
' -5.7
9.8
8.6
13.5
15.3
10.3

-0.5
12.0
'- 1 .0
17.0
12.6
30.6
-41.9
10.5

6.9
10.3
'2.3
6.2
3.2
14.7
30.3
7.9

p -0.1
p9.2
p -3.2
»9.4
»9.4
p9.5
p 15.7
»9.9

( 1)
( 1)
C)
(’ )
(’ )
( 1)

V)
n

-0.8
9.8
-2.6
10.7
10.7
10.6
-15.4
7.8

-0.6
9.5
'- 4 .2
10.6
10.1
12.2
-9.5
8.5

-0.7
9.7
-4.1
12.0
10.5
16.3
-17.2
9.1

1.2
10.3
'- 2 .3
11.0
8.9
16.8
-8.6
9,1

»1.8
»10.3
» -2.0
»10.5
»8.4
p 16.8
»0.3
»9.6

(’ )
( 1)
<’ )
(’ )
( 1)
( 1)
( 1)
(’ )

0.1
8.1
' -5.4
8.0

'0.6
10.1
' -5.6
'9.5

'- 5 .2
15.5
'2.1
'21.9

' -1.5
12.7
'4.6
'-14.5

'11.4
'10.2
'- 2 .4
'-1 .1

»1.6
p10.6
»-0.8
»8.8

-0.1
9.4
-2.9
9.6

' -0.6
9.1
'- 4 .5
'8.5

' -1.6
9.3
-4.5
11.0

' -1.5
11.6
' -1.2
'13.3

1.1
12.1
' -0.4
10.8

»1.4
»12.2
»0.8
»10.7

' -0.8

1Not available.


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

101

LABOR-MANAGEMENT DATA

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.

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 C u r r e n t W a g e D e v e lo p m e n ts , 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.

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 combined 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]
Quarterly average

Annual average
Sector and measure
1977

1978

1979

1981 p

1980

1979
1976

1980
II

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

I

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

10.5
7.8

9.0
6.1

8.5
6.0

8.8
6.7

10.2
7.4

11.4
7.2

8.5
6.1

10.4
7.3

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

8.9
7.2

6.8
5.1

6.3
5.3

8.2
6.5

9.1
7.3

10.5
7.4

8.3
6.5

9.0
7.7

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

9.7
8.1

6.3
4,7

5.6
4.2

7.2
5.7

6.7
5.1

8.4
5.6

7.8
5.8

9.0
6.7

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

8.5
5.8

9.4
6.5

7.8
7.4

9.4
7.6

10.3
8.5

9.5
5.9

8.2
6.8

8.3
7.6

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

8.7
8.3

9.7
8.5

7.5
7.6

10.8
9.1

12.2
10.4

15.4
13.0

14,3
12.0

13.4
11.6

Digitized for102
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

36.

Effective wage adjustments going into effect in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date

[In percent]
Average quarterly changes

Average annual changes
Sector and measure
1977

1978

1979

1980

1981 p

1980

1979
1976

I

II

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

I

Total effective wage rate adjustment, all industries ..............
Change resulting from
Current settlement................................................
Prior settlement..................................................
Escalator provision ..............................................

8.1

8.0

8.2

9.1

9.9

1.4

2.6

3.3

1.6

1.6

3.3

3,5

1.3

1.3

3.2
32
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

.2
.6
.6

1.1
1.0
.5

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

.2
.5
.5

Manufacturing ............................................................
Nonmanufacturing ......................................................

8.5
7.7

8.4
7.6

8.6
7.9

9.6
8.8

10.2
9.7

1.5
1.4

2.3
2.8

3.2
3.4

2.4
1.0

2.0
1.3

3.4
3.2

2.9
4,0

1.7
1.1

1.6
1.0

NOTE: Because of rounding and compounding, the sums of individual items may not equal totals.

37.

Work stoppages, 1947 to date
Number of stoppages
Month and year

Beginning in
month or year

In effect
during month

Days idle

Workers involved
Beginning in
month or year
(thousands)

In effect
during month
(thousands)

Number
(thousands)

Percent of
estimated
working time

1947
1948 . .
1949
1950 ........................................................................................

3 693
3419
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
5117
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
3614
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

3,230
2,579
2,099
2,441
3,954
3.079
3.407
2.195
1.110
017
614
647
1.419

16
.14
.10
.13
.21
15
.20
.11
06
.03
.03
.04
.07

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

1980 p : March ........................................................................
April............................................................................
M ay............................................................................
June ..........................................................................
July ............................................................................
August........................................................................
September..................................................................
October......................................................................
November ..................................................................
December ..................................................................
1981 p January ......................................................................
February....................................................................
March ........................................................................


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

326
357
388
385
414
374
420
347
201
66
253
347
314

605
649
704
699
733
704
724
630
427
247
297
517
545

98
98
116
173
241
80
126
90
52
18
50
90
271

237
218
172
224
336
211
247
200
101
48
68
136
336

103

How to order BLS publications
PERIODICALS
Order from (and make checks payable to) Su­
perintendent o f Documents, Washington, D.C.
20402. For foreign subscriptions, add 25 percent.

Monthly Labor Review. The oldest and most
authoritative government research journal in
economics and the social sciences. Current
statistics, analysis, developments in industrial
relations, court decisions, book reviews. $18
a year, single copy, $2.50.
Employment and Earnings. A comprehensive
monthly report on employment, hours, earn­
ings, and labor turnover by industry, area,
occupation, et cetera, $22 a year, single copy
$2.75.
Occupational Outlook Quarterly. A popular
periodical designed to help high school stu­
dents and guidance counselors assess career
opportunities. $6 for four issues, single copy
$1.75.
Current Wage Developments. A monthly re­
port about collective bargaining settlements
and unilateral management decisions about
wages and benefits; statistical summaries.
$13 a year, single copy $2.25.
Producer Prices and Price Indexes. A com­
prehensive monthly report on price move­
ments of both farm and industrial commodi­
ties, by industry and stage of processing. $17
a year, single copy $2.25.
CPI Detailed Report. A monthly periodical
featuring detailed data and charts on the
Consumer Price Index. $18 a year, single
copy $3.
PRESS RELEASES

BULLETINS AND HANDBOOKS
About 140 bulletins and handbooks published each year are for sale by regional
offices of the Bureau o f Labor Statistics (see inside front cover) and by the Su­
perintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402. Orders can be charged to
a deposit account number or checks can be made payable to the Superintendent
of Documents. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted; include card number
and expiration date. Among the bulletins and handbooks currently in print:

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1980-81 Edition. Bulletin 2075. A
useful resource supplying valuable assistance to all persons seeking satis­
fying and productive employment. $8, paperback; $11 cloth cover.
BLS Handbook of Labor Statistics. Bulletin 2070, December 1980. A
490-page volume of historical data on the major BLS statistical series.
$9.50.
Handbook of Methods. Bulletin 1910. Brief technical account of each
major statistical program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. $3.50.
BLS Measures of Compensation. Bulletin 1941. An introduction to the
various measures of employee compensation; describes each series, the
manner in which it is developed, its uses and limitations. $2.75.
Occupational Projections and Training Data. Bulletin 2052. Presents
both general and detailed information on the relationship between occu­
pational requirements and training needs. (Updates Bulletin 2020
published in 1979.) $4.75.
Exploring Careers. Bulletin 2001. A new career guidance resource
designed for junior high school students but useful for older students as
well. Includes occupational narratives, evaluative questions, suggested ac­
tivities, career games, and photographs. $10.
Profile of the Teenage Worker. Bulletin 2039. Focuses on the labor mar­
ket experience of 16- to 19-year-olds. Based on data from the Current
Population Survey, the bulletin reviews past trends and explores the
problems of youth unemployment and the transition from school to
work. $3.25.
Profiles of Occupational Pay: A Chartbook. Bulletin 2037. A graphic il­
lustration of some of the factors that affect workers’ earnings. This threepart presentation looks at wage variations among and within occupations
and portrays characteristics of high- and low-paying urban areas and
manufacturing industries. $3.50.
REPORTS AND PAMPHLETS
Single copies available free from the BLS regional offices or from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, U.S. Department o f Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.

Major Programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Report 552. A sum­
mary of the Bureau’s principal programs, including data available,
sources, uses, and publications.

The Bureau’s statistical series are made avail­
able to news media through press releases is­
sued in Washington. Many of the releases
also are available to the public upon request.
Write: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washing­
ton, D.C. 20212.

Employment in Perspective: Minority Workers. A quarterly report series
presenting highlights of current data on blacks and persons of Hispanic
origin in the labor force.

Regional. Each of the Bureau’s eight regional
offices publishes reports and press releases
dealing with regional data. Single copies
available free from the issuing regional office.

Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, 1979. Report
619. Latest report in a series presenting geographic labor force data from
the Current Population Survey. Provides 1979 annual average demo­
graphic and economic characteristics of the labor force for States and
similar data for 30 large SMSA’s and 11 large cities.


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

Employment in Perspective: Working Women. A quarterly report series
presenting highlights of current data on women in the labor force.

The New

Handbook of
Labor Statistics
Bulletin 2070
Makes available in
one 490-page volume
historical data (through
1979 in most cases)
on the major statistical
series produced by the
Bureau of Labor
Statistics

Contains 190 tables
with data on:
Labor force
characteristics

Employment and
unemployment

Features regrouped
tables placing together
data collected from the
same survey or source

Hours and earnings

Provides technical notes
for each major group
of tables

Wage and benefit
changes

Includes related series
from other government
agencies and foreign
countries

Productivity and
unit labor costs
Prices and
living conditions
Unions and
industrial relations
Occupational injuries
and illnesses
Foreign labor statistics
General economic data

The BLS regional office nearest you will expedite your order.

You may also send your order directly to:

1 6 0 3 J F K F e d e ra l B ld g .

Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402

S u ite 5 4 0

R o o m 221

B o s to n , M a s s . 0 2 2 0 3

1 37 1 P e a c h tr e e St., N .E .

5 5 5 G r iff in S q . B ld g .

S u ite 3 4 0 0

A t la n ta , G a . 3 0 3 6 7

D a lla s , T e x . 7 5 2 0 2

1515 B ro a d w a y

9 th F lo o r

911 W a ln u t

N e w Y o rk , N ,Y . 1 0 0 3 6

2 3 0 S o u th D e a r b o r n S t.

K a n s a s C ity , M o . 6 4 1 0 6

P.O. B o x 1 3 3 0 9

C h ic a g o , III. 6 0 6 0 4

P h ila d e lp h ia , P a . 1 9 1 01

St.

Box 36017
G o ld e n G a te A v e S a n F r a n c is c o , C a lif. 9 4 1 0 2

i 50

Make checks payable to
the Superintendent of Documents

Please send
conies of H a n r l h n n k n f 1 a h n r S t a t i s t i r . s
Bulletin 2070, GPO Stock No. 029-001 -02194-1, at $9.50 per copy.
Nam e

O r g a n iz a t io n
( If a p p lic a b le )
S tre e t a d d re s s

C ity , s ta te , Z IP


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

U.S,. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington D.C. 20212
Official Business
Penalty for private use, $300
RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED


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

Postage and Fees Paid
U.S. Department of Labor
Lab-441

SECOND CLASS MAIL

U.S.MAIL