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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
May 1982
In this issue:
Wages in 1981
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
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TRENDS IN COMPENSATION
Arthur Sackley
3
Wage increases moderate in 1981
Most wage series rose more slowly, especially in the fourth quarter,
but when adjusted for inflation, wages declined; the wage-price gap narrowed
Beth Levin
9
The Employment Cost Index: recent trends and expansion
The 9.8-percent compensation rise in 1981 matched the 1980 increase;
ECI coverage extended to employees of State and local governments
Norma W. Carlson
15
Time rates tighten their grip on manufacturing industries
Incentive pay plans continued to lose popularity in 37 industries,
according to a study that compared incidence for 1973-80 and 1961-68
M. E. Personick, C. B. Barsky
23
White-collar pay levels linked to corporate work force size
Larger-size firms generally pay high salaries for white-collar workers;
but the pay advantage varies by occupation and skill level
IRRA PAPERS
Mark D. Karper
Wesley S. Mellow
David S. North
29
30
32
Can the n l r b caseload detect changes in labor relations climate?
Health and pension coverage by worker characteristics
Labor market rights of foreign-born workers
REPORTS
J. A. Bunn, J. E. Triplett
Arthur S. Herman
G. Donald Wood, Jr.
Horst Brand
D. E. Taylor, E. S. Sekscenski
Howard Hayghe
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34
36
40
43
47
53
Reconciling the c p i and the p c e Deflator: 4th quarter 1981
Productivity declines in 1980 in most industries measured
Estimation procedures for the Employment Cost Index
Solidarity’s proposals for reforming Poland’s economy
Workers on long schedules, single and multiple jobholders
Marital and family patterns of workers: an update
DEPARTMENTS
2
29
34
36
40
43
47
57
59
62
67
Labor month in review
Conference papers
Anatomy of price change
Productivity reports
Technical note
Foreign labor developments
Research summaries
Major agreements expiring next month
Developments in industrial relations
Book reviews
Current labor statistics
Labor M onth
In Review
NEW TECHNOLOGY. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics continued its studies of
technological change by appraising the
impact of new technology on productivi
ty and occupations in four major in
dustries. The studies show—
Most of the new
technology occurred in the 1960’s and
include rail systems for moving animal
carcasses between cutting stations,
eliminating the constant repositioning
required in the previous method. Also,
for beef processing, workers were equip
ped with power knives and saws for car
cass splitting, mechanical hide pullers
eliminated the hand cutting operations
necessary for hide removal, and render
ing operations were mechanized so that
one worker became responsible for the
entire process. In the poultry processing
industry, innovations included mech
anized slaughtering, feather removal,
and packaging and conveyors and rail
systems to move carcasses through the
plant. A large proportion of meat and
poultry cutting operations is still done
manually. Automation is hindered by
the difficulty of developing an
economical and reliable cutting machine
capable of adapting to the physical dif
ferences in animal carcasses.
Not much change is expected in job
content and skill requirements in the
1980’s. In 1978, 3 of 5 meat products
workers were operatives—meatcutters,
packers, or machine operators; they are
expected to account for two-thirds of the
industry’s work force by 1990.
Meat products.
Foundries. The specific technologies
gaining prominence include improved
material handling devices, automatic
equipment for molding and coremaking,
more productive diecasting technology,
more widespread use of electric furnaces
in melting and mechanized systems in
pouring operations, advances in clean
ing and finishing equipment, and more
extensive instrumentation and com
puterization. The industry also has in
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vested substantial funds for technology
to reduce pollution and improve worker
health and safety.
The trend to mechanization will con
tinue to alter the structure of occupa
tions. Foundries are employing propor
tionally more engineers, technicians,
and maintenance workers in response to
more extensive and complex production
equipment. Hence, production workers
have declined relative to the total
foundry work force and the composition
of occupations in this category is chang
ing. A further decline is expected in oc
cupations which involve large manual
tasks. The more widespread use of im
proved trucks, hoists, conveyors, and
related equipment will reduce the need
for hand laborers, but will increase the
need for truck operators. More
maintenance mechanics and repairers
will be needed to service the complex
equipment. Robots may assume some
job functions.
Metalworking machinery. Numerical
control of machine tools is the most
significant new technology introduced in
this industry in the past 25 years. It in
volves the automatic control of a
machine tool’s movement by an elec
tronic controller or computer which
reads instructions in digital form.
Numerically controlled tools reduce
setup time and eliminate the need for
costly tooling devices, and can produce
parts with greater precision and unifor
mity. Despite these advantages, most
machine tool shops still rely on skilled
workers using conventional tools.
Operatives and craftworkers, the two
largest blue-collar occupations, ac
counted for one-third of the industry’s
employment in 1978. Operatives are ex
pected to grow by 36 percent by 1990,
while craftworkers’ growth will be about
half that rate. Thus, operatives will ac
count for a somewhat larger percent of
total employment in 1990 than in 1978,
while craftworkers’ share will decline
slightly.
The costliness of numerically controll
ed machines and the intricacy of their
control systems will create a demand for
preventive maintenance mechanics train
ed in electronics. Employment of these
mechanics, repairers, and installers (a
subdivision of the craftworker group)
will expand five times as fast as all craft
employment. The professional and
technical worker group will grow by 22
percent by 1990. Engineers will remain
the dominant occupation for this group,
with about half of them still in the
mechanical field.
Electrical and electronic equipment.
New technology includes equipment to
design and fabricate semiconductors and
related devices, increased automation in
assembly line operations, numerically
controlled machine tools, and advanced
production equipment.
More than one-half of the industry’s
work force were engaged in manufactur
ing communication equipment and elec
tronic components. The structure of oc
cupations is expected to change. All oc
cupational groups, except salesworkers,
are expected to increase in the 1980’s.
Operatives, the largest group, will in
crease by more than one-fourth, and will
continue to be the largest group, at 47
percent of total employment. As
semblers make up more than one-third
of the operatives; they are expected to
increase at a slightly higher rate than the
average for all occupations in the in
dustry.
Technologies applicable to assembly
operations will be diffused more widely,
but assembly of household appliances
and other products will continue to in
volve a high degree of manual tasks.
The four studies have been published
in b l s Bulletin 2104, Technology and
Labor in Four Industries, which is
available from the Superintendent
of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Price:
$3.25.
□
Wage increases
moderate in 1981
Most wage series rose more slowly,
with much of the slowdown in the fourth quarter;
when adjusted for inflation, they showed declines,
although the wage-price gap was narrower
A
rthur
Sa c k l e y
Wage gains were moderate in 1981, as the recession de
veloped and inflation abated. Nearly all of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics’ measures of wage change recorded
smaller advances than in the previous year.1 When ad
justed for inflation, most measures of real wages de
clined (continuing the trend started in 1979), but at a
diminishing rate, mainly because of the slowdown in the
rise in consumer prices. The impact of the recession was
especially evident in the Bureau’s cyclically sensitive av
erage weekly earnings series; it showed the lowest rate
of increase in more than a decade. In fact, the only
measure that did not rise more slowly than in the previ
ous year was new settlements negotiated during the
year in large bargaining units.
The downturn in economic activity and the easing of
inflation, a relatively light incidence of collective bar
gaining, and wage decisions in prior years were among
the elements influencing wage changes in 1981. An ex
amination of the role of these factors is helpful in un
derstanding wage developments in the overall economy
and in the collective bargaining sector.
The state of the economy was a major influence on
wage changes in 1981. After rising vigorously at an an
nual rate of 8.6 percent in the first quarter, real gross
national product leveled off, then fell 4.7 percent in the
fourth quarter. Economic indicators relevant to wage
Arthur Sackley is an economist in the Office of Prices and Living
Conditions, formerly with the Office of Wages and Industrial Rela
tions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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changes reflected this shift: from July to December em
ployment dropped by 1.3 million, unemployment rose
by 1.8 million, the unemployment rate climbed from 7.2
to 8.8 percent, and both the factory workweek and over
time hours declined markedly.
Cyclical downturns initially tend to depress workers’
earnings, as employers cut back on hours of work.
Then, as the recession deepens, hiring is restricted and
layoffs spread, producing increasing slack in labor mar
kets which, in turn, dampens the pressure for pay in
creases.
The 1981 recession contributed to some abatement in
the upward pressure prices may have exerted on wages
in recent years. The Consumer Price Index for All Ur
ban Consumers ( c p i -u ) rose 8.9 percent in 1981— the
smallest increase in 4 years.
The government sector was under some of the same
pressure as private industry. Because government ser
vices are highly labor intensive, public payrolls were es
pecially vulnerable to the fiscal restraints experienced at
all levels of government in 1981. However, available
data indicate that most of the labor cost containment
measures have affected employment more than wages.
In the organized sector of the economy, activity was
comparatively subdued, despite the substantial changes
in the economic climate and wage and price movements.
It was a very light year for bargaining, and the inci
dence of work stoppages declined to its lowest level
since 1940.
3
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Wages in 1981
Wage and compensation changes
Nearly all measures of wage and compensation
change registered smaller advances in 1981 than in the
previous year, with much of the deceleration occurring
in the fourth quarter. The measures also show a smaller
percentage rise in wages than in the Consumer Price In
dex, resulting in further erosion in purchasing power for
most workers, although the gap between price and wage
increases was narrower than in recent years. Table 1
shows trend data in current and 1977 dollars for several
key compensation series.
Hourly compensation is the measure with the
broadest scope. It includes payrolls and employer con
tributions to social insurance and private benefit plans.
Hourly compensation in the private nonfarm business
sector went up 9.3 percent in 1981. Although this was
the third largest increase in the series in the last decade,
it was less than that of 1980, and was the first year-toyear decline in the rate of increase since 1977. Hourly
compensation data not only measure trends in wages
and benefits, but also the labor cost component in unit
labor costs, a key indicator of inflationary trends. Typi
cally, at the onset of a recession, output declines faster
than employment and hours of work. Consequently,
productivity (output per employee hour) falls, as was
the case in the second half of 1981. The fourth-quarter
decline in productivity was the largest since the produc
tivity series began in 1947. The magnitude of this drop
was reflected in a steep climb in unit labor costs (hourly
compensation divided by output per employee hour) as
the recession deepened, despite a slower rise in hourly
compensation.
The average hourly and weekly earnings series are
more restricted in scope than hourly compensation.
Table 1.
They cover only wages and salaries of production and
nonsupervisory workers in the private nonfarm econo
my. These measures typically decline or slow their rate
of increase in the initial phase of a downturn through
the effects of a shift in the employment mix caused by
layoffs in cyclically sensitive high-wage industries, less
overtime, and, for weekly earnings, shorter workweeks.
This was the pattern in 1981.
Average hourly earnings rose 7.2 percent in 1981, the
smallest increase since 1977. Some of the slowdown is
attributable to recession-related layoffs in construction
and durable goods manufacturing, both relatively highpaying sectors. The shift away from these high-wage in
dustries depressed average earnings. Average weekly
earnings, reflecting the slower rise in hourly earnings
and a reduction in the workweek during the second half
of the year, went up by only 6.0 percent in 1981— the
smallest gain since the 1960’s.
Wage measures that are not influenced by changes in
the workweek and shifts in the distribution of employ
ment by industry are less sensitive to cyclical fluctua
tions in economic activity. The Hourly Earnings Index
minimizes these shift effects, by excluding overtime in
manufacturing industries and by applying fixed-weight
ed aggregate employee hours to average earnings at a
detailed industry level. It provides data for broad indus
try groups and the private nonfarm economy. The
Hourly Earnings Index went up 8.2 percent in 1981, a
smaller increase than the 9.4-percent rise of the previous
year, but the deceleration was not as pronounced as
that for average hourly or weekly earnings.
The Employment Cost Index is broader in occupa
tional and industrial coverage than the Hourly Earnings
Index, and measures compensation as well as wages.2 It
more closely approximates underlying wage rate trends
Changes in employee wages and compensation, 1971-81
[In percent]
Measure
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
Average hourly compensation:’
Current dollars ............................................
1977 d o lla rs .................................................
5.6
2.1
7.2
3.7
8.1
-.2
10.9
-1.1
7.8
.4
8.3
3.0
7.5
.8
9.0
.0
9.8
-2.6
10.1
-2.2
9.3
-.2
Gross average hourly earnings:2
Current dollars ............................................
1977 d o lla rs .................................................
6.9
3.4
7.6
4.2
6.6
-2 .0
8.4
-3.4
6.1
- .9
7.9
2.9
7.3
.5
9.2
.1
7.9
-4 .8
8.8
-3.2
7.2
-1 .5
Gross average weekly earnings:2
Current dollars ............................................
1977 d o lla rs .................................................
7.2
3.8
7.0
3.5
6.6
-2.1
6.3
-5 .2
6.7
- .5
7.0
2.0
7.0
.3
9.1
.1
7.6
-5.4
7.9
-4.1
6.0
-2.5
Hourly Earnings Index:2
Current d o lla rs ............................................
1977 d o lla rs .................................................
7.0
3.5
6.2
2.7
6.4
-2.3
9.3
-2 .7
7.1
.0
7.5
2.5
7.4
.7
8.6
-.4
8.2
-4.5
9.3
-2.9
8.2
-.4
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
7.2
2.2
7.0
.3
7.7
-1.1
8.7
-4 .2
9.0
-3.1
8.8
.0
Employment Cost Index:3
Current dollars .............................................
1977 d o lla rs .................................................
' Covers all employees in the nonfarm business sector.
2 Covers production and nonsupervisory workers in the private nonfarm economy.
3 Covers only wages and salaries in the private nonfarm economy, excluding households.
Data are unavailable before 1976.
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N ote : Percent changes are based on seasonally adjusted data and reflect fourth quarter to
fourth quarter change for average hourly compensation and December to December change
for other measures.
because it controls for both occupational and industry
employment shifts, and excludes all overtime pay and
hours, not only those in manufacturing firms. Further
more, it measures changes in benefit cost resulting from
changes in benefit practices rather than temporary shifts
in benefit usage or other transient influences. Because of
these and other features, this index is less sensitive than
the other measures to short-term economic fluctuations.
The 1981 Employment Cost Index shows a relatively
smaller change from the previous year than the other
measures. The wage and salary series went up 8.8 per
cent in 1981, compared with 9.0 percent in 1980. Com
pensation (wages and benefits), as measured by this
index, went up 9.8 percent in both years.
All measures of wage change that have been dis
cussed here showed slower gains toward the end of
1981 than during the early part of the year. The annual
rates of change in the 6 months ending in December
were 6.2 percent for the average hourly earnings, 4.4
percent for weekly earnings, and 7.3 percent for the
Hourly Earnings Index. Average hourly compensation
rose at a 6.5-percent annual rate in the fourth quarter.
After a large advance in the first quarter, both the com
pensation and wage series of the Employment Cost In
dex registered smaller gains during the remainder of
1981.
Even though the rate of growth in the Consumer
Price Index slowed more than the pace of most mea
sures of wages, it still exceeded the rate of pay gains.
As a result, the gap between price and wage increases
narrowed, but erosion in workers’ purchasing power
continued. Real gross average weekly earnings, a widely
used indicator of the impact of price increases on pay,
fell 2.5 percent in 1981.
Government compensation
All the BLS compensation data discussed to this point
cover only the private sector. The Employment Cost In
dex, however, has recently been expanded to include
data for State and local governments, but results for a
full year are not yet available for annual comparisons.
Data on government workers from other sources sug
gest that the initial impact of fiscal restraints in 1981
was on employment rather than pay gains. For the first
time since the immediate post-World War II period, ag
gregate employment fell, as layoffs and hiring freezes
were imposed. During most of 1981, salaries of 1.4 mil
lion Federal white-collar employees under the General
Schedule pay system were 9.1 percent higher than dur
ing the same period a year earlier, mostly a result of a
pay raise in October 1980. Their annual pay raise in
October 1981 was limited to 4.8 percent, the smallest
increase since the passage of the Federal Pay Compara
bility Act of 1970. Under special legislation and presi
dential order, about 450,000 blue-collar Federal
employees also were held to a 4.8-percent pay increase.
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Limited data for State and local employees indicate that
their pay gains were mainly the result of decisions in
prior years, and that 1981 wage decisions were less gen
erous.
Collective bargaining
The major collective bargaining wage-and-benefit
change statistics are more limited in scope than the
earnings-and-compensation change series because the
data are restricted to bargaining units of at least 1,000
workers in the private economy, and at least 5,000 in
State and local governments.3 Although such bargaining
units employ less than 10 percent of the labor force,
wage decisions affecting them influence wage develop
ments in the overall economy. And negotiated wage de
cisions affecting them may set patterns for wage
decisions in smaller bargaining situations and in non
union establishments or political jurisdictions.
The major collective bargaining series provide two
basic types of information for assessing wage develop
m ents— data on negotiated wage-and-benefit settle
ments and data on effective wage rate adjustments.
Settlement data are forward looking and relate to
changes in wages and compensation provided for in
contracts reached during a period. They are expressed
as changes during the first year and average annual
changes over the life of the contract. Effective wage rate
adjustments include those changes resulting from agree
ments negotiated during the period, deferred wage
changes resulting from settlements reached in prior peri
ods, and increases triggered by cost-of-living adjust
ments (cola) clauses. Of the two types of data,
effective wage adjustments are more comparable to the
earnings and compensation change measures discussed
earlier.
Effective wage adjustments in major collective
bargaining units in private industry average 9.5 percent
in 1981, down from 9.9 percent in the previous year,
paralleling the deceleration in the rate of increase of
more comprehensive earnings and compensation series.
(See table 2.) A light bargaining year appears to have
been an important factor in the smaller increase. De
ferred increases are generally lower, on average, than
first-year changes under new settlements. In the light
bargaining year of 1981, more workers were covered by
deferred increases than by new settlements, holding
down the size of the overall adjustment.
In 1981, approximately 6.3 million workers received
deferred increases averaging 5.3 percent. When prorated
over all workers, the increase was 3.8 percent. New set
tlements provided adjustments of 9.8 percent, but cov
ered only 2.2 million workers, resulting in an
adjustment of just 2.5 percent for all workers. The aver
age COLA increase for the 4.6 million covered workers
in 1981 was 6.1 percent (approximately three-fourths of
the rise in the CPI over the period of COLA review), or
5
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Wages in 1981
Expectations concerning future inflation and other re
lated economic factors are also important considerations
which may dilute the impact of current economic condi
tions on multi-year contracts. Concern about the rate of
inflation may have influenced bargaining. In 1981, the
rate of price increase did not dip below the double-digit
level until most of the year’s negotiations had been con
cluded. Contracts with COLA’s provided for adjustments
of 8.0 percent the first year and 5.5 percent annually
over the contract life; for contracts without COLA, the
comparable adjustments were 10.6 and 8.8 percent.
Wage decisions may also be less sensitive to prevail
ing economic conditions than to pressures to maintain
existing pay relationships among groups of workers and
industries. Management and labor tend to prefer em
ployment and hours adjustments to marked changes in
compensation which may upset longstanding wage rela
tionships.
The influence of 1981 settlements was tempered by
the relatively small number of workers they covered.
Agreements reached during the year covered only 2.4
million workers, compared with 3.8 million in 1980.
Another consideration is that settlements in the con
struction industry, which make up a higher proportion
of total settlements in light than in heavy bargaining
years, were a major factor in boosting the overall aver
age adjustment. Settlements in this industry accounted
for nearly 1 in 4 workers covered by major agreements
concluded in 1981. When construction settlements are
excluded from the data, first-year contract changes aver
aged 8.6 percent, and adjustments over the life of the
contract, 6.7 percent.
Several mitigating circumstances should be taken into
account in assessing the sizable wage gains of construc
tion settlements against the general economic slowdown
and depressed activity in the industry. One consider-
3.2 percent averaged over all workers.
Data on settlements negotiated during the year are
useful as indicators of the size of future wage changes.
In 1981, negotiated settlements provided wage adjust
ments averaging 9.8 percent in the first year of the con
tract, and 7.9 percent annually over the life of the
contract. These are the largest annual increases since
1975, another recession year. Increases in wages and
benefits, calculated for settlements covering 5,000 work
ers or more, were 11.3 percent for the first year, and 8.4
percent over the life of the contract.
The higher wage adjustments reflected in settlement
data are not necessarily inconsistent with the 1981 eco
nomic environment if other factors are taken into ac
count. The multi-year nature of most contracts tends to
reduce the impact of prevailing economic conditions on
the amount of wages provided for in current settle
ments. Current settlements may be influenced by prece
dent-setting agreements reached earlier in other
bargaining situations under quite different economic cir
cumstances, and may also reflect what has occurred in
the interim between the previous settlement and current
negotiations. For example, a steep rise in consumer
prices since the previous contract, not compensated by
c o l a ’s , may create pressures for catch-up increases,
even though inflation may have abated in the meantime.
This may have been the situation in 1981. When the
same parties to 1981 settlements last negotiated (on av
erage, about 30 months before), the average wage ad
justment was 8.6 percent in the first year, and 7.0
percent annually over the life of the contract. Over a
comparable span from m id-1978 to m id-1981, the CPI
rose at an annual rate of nearly 12 percent. Although
some of the gap between negotiated wage increases and
this price rise was offset by c o l a ’s , most workers expe
rienced an erosion in the purchasing power of their pay.
Table 2.
Average change in major private collective bargaining agreements, 1971-81
[In percent]
Measure
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
11.6
8.1
7.3
6.4
5.8
5.1
9.8
7.3
10.2
7.8
8.4
6.4
7.8
5.8
7.6
6.4
7.4
6.0
9.5
7.1
9.8
7.9
13.1
8.8
8.5
7.4
7.1
6.1
10.7
7.8
11.4
8.1
8.5
6.6
9.6
6.2
8.3
6.3
9.0
6.6
10.4
7.1
11.3
9.2
9.2
4.3
4.2
.7
6.6
1.7
4.2
.7
7.0
3.0
2.7
1.3
9.4
4.8
2.6
1.9
8.7
2.8
3.7
2.2
8.1
3.2
3.2
1.6
8.0
3.0
3.2
1.7
8.2
2.0
3.7
2.4
9.1
3.0
3.0
3.1
9.9
3.6
3.5
2.8
9.5
2.5
3.8
3.2
Settlements
Wage-rate (contracts covering 1,000 workers
or more):
First-year adjustment........................................
Average annual change over life of contract. ..
Wage and benefit (contracts covering 5,000
workers or more):
First-year adjustment........................................
Average annual change over life of contract. . .
Effective wage-rate changes
Total effective adjustment1 ....................................
Current settlement............................................
Prior settlem ent.................................................
Cost-of-living adjustment provisions..................
1Detail may not add to totals because ot rounding.
Data include wage-and-benefit changes in major collective bargaining agreements
(those covering 1,000 workers or more) in the private nonfarm economy. Settlement data
N ote :
Digitized for
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exclude possible increases under cost-of-living adjustment provisions, except for minimum increases guaranteed in the contract.
Table 3. Wage change in major State and local collective
bargaining agreements, 1980-81
[In percent]
Measure
1980
1981
7.5
7.3
7.4
7.8
7.8
7.4
7.1
7.3
6.5
3.1
3.0
.4
8.7
3.3
4.5
.9
Settlements
First-year adjustment
Wage rates .....................................................
Wage and ben efit............................................
Average annual change over life of contract:
Wage rates .....................................................
Wages and benefits ........................................
Effective wage-rate changes
Total effective adjustment......................................
Current settlement ..........................................
Prior settlement ...............................................
Cost-of-living adjustment provision..................
ation is the concentration of construction settlements in
the spring, when economic activity was considerably
more robust than in subsequent months. Another is
that major bargaining situations are concentrated in
heavy and commercial construction, which generally has
not shared in the slump experienced by the less orga
nized residential segment of the industry.
Collective bargaining data for State and local govern
ment workers show the influence of past wage decisions.
When prorated over the approximately 1 million work
ers in large bargaining units, the average effective wage
adjustment was 8.7 percent in 1981, compared with 6.5
percent the previous year. (See table 3.) However, the
major factor in the higher 1981 adjustment was the
larger component of the total adjustment attributable to
settlements negotiated in prior years. For settlements
reached in 1981, the data are more consistent with what
might be expected in light of the fiscal pressures on
public officials to limit pay adjustments. On balance,
1981 settlements provided smaller adjustments than
those negotiated in the previous year.
Although overall, both private industry and State and
local government settlements were relatively large in
1981, there were wage-and-benefit concessions by work
ers in several key industries experiencing economic dif
ficulties. Wage or benefit concession, or both, were ne
gotiated for 95,000 workers in the automobile, airlines,
and meatpacking industries. About 67,000 other work
ers were covered by agreements negotiated in 1981 that
provided for no wage change in the first contract year.
Similarly, a settlement for city workers in Detroit pro
vided for a compensation freeze.
Outlook for 1982
Nearly all of the economic conditions affecting wage
developments in 1981, such as declines in aggregate
output, high levels of unemployment, and the moderat
ing rate of inflation, persisted in the first few months of
1982. If they persist through most of the year, they may
temper pressure for wage gains.
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Historically, when economic declines have leveled off
and economic activity has picked up, some factors influ
encing wage changes in recessions have operated in re
verse. Additions to the workweek, more overtime, and
rehiring in the durable goods and construction indus
tries have tended to push up average earnings at a brisk
pace. If the pattern of prior recoveries is repeated, out
put would go up faster than employment and hours, re
sulting in an increase in productivity, and a modest rise
in unit labor cost.
Negotiations in several key industries highlight this
heavy bargaining year.4 About 3.6 million workers are
covered by major agreements expiring or reopening in
1982, compared with only 2.6 million in 1981. Agree
ments have already been reached in the automobile, pe
troleum refining, meatpacking, and trucking industries;
negotiations are underway in the rubber industry; and
bargaining is scheduled later for the electrical machin
ery and equipment industry. These six industries cover
1.2 million workers, and another 500,000 construction
workers are covered by agreements which are expiring
or reopening this year, mostly in the spring.
In several completed contract negotiations, the out
comes appear to have been influenced by economic
problems facing individual industries. These problems
included substantial excess capacity and falling oil
prices for petroleum refiners; severe competitive pres
sures on carriers in the wake of deregulation of inter
state trucking; long-term technological changes in the
meatpacking industry and declining profitability which
forced the closing of many less efficient, obsolete plants;
and mounting losses in the automobile industry, a con
sequence of the severe slump in car sales and foreign
competition. At the time of negotiations, workers in
these industries were facing employment cutbacks.
Therefore, job security was a major issue on the bar
gaining agenda.
The key contract in petroleum refining provided for a
smaller wage increase than the union had proposed. In
trucking, the major agreement included a wage freeze;
in meatpacking, the pattern-setting agreement provided
for a number of wage-and-benefit concessions and a
moratorium on plant closings until m id-1983; the Unit
ed Automobile Workers made substantial labor cost
concessions to both Ford and General Motors in ex
change for job security guaranties. Do these settlements
portend a general moderating of pressure for wage gains
in favor of greater job security, or do they merely re
flect individual industry circumstances? This question
awaits further developments for resolution.
In addition to wage changes resulting from settle
ments in 1982, about 4.3 million workers are scheduled
to receive increases averaging 6.3 percent from contracts
negotiated in prior years. This is the highest average de
ferred increase since 1971. Additionally, cost-of-living
7
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Wages in 1981
increases are scheduled for 3.4 million workers. Al
though the amount depends on the inflation rate and
the formula used, a continuing abatement in price in
creases would dampen the size of these adjustments.5
In the public sector, budgetary constraints at all lev
els can be expected to hold down wage gains. President
Reagan’s 1983 budget submission projects a 5-percent
pay raise for Federal white- and blue-collar workers in
1982, essentially the same amount as in 1981. One ele
ment in wage developments in 1981 will not be present
in 1982: for the first time since 1973, no increase is
scheduled in the Federal minimum wage.
□
FOOTNOTES
' For a detailed description of the individual measures, see bls Mea
sures o f Compensation, Bulletin 1941 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1977).
2Movements in this measure are discussed in Beth Levin, “The Em
ployment Cost Index: recent trends and expansion,” p. 9, this issue.
3For a more detailed review of collective bargaining in 1982, see
Mary Anne Andrews and David Schlein, “Bargaining Calendar will
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be heavy in 1982,” Monthly Labor Review, December 1981, pp. 21-31.
4
For more details, see Joan Borum, “Negotiated Changes in Wages
and Benefits in Major Collective Bargaining Agreements, in 1981,”
Current Wage Developments, April 1982.
’ Wage increases and cola ’s scheduled in 1982 are analyzed in
Douglas R. LeRoy, “Scheduled wage increases and cost-of-living pro
visions in 1982,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1982, pp. 16-20.
The ‘mandatory’ agenda
In brief, there are today many ‘m andatory’ subjects of bargaining
with which the employer must deal in good faith. Such subjects in
clude wages, hours of employment, health insurance, pensions, safety
practices, the grievance procedure, procedures for discharge, layoff, re
call and discipline, seniority, and subcontracting. Managers are not
required to make concessions or agree to union proposals on any of
these (or various other) subjects. They are obligated, however, to meet
with the union at reasonable times and with the good-faith intention
of reaching an agreement. On ‘nonmandatory’ or ‘voluntary’ subjects
— those that are lawful but not easily related to ‘wages, hours and
other conditions of employment’— employers are not so obligated and
are free to refuse to bargain about them.
— A rthur A. Sloane and F red Witney
Labor Relations, 4th ed.
(Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall,
Inc., 1981), p. 105.
The Employment Cost Index:
recent trends and expansion
The 9.8-percent rise in compensation in 1981
matched the year-earlier level;
coverage was extended to employees
o f State and local governments and
index numbers for wages and compensation
were published for the first time
Beth Levin
After nearly a decade of developmental work, the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index (eci)
today tracks labor cost trends for nearly 88 million
workers in the civilian nonfarm economy. There were
two noteworthy expansions of the series in 1981— the
inclusion of State and local government workers and
the introduction of index numbers.
Last year, increases in the Employment Cost Index
for private nonfarm workers were nearly the same as in
1980. (See tables 1 and 2.) The compensation index was
up 9.8 percent in both years, while the wage and salary
index increase of 8.8 percent in 1981 was slightly below
the 9.0-percent increase in 1980. In contrast, the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers rose 12.5 percent in 1980 compared
with 8.7 percent in 1981. Consequently, real wages in
creased slightly in 1981, while they fell in 1980. The last
year prior to 1981 in which real wages increased was
1977.
All of the ECI compensation series published set re
cord high increases in the first quarter of 1981.1Howev
er, in the remaining quarters of the year, compensation
gains were generally below the pace set in the same pe
riods in 1980. Legislated increases in the minimum
wage and in the social security tax rate and earnings
Beth Levin is an economist in the Division of Employment Cost
Trends, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ceiling pushed up the March gains. The social security
changes accounted for 0.5 percentage point of the
3.6-percent rise in compensation for all private nonfarm
workers during the first quarter.
Changes in social security and other legally required
benefits often cause the first quarter compensation ad
vance to be the largest of the year. However, in 1981
both the social security tax rate and earnings ceiling in
creases were higher than usual:
Tax rate
Year
1978 ................
1979 ................
1980 ................
1 9 8 1 ................
1982 ................
Level
(in percent)
6.05
6.13
6.13
6.65
6.70
Earnings ceiling
Percent
increase
3.4
1.3
—
8.5
.8
Level
Percent
increase
$17,700
$22,900
$25,900
$29,700
$32,400
7.3
29.4
13.1
14.7
9.1
While the overall wage and salary changes in 1981
were similar to those in 1980, the underlying patterns
were quite different. Union and blue-collar workers’ ad
vances declined in 1981 relative to 1980, while whitecollar and nonunion workers’ accelerated over the same
period.
One factor in the moderation of gains in the union
sector was the relatively light bargaining year for major
collective bargaining contracts (those covering 1,000
workers or more) in 1981. In addition, economic condi
tions led to wage concessions by unionized workers in
9
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • The Employment Cost Index
the meatpacking, rubber, and automobile industries in
manufacturing, and in airlines and the railroad and
trucking industries in nonmanufacturing.2
Union workers’ pay increases dropped from 10.9 per
cent in 1980 to 9.6 percent in 1981. Within the manu
facturing sector, union wage gains fell to 8.9 percent in
1981 from 11.0 percent in 1980, and in nonmanufactur
ing, they declined from 10.8 percent in 1980 to 10.2
percent in 1981. (See table 3.)
The rate of compensation increase for blue-collar
workers, which decelerated from 10.1 percent in 1980 to
9.6 percent in 1981, reflected the highly unionized com
position of these occupations. Wage gains for blue-col
lar workers slowed even more than compensation gains,
dropping from 9.6 percent in 1980 to 8.6 percent in
1981. This decline in overall blue-collar wage advances
was noted in all series.
Manufacturing workers did not post the dampened
compensation gains that blue-collar workers did. Their
rate of compensation change was identical in 1980 and
1981, at 9.8 percent. However, the pace of manufactur
ing wage increases did decline noticeably in 1981 (8.7
percent) relative to 1980 (9.4 percent). The first quar
ter’s movement accounts for the difference between the
compensation and wage and salary gains over the year.
While there was a record 3.5-percent jump in compen
sation, the gain in wages and salaries was a moderate
2.2 percent. During the same quarter a year earlier, the
increases were both 2.8 percent.
Both the durable and nondurable goods industries
showed a pattern of deceleration of pay advances over
the year which was similar to that for manufacturing as
a whole.
In contrast to the slowdown evident in highly union
ized sectors of the economy, nonunion workers and
white-collar workers posted greater gains during 1981
than in 1980. Wages for nonunion workers rose 8.5 per
cent in 1981 compared with 8.0 percent the prior year.
White-collar workers posted 9.1-percent wage gains in
1981, up from 8.7 percent in 1980. Similarly, white-col
lar compensation increases were higher in 1981 (10.1
percent) than in 1980 (9.5 percent).
Many of the year-to-year differences occurred because
of record increases in first-quarter 1981. In that quarter,
nonunion wage gains were 3.3 percent, up from 2.5 per
cent in 1980. White-collar workers received increases of
3.1 percent compared with 2.4 percent in first-quarter
1980. Within the white-collar group, catch-up increases
Table 1. Employment Cost Index for compensation (wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee benefits), civilian
nonfarm workers,1 by occupation and industry group, December 1979-81
[Not seasonally adjusted]
Indexes (June 1981 = 100)
1979
Percent changes for
1980
1981
Series
Dec.
Civilian nonfarm workers' ......................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers ......................................
Blue-collar workers ........................................
Service workers ............................................
Workers, by industry division:
Manufacturing.................................................
Nonmanufacturing..........................................
Services .....................................................
Public administration2 .................................
Private nonfarm workers3 .................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers .................................
Blue-collar workers ....................................
Service workers..........................................
Workers, by industry division:
Manufacturing ............................................
Nonmanufacturing ......................................
State and local government workers ...............
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers .................................
Blue-collar workers ....................................
Workers, by industry division:
Services .....................................................
Schools...................................................
Elementary and secondary ................
Hospitals and other services4 ...............
Public administration2 .................................
March
Sept.
Dec.
March
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
86.3
88.6
90.7
92.8
94.7
86.3
86.2
86.2
88.7
88.3
89.9
90.8
90.5
90.8
92.6
93.0
92.7
86.3
86.3
88.7
88.6
90.5
90.8
—
_
—
—
—
—
—
—
_
June
Sept.
Dec.
100.0
102.6
104.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.7
102.3
102.8
104.9
104.1
104.2
Dec.
1980
3
months
ended
12
months
ended
Dec. 1981
1.9
_
—
—
2.1
1.8
1.4
_
_
_
_
_
_
—
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.1
102.8
104.4
104.3
104.0
104.8
107.1
106.0
—
—
—
-
1.9
1.9
2.6
1.6
98.1
100.0
102.0
104.0
9.8
2.0
9.8
94.5
94.9
94.3
98.3
97.8
99.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.8
102.2
101.9
104.0
104.0
103.1
9.5
10.1
9.4
2.2
1.8
1.2
10.1
9.6
9.3
92.6
92.9
94.7
94.7
98.0
98.2
100.0
100.0
102.1
102.0
104.0
103.9
9.8
9.8
1.9
1.9
9.8
9.7
_
_
_
_
100.0
105.3
107.4
_
2.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1Excludes private household and Federal workers.
2 Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
3 Excludes private household workers.
Digitized10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June
12
months
ended
100.0
100.0
105.7
104.2
107.8
105.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.8
106.0
106.3
105.0
104.3
107.9
107.9
108.3
107.8
106.0
4 Includes, for example, library, social, and health services.
N ote : Dashes indicate data not available.
—
_
—
—
—
—
—
2.0
1.6
2.0
1.8
1.9
2.7
1.6
-
_
_
—
—
—
_
—
Table 2. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries of civilian nonfarm workers,1 by occupation and industry group,
December 1979-81
[Not seasonally adjusted]
Percent changes for
Indexes (June 1981 = 100)
1981
1980
1979
12
months
ended
Series
Dec.
Civilian nonfarm workers1 ......................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers ......................................
Blue-collar workers ........................................
Service workers ............................................
Workers, by industry division:
Manufacturing.................................................
Nonmanufacturing..........................................
Services .....................................................
Public administration2 .................................
Private nonfarm workers3 ......................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers ......................................
Professional and technical w o rk e rs ...........
Managers and administrators ....................
Sales w o rkers.............................................
Clerical workers..........................................
Blue-collar workers ........................................
Craft and kindred workers ........................
Operatives, except transport......................
Transport equipment operatives ...............
Nonfarm laborers........................................
Service workers ............................................
Workers, by industry division:
Manufacturing.................................................
Durables.....................................................
Nondurables ...............................................
Nonmanufacturing..........................................
Construction ...............................................
Transportation and public utilities .............
Wholesale and retail trade ........................
Wholesale tra d e ......................................
Retail trade ............................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ...........
Services .....................................................
State and local government workers ................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers .................................
Blue-collar workers ....................................
Workers, by industry division:
Services .....................................................
Schools...................................................
Elementary and secondary ...............
Hospitals and other services4 ...............
Public administration2 .................................
March
June
Sept.
March
12
months
ended
June
Sept.
Dec.
Dec.
1980
100.0
102.5
104.4
_
1.9
_
Dec. 1981
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.6
102.4
102.5
104.7
104.0
103.6
—
—
—
2.0
1.6
1.1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.1
102.7
104.4
103.8
104.0
104.5
106.6
105.5
—
—
—
—
1.9
1.8
2.1
1.6
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
87.5
89.6
91.5
93.5
95.4
98.0
100.0
102.0
103.8
9.0
1.8
8.8
87.6
86.3
88.3
88.9
87.7
87.4
87.8
86.6
88.1
87.4
87.7
89.7
89.2
90.6
88.5
90.3
89.3
89.3
89.4
89.1
89.6
90.8
91.4
90.8
92.0
90.7
91.9
91.6
91.4
91.5
92.2
91.8
91.9
93.3
93.2
93.5
92.2
93.8
93.8
94.0
93.6
93.5
93.9
93.4
95.2
95.3
94.7
94.8
95.7
95.7
96.1
95.5
95.3
95.7
94.8
98.1
98.2
98.6
96.2
98.6
97.7
97.8
97.8
96.8
97.5
99.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.8
103.3
101.6
98.0
102.7
102.3
102.9
102.1
101.0
101.5
101.8
103.9
105.5
102.8
101.9
104.2
103.9
104.3
104.1
102.7
103.3
102.7
8.7
10.5
7.2
6.7
9.1
9.6
9.4
10.2
8.2
9.5
8.1
2.1
2.1
1.2
4.0
1.5
1.6
1.4
2.0
1.7
1.8
.9
9.1
10.7
8.6
7.5
8.9
8.6
8.5
9.0
7.8
7.9
8.3
87.5
87.1
88.1
87.5
88.2
86.0
88.2
87.2
88.6
86.7
88.0
89.9
89.3
91.0
89.5
89.3
88.2
90.5
89.7
90.8
87.1
90.5
91.8
91.2
92.7
91.3
91.9
90.2
92.2
92.1
92.2
89.4
91.9
93.6
93.5
93.8
93.4
94.5
93.1
93.6
93.0
93.8
91.2
94.2
95.7
95.7
95.7
95.2
95.9
95.6
95.1
95.9
94.8
93.1
95.7
97.9
97.9
97.8
98.1
97.6
97.7
98.2
98.5
98.1
95.7
99.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.1
102.1
102.0
102.0
103.0
102.0
101.3
102.0
101.0
98.3
103.6
104.0
104.5
103.1
103.8
104.3
103.6
102.3
103.4
101.9
102.3
105.8
9.4
9.8
8.6
8.8
8.8
11.1
7.8
10.0
7.0
7.4
8.7
1.9
2.4
1.1
1.8
1.3
1.6
1.0
1.4
.9
4.1
2.1
8.7
9.2
7.7
9.0
8.8
8.4
7.6
7.8
7.5
9.9
10.6
—
—
100.0
105.0
107.0
-
1.9
—
—
—
—
-
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
100.0
100.0
105.4
103.9
107.5
105.5
—
—
2.0
1.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.5
105.7
106.0
104.6
103.3
107.6
107.7
107.9
107.3
105.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2.0
1.9
1.8
2.6
1.6
1Excludes private household and Federal workers.
2 Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
3 Excludes private household workers.
—
—
4lncludes, for example, library, social, and health services.
N ote : Dashes indicate data not available.
for managers and administrators in the first quarter, as
well as the effect of an 8.1-percent rise in the minimum
wage on sales and clerical workers, boosted the overall
annual wage increase. While service workers also posted
record gains for the first quarter, they showed little dif
ference in gains over the entire year relative to 1980.
In nonmanufacturing, both compensation and wage
advances were similar to those experienced in 1980.
Compensation was up 9.7 percent in 1981 versus 9.8
percent in 1980, and the comparable wage increases
were 9.0 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. The com
ponent industries of nonmanufacturing, however,
showed a variety of wage change patterns between the 2
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Dec.
3
months
ended
years. Construction posted the same increase (8.8 per
cent) in both years, while finance, insurance, and real
estate, and services— sectors with a high concentration
of white-collar employees— showed a large acceleration
of wage gains in 1981. Transportation and public utili
ties, and wholesale trade recorded sharp declines in the
rate of increase from 1980 to 1981.
State and local governments
Compensation of State and local government workers
rose 5.3 percent in its September introductory quarter,
compared with a 2.0 percent rise for private nonfarm
workers. The difference between the two series was also
11
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • The Employment Cost Index
The Employment Cost Index: a chronology
Development of a measure of change in total com
pensation (wages and benefit costs) began during the
early 1970’s when concerns about labor cost escala
tion became particularly acute. At that time, Federal
policymakers indicated the need for a measure of la
bor cost trends which would:
• be timely and comprehensive, covering all types of
workers and industries in the U.S. economy and
all elements of employee compensation;
• be fixed-weighted so that it would be unaffected by
employment shifts among occupations and indus
tries with different wage and compensation levels;
and
• have internally consistent subseries (for example,
by occupation or industry) to provide insights into
overall wage and compensation trends.
The Employment Cost Index was planned in
stages to satisfy these needs, beginning with the de
velopment of its conceptual and statistical framework
during 1971-74. The first publication of ECI statistics
in June 1976 presented percent changes for 21
private nonfarm wage and salary series for the quar
ters ended December 1975 and March 1976. Series
were added until trends for 35 private nonfarm wage
and salary series were available for the first quarter
of 1979. One year later, measures of changes in com
pensation (wages and salaries plus employer costs for
employee benefits) were introduced for six private
nonfarm series— total; white-collar, blue-collar, and
service workers; and manufacturing and nonmanu
facturing industries. Following the publication of the
compensation series, the Office of Management and
Budget designated the ECI as a “Principal Federal
Economic Indicator.” During the past year, the State
and local government sector was added, and indexes
were published for all series.
The Bureau publishes standard (fixed-base-periodemployment weighted) ECI indexes (June 1981 = 100)
of wages and salaries and of compensation for the ci
vilian nonfarm economy and for a number of sub
groups. In addition, special wage and salary indexes
are calculated for broad regions, union status, and
area size. The currently available ECI indexes and
their inception dates are listed below.
ECI series
Indexes of compensation
Civilian nonfarm economy (8 series): total;'white-col
lar, blue-collar, and service workers; manufacturing
and nonmanufacturing industries, plus services and
public administration. Beginning in June 1981.
Private nonfarm economy (6 series): total; white-col
lar, blue-collar, and service workers; manufacturing
and nonmanufacturing industries. December 1979.
State and local government (8 series): total; whitecollar and blue-collar workers; services, schools, ele
mentary and secondary schools, hospitals and other
services, and public administration. June 1981.
Indexes of wages and salaries
and service workers; manufacturing, durables,
nondurables, and nonmanufacturing (plus 7 subseries)
industries. September 1975. Exceptions: Durable man
ufacturing, nondurable manufacturing, and retail
trade are available from September 1976; salesworkers
from March 1977; wholesale trade from June 1977;
and finance, insurance, and real estate from December
1978.
State and local government (8 series): total; whitecollar and blue-collar workers; services, schools, ele
mentary and secondary schools, hospitals and other
services, and public administration. June 1981.
Special indexes of private nonfarm wages
Four regions of the Nation. September 1975.
Civilian nonfarm economy (8 series): total; white-col
lar, blue-collar, and service workers; manufacturing
and nonmanufacturing industries, plus services and
public administration. June 1981.
Union and nonunion workers by manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing sectors. September 1976.
Private nonfarm economy (23 series): total; white-col
lar (plus 4 subseries), blue-collar (plus 4 subseries),
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. September
1975.
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Union and nonunion workers. September 1975.
Table 3. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries of private nonfarm workers,1 by bargaining status, region, and area
size, December 1979-81
[Not seasonally adjusted]
Percent changes for
Indexes (June 1981 = 100)
1981
1980
1979
12
months
ended
Series
3
months
ended
12
months
ended
Dec.
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
Dec.
1980
Workers, by bargaining status:
U nion...................................................................
Manufacturing.................................................
Nonmanufacturing..........................................
Nonunion ............................................................
Manufacturing.................................................
Nonmanufacturing..........................................
86.4
86.6
86.2
880
88.4
87.9
88.4
88.8
88.0
90.2
91.0
89.9
90.8
91.3
90.4
91.8
92.3
91.5
93.5
93.8
93.1
93.4
93.4
93.4
95.8
96.1
95.5
95.1
95.4
95.0
97.4
97.7
97.1
98.2
97.9
98.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.7
102.6
102.8
101.6
101.7
101.6
105.0
104.7
105.2
103.2
103.3
103.2
10.9
11.0
10.8
8.0
7.9
8.1
2.2
2.0
2.3
1.6
1.6
1.6
9.6
8.9
10.2
8.5
8.3
8.6
Workers, by region:
Northeast............................................................
South...................................................................
North Central .....................................................
West ...................................................................
88.4
87.3
87.6
86.0
90.6
89.7
89.7
88.2
92.5
91.4
91.6
90.4
94.2
93.2
93.3
93.5
96.0
94.9
95.3
95.3
98.3
98.0
98.1
97.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.7
101.9
101.6
103.2
104.4
102.8
103.3
105.1
8.6
8.8
8.8
10.8
2.7
.9
1.7
1.8
8.8
8.3
8.4
10.3
Workers, by area size:
Metropolitan areas ............................................
Other areas ........................................................
87.6
87.0
89.4
90.1
91.4
91.5
93.5
92.9
95.4
95.1
97.9
98.3
100.0
100.0
102.1
101.8
104.0
103.1
9.0
9.4
1.9
1.3
9.0
8.4
Dec. 1981
1Excludes private household workers.
N ote : The indexes for these series are not strictly comparable to those for the aggregate, occupational, and industry series. See G. Donald Wood, Jr., ‘‘Estimation procedures for the Employment
Cost Index,” pp. 40, in this issue.
dramatic for wages and salaries— 5.0 percent compared
with 2.0 percent. These differences can be explained by
a concentration of wage and compensation changes for
State and local government workers in the third quarter
that does not occur in the private nonfarm sector.
One group that tends to receive annual increases dur
ing the September quarter is teachers. This is demon
strated by pay and compensation changes in schools,
which rose 5.7 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively.
Workers in elementary and secondary schools posted
even larger gains in compensation (6.3 percent) and
wages (6.0 percent).
The impact that teachers have in these gains is clear
from the proportion of workers they represent within
these industries. At the State and local level, they ac
count for about one-fifth of total census employment.
They make up roughly half of all workers in schools
and about 60 percent of all workers in elementary and
secondary schools.
Another concentration of pay and compensation in
creases in the third quarter is due to the timing of State
and local jurisdictions’ fiscal years. Many governments
begin their fiscal year during the third quarter, and
these jurisdictions frequently link compensation changes
to the start of the fiscal year.
While these types of gains were not as large or as
widespread as those for teachers, they were clearly
greater than those in the private sector. For example,
blue-collar State and local government workers posted
an average compensation change of 4.2 percent, com
pared with only 2.2 percent for private nonfarm bluecollar workers.
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The collection of wage and benefit data from estab
lishments in State and local government is a major im
provement of the ECl program. The addition of 13.3
million State and local government workers to the 74.5
million surveyed in the private nonfarm sector brings
ECI coverage to nearly 88 million workers.3 The ECI is
the only source of quarterly measures of compensation
change for all State and local government workers.
Initial data collection for the government units, be
gun in June 1980, was completed in January 1981;
quarterly collection began in March 1981. The series
was calculated and reviewed on a test basis for the
March and June quarters. After all aspects had been
assessed, the first percent changes, relating to the third
quarter, were published. Statistics on civilian nonfarm
workers (excluding Federal employees), which combine
private nonfarm and State and local government data,4
were also released at that time.
The method for measuring base-period cost and cal
culating quarterly change for establishments in State
and local government is the same as that used for estab
lishments in the private nonfarm sector. State and local
government data are taken from 750 sample establish
ments. Data are collected for about five narrowly de
fined occupations in each sampled establishment. This
results in a total of about 3,700 establishmentoccupation observations. The specific jobs for which
data are collected in each establishment are selected by
the BLS representative who visits the establishment. The
selection is based upon probability sampling and uses
the establishment’s job titles and employment. As in
the private nonfarm sector, occupations are classified
13
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • The Employment Cost Index
based on categories used in the 1970 census, while each
government unit is designated in an industry according
to a 1972 Standard Industrial Classification defined by
the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Index numbers
The private nonfarm wage and salary index (June
1981 = 100) went from 64.0 in September 1975 to 103.8
in December 1981, an increase of 62.2 percent.5 Most
industry and occupation wage gains were closely clus
tered around the aggregate— white-collar workers, 59.4
percent; blue-collar workers, 66.2 percent; service work
ers, 61.7 percent; manufacturing workers, 65.3 percent;
and nonmanufacturing workers, 60.7 percent.
The ECl industry and occupation indexes are standard
Laspeyres indexes, similar to the Consumer Price Index
in concept and form. The CPI compares what it would
cost to purchase a fixed set of consumption items at
current prices to what it would cost to purchase the
same set of items at prices that existed in the reference
period. The ECl compares what it would cost employers
at current wages (or compensation costs) to hire a fixed
set of labor inputs (employment in specific occupations
in specific industries) to what it would have cost to hire
the same set of labor inputs at reference-period wage or
compensation levels.
Special wage and salary indexes are calculated for
broad regions, and by union status and area size. The
formula for these indexes cannot be expressed in a stan
dard Laspeyres index number form, but they are a form
of chain index. That is, each quarter the change in
wages is estimated using a fixed set of employment
weights based on that quarter’s sample. The index is de
veloped by taking the product of the quarterly relatives.
Further explanation of ECl index techniques is given in
the technical note on page 40 of this issue.
p r o g r e s s h a s b e e n m a d e toward making the
the type of labor cost trend indicator it was
designed to be. It is a comprehensive, fixed-weight mea
sure with internally consistent subseries. Benefit costs in
addition to wages are included, and worker coverage
has been expanded to State and local governments. The
introduction of standard Laspeyres indexes in Decem
ber 1981 guarantees the fixed-weight nature of the in
dustry and occupation subseries. In addition, the special
indexes by bargaining status, region, and area size,
while not fixed-base-period weighted, aid in analyzing
wage and salary trends.
Long range objectives include introduction of addi
tional compensation series, publication of benefit cost
changes, and coverage of the Federal civilian work force.
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*
M uch
ECl
FOOTNOTES
1Data are collected for the pay period including the 12th day of the
last month of each quarter— March, June, September, and December.
2For further information on collective bargaining in 1981, see
George Ruben, “Organized labor in 1981: a shifting of priorities,”
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , January 1982, pp. 21-28.
3In the base year of 1970, there were 9.8 million State and local
government workers and 58.3 million private nonfarm workers.
4 All eci series exclude farm and private household workers.
5Percent changes for any period can be calculated by dividing the
>
more recent quarter’s index by the earlier index, subtracting 1 from
the result, and then multiplying by 100. For example, the steps in the
calculation of percent change for the private nonfarm compensation
series from December 1980 to December 1981 are as follows:
D December 1981 index — 104.0 _ ^
December 1980 index = 94.7
2) 1.098 - 1 = .098
3) .098 X 100 = 9.8 percent
■
'
Time rates tighten their grip
on manufacturing industries
Incentive pay plans continued to drop
in popularity in 37 industries comparing incidence
for the 1973-80 period with that for 1961-68;
but alternative methods of motivating workers
drew more attention from labor and management
N
orma
W.
Ca rlso n
Despite mounting concern in recent years over limited
productivity gains in the Nation’s manufacturing indus
tries, interest in incentive pay systems seems to be de
clining as a way to stimulate worker output. A review
of wage payment plans in manufacturing industries
found that time rates continue to cover the great major
ity of production and related workers rather than losing
their grip; time-rated systems are actually strengthening
their hold in U.S. factories.
Emphasis on machine-paced manufacturing opera
tions is a major reason for the limited incidence of
incentive plans. As in earlier years, incentives tend to be
concentrated in the restricted group of industries where
workers can exert substantial influence on the rate of
output. However, the widespread application of time
rates does not mean that the impact of workers on pro
duction is being ignored. Various innovative programs,
many independent of compensation systems, have
emerged to address the issue of worker motivation.
This article examines recent trends in incentive and
time-rated payments in manufacturing. It also explores
factors that have influenced the movement toward time
pay. Finally, the article highlights developments in the
quality-of-worklife movement that seeks, among other
goals, to motivate workers to higher performance on
Norma W. Carlson is a labor economist in the Office of Wages and
Industrial Relations, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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the job. Data were obtained from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ nationwide occupational wage surveys in se
lected manufacturing industries. These surveys collect
information on occupational wage rates and the inci
dence of certain establishment practices, such as meth
ods of wage payment, for about 50 manufacturing
industries. Thirty-seven were selected for this study on
the basis of available data for two 7-year periods, 1961—
68 and 1973-80. The periods were defined over several
years because the industries on the survey roster are
studied every 3 to 5 years, not annually. The sample
was also restricted to industries defined at the 4-digit
level of detail in the Standard Industrial Classification
Manual prepared by the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget. Altogether for both periods examined, the
37-industry group represents about a quarter of the pro
duction and related workers in all manufacturing.1 The
span between observations for a single industry ranged
from 10 years to 18; the average was 14 years.
Methods of wage payment
Workers are paid under a wide variety of incentive or
time-rated plans.2 Incentive plans, which establish a
close link between output and earnings, are intended to
fill a dual role, that is, to both stimulate worker effi
ciency and provide a system of employee compensation.
In contrast, time-payment plans base earnings on a
fixed hourly or weekly rate and rely heavily on supervi15
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Time Rates and Manufacturing Industries
sory skills to maintain quantity and quality of work.
Early in the Nation’s industrial era, the basic meth
ods of pay were simple piece rates and day rates. But as
the manufacturing sector grew and mechanization of
production increased, compensation plans became more
complex. The scientific management movement dating
from the early 1900’s sparked wide experimentation
with numerous incentive plans devised by Frederick W.
Taylor and his colleagues. Some of these plans are still
in use today, such as the Halsey, Rowan, and Bedaux
systems, but many have been modified.3 In the 1930’s,
measured daywork plans were introduced in factories
with time-payment systems, incorporating a measure of
control of worker performance through production
standards.4 Today, an assortment of incentive and time
rated plans offers features which are adaptable to the
varying situations found in modern industrial plants.
Incentive workers may receive either piece rates or
production bonuses. Payments under incentive systems
may be based on either individual or group perfor
mance. Time-rated wage plans include both formal and
informal arrangements. The former provide single rates
or ranges of rates for specific job categories. Pay rates
under informal plans are determined primarily by the
qualifications of the individual worker (table 1).
Bureau studies since World War II document both
the dominance of time-based plans and the gradual
drop in the proportion of factory workers paid under
incentive systems. A summary prepared in 1947 indicat
ed that for 56 manufacturing industries, 30 percent of
Table 1. Method of wage payment in manufacturing, by number of production and related workers covered and by type of
plan, 1973-801
[In percent]
Industry and survey date
Meatpacking, 5/79 .....................................................
Prepared meat, 5/79 .................................................
Flour and other grain mill, 9 / 7 7 .................................
Candy and other confectionery, 8 / 7 5 ........................
Cigarettes, 5 / 7 6 ..........................................................
Cotton and manmade fiber textiles, 8/80 ..................
Wool yarn and broadwoven fabric, 8 / 8 0 ....................
Textile dyeing and finishing, 6 / 7 6 ...............................
Women’s hosiery, 7 / 7 6 ...............................................
Hosiery, except women’s, 7 / 7 6 .................................
Incentive workers
Time-rated workers
Production
workers
(in thousands)
Total
104.3
48.8
10.6
40.3
32.8
288.5
13.1
51.5
23.8
23.9
290
296
99
89
100
70
75
90
37
39
72
59
85
33
63
66
63
65
2
1
Single
rate
Group
Individual
Individual
rates
Total
10
24
7
45
37
4
7
20
18
7
7
12
8
11
(5)
(3)
5
6
17
31
10
4
1
11
(5)
30
25
10
63
61
(5)
28
14
5
62
59
(4)
(4)
1
(5)
1
7
3
(5>
1
Range of
rates
Piecework
(3)
(4)
o
4
Bonus
3
Piecework
Bonus
2
(4)
(4)
1
(5)
(3)
2
1
5
(4)
(4)
5
(3)
1
t5)
1
2
1
(3)
(3)
Men’s and boys’ shirts,
(except work shirts) and nightwear, 5/78 .............
Men's and boys’ suits and coats, 4 / 7 9 ......................
Wood household furniture
(except upholstered), 6 /7 9 ......................................
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills, 7 /7 7 ....................
Corrugated and solid fiber boxes, 3/76 ....................
Industrial chemicals, 6/76 ..........................................
Cellulosic fibers, 8 / 7 6 .................................................
Noncellulosic fibers, 8/76 ..........................................
Paints and varnishes, 11/76 ......................................
Petroleum refining, 4/76 ............................................
85.4
61.4
22
25
2
3
5
6
14
16
78
75
77
74
1
1
1
(3)
(3)
(3)
137.2
147.9
61.9
129.9
10.8
51.9
27.6
63.3
88
97
75
99
98
98
100
99
10
90
61
62
60
67
44
88
55
8
9
35
38
31
43
11
23
(3)
5
2
(3)
(3)
12
12
3
25
1
2
2
(5)
1
3
(4)
3
3
(4)
3
4
(4)
12
(4)
(4)
(4)
(5)
(4)
2
(4)
8
(4)
(4)
(4)
(5)
(4)
<4)
(4>
(4)
<5)
(4>
(4)
(4)
(4)
(5)
(4)
Miscellaneous plastics, 9/74 ......................................
Leather tanning and finishing, 3/73 ...........................
Footwear, 4/80 ..........................................................
Glass containers, 5/80 ..............................................
Other pressed or blown glass, 5 /8 0 ...........................
Brick and structural clay tile, 9 / 8 0 .............................
Ceramic wall and floor tile, 9/75 ...............................
Clay refractories, 9/80 ..............................................
Clay sewer pipe, 9/75 ...............................................
Basic iron and steel, 2 / 7 8 ..........................................
236.4
16.7
76.2
54.5
28.4
11.7
5.2
6.3
4.3
345.0
95
255
27
88
79
280
68
80
76
20
19
30
3
69
32
41
43
59
62
12
10
15
5
44
73
12
21
18
32
20
24
80
(4)
28
71
1
3
8
10
11
9
(4)
7
2
6
8
1
7
3
1
t4)
7
(4)
1
(5)
4
4
3
7
2
9
(6)
64
15
9
19
47
23
19
19
11
(6)
(6)
(6)
Grey iron foundries, except pipe and fittings, 9/79 . . .
Grey iron foundries, pipe and fittings, 9 / 7 9 ...............
93.1
15.2
52.6
54.4
51.9
242.1
611.4
82
77
79
82
96
73
98
54
32
39
36
37
35
(6)
25
44
36
33
44
35
(6)
4
18
23
21
18
4
27
2
9
1
10
6
(4)
12
(6)
4
12
3
8
(4)
7
(6)
Nonferrous foundries, 5/75 ........................................
Fabricated structural metal, 1 1 /7 9 .............................
Motor vehicle parts, 4/74 ..........................................
Motor vehicles, 1 2 /7 3 .................................................
'Estimates of the number of production workers within the scope of the study and per
centages based upon them are intended as a general guide rather than a precise measure
of the industry’s work force and relative importance of wage payment plans in each industry.
Nearly all incentive wage plans provide for a rate guarantee to workers if production stan
dards are not met. For this tabulation, all production and related workers eligible to receive
incentive earnings have been counted as incentive-paid workers, regardless of whether they
received earnings above guarantees. Plans such as Christmas or yearend bonuses and prof
it-sharing were not considered as incentive wage plans.
Industry studies nearly always have a minimum establishment size cutoff which may vary
between studies for the same industry; establishments under the cutoff usually account for
less than one-tenth of the industry’s work force. Minimum size cutoffs varied from none for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(3)
(5)
(3)
16
6
2
3
(6)
(3)
3
13
19
2
(6)
<3)
(3)
6
6
8
5
4
(6)
(6)
3
1
4
1
(4)
4
2
9
3
3
(4)
5
(6)
(6>
cigarettes, synthetic fibers, and motor vehicles to 250 workers for basic iron and steel; the most
common minimum was 20 workers.
Excludes, “ stint workers,” those receiving a fixed daily rate for a predetermined amount of
work regardless of the time required to complete the task.
3Less than 0.5 percent.
"Information by type of plan was not tabulated for industries with less than 6 percent of the
workers paid on a time or incentive basis.
5No data reported.
information not available by type of wage payment.
N ote : Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
production and related workers were on incentive pay
plans.5 In May 1958, a survey of factory workers’ earn
ings found that 27 percent of all manufacturing produc
tion workers were paid on an incentive basis.6 Data
from the Bureau’s area wage surveys on incentive pay
coverage of plant workers in metropolitan area factories
show a drop in coverage from 26 percent in 1961-63 to
20 percent in 1968-70.7
This decline in the incidence of incentive pay systems
has coincided with lagging productivity gains in manu
facturing. A number of studies have related the lag, in
part, to worker attitudes and behavior.8 Advocates of
incentive systems have therefore argued that such ar
rangements are valuable managerial tools for improving
efficiency and boosting productivity.9
During 1973-80, the median proportion of workers
on time rates was 82 percent (chart 1), up from 75 per
cent for 1961-68.10Thirty-one of the 37 industries stud
ied paid a majority of their production workers on a
time basis. Eight industries paid time rates to at least
98 percent of their work forces. These were cigarettes,
paints and varnishes, petroleum refining, flour milling,
industrial chemicals, noncellulosic fibers, motor vehi
cles, and cellulosic fibers.
Seven of the eight industries share certain characteris
tics. Their production departments, which employ the
bulk of the work force, are equipped primarily with au
tomatic and semi-automatic machinery. Although the
equipment requires monitoring, the machine tenders
have little or no control over the pace of output. For
example, in petroleum refining, crude oil flows almost
continuously in closely interrelated refining units from
the time it is received until finished products are
shipped to customers. Even cigarettes are produced au
tomatically throughout the fabrication, packaging, and
inspection processes. Automobile production, although
it actively involves workers in the process, is primarily
paced by the speed of the assembly line.
In the remaining 23 industries emphasizing time-rated
pay, coverage ranged from 97 percent of workers to 55
percent. This variation partly reflected marked differ
ences in production processes and types of machines
used. The pulp, paper, and paperboard industry, with
97 percent of its work force paid time rates, uses me
chanical and chemical processing equipment and ma
chines that are among the largest in industry, which
workers operate and maintain. In contrast, the leather
tanning industry, with 55 percent of its production
workers on time rates, requires considerable handling of
hides and skins. Hand tools are used extensively by
such workers as tackers, about three-fourths of whom
were reported on incentives in 1973. The equipment in
the plants is largely under the control of the operator.
For example, machine buffers and embossing-press or
plating-press operators, both largely incentive jobs, are
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responsible for starting and feeding the machines.
Six industries relied chiefly, but not exclusively, on
incentive wage payment plans. Incentive coverage
ranged from 61 percent in the men’s and children’s ho
siery industry to 80 percent in basic iron and steel. The
other four industries stressing incentive systems were
women’s hosiery, leather footwear, men’s and boys’
suits and coats, and men’s and boys’ shirts. The
workplaces in these factories, with the exception of ba
sic iron and steel, are equipped with machines that are
largely under the control of the operators. In men’s ap
parel (suits and coats, and shirts), for example, sewing
machine operators, who account for nearly half of the
work force, can exercise considerable discretion over the
pace of their work. Moreover, their output is iden
tifiable and measurable. Individual piece rate plans are
the leading pay method in the men’s apparel, hosiery,
and footwear industries, covering between 60 percent
and 75 percent of workers. The occupations that are
paid hourly rates include those in maintenance and cus
todial departments.
Basic iron and steel is unique in that it is highly
mechanized but pays incentive rates to 80 percent of its
workers. The inclusion of maintenance and service
workers, who are typically paid time rates in other in
dustries, accounts for this large proportion. To facilitate
the inclusion of these workers, the industry divided the
occupations into three categories, direct, indirect, and
secondary indirect, depending upon whether the job is
part of an actual production department or involves as
signments that support the direct workers. For example,
furnace operators are direct workers, and maintenance
millwrights assigned to specific production departments
are indirect. Other maintenance workers and general la
borers who are not assigned by department are second
ary indirect. Guidelines in the industry’s major
collective bargaining agreements provide for incentive
earnings opportunities that range from 35 percent above
“incentive calculation rates” 11 for direct incentive jobs,
to 23 percent above for indirect incentive jobs, to 12
percent above for secondary indirect incentive jobs.
Recent trends
In 26 of the 37 industries studied, worker coverage
under time-rated systems for 1973-80 increased over
that for 1961-68. The increase ranged from as little as 1
percentage point to as much as 26 points (table 2). All
but 3 of the 26 industries had already extended time
pay to more than half of their production workers dur
ing 1961-68. In one of the exceptions, women’s hosiery,
coverage under time rates rose from 25 percent to 37.
In another, men’s and children’s hosiery, it rose from
30 percent to 39. In the third, leather tanning, coverage
increased from 48 percent to 55.
The most striking growth of time-rated pay systems
17
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Time Rates and Manufacturing Industries
Chart 1. Percent of production and related workers covered by time-rated or incentive wage plans
in selected manufacturing industries, 1973-80
Incentive wage plans
100
80
Percent
60
40
Time-rated plans
20
0
0
20
Percent
40
60
80
100
Cigarettes
Paints and varnishes
Flour m illing
Petroleum refining
Industrial chemicals
N oncellulosic fibers
M otor vehicles
Cellulosic fibers
Pulp, paper, and paperboard
Prepared meats
Fabricated structural metal
Miscellaneous plastics
Textile dyeing and finishing
Meatpacking
Candy
Furniture
Glass containers
Nonferrous foundries
Grey iron, except pipe
Brick and structural clay tile
Clay refractories
Steel foundries
Other pressed or blown glass
Grey iron pipe
Clay sewer
Corrugated boxes
Wool yarn and fabric
M otor vehicle parts
Cotton and manmade fibers
Ceramic wall and floor tile
Leather tanning
Hosiery, except wom en’s
W omen’s hosiery
Footwear
Men’s suits and coats
Men’s shirts
Basic steel
occurred in the glass container industry, where the pro
portion of time workers rose 26 percentage points, and
the meatpacking industry, where it rose by 24. In the
glass container industry, 88 percent of production
workers were paid time rates in 1980, up from 62 per
cent in 1964. The expanded coverage is mainly attribut
able to action taken in the late 1960’s to eliminate
incentive earnings for large numbers of workers. The
major producers and the two leading unions, the Glass
Bottle Blowers and the American Flint Glass Workers,
recognized that the incentive plans had become cumber
some and costly to administer. They agreed to pay time
Digitized for
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rates to maintenance and service workers and to some
direct production workers who had been on incentives,
in exchange for an across-the-board pay increase that
ensured no loss in earnings.
In meatpacking, nine-tenths of the production work
ers were paid time rates in 1979, up from two-thirds in
1963. This increase partly reflects the implementation of
time plans in new plants opened by major producers. A
comparison of the occupations in multiplant establish
ments studied in 1963 and 1979 shows a substantial de
cline in incentive coverage in the cutting, processing,
custodial, and material movement departments. Chang-
es in beef-cutting techniques, introduced by a few new
producers, also contributed to shifts in pay plan cover
age. In the new process, carcasses attached to a convey
or are divided into smaller cuts as each worker on the
line performs a limited number of cutting and trimming
operations. The cuts are vacuum sealed, boxed, and
shipped to supermarkets and butcher shops. Workers in
these “boxed beef” occupations, virtually all paid time
rates, accounted for slightly more than half the beef
cutting department employment in the 1979 meat prod
ucts survey.
Other industries reporting increases in coverage under
time systems typically experienced a shift to automatic
and semi-automatic machines. For example, the dehack
ing and setting processes in structural clay products
manufacturing, once done manually, are now performed
automatically in many plants. Many larger corrugated
box plants are now almost fully automated, thus elimi
nating numerous hand operations, such as bundling,
packing, and taping.
Only five industries reported increases in incentive
plan coverage, mostly marginal. Two of the five (men’s
and boys’ shirts and leather footwear) were predomi
nantly incentive industries in the 1960’s, with at least
seven-tenths of the workers in each earning piece rates.
Only one industry, basic iron and steel, reported a sig
nificant increase in incentive coverage, from 66 to 80
percent, between 1962 and 1979. This rise for the indus
try as a whole largely reflects the impact of develop
ments in the 1968 bargaining round between the United
Steelworkers of America and the 11 major companies in
the industry. The union reportedly was seeking
incentive pay for all workers. Producers hoped to limit
the extent of incentive coverage. The impasse led to ar
bitration. The panel ruled that each of the 11 companies
was to extend incentive coverage to at least 85 percent
of its production and maintenance employees on a
companywide basis, and not less than 65 percent in
each plant.
The remaining six industries recorded no change in
proportional coverage under the two basic methods of
wage payment. Among them are highly automated in
dustries, flour milling, cigarettes, petroleum refining,
and the traditionally incentive suits and coats industry.
Nonferrous foundries and motor vehicles also reported
no change.
Method linked to multiple factors
The choice between time rates and incentive pay de
pends on such factors as technological and economic
environments, managerial preferences, and union philos
ophies.
Machine-paced production. Highly automated industries
virtually rule out incentive wage systems because work
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Table 2. Percentage of production and related workers
covered by time-rated wage payment plans in selected
manufacturing industries, 1961^58 and 1973-80
Industry
Percentage of
time-rated
workers
Percentage
point
change
1961-68
1973-80
Glass containers.................................................
Meatpacking.......................................................
Other pressed or blown glass ...........................
Celluloslc fibers .................................................
Candy and other confectionery products...........
Brick and structural clay t ile ...............................
Women’s hosiery ...............................................
Corrugated and solid fiber boxes ......................
Ceramic wall and floor t ile .................................
Hosiery, except women's...................................
62
66
64
84
75
68
25
64
58
30
88
90
79
98
89
80
37
75
68
39
+26
+24
+ 15
+ 14
+ 14
+ 12
+ 12
+ 11
+ 10
+9
Miscellaneous plastics products........................
Wood household furniture, except upholstered .
Pulp, paper and paperboard m ills ......................
Grey iron except pipe and fittin g s......................
Leather tanning and finishing .............................
Industrial chemicals............................................
Prepared meat products ....................................
Fabricated structural metal ...............................
Clay refractories.................................................
Steel foundries...................................................
87
80
90
75
48
95
92
92
76
75
95
88
97
82
55
99
96
96
80
79
+8
+8
+7
+7
+7
+4
+4
+4
+4
+4
Motor vehicle p a rts ............................................
Paints and varnishes........... ...............................
Grey iron pipe and fittings .................................
Wool yarn and broadwoven fabric ....................
Cotton and manmade fiber te xtile s....................
Textile dyeing and finishing ...............................
Cigarettes ..........................................................
Flour and other grain mill products....................
Petroleum refining..............................................
Motor vehicles ...................................................
69
98
75
73
68
89
100
99
99
98
73
100
77
75
70
90
100
99
99
98
+4
+2
+2
+2
+2
+1
0
0
0
0
Nonferrous foundries..........................................
Men’s and boys’ suits and coats ......................
Noncellulosic fib e rs ............................................
Clay sewer pipe .................................................
Men’s and boys’ shirts........................................
Leather footwear ...............................................
Basic Iron and s te e l............................................
82
25
99
77
23
30
33
82
25
98
76
22
27
20
0
0
-1
-1
-1
-3
-13
ers have little or no control over the pace of production
or the volume of output. Conversely, incentive pay is
widespread in industries where workers can exercise
such control.
To illustrate, the amount of fixed assets per worker
was compared with the incidence of time-rated workers
for 35 of the 37 industries. The assumption was that the
higher levels of assets per worker reflected more ma
chine-paced operations and, therefore, would be associ
ated with higher worker coverage under time pay.12
The heavy processing industries with per-worker
assets well above the $25,000 median for the group
have higher incidences of time-rated workers. The tradi
tional incentive industries showed assets ranging be
tween $3,000 and $13,000. Again, the exception among
the heavy industries is basic iron and steel. Unlike the
extremes in this comparison, the middle group of indus
tries in terms of per-worker assets produced a mixed
pattern of pay plans and asset levels.
Among this middle group are fabricated structural
metals and nonferrous foundries, whose high propor
tions of time workers and low levels of assets are partly
attributable to certain characteristics of these industries.
19
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Time Rates and Manufacturing Industries
They are composed mostly of small to medium size job
or order shops, producing varied product lines in short
production runs. Such conditions of constant change
and nonstandardized tasks make incentive systems diffi
cult, if not infeasible, to install.
Managerial preferences. The technological and economic
environment clearly determine the feasibility of a pay
method in certain industries.13 But in others, more sub
jective factors may influence managers. Among these
are the complexities involved in designing and imple
menting incentive plans. For example, rather than un
dertake the costs and uncertainties involved in
establishing performance standards that effectively moti
vate the worker, some managers prefer to pay hourly
rates. Difficulties in making allowances for conditions
that might reduce a worker’s full production potential,
such as frequent interruption in the flow of materials or
mechanical breakdowns, also argue against incentive
plans.
The more complex the design of an incentive plan,
the more care is required in administering it. Foremen
can become preoccupied with recording nonstandard
conditions and handling questions and grievances on
rules relating to work flow and work distribution. If
only part of the production work force receives
incentive wages, a feeling of inequity can develop
among timeworkers whose jobs rank higher in terms of
education and responsibility, but not in pay. These con
ditions can, of course, generate inefficiencies in the
workplace.14
Complications that emerge during periods of rapid in
novation tend to compound these problems. Changes in
production facilities, techniques, or product assortment
require revision of performance standards if worker mo
tivation and effort is to be maintained. If standards are
not redefined to fit changing conditions, incentive plans
may become “demoralized.” 15 This term implies high
levels of earnings for low levels of effort. Eventually,
such conditions can affect a plant’s competitive posi
tion.
Union preferences. Trade unions have not maintained a
consistent position on methods of wage payment.16
Union preferences have been influenced by an industry’s
technological and economic environment and by their
goal of rewarding workers equally for the same kind of
work.
In those industries where incentive plans could be
reconciled with this goal, unions have adapted to
incentives. The majority of these industries are charac
terized by labor intensive production methods and a
highly competitive product market. In certain apparel
industries, for example, unions historically have negoti
ated the schedule of piece rates, thus achieving some
Digitized for
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control over worker pay.
Unions have been able to harmonize their goal with
the use of incentives, even in highly mechanized indus
tries such as basic iron and steel. Underlying the
incentive system in basic steel is a common job and pay
system designed jointly by the Steelworkers and the
major producers. This system is based on a highly uni
form job evaluation procedure among the companies
that assigns point values to jobs on the basis of 12 fac
tors that include such major concerns as experience,
skill, responsibility, effort, and working conditions.
Other approaches to motivation
The post-World War II growth in time-rated pay sys
tems has been accompanied by concern over rising inef
ficiencies in the workplace. Questions are being raised
as to the effectiveness of methods of pay as motivators,
and attention is focusing on other means to improve ef
ficiency.17
Pay methods tap the self-interest of the worker, but
many of the other approaches are designed to help the
worker identify with the long-term interests of the en
terprise. Such identification would presumably result in
better interpersonal relationships, stronger job interest
and satisfaction, less absenteeism and waste, and lower
rates of turnover, all of which would lead to productivi
ty improvements.18
Productivity enhancement, however, is not the sole
objective of these approaches, known generally as quality-of-worklife improvement programs. This umbrella
term covers a diversity of ventures, a number of which
are still both experimental and controversial. In some
instances, allegedly, the programs have been introduced
to circumvent union representation. In other instances,
they have had joint union-management sponsorship.19
Some quality-of-worklife programs explicitly link fi
nancial reward to program results. Other approaches
stress such motivators as the worker’s need for personal
fulfillment on the job, recognition, and involvement in
corporate decisionmaking.
Among the quality-of-worklife approaches that are
compensation related are Scanlon plans. Initiated by the
late Joseph Scanlon in the 1930’s, they are designed to
motivate all employees to improve production methods
and to suggest ways to cut costs. One of the important
elements of Scanlon plans is a system of joint shopfloor
and plantwide review committees that meet regularly to
discuss and evaluate worker suggestions for work im
provement. Another unique feature is a plantwide
incentive arrangement based on measuring productivity
changes and a formula for distributing savings in the
form of monthly bonuses.20
Other efforts link rewards to the overall profitability
of the firm, such as profit-sharing and stock plans. Prof
it-sharing cash plans usually distribute a part of profits
to employees annually. Under deferred versions, the em
ployer makes payments to a trust for the benefit of the
employee, who usually receives final distribution at re
tirement.21 Stock plans traditionally permitted employ
ees to buy company stock, often at a discount, through
payroll deductions over a year. The stock purchased
was distributed shortly after the closing date specified.
However, under current employee stock ownership
plans, delivery is deferred until the employee leaves the
plan or retires. Because of special tax benefits enacted in
1975, the number of such plans has grown from about
200 in 1975 to nearly 5,000 plans in 1980.22
Not all programs that seek to promote worker sup
port of collective goals of the firm are directly linked to
compensation. Some draw upon the expertise and cre
ativity of the work force to help redesign and reorganize
production operations, thereby involving workers in
decisionmaking. Although not always a primary objec
tive, productivity improvement has been reported as a
result of some of these efforts.23 Interest in worker par
ticipation in decisionmaking has grown since the early
1970’s, even though the concept was discussed much
earlier. The basic framework for worker participation is
the labor-management committee, which functions as an
advisory body to management on a wide assortment of
workplace issues. These issues range over topics such as
absenteeism, safety, waste reduction, reorganization of
the shopfloor, forecasting manpower requirements, and
training programs. Such committees can now be found
in a wide variety of industries, including basic steel and
auto manufacturing.24 Generally, committees in orga
nized plants are separate from the collective bargaining
framework. In the case of the United Auto WorkersGeneral Motors approach, the members of the local
union shop committee serve on the quality-of-worklife
committee.25
Another type of advisory group, Quality Circles, has
recently gained prominence. Unlike labor-management
committees, these bodies are composed solely of em
ployees. They meet voluntarily on company time to de
fine workplace problems, discuss solutions, and formu
late strategies to eliminate the problems.26
1The sample is relatively small because several manufacturing in
dustries in the wage survey program were excluded either for lack of
nationwide statistics or historical data. These include women’s and
misses’ dresses, drug manufacturing, nonelectrical machinery, semi
conductors, electrical transmission and distribution equipment,
millwork, upholstered furniture, and shipbuilding and repairing. Be
cause of the limited number of industries studied, no generalizations
are drawn about methods of wage payment for all manufacturing.
2This analysis is limited to production and related workers in man
ufacturing. Thus, commission plans for sales workers and various
piece-rate arrangements in transportation are outside the scope of this
article.
3Pinhas Shwinger, Wage Incentive Systems (New York, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 1975).
4Under measured daywork, employees receive time wages, yet man
agement establishes, and in varying degrees discloses and enforces,
production standards. Measured daywork can be used for mechanized
operations where employees are required to work at the pace of the
conveyor line or within the cycle of automatic machinery.
5Joseph M. Sherman, “Incentive pay in American industry 1945—
46,” Monthly Labor Review, November 1947, pp. 535-38. The 56 in
dustries included in the study covered about 5 million workers, or
about 40 percent of all production and related workers in manufactur
ing.
6 L. Earl Lewis, “Extent of incentive pay in manufacturing,” Month
ly Labor Review, May 1960, pp. 460-63. The estimate of incentive pay
coverage was based on a survey in May 1958 of 73 industries
employing approximately 9 million production and related workers,
or about 80 percent of all manufacturing workers.
7John Howell Cox, “Wage payment plans in metropolitan areas,”
Monthly Labor Review, July 1964, pp. 794—96, and “Time and
incentive pay practices in urban areas,” Monthly Labor Review, De
cember 1971, pp. 53-56.
8 Richard R. Nelson, “Research on Productivity Growth and Pro
ductivity Differences: Dead Ends and New Departures,” Journal of
Economic Literature, September 1981, pp. 1029-64, reviews attempts
to specify determinants of productivity at the level of the firm.
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T h e t r e n d t o w a r d PROGRAMS that enhance workers’
roles in factories will probably continue as labor and
management search for ways to make the workplace
more efficient. The movement reflects in part, changing
perceptions by workers, unions, and managers, of their
roles. There is little likelihood, however, that the rela
tive incidence of time and incentive methods of pay in
U.S. plants will change greatly from present levels, giv
en the dominance of machine-paced operations.
□
9Vincent G. Reuter, “Wage Incentives: a Valuable Productivity
Tool,” Journal o f Systems Management, October 1980, pp. 27-33,
points out how work study programs and wage incentives can in
crease productivity and reduce costs. Also see Forms o f Wage and Sal
ary Payment for High Productivity, the final reports of an International
Management Seminar sponsored by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development in 1967. The report, published in 1970,
explores the advantages and disadvantages of wage incentives.
10Integral to nearly all incentive wage plans is a rate guarantee if
the production standards are not met. For purposes of this article, all
production and related workers eligible for incentive earnings have
been counted as incentive-paid workers, regardless of whether they re
ceived above-guaranteed earnings.
" An incentive calculation rate is specified for each of the 34 job
classes that compose the common job and pay system. Straight-time
pay for incentive workers is computed by applying a percentage, usu
ally based on a group production bonus, to the incentive calculation
rate before combining with an hourly additive, which includes cost-ofliving adjustments. In each job class, the sum of the incentive calcula
tion rate and hourly additive equals the basic hourly wage rate. For
greater details, see Joseph C. Bush, “Incentive pay patterns in the
steel industry,” Monthly Labor Review, August 1974, pp. 75-77.
12Information on the gross value of fixed assets and the number of
production workers was obtained from the 1977 Census of Manufac
tures. Thirty-five, instead of 37, industries are included because the in
dustry definitions for motor vehicle parts and gray iron pipe foundries
used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics industry wage surveys differed
from those used by the Bureau of the Census.
13The treatment of managerial and union preferences drew upon
discussions in George L. Stelluto, “Report on incentive pay in manu
facturing industries,” Monthly Labor Review, July 1969, pp. 49-53;
21
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Time Rates and Manufacturing Industries
Robert B. McKersie, Carroll F. Miller, Jr., and William E.
Quarterman, “Some indicators of incentive plan prevalence,’’ Monthly
Labor Review, March 1964, pp. 271-76; and Garth L. Mangum, “A
Summary of Wage Incentive Practices in American Industry
(Nonrailroad)” in Studies Relating to Collective Bargaining Agreements
and Practices Outside the Railroad Industry, Appendix Vol. IV to the
Report of the Presidential Railroad Commission, February 1962, pp.
229-61.
14The administration of incentive plans is discussed in H. K. von
Kaas and A. J. Lindemann, Making Wage Incentives Work (New
York, American Management Association, Inc., 1971).
15 For a discussion of demoralized incentive plans, see Sumner H.
Slichter, James J. Healy, and E. Robert Livernash, The Impact o f Col
lective Bargaining on Management (Washington, D.C., Brookings In
stitution, 1960), pp. 497-503.
16 See footnote 13.
17 Frederick Herzberg, “Human roots of productivity,” Industry
Week, Part 1, September 15, 1980, pp. 55-58; Part 2, September 29,
1980, pp. 69-72; Part 3, October 13, 1980, pp. 61-64; Sara Fritz,
“New Breed of Workers,” U.S. News & World Report, September 3,
1979, pp. 35-38; and Harvey Leibenstein, Beyond Economic Man: A
New Foundation for Microeconomics (Cambridge, Harvard University
Press, 1976).
18John F. Tomer, “Worker Motivation: A Neglected Element in
Micro-Micro Theory,” Journal of Economic Issues, June 1981, pp.
351-62; Christopher Argyris, Interpersonal Competence and Organiza
tional Effectiveness (Homewood, Dorsey Press, 1962); and George
Homans, The Human Group (New York, Harcourt and Brace, 1950).
19 For a recent survey of quality-of-worklife developments, see
Phyllis A. Wallace and James W. Driscoll, “Social Issues in Collective
Bargaining,” in Jack Stieber, Robert B. McKersie, and D. Quinn
Mills, U.S. Industrial Relations 1950-1980: A Critical Assessment
(Madison, Wise., Industrial Relations Research Association, 1981),
pp. 238-54.
20J. Kenneth White, “The Scanlon Plan: Causes and Correlates of
Success,” Academy o f Management Journal, June 1979, pp. 292-312.
22
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Rucker and Improshare plans are in some respects similar to Scanlon
plans. For brief descriptions, see Productivity Sharing Programs: Can
They Contribute to Productivity Improvement? Report AFM D-81-22
(Gaithersburg, Md., U.S. General Accounting Office, 1981), pp. 7-12.
21 Gordon F. Bloom and Herbert R. Northrup, Economics of Labor
Relations, 9th ed. (Homewood, 111., Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1981), pp.
191-92.
22 G. Christian Hill, “Employee Stock Plans: An Economic CureAll Or a Dubious Benefit?,” The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 8, 1980,
pp. 1, 25.
23 See, for example, Richard D. Rosenberg and Eliezer Rosenstein,
“Participation and Productivity: An Empirical Study,” Industrial and
Labor Relations Review, April 1980, pp. 355-67; John L. Niles, “Di
agnosing and Treating the Symptoms of Low Productivity,” Supervi
sory Management, August 1979, pp. 29-34; and E. M. Dar-El and L.
F. Young, “Systems Incentives: Three Ways to Better Productivity,”
Industrial Engineering, April 1977, pp. 24-29. A systems incentive
plan differs from wage incentives in that it does not emphasize mone
tary rewards but places equal value on training, development, and
participation in productivity programs.
24 H.M. Douty, “Labor-Management Productivity Committees in
American Industry,” May 1975, prepared for the National Commis
sion on Productivity and Work Quality, Washington, D.C. See also
The Directory of Labor-Management Committees, National Center for
Productivity and Quality of Working Life (Washington, D.C., Gov
ernment Printing Office, October 1976), which lists labor-management
committees by union, geographical area, and company.
25 For more details, see Stephen B. Fuller, “How quality-of-worklife
projects work for General Motors” and Irving Bluestone, “How qual
ity-of-worklife projects work for the United Auto Workers” in Month
ly Labor Review, July 1980, pp. 37-41.
26 Frank M. Gryna, Quality Control Circles (New York, American
Management Association, 1981); and Edmund J. Metz, “Caution:
Quality Circles Ahead,” Training and Development Journal, August
1981, pp. 71-76.
White-collar pay levels linked
to corporate work force size
Larger-size firm s generally pay
high salaries for white-collar workers,
although the pay advantage varies
by occupation and skill level
M
a r t in
E. P e r s o n ic k
and
C a r l B. B a r s k y
“It may seem paradoxical that buyers of labor with the
most monopoly power generally pay the highest rates of
wage and benefit compensation.” With this provocative
thought, Professor Richard Lester in his comprehensive
1967 study invited the next generation of researchers to
explore size-of-establishment differences in employee
compensation.1 In response, researchers during the past
15 years have “rediscovered” this once-neglected field as
fertile ground for debate. While most have argued that
big employers pay employees more, others contend that
size, per se, is not a determinant of wage levels but rath
er reflects marked differences in the quality of workers
employed by large and small firms. Responding to his
own paradox, Lester suggested several reasons a large
employer might pay higher wages than other firms, in
cluding: public opinion, ability to pay, and as compen
sating differentials for the “impersonal and confining
aspects of large establishments.”
This article examines the relationship between work
force size and pay levels of white-collar employees, us
ing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics national
survey of professional, administrative, technical, and
clerical pay ( p a t c ). By using the narrowly defined occu
pational work levels of the PATC survey, this analysis
limits the distorting effects of variations in worker qual
ity on pay levels. The principal findings of the analysis
are: pay levels tend to increase with employer work
Martin E. Personick is a project director and Carl B. Barsky is an
economist in the Division of Occupational Pay and Employee Benefit
Levels, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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force size but above-average levels are associated only
with large firms; and wage premiums attributable to a
firm’s size are larger for entry level than for experienced
professional workers— an indication of competition
among small and large employers to attract and retain
skilled personnel.
Past studies of the links between work force size and
pay levels have reviewed several other possible explana
tory variables relating to establishment or worker char
acteristics, or both. The variables included here were
chosen on the basis of significance in previous analyses
and availability in the data source selected— the 1980
national PATC survey. The variables are: two measures
of work force size (number of employees in the estab
lishment and world-wide corporate employment of the
establishment’s parent company); industry division (for
example, manufacturing, trade, or services); and geo
graphic location (four Census regions). Data on union
status, missing from the PATC survey, were developed
from the BLS area wage survey program; but these in
dustry averages of unionization proved to be highly cor
related with the industry variable and thus were
excluded from the final regression analysis. Their omis
sion probably had only minimal impact on this analysis,
based on a recent study that showed relatively small
union wage differentials for white-collar employees, and
no discernible effect on the work force size variables
when the union variable was excluded.2
Controlling for variations in worker quality continues
to be an obstacle to accurate measurements of wage pre
miums attributable to work force size. For example, a
23
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • White-Collar Pay Levels
BLS researcher found that half of the apparent size pre
mium disappeared when traditional proxies for worker
quality— education and work experience— were includ
ed in an analysis of data from households sampled in
the Current Population Survey.3 Other researchers have
also pointed to unmeasured individual worker charac
teristics such as dependability, tenure, and “firm-specifi
c” training in espousing reasons for finding a positive
relationship between work force size and pay levels.4
This study limits the direct influence of education and
work experience on salary levels by grouping workers
into occupational classifications that are each narrowly
defined to represent comparable job content among es
tablishments.5 This approach departs from previous
studies where educational background and overall work
experience are important determinants of the distribu
tion of workers among occupations, and thereby influ
ence earnings. However, education and experience are
relatively uniform for workers within a specific PATC-defined occupation and, as a rule, are less influential in
explaining pay variations among individuals performing
the same or similar tasks.
Analytical techniques and data
Two basic approaches are followed in this analysis:
(1) cross-tabulation of pay levels by corporate employ
ment size group and (2) multiple regression techniques.
The first approach measures gross pay differentials be
cause it does not control for interplay among the vari
ous possible influences on pay levels. On the other
hand, multiple regression measures the net effect of each
explanatory variable, such as work force size, after
allowing for the influence of other variables in the equa
tion.
As previously mentioned, the 1980 PATC survey of
about 3,500 private sector establishments is the data
source for this analysis. Conducted annually by the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics, the survey results provide the
basis for recommendations on annual pay changes for
Federal white-collar employees. Selection of PATC sur
vey occupations and other specifications as to the cover
age of the study, such as minimum employment size of
the establishments, industrial coverage, and geographic
scope, are the responsibility of the President’s Agent
(Secretary of Labor and heads of the Office of Manage
ment and Budget and the Office of Personnel Manage
ment), under the Federal Pay Comparability Act of
1970.6 The narrowly defined occupational classifications
of the survey provide the link between private and Fed
eral Government sectors thereby permitting carrying
out of the congressional directive that “Federal pay
rates be comparable with private enterprise pay rates
for the same levels of work.’’7
The March 1980 PATC survey included 21 occupa
tions, and all but one were divided into two work levels
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or more. Each level describes duties and responsibilities
in private industry that are comparable with those of
specific Federal white-collar employees. Of the 91 occu
pational work level (job) categories in the survey, 25
contain enough workers for this analysis. They are dis
tributed over 12 of the 21 surveyed occupations, and in
clude professional /administrative, technical support,
and clerical workers.8 Straight-time earnings of full-time
workers, the measure reported in the PATC survey,
forms the basis for this analysis of pay levels.
Cross-tabular results
Cross-tabulations revealed a strong tendency for pay
levels to rise, as corporate employment grew. (See table
1.) Depending on the job category, pay ranged from 1
to 16 percent below the PATC survey averages in firms
with fewer than 1,000 workers to 4 to 24 percent above
in firms with 250,000 workers or more. Table 1 also
presents clerical and technical workers in the largest
corporate categories as enjoying a somewhat greater
pay advantage than their professional colleagues.
For professionals, the pay advantage for working in
large corporations was less at journeyman level than at
entry level, indicative of competition among small and
large firms alike for experienced workers.9 The higher
Table 1. Relative pay levels by corporate employmentsize group, selected white-collar occupations in private
establishments, March 1980
Occupational level
ana
Federal equivalent
Professional and administrative:
Accountants I (G S -5).............
Accountants III (GS-9) ...........
Accountants IV (G S-11).........
Auditors III (GS-9) ..................
Buyers III (GS-9) ....................
Buyers IV (GS-11)..................
Chemists II (G S-7)..................
Chemists IV (GS-11) .............
Engineers I (GS-5)..................
Engineers III (G S -9)...............
Engineers VI (GS-13 ) .............
Engineers VII (GS-14) ...........
Technical support:
Computer operators III (GS-6)
Computer operators IV (GS-7)
Drafters II (GS-3)....................
Drafters IV (G S -5)..................
Engineering technicians III
(GS-5) ...............................
Engineering technicians V
(GS-9) ...............................
Clerical:
Accounting clerks II (GS-3) . ..
Accounting clerks III (GS-4) ..
Key entry operators I (GS-2) .
Key entry operators II (GS-3) .
Secretaries II (GS-5) .............
Secretaries IV (GS-7) ...........
Typists I (GS-2) ....................
Mean salary for size groups as a percent
of surveywide average1
Fewer than
1,000
employees
1,000
to
2,500
2,500
to
10,000
10,000 50.000 250,000
or
to
to
50,000 250.000 more
88
94
97
92
99
90
89
93
88
95
99
95
93
94
96
92
94
89
83
91
93
95
99
98
98
96
97
97
96
96
97
94
99
97
98
102
100
100
100
101
98
98
103
99
100
101
98
97
102
102
99
104
101
100
105
104
102
99
99
99
122
114
109
121
113
109
111
108
106
107
105
104
94
88
93
97
97
92
97
94
96
95
97
93
100
99
100
99
104
104
107
103
117
116
124
113
93
97
93
101
100
107
92
93
96
98
98
105
95
91
91
90
88
84
95
93
93
98
95
91
93
91
97
95
94
94
94
94
96
101
103
102
103
100
100
100
104
106
111
104
103
104
108
116
115
124
124
118
123
116
1 Published averages, the base for these pay relatives, have been adjusted to exclude ob
servations in establishments not reporting corporate employment.
Table 2. Relative pay levels by industry division, selected
white-collar occupations, March 1980
[Average salary for each occupation in all industries = 100]
Industry division
Occupation
Manufac
turing
Public
utilities1
100
100
105
101
105
104
102
114
118
120
Accountants ...........
Engineers ...............
Computer operators .
Accounting clerks ..
Typists ....................
Wholesale Retail
trade
trade
96
96
101
99
107
96
( 3)
( 3)
93
100
Finance,
insurance, Selectee
and real services
estate
94
( 3)
91
88
87
96
98
90
96
101
1Transportation (except U.S. Postal Service), communications, electric, gas, and sanitary
services.
2 Limited to engineering, architectural, and surveying services; commercially operated re
search, development, and testing laboratories; advertising; credit reporting and collection
agencies; computer and data processing services; management, consulting, and public rela
tion services; noncommercial educational, scientific, and research organizations; and ac
counting, auditing, and bookkeeping services.
3 Insufficient employment in one work level or more to warrant separate presentation of
data.
average pay for entry-level professionals in large firms
may partly reflect payment for a “higher quality” of
worker, that is, the academic reputation of the college
from which he or she graduated or higher standing
within the graduating class. In contrast, past work ex
perience and job performance are less important in set
ting salaries for beginning professionals whose job
tenure is brief.
These overall comparisons mask the degree to which
pay in individual firms deviated from group averages.
As a rule, less than half of the firms with 50,000 work
ers or more paid their nonclerical employees at least 5
percent above PATC survey averages; by individual job
category, the proportion of employers ranged from 25
to 58 percent. For clerical jobs, the proportions ranged
from 54 to 63 percent. Similarly, not all firms in
smaller-size groups paid less than the average. For each
job, at least 7 percent of the employers with fewer than
1,000 workers paid 5 percent or more above the survey
average.
Variations in industry pay levels (table 2) and em
ployment distributions (table 3) appear to account for
part of the differences in pay levels between large and
small firms. To illustrate, the five occupational work
levels shown in table 3 have a disproportionately high
number of manufacturing industry workers in large
firms. Conversely, finance, insurance, and real estate
workers in these job categories (service industry for en
gineers) tend to concentrate in small firms. As in the
blue-collar sector, white-collar pay levels are higher in
manufacturing10 than in either finance, insurance, and
real estate or service industries. Pay levels of mediumsize firms (2,500 to 10,000 workers) are bolstered by the
presence of public utilities— traditionally one of the
highest-paying industry sectors.
Unlike the aforementioned association between size of
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firm and industry, corporate size appears to be largely
independent of regional location. Accordingly, regional
pay differences do not seem to account for much of the
wage premium associated with work force size. More
over, pay differences between the highest- and lowestpaying regions were relatively small— typically less
than 10 percent. As noted in a previous b l s study,11 a
regional pay advantage may reflect more the industry
orientation of a particular job, such as the Southern pay
premium traditionally reported for chemists who are ex
tensively employed by high-paying petrochemical firms
in that region.
Regression results
Multiple regression analysis disclosed a statistically
significant relationship between large corporate size,
per se, and higher pay, when other measured character
istics are held constant. This was true for all but one
(engineering technician V) of the 25 job levels studied.
In some cases, as illustrated in table 4, pay in firms
with 250,000 employees or more averaged 9 to 20 per
cent above firms with fewer than 1,000 employees.12 A
smaller size premium, found less often, was reported for
Table 3. Relative industry employment levels by
corporate employment size groups, selected white-collar
occupations, March 1980
Percent of workers in:
Occupation and
industry division1
Accountants III:
Manufacturing ......................
Public utilities........................
Trade ...................................
Finance, insurance, and
real estate ...........................
Engineers III:
Manufacturing ......................
Public utilities........................
Services ...............................
Computer operators III;
Manufacturing ......................
Public utilities ........................
Trade ...................................
Finance, insurance, and
real estate ...........................
Services ...............................
Accounting clerks
Manufacturing ......................
Public utilities........................
Trace ...................................
Finance, insurance, and
real estate ...........................
III:
Typists I:
Manufacturing ......................
Public utilities........................
Trade ...................................
Finance, insurance, and
real estate ........................
Services ...............................
2,500 to
10,000
Fewer than
1,000
All size
groups
50,000 or
more2
65
9
7
78
4
9
55
21
6
41
7
15
11
( 3)
12
30
77
7
10
92
( 3)
4
61
23
14
53
( 3)
42
41
7
14
60
10
12
34
8
14
( 3)
19
23
11
4
5
32
11
41
16
43
18
14
50
29
13
38
23
11
35
4
18
18
5
25
36
36
7
8
45
11
18
35
12
5
20
( 3)
12
42
5
22
4
40
6
61
5
23
1See table 2, footnotes 1 and 2 for coverage of nonmanufacturing Industry divisions. In
dustry divisions with less than 5 percent of the workers in an occupational work level are not
shown.
2 The two largest-size groups shown in table 1 were combined to provide sufficient obser
vations for a meaningful profile of industry employment distribution of relatively large corpo
rations. To simplify this analysis, the medium-size firm Is represented by the 2,500 to 10,000
employee group, omitting corporations with 1,000 to 2,500 and 10,000 to 50,000 employees.
3 Less than 4 percent.
25
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • White-Collar Pay Levels
the second and third largest corporate-size groups. Be
low the 10,000 worker cutoff, significant size premiums
were usually absent— not surprising given the relatively
small differences in actual pay levels among the three
smallest size groups. (See table 1.)
Substituting establishment size for corporate size in
the regressions did not alter the basic findings that large
employers provide higher pay levels for white-collar
workers. For a large majority of the 25 job levels, sig
nificant pay premiums attributable to establishment size
began with the 1,000 to 2,499 employees group; for the
largest establishments (10,000 employees or more), the
size premium over the smallest group (fewer than 500
employees) was typically 10 to 15 percent for pro
fessional /administrative categories and 20 percent or
more for the clerical/technical job levels.
The simultaneous effect of establishment and corpo
rate size on pay levels also was tested in separate sets of
regressions. The work force variable was defined as four
combinations: (1) small establishment (fewer than 2,500
employees)/small corporation (fewer than 50,000 em
ployees); (2) small establishment/large corporation; (3)
large establishment/small corporation; and (4) large
establishment/large corporation. Compared with the
small establishment, small corporate-size category, the
other three groups had statistically significant salary dif
ferentials for a large majority of the 25 job categories
Table 4.
studied. However, of the three, only the large
establishment/large corporation group stood out with
significant salary premiums for all jobs.
Of the two work force size measures used, corporate
size generally provided a better explanation of the sala
ry variation for professional job categories, that is,
higher adjusted coefficients of multiple determination
(R2), while establishment size produced somewhat better
regression results for clerical positions. This is consis
tent with and may partly reflect the differing pay-setting
practices of the two occupational groups: a national or
regional market for professionals and a local wage area
for clerical workers. Regardless of the work force size
measure used— corporate or establishment— regression
results explained more of the salary variation for entrylevel than for higher-level professional job categories.
This is in line with the more uniform work experience
and job tenure noted for entry-level profes
sionals than for journeymen.
Salary differences found by simple cross-tabulation
(table 1) can be labeled gross differentials, and those iso
lated by multiple regression techniques, net differentials.
Table 5 compares gross and net percentage pay differ
entials associated with corporate work force size. The
table shows that gross differentials are generally larger
than net differentials. This expected pattern reflects the
tendency for characteristics associated with higher pay
Regression anaiysis of average monthly salaries for selected white-collar occupations, March 1980
Variable
C onstant..............................................................................
Accounting
clerks III
Accountants III
N.A.
$1,725
$1,913
$1,080
$919
$772
4.7
7.2
19.6
5.4
4.7
12.5
4.8
8.6
17.5
10.3
14.9
17.7
9.6
9.0
3.3
5.3
-18.3
7.9
-8.7
10.4
13.5
-7.2
13.4
-13.9
-14.5
-15.4
6.2
-12.7
-7.3
-4.1
3.8
5.4
4.2
Engineers III
20
20
60
76
96
Industry division;
Mining/construction ............................................................
Public utilities2 ............................................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate ...................................
Wholesale tra d e ...................................................................
Retail trade .........................................................................
Selected services2 .....................................................
64
80
71
26
68
24
8.3
8.1
Region:
Northeast...................................................................
North C e ntral.......................................................................
W e s t....................................................................................
60
36
52
-7.7
-3.0
-2 .5
-3.7
Statistical information:
Adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) ........................
Mean ( Y ) ..............................................................................
Number of observations ( S )..............................................
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
.23
$1,776
1,476
.12
$2,013
1,154
1Because the regression coefficients are based on a sample, they may differ from the fig
ures that would have been obtained from a complete census. Chances are about 2 in 3 that an
estimate from the sample would differ from those in a total census-derived value by less than
the standard error, and about 19 in 20 that the difference would be less than twice the stand
ard error. It is the latter 5 percent significance level that is used here; the percent of the 25 oc
cupations studied that had a significant coefficient Is shown for each variable, for example, only
20 percent for the 2,500 to 9,999 corporate size-group.
Typists I
(Coefficients shown in percent)
Corporate size (number of employees) :
1,000 to 2,499 .....................................................
2,500 to 9,999 .....................................................................
10,000 to 49,999 ................................................................
50,000 to 249,999 ..............................................................
250,000 or m ore.....................................................
26 FRASER
Digitized for
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Computer
operators III
Percent of 25
occupations studied
with significant
coefficients1
4.3
6.4
.21
$1,079
1,174
.20
$1,028
1,534
5.4
6.2
.21
$759
854
2See table 2, footnotes 1 and 2 for coverage of nonmanufacturing industry divisions.
N ote : Y is the mean of the earnings (dependent) variable weighted by occupational em
ployment. S is the number of establishments in the sample with employees in the occupations
studied. Dashes indicate that the coefficient was not significant at a 5 percent level. N.A.=Not
applicable.
Table 5. Percentage earnings differences between large
and small firms, selected white-collar occupations,
March 1980
Percent difference
Occupational work level
Gross
Net
38.6
21.3
12.4
31.5
14.1
21.1
24.7
16.1
33.9
19.6
13.3
20.0
15.6
20.8
19.7
13.1
.............................
20.5
12.6
6.1
9.5
24.5
31.8
33.3
16.5
19.0
12.5
9.0
11.3
17.5
21.5
37.4
19.1
Engineering technicians III.......................................................
Engineering technicians V ........................................................
Accounting clerks II ................................................................
Accounting clerks I II ................................................................
Key entry operators I ..............................................................
Key entry operators II ............................................................
Secretaries I I ...........................................................................
Secretaries I V .........................................................................
Typists I ..................................................................................
15.1
14.1
22.1
26.4
36.3
37.8
34.1
46.4
22.1
13.8
112.4
17.3
17.7
27.4
31.4
29.2
41.3
9.0
Accountants I .........................................................................
Accountants III.........................................................................
Accountants IV .......................................................................
Buyers IV ................................................................................
Chemists II ..............................................................................
Chemists IV ...........................................................................
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Computer
Computer
I ..............................................................................
III ...........................................................................
VI ...........................................................................
V II...........................................................................
operators I I I ............................................................
operators IV ............................................................
Drafters IV ............................................
1The net difference for engineering technicians V is statistically significant at a 10-percent
level; all other work levels shown are significant at 5 percent.
N ote : Large size equals 250,000 employees or more; small size, fewer than 1,000 employees. “ Gross” and "net” differentials are defined in the text.
levels, such as high-paying manufacturing and large cor
porate size, to be found together. This compounds the
impact attributable to any single characteristic by sim
ple cross-tabulation. Regression techniques separate
such combinations and measure the impact of individu
al components.
Implications for future research
This study illustrates the usefulness of surveys that
provide detailed information on narrowly defined occu
pations, which control for differences in worker quality.
It makes clear that questions relating to work force size
and occupational pay seem more appropriate for an es
tablishment survey than a household one. Yet, as noted
earlier, the inclusion of information on the educational
background and work experience of employees (easier
to get in household interviews) enhances the usefulness
of most size/pay estimates. Two BLS studies have uti
lized the best features of both approaches: in 1972 a
study of the clothing industry obtained for the first time
demographic characteristics from employee interviews
and occupational wages from their employers13 and a
subsequent study matched observations on individuals
and their employers from two establishment surveys—
Employer Expenditures for Employee Compensation
and Area Wage Surveys— and the Current Population
Survey of households.14 Either approach, although ex
pensive and time consuming, is necessary to adequately
control for productivity differences among workers.
The corporate work force variable could be redefined
in future surveys to report the work force size for a par
ent company only if it has a direct input to the wage
and salary administration of its affiliated establishments.
This study included corporate work force obtained for
both divisions of companies whose pay decisions are
usually reviewed by the parent firm and for whollyowned subsidiaries that operate independently of that
type of review. This proposal would reduce the number
of affiliates reported in the largest corporate-size classes
and probably would tend to increase the pay differential
between large and small employers.
Finally, if resources were made available, two other
establishment characteristics could be added to the
PATC survey to help improve explanations of white-col
lar pay levels— union status of white-collar and of bluecollar workers and location by area population size. The
latter may be especially im portant for clerical and tech
nical job categories. A metropolitan/nonmetropolitan
area variable was not included in this analysis because
more than 90 percent of white-collar workers covered
by the PATC survey were employed in metropolitan
areas.
I n SUMMARY, this analysis found white-collar pay lev
els generally increasing with employer size. This was
observed both before and after allowing for the impact
of other measured variables, such as industry and re
gion. However, the amount of the salary premium at
tributable to work force size varied by occupation and
skill level— similar to the way education and other
worker quality traits have affected results in previous
studies. Narrowly defined occupational classifications
broaden opportunities for BLS establishment surveys to
be used in research usually reserved for household-type
surveys. Further improvements in both kinds of sur
veys, and combining their best features, are needed to
better measure and control for differences in productivi
ty-related characteristics among workers.
□
FOOTNOTES
1Richard Lester, “Pay Differentials by Size of Establishment,” In
dustrial Relations, October 1967, pp. 57-67.
2Joseph R. Antos, “Union Impacts on White Collar Compensa
tion,” Industrial and Labor Relations Review, forthcoming.
' Wesley Mellow, “Employer size, unionism, and wages,” paper
presented at Conference on New Approaches to Labor Unions, Octo
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ber 1981, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
4
See, for example, Stanley H. Masters, “Wages and Plant Size: An
Inter-industry Analysis,” Review o f Economics and Statistics, August
1969, pp. 341-45 and Walter Y. Oi, “The Fixed Employment Costs
of Specialized Labor,” paper presented at Conference on The Mea
surement of Labor Cost, December 1981, at Williamsburg, Virginia.
27
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • White-Collar Pay Levels
In Vladimir Stoikov, “Size of Firm, Worker Earnings, and Human
Capital: The Case of Japan,” Industrial and Labor Relations Review,
July 1973, the author argues that size of enterprise is of minor impor
tance and that interfirm wage differentials are explained almost exclu
sively by differences in worker skills and knowledge.
5Occupational definitions are presented in National Survey of
Professional, Administrative, Technical, and Clerical Pay, March 1980,
Bulletin 2081 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1980), pp. 38-68. Several
occupations used in this analysis have exclusions that help to narrow
their definition. For example, the accountant definition does not cover
workers whose principal or sole duties consist of designing or improv
ing accounting systems or other nonoperating staff work, such as bud
get or financial analysis; the computer operator definition includes
workers operating the control console of a digital computer and not
those operating computer terminals; and the typist definition does not
include word processors and publication typists. In addition, workers
without college degrees are almost always excluded from the profes
sional jobs studied.
6The industrial coverage and minimum-size establishment is as fol
lows: manufacturing (100 or 250 employees); transportation, com
munication, electric, gas, and sanitary services (100 or 250
employees); mining and construction (250 employees); wholesale trade
(100 employees); retail trade (250 employees); finance, insurance, and
real estate (100 employees); and selected services (50 or 100 employ
ees).
7 5 U.S.C. Sec. 5301 (a) (3) (1970). The pay-setting role of the patc
survey is described in George L. Stelluto, “Federal pay comparability:
facts to temper the debate,” Monthly Labor Review, June 1979, pp.
18-28.
8Table 1 lists the 25 job categories. Work levels are identified by
Roman numerals, the higher the numeral the greater the duties and
responsibilities. Numbers of work levels in the patc survey vary by
occupation, ranging from one for messengers to eight for chemists
and engineers. For professional occupations, the first two levels are
considered entry and developmental; the next two levels, journeymen;
and higher levels, generally supervisory or managerial in nature.
28 FRASER
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9 Microdata from the patc survey have shown over the years that
pay levels within an establishment are typically higher relative to the
survey-wide averages for experienced levels of professional positions
than for entry levels. This is especially true for small, relatively lowpaying establishments.
10Previous bls research on area pay differences found that wage
variation reflects not only the relative presence or absence of manufac
turing activity but also the kind of manufacturing industries. We
found that this also applies to occupational pay differences by size of
firm. That is, high-paying manufacturing industries were relatively
more important employers in the largest firm-size groups. For exam
ple, in the large-size groups (50,000 employees or more), two-thirds of
the accountants III employed by manufacturing firms were in highpaying industries; in the small-size group, the corresponding propor
tion was two-fifths. An industrial profile of large, low-paying firms,
that is, with pay levels 5 percent or more below the patc survey aver
ages, showed that their mix of manufacturing industries, like that of
small firms, was less favorable than for the large firm-size groups as a
whole. The data to support these findings for other jobs studied are
available upon request.
" Harry F. Zeman, “Regional pay differentials in white-collar occu
pations,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1971, pp. 53-56. Because
the patc survey was designed to yield nationwide data, regional esti
mates are not regularly published; small differences in these estimates
should be cautiously interpreted.
'2 Several categories were defined for each characteristic studied, for
example, six corporate employment-size groups or four geographic re
gions. (Actual employment rather than employment groups was not
available.) The coefficients presented in table 4 are the percent differ
ences between the category of each characteristic that is shown and
the one that is not shown, but is embodied in the “constant” term:
that is fewer than 1,000 workers, manufacturing, and the South.
13See Wages and Demographic Characteristics in the Work Clothing
Industry, March 1972, Bulletin 1858 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1975).
Antos, “Union Impacts.”
4
Conference Papers
The following excerpts are adapted from papers present
ed at the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Indus
trial Relations Research Association, December 1981,
in Washington, D.C.
Papers prepared for the meetings of the IRRA are
excerpted by special permission and may not be
reproduced without the express permission of the IRRA,
which holds the copyright.
The full text of all papers appears in the IRRA publi
cation, Proceedings o f the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting,
available from IRRA, Social Science Building, Madison,
Wis. 53706.
Can the N LR B caseload detect
changes in labor relations climate?
M a r k D. K arper
The past 30 years have been marked by a steady in
crease in the number of unfair labor practices cases
processed by the National Labor Relations Board
( n l r b ). This raises questions concerning possible
changes in the distribution of this increase over the
1950-78 period. An assessment of what, if any, changes
have occurred can provide indicators of changes in the
labor relations climate over time. The assessment of
changes in the distribution of cases can be broken down
into five specific categories (a) changes in regional dis
tribution, (b) changes in the type of employer, (c)
changes in the size of an employer, (d) changes in the
type of cases, and (e) changes in election behavior rela
tive to cases.
The NLRB provides information on the total number
of unfair labor practices cases for the 10 census regions
of the United States.1It categorizes changes in manage
rial violations for each region. The results for such vio
lations show four regions declined since 1950: the
Middle Atlantic, Outlying areas (Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico), New England, and West South Central;
and six regions increased their share: East North Cen-
Mark D. Karper is assistant professor of industrial relations,
LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y. His full i r r a paper is entitled,
“Changes in the Labor Relations Climate: The Evidence from n l r b
Caseload.”
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tral, Pacific, South Atlantic, Mountain, West North
Central, and East South Central. The most dramatic
changes occurred in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
and Wisconsin, where the share increased by 4 percent
and in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where
it declined by 6 percent. All the changes for the other
regions were less than 2 percent, making it impossible
to assess whether any consistent trends have developed.
An examination of violations by management accord
ing to the type of employer reflects the demographic shift
of employment from the manufacturing to the serv
ices sector. In addition, it reflects increased NLRB juris
diction in the services sector with the addition of health
care institutions, private, higher education institutions,
and the U.S. Postal Service. The services sector’s share
of unfair labor practices cases by management increased
from 4.1 percent in 1950 to 17.7 percent (includes Post
al Service) in 1978, while the manufacturing sector de
clined from 61.7 percent to 45.8 percent. Trans
portation, finance, retail trade, construction, and mining
increased slightly (less than 2 percent), while wholesale
trade declined 1.4 percent.2
Data on unfair labor practices cases by the size of the
employer are available going back to 1966. The data
show little variation over the entire time period with an
average of 65 percent of all cases being filed against em
ployers with less than 100 employees, 12 percent in the
range of 100-499, 5 percent in the range of 500-999,
and 9 percent with employees of 1,000 or more. The
data vary by less than 2 percent over the entire time pe
riod in any one category. These results reveal that over
the recent time period for which the data are available,
the size of the employer is not an im portant factor in
the change in the distribution of cases.
One measure of the mix of unfair labor practices
cases is the ratio of union to management violations.
This mix has changed over time with unions’ violations
rising faster than managements’, with the ratio becom
ing stable from 1966-78. The relative stability of the
union and management mix in recent years means that
they have shared equally in the growth of cases indicat
ing the increased use of litigation by both sides.
Election petitions by unions could be related to the
incidence of unfair labor practices cases if violations
arise in substantial numbers from elections. During
1964-78, the number of these elections remained almost
constant while cases almost tripled. This fact negates
any simplistic relationship between the two. The data
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Conference Papers
concerning election activity by type of industry do fol
low the pattern set by managements’ violations. Specifi
cally, there was a decline in the number of elections in
the manufacturing sector (22 percent), with a corre
sponding increase in the services sector (20 percent).
The other sectors remained almost constant. The most
startling statistic is that election patterns by region re
mained stable for the entire 1950-78 period, with only
one category, the Southern Atlantic Region, (2.9 per
cent) showing any variation over 2 percent. This pattern
runs contrary to demographic shifts in both population
and employment.
In summary, increased incidence of unfair labor prac
tices cases is not due to the movement of employment
to the South and West, for example. Second, the in
crease in cases is not due to increased lawlessness on
the part of employers or unions, since the mix of union
and management violations has remained constant in
recent years. Third, there is evidence to indicate that
the increase in cases may be related in part to the in
creased jurisdiction by the NLRB in the services sector.
And, finally, it is not possible to determine whether this
increase reflects a trend towards lawlessness without ad
equate measures of the number of employees and the
scope of bargaining units under NLRB coverage.
□
--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------‘The definitions of each region are: New England— Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut;
Middle Atlantic— New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania; East North
Central— Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin; West North
Central— Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas; South Atlantic-—Delaware, Maryland, District of
Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida; East South Central — Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala
bama, Mississippi; West North Central— Arkansas, Louisiana, Okla
homa, Texas; Mountain — Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada; Pacific— Washington, Oregon,
California, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam; Outlying— Puerto Rico, Virgin Is
lands.
2
The definitions of labor sectors correspond to Standard Industrial
Classifications.
Determinants of health insurance
and pension coverage
Wesley S. M ellow
Fringe benefits have increased markedly in recent years
and now account for roughly one-third of total compen-
Wesley S. Mellow is an economist in the Office of Research and Eval
uation, Bureau of Labor Statistics. His full i r r a paper is entitled,
“Worker Differences in the Receipt of Health and Pension Benefits:
Extending the Analysis of Compensation Differentials.”
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sation.1Despite this magnitude, relatively little is known
about the distributional pattern of fringes across work
ers; most studies of the determinants of fringe benefits
use establishment or industry data.2 While these studies
provide much interesting and useful information, they
have the same inherent limitation as those which use es
tablishment or industry data to study wages. That is,
only very limited controls for labor quality and other
interworker differences are available. Consequently, to
the extent that observed determinants of fringes
(unions, employer size, and so forth) are correlated with
worker characteristics influencing total compensation,
the estimated effects of these factors will be biased.
The following discussion describes a very rough at
tempt to address this limitation using new data on indi
vidual workers from the Current Population Survey.
Specific attention is given to the impact of personal
characteristics, union membership, and employer size on
health and pension coverage.
The data base
The Current Population Survey is the monthly survey
of 56,000 households used by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics to estimate the official unemployment rate. In ad
dition to data on labor force status and personal
characteristics, information is obtained each month on
hourly earnings (for workers paid by the hour), usual
weekly earnings, and usual hours worked at the primary
job from approximately one-fourth of employed survey
participants. A special supplement to the May 1979 sur
vey requested information on a wide range of additional
worker and job characteristics, including current job
tenure, union membership status, employer size, and
participation in health and pension plans. For this anal
ysis, the sample is limited to the 18,551 wage-and-salary
workers providing responses to the supplemental ques
tions in the May survey and the earnings questions in
either the May or June surveys.3
Health insurance coverage is determined by response
to the question; “Are you included in a group health in
surance plan on your present job? Do not report insur
ance that pays only for accident or disability.” Pension
plan coverage is determined by the question: “Does
your employer or union have a pension or other type of
retirement plan for any of its employees?” If the answer
is yes, respondents are then asked: “Are you included in
such a plan?” (Respondents are told not to include so
cial security, railroad retirement, or veterans’ pensions
in determining their answers to the pension questions.)
Under these definitions, 66 percent of the workers in
our sample received health insurance as part of their
compensation package and 50 percent received pension
coverage.
These percentages are much lower than those typical
ly found in studies based on firm or establishment data.
For instance, a 1977 Chamber of Commerce study
found that only 9 percent of the firms it surveyed re
ported no pension payments, and fewer than 1 percent
reported no health insurance payments.4 Similarly, a re
cent Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that in
1979 only 13 percent of workers in the establishments
surveyed received no pension coverage and only 3 per
cent received no health insurance.5 The discrepancy is
probably attributable to some combination of the fol
lowing factors. Not all. workers in a firm receive health
and pension benefits, relatively new and part-time em
ployees being particularly excluded. In addition, surveys
of firms typically exclude “small” employers (in most
cases, those with fewer than 100 employees). These
small employers have much lower levels of benefit pro
vision. Finally, employer surveys frequently exclude
specific occupations or industries which may have low
fringes.
It should be noted that a number of sharp differences
in the means of the incidence of benefit receipt are
readily apparent among the subgroups of the CPS sam
ple. Women, low tenured, and part-time workers have
much lower receipt levels, while the converse is true of
union workers and those working for large employers.
High wages are associated with higher benefit coverage,
and wide variations are observed among industries.
Probabilities of coverage
Logit analysis was used to estimate the impact of
worker and employer characteristics on the likelihood
of health or pension coverage.6 The coefficients estimat
ed using this procedure indicate the percentage change
in the odds of receiving the specified benefit for a unit
change in an explanatory variable. Also calculated are
the derivatives, which reveal the marginal effect of
change in an independent variable on the absolute prob
ability of receiving the benefit, in the vicinity of sample
means.
The estimates indicate that several major factors are
associated with dramatic shifts in the probability of re
ceiving benefits. Union members and those working in
large firms have sharply higher receipt levels. Based on
the derivative calculations, the absolute probability of
receiving health insurance (pension benefits) is .144
(.321) higher for union members. Regarding employer
size, there is an increase'of .200 in the absolute proba
bility of health benefits and a .299 rise in the probabili
ties of pension coverage associated with firms having 25
to 99 workers. Being employed in establishments with
1,000 workers or more increases the absolute probabili
ties of health and pension coverage by .316 and .557,
respectively. Because the mean of the pension variable is
smaller than that of the health variable (.50 versus .66),
these estimates imply that the relative effects of union
membership and firm size are greater on the probability
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of receiving pension benefits than on the probability of
coverage by health insurance plans.
Current job tenure and wage are both associated with
an increased likelihood of health and pension coverage.
An increase in job tenure from 5 to 15 years, for in
stance, is associated with an increase of .135 (.297) in
the absolute probability of health (pension) benefits. A
$5 increase in the hourly wage is associated with an ab
solute increase of .120 in the probabilities of both
health and pension benefits.
Sharp drops in the probability of receiving benefits
are encountered by part-time workers. The estimated
decline in the absolute likelihood of health (pension)
benefits is .311 (.274). Given the large differences noted
earlier in the comparisons of means, being female has a
surprisingly modest negative impact, -.064 for health
insurance and -.069 for pensions. Evidently, controlling
for job tenure, part-time status, wage, industry, and oc
cupation accounts for much of the difference between
men and women in the probability of receiving benefits.7
The absolute change in the likelihood of health and
pension coverage is markedly higher in manufacturing
(.206 and .259 in durable goods and .144 and .220 in
nondurable goods) and transportation and public utili
ties (.117 and .118). In three industry groups— finance,
insurance, and real estate; services (except private
household); and public administration— there are mod
est increases in the probability of health benefits (.088,
.031, and .077), but substantial increases in the proba
bility of pension benefits (.172, .219, and .551). (The
reference industry is private household workers and ag
riculture).
The estimated impacts of the occupational status and
location variables can be briefly summarized. Occupa
tional status has a much smaller estimated impact than
industrial status. The largest change in the absolute
probability of benefits is an increase of .123 in health
insurance for managers and a .137 increase in pension
coverage for clerical workers. (The reference occupation
is service workers.) The location variables (regional and
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area dummies) have
no systematic influence on the receipt of benefits.
□
--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------' See Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Employee Bene
fits, 1977 (Washington, 1978).
2See, for instance, Robert G. Rice, “Skill, Earnings and the
Growth of Wage Supplements,” American Economic Review, May
1966, pp. 583-93; and Richard B. Freeman, “The Effect of Unionism
on Fringe Benefits,” Industrial and Labor Relations Review, July 1981,
pp. 489-509.
3The CPS sample is composed of a rotating group of addresses. A
particular address is in the sample 4 consecutive months, out 8, and
then in 4 more months. Each month, only those persons in rotation
groups four and eight are asked the earnings questions. In the data
file used in this analysis, responses to the earnings questions in the
June CPS (for those in rotation groups three and seven in May) have
31
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Conference Papers
been added to the individual data records. This matching process
roughly doubles the number of participants in the May supplement
for whom earnings data are available.
4Chamber of Commerce of the United States, E m p lo y e e B en efits,
1977, p. 16.
5E m p lo y e e B e n e fits in I n d u s tr y : A P ilo t S u rv e y, Report 615 (Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 1980).
6For a discussion of the logit framework, see Marc Nerlove and S.
J. Press, U n iv a r ia te a n d M u ltiv a r ia te L o g - L in e a r L o g istic M o d e ls , Re
port R-1306-EDA/NTH (Santa Monica, Calif., The Rand Corpora
tion, 1973).
7If the wage variable is excluded from the set of explanatory
variables, the estimated impact of being female on the probability of
receiving benefits increases by roughly 50 percent. Changes in the esti
mated effects of other factors are much more modest; typically the in
crease (in absolute value terms) is about 10 percent.
Labor market rights
of foreign-born workers
D avid S. N orth
The 1970 Census counted 9.6 million foreign-born per
sons in the United States, divided almost equally be
tween naturalized citizens and aliens. That was surely
an undercount, as the Census has the same troubles
enumerating the foreign-born as it does native-born dis
advantaged populations. The total number of foreignborn in the United States in 1980 was in the 16 to 18
million range. In addition to some 4 million or so newly
arrived legal immigrants, we have also taken on hun
dreds of thousands of refugees, and perhaps as many as
4 million illegal immigrants in the last decade. A dis
proportionately large segment of the illegal immigrants
are in the work force (which is not the case with the
other foreign-born subpopulations), so the number of
foreign-born in the labor market is significant.
For our purposes, we divide the foreign-born into six
groups, each of which has its own mix of labor market
rights:
Naturalized citizens have all of the labor market rights
of citizens, with two statistically minor exceptions: they
are barred from the Presidency and the Vice Presidency,
and they must serve a waiting period after naturaliza
tion prior to election to the Congress.
Permanent resident aliens arrived here legally and may
become naturalized citizens after the passage of time.
Class A refugees are those recognized as such by the
Refugee Act of 1980, as amended. Most refugees curDavid S. North is director of the Center for Labor and Migration
Studies, New TransCentury Foundation. The title of his full IRRA
paper is “The Access of the Foreign-Born to Jobs and Labor Market
Protection in the U.S.”
Digitized for
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rently in the United States are from Indochina, but
there are others from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eastern
Europe, Cuba, and Haiti.
Class B refugees may look like refugees to an observer,
but in the eyes of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, they are here illegally, and are ultimately sub
ject to deportation.
Nonimmigrants are aliens admitted to the United States
legally and temporarily to perform a particular function
(to be a diplomat, a tourist, or a foreign student).
Illegal immigrants have either arrived surreptitiously or
have come into the country bearing legitimate docu
ments which they subsequently abused (either by stay
ing too long, or by working when they were not
supposed to do so).
Permanent resident aliens, and Class A and Class B
refugees may work anywhere they can find a job. Some
classes of nonimmigrants may work only in designated
segments of the labor market, but most are not allowed
to work at all. Illegal immigrants are not, per se, barred
from employment, but they are barred from physical
presence in the United States. If they are apprehended,
they are subject to deportation.
While permanent resident aliens and Class A and
Class B refugees are free to seek any job they can find,
they are generally not protected from employment dis
crimination. The Federal Government, all private sector
employers, and sometimes State and local governments
may legally refuse to hire, for example, an Ethiopian
permanent resident alien on the grounds that they will
hire no permanent resident aliens— but they would be
violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 if the
decision was based on nation of origin or skin color. As
a m atter of fact, it is very difficult for most Federal
agencies to employ permanent resident aliens, and virtu
ally impossible for them to hire either class of refugees.
Even the refugee-serving units of the government, such
as the Office of Refugee Resettlement, may hire refugees
only after they have secured permanent resident alien
status, and those appointments require special dispensa
tion from Federal personnel authorities.1 Private sector
employers may refuse to hire permanent resident aliens
if the action is not designed to hide a bias against
would-be employees of a certain nation of origin. State
governments are generally not allowed to discriminate
against permanent resident aliens, but the State of New
York carried a case to the Supreme Court, successfully
arguing that only citizens should be members of the
State police force.2
Nonimmigrants who work legally in the United
States may do so only along the lines permitted by the
visa they carry. For example, a Jamaican, who secured
a visa to cut sugar cane in Florida may not legally
pump gas in the service station across the street from
the cane field and a diplomat who leaves the service of
his nation may not stay in the United States and work
as a lawyer.3
While it is against the law for illegal aliens to work in
the United States, their employers are required to pro
vide them with all the protections demanded of other
workers. Thus, an employer of illegal immigrants must
meet the provisions of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act and, in
every State but Vermont, employers are required by
State legislation to provide workers’ compensation pro
tection (for injured workers). Similarly, an employer
must pay social security taxes for all workers, legal or
illegal.4 These provisions tend, in a small way, to reduce
the incentive for employers to hire illegal immigrants. □
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FOOTNOTES
1For more on aliens and equal employment opportunity, see David
Carliner, The Rights o f Aliens: The Basic ACLU Guide to an Aliens's
Rights (New York, Avon Books, 1977), and David S. North and
Allen LeBel, Manpower and Immigration Policies in the United States,
Special Report No. 20 (Washington, National Commission for Man
power Policy, 1978), pp. 77-83.
2 Foley v. Connelie, 435 U.S. 291 (1978).
3The precise labor market rights of all the classes of nonimmigrants
cannot be covered here; for more on this see Sam Bernsen, “Employ
ment Rights of Aliens Under the Immigration Laws,” Interpreter Re
leases 56: 240-55 (May 16, 1979); and David S. North, Nonimmigrant
Workers in the U.S.: Current Trends and Future Implications (Wash
ington, New TransCentury Foundation, 1980).
4 Some legal, nonimmigrant workers are excluded by law from so
cial security coverage, giving their employers, in a sense, a 6.7-percent
discount on their wages. Temporary farm workers, foreign students
and exchange visitors fall into this category.
A note on communications
The Monthly Labor Review welcomes communications that supple
ment, challenge, or expand on research published in its pages. To be
considered for publication, communications should be factual and an
alytical, not polemical in tone. Communications should be addressed
to the Editor-in-Chief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.
33
The A natom y of
Price Change
Reconciling the CPI and the PCE
Deflator: 4th quarter 1981
Ju l ie
A.
Bu nn
and
Ja c k
E.
T r ip l e t t
The September 1981 issue of the Monthly Labor Review1
presented a reconciliation of the Federal Government’s
two major inflation measures— the Consumer Price In
dex ( c p i ), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
and the Implicit Price Deflator for Personal Consump
tion Expenditures (PCE Deflator), produced by the Bu
reau of Economic Analysis. By comparing alternative
versions of the indexes published by the Bureau of La
bor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the
difference between the CPI and PCE measures can be
decomposed into three factors: owner-occupied housing,
different index weights, and “all other” factors. The
technical basis for the analysis is contained in the Sep
tember 1981 article.2
This second quarterly update of the reconciliation,
which extends the data through the end of calendar
year 1981, shows a general narrowing of the difference
between the two measures.
Reconciling period-to-period changes
Table 1 shows the reconciliation of percent changes
in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
( c p i -u ) and “ PCE: Chain-Weight” index for the most re
cent years and quarters. These two indexes present al
ternative measures of period-to-period price change.3
The difference between CPI and PCE price measures,
which widened with the upsurge of inflation in 1979,
seems to be diminishing as inflation winds down. At 1.4
percentage points, the 1981 difference between the an
nual CPI and the PCE was half its value for 1980, and
lower as well than the comparable number for 1979.
The quarterly figures show a generally declining trend,
although there is considerable variability. The difference
for the fourth quarter of 1981 (0.3 percentage points) is
the smallest quarterly difference in these alternative
price measures in several years.
As demonstrated in the September article, the treat
ment of owner-occupied housing has historically been
the largest source of PCE-CPI differences. The effect of
alternative measures of owner-occupied housing can be
estimated by comparing two BLS price indexes (CPI-U
and CPI-X l) that are published monthly and measure
housing in different ways.
In recent quarters, the “housing effect” has been
smaller than it was in the first half of 1980. The nega
tive entry for the fourth quarter of 1981 ( —0.5 percent
age points) occurred because the CPI-U, which follows
the traditional BLS treatment of housing, advanced less
than the CPI-Xl index, which approximates a “rental
equivalence” measure of housing. (The BLS has an
nounced plans to change the treatment of housing in
the CPI-U index to incorporate a rental equivalence
treatment, beginning in January 1983.4)
Weighting differences are a second source of PCE-CPI
differences. The CPI-U weights are drawn from an expen
diture survey taken in 1972-73; weights for the PCE:
Chain-Weight index are always taken from the period
just preceding the date of publication (for example,
weights for the 1981-IV index come from 1981-III), and
so are more nearly current than are the CPI weights.
Table 1. ’Reconciliation’ of annual, 1979 81, and
quarterly, 1980-81, percent changes in the CPI-U and the
Personal Consumption Expenditure price measures
Difference
I
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
II
III
19812
IV
I
7.7 12.8 11.0
CPI-U3 ........................... 11.3 13.5 10.4 16.5 13.5
PCE: Chain-Weight4 .. . 9.3 10.6 9.0 12.5 9.7
9.5 10.1 10.3
Total difference5
(CPI-U minus PCE:
Chain-Weight) . . . .
2.0 2.9 1.4 4.0 3.8 -1 .8 2.7
.7
Housing treatment6 ..
1.7 2.3
.9 3.6 3.4 -1 .9 1.9
.4
.4
.7
Weighting effect 7 . . . .
.3
.1
.2
.0
.0
.6
“ All other” effect8 . . .
.4 -.3
.0
.2
.2
.1
.8 -.3
II
III
IV
7.8 11.8
6.5 8.7
7.7
7.4
1.3
.5
.0
.8
.3
-.5
-.2
1.0
3.1
2.7
-.5
.9
10wing to changes in seasonal adjustment factors, the quarterly figures may differ slightly
from those which appeared in Monthly Labor /teweiv Table 3, p. 9, September 1981 and Ta
ble 1, p. 43, January 1982.
2 Seasonally adjusted annual rates.
3 Annual and quarterly changes in the CPI-U are taken from tables provided by the Office
of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The changes are compiled from
1967 based indexes.
"Data for the “ PCE: Chain-Weight” were obtained from the Bureau of Economic Analysis,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
5 CPI-U minus “ PCE: Chain-Weight” equals the sum of “ housing treatment", “ weighting”
and “ all other" effects.
6 Change in CPI-U minus change in CPI-Xl. See September 1981 Monthly Labor Review,
p. 21, for fuller explanation. Source of CPI-Xl data is same as source in footnote 3.
7 Change in “ PCE: 1972-Weight” minus change in “ PCE: Chain-Weight” . See September
1981 Monthly Labor Review, pp. 8-9, for fuller explanation. Data source for “ PCE:
1972-Weight” changes is same as for footnote 4.
8 Change in CPI-Xl minus change in “ PCE: 1972-Weight” . See September 1981 Monthly
Labor Review, p. 6, for fuller explanation.
,
Julie A. Bunn is an economist in and Jack E. Triplett is assistant
commissioner of the Office of Research and Evaluation, Bureau of La
bor Statistics.
1 98 0'2
1979 1980 1981
Table 2. 'Reconciliation’ of the CPI-U and the Personal Consumption Expenditure price measures: cumulative percent
change from 1972 to the date shown
1981
19801
Difference
1979
1980
1981
1
CPI-U (1972-100)2 ..............................................................
PCE: Deflator (1972=100)3
(Current-Weight)................................................................
Total difference4
(CPI-U minus PCE D eflator)...............................................
Housing treatment5 ............................................................
Weighting effect6 ..............................................................
“ All other” effect7 ..............................................................
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
173.6
166.6
197.0
178.9
217.4
193.8
189.1
172.9
195.2
177.0
198.9
180.7
204.9
184.9
210.3
188.5
214.3
191.5
220.4
195.7
224.6
199.4
11.6
7.0
3.7
.6
18.1
11.7
5.4
1.0
23.6
14.5
7.2
1.9
16.2
10.5
4.9
.8
18.2
12.2
5.1
.9
18.2
11.6
5.6
1.0
20.0
12.7
5.9
1.4
21.8
13.3
7.3
1.2
22.8
13.7
7.4
1.7
24.7
15.4
7.2
2.1
25.2
15.5
7.0
2.7
10wing to changes in seasonal adjustment factors, quarterly figures may differ slightly
from those which appeared in Monthly Labor Review Table 4, p. 10, September 1981 and
Table 2, p. 44, January 1982.
2 Annual data for the CPI-U were computed by the Office of Research and Evaluation
from unadjusted monthly data provided by the Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau
of Labor Statistics. The quarterly data for 1980 and 1981 were computed by the Office of
Research and Evaluation employing seasonally adjusted monthly data provided by the Of
fice of Prices and Living Conditions.
3 Data for the implicit PCE Deflator, or “ PCE: Current-Weight” index, were provided by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce. The data Incorporate revi
As pointed out in the September 1981 article, the ef
fect of utilizing different weights on disparities between
the measures is far smaller than has often been sup
posed. Since m id-1980, weighting effects have essentially
been zero, although there was more impact from this
source in 1979 and early 1980. Negative values for
weighting effects in the two most recent quarters reflect
the fact that the index with the most recent weights (the
PCE: Chain-Weight) has been rising somewhat more rap
idly than an index based on the same price data but us
ing 1972 weights.5 It is usually expected that use of
more recent weights will result in an index that rises
less rapidly; as table 1 shows, this expectation is not al
ways borne out.
The “all other” effect measures the influence of com
putational and compilation factors on the difference
between the CPI and PCE measures (everything other
than the period for which the weights were drawn, and
the treatment of owner-occupied housing). The precise
sources of the “all other” effect have not been quanti
fied, but seasonal adjustment methods undoubtedly are
important. PCE seasonal adjustment factors for 1981
and 1980 have not yet been re-estimated, while the CPI
seasonals are revised annually; this has probably con
tributed to the increased magnitude of the “all other”
effect in the quarterly numbers, an explanation that is
consistent with the annual figure for 1981 (0.4) being so
much lower than the quarterly figures.
Reconciling cumulative changes
For technical reasons, two reconciliations are neces
sary.6 The first reconciliation, covered in the previous
section, addresses the question: “What are the reasons
the CPI and PCE price measures show different rates of
change from one period to the next?” The reconciliation
of the differences between the measures in this section
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
II
sions released in April 1981.
4 CPI-U minus PCE Deflator equals the sum of “ housing treatment” , “ weighting” and “ all oth
er” effects.
5 CPI-U minus CPI-Xi. See September 1981 Monthly Labor Review, p. 5, for fuller
explanation. Data source for the CPI-XI is the same as footnote 2.
6 “ PCE: 1972-Weight” minus “ PCE: Current-Weight” . See September 1981 Monthly Labor
Review, p. 6, for fuller explanation. Data source for the “ PCE: 1972-Weight” is same as foot
note 3.
7CPI-XI minus “ PCE: 1972-Weight” . See September 1981 Monthly Labor Review, p. 6, for
fuller explanation.
answers the question: “What accounts for the cumula
tive divergence in the CPI and PCE since 1972?”
Table 2 reconciles the CPI-U and the Implicit Price
Deflator for Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE:
Current-Weight) with 1972 as the base year. By the
fourth quarter of 1981, the PCE: Current-Weight index
indicated that consumption prices had almost doubled
since 1972 (a 99-percent increase); by the CPI-U mea
sure, the increase was nearly 125 percent. Of the ap
proximately 25-percentage-point difference between the
two, housing treatment accounted for three-fifths (15.5
percentage points). The table also shows that choosing
current period weights instead of 1972 weights creates a
difference of 7 percentage points, over a period when
prices have doubled, by either alternative measure. The
weighting effect has declined slightly in the most recent
two quarters from its high reached early last year.
B o t h r e c o n c i l i a t i o n s s u g g e s t that the inflation
rates recorded by CPI and PCE price measures may be
converging. Quarterly and annual percentage increases
in the two price measures differ less in 1981 than in the
previous 2 years, and the cumulative reconciliation
shows a similar picture.
□
-------------- FOOTNOTES ---------------
1Jack E. Triplett, “Reconciling the cpi and pce Deflator,” M o n th ly
September 1981, pp. 3-15.
2I b id .
3As discussed in Triplett, pp. 7, 13-14, the Implicit pc e Deflator, a
Paasche-formula index, cannot be used for this reconciliation because
Paasche-formulas lend themselves to statistical interpretation only
when referring back to the base year (in this case, 1972).
4 See “Labor Month in Review: CPI changes,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e
view , November 1981, p. 2.
5See footnote 7 to table 1 and the September 1981 m lr article for
information on the computation of the weighting effect.
L a b o r R e v ie w ,
6See Triplett, pp. 7, 13-14.
35
Productivity
Reports
Productivity declined in 1980
in most industries measured
A rthur S. Herman
Productivity, as measured by output per employee hour,
declined in 1980 in more than half of the industries for
which the Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publishes
data. Although a number of important industries, such
as coal mining, petroleum refining, and major house
hold appliances registered significant gains, the produc
tivity falloff in most industries was consistent with the
situation in the nonfarm business sector as a whole,
which had a 0.3-percent decline in 1980.
Table 1 shows productivity trends for the industries
currently measured by the Bureau and includes new
measures for the transformer, machine tools (including
separate measures for metal cutting and metal forming
machine tools), and non wool yarn mill industries.1Data
for 1980 are preliminary. The table also includes, for
the first time, a series for the hardwood veneer and ply
wood industry, and the softwood veneer and plywood
industry. These measures were developed by disag
gregating the existing measure for veneer and plywood.
Many of the measures have been revised back to 1972,
due to the introduction of more current data. The labor
input series for the mining industries have been revised
to include nonproduction worker hours. Therefore, the
mining productivity series now refer to output per em
ployee hour rather than output per production worker
hour, as previously published.
percent as both output and hours fell, but less sharply
than in 1980. In steel manufacturing, another important
industry, productivity declined 3.7 percent in 1980, after
falling 1.3 percent in 1979. Output in this industry de
clined significantly, down 17.0 percent, because of a de
crease in demand from such key markets as motor
vehicles, construction, and appliances, while hours were
reduced 13.8 percent.
Among other large manufacturing industries, a major
productivity decline of 13.2 percent occurred in the con
struction machinery industry as output dropped 19.7
percent due to poor conditions throughout the con
struction industry. Productivity in the gray iron foundry
industry declined 6.0 percent as output dropped a steep
21.7 percent. Productivity declines associated with large
output reductions occurred in the measures for motors
and generators (-4.1 percent), household furniture
(-2.2 percent), and sawmills (-1.9 percent). Output fell
more than 10 percent in 1980 in these three industries.
However, a number of manufacturing industries expe
rienced productivity gains in 1980. But for many, the
productivity increases reflected declines in output asso
ciated with even greater reductions in hours. In the
fluid milk industry, for example, productivity grew 5.7
percent as output fell 0.1 percent and hours dropped
5.5 percent. Productivity increased 4.9 percent in the
household appliance industry as output declined 6.8
percent and hours fell 11.1 percent. The petroleum re
fining industry had a productivity gain of 4.4 percent
with output down 6.4 percent and hours dropping 10.3
percent.
Manufacturing. The motor vehicles industry, one of the
more economically significant industries covered, had a
large productivity decline of 4.4 percent in 1980. Out
put plummeted 28.2 percent as demand was off sharply
for passenger cars, trucks, truck trailers, and buses. Em
ployee hours were reduced drastically, down 24.9 per
cent. Productivity also declined in 1979, dropping 1.2
Mining. Productivity in coal mining increased 12.6 per
cent in 1980, after falling in almost every year in the
past decade. Coal output grew 6.4 percent owing to in
creased demand as a petroleum substitute, growing ex
ports and stockpiling in anticipation of a strike in 1981,
while hours fell 5.5 percent. However, productivity de
clines occurred in the other mining industries covered,
with copper mining (recoverable metal) dropping 7.4
percent, nonmetallic minerals down 5.8 percent, and
iron mining (usable ore) declining 0.2 percent.
Arthur S. Herman is an economist in the Office of Productivity and
Technology, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Transportation and utilities. Productivity changes were
mixed in transportation and utility industries. A
Changes by industry
Digitized 36
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 1.
Indexes of output per employee hour in selected industries 1975-80 and percent changes 1979 80 and 1975-80
[1977 = 100]
SIC code1
Industry
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
19802
Percent
Change
1979-80
112.7
117.8
87.2
77.2
105.3
105.2
90.6
91.4
113.5
115.9
99.2
94.7
103.1
103.0
96.2
93.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
116.7
119.1
109.6
107.6
106.4
106.7
104.7
108.9
125.3
125.5
103.8
97.8
99.4
996
102.6
108.5
126.6
125.3
98.1
90.6
111.9
111.8
96.6
104.4
1.0
-0.2
-5.5
-7.4
12.6
12.2
-5.8
-3.8
Average Annual
Percent Change
1975-80
Mining
1011
1011
1021
1021
111,121
121
14
142
Iron mining, crude o r e ...........................
Iron mining, usable o r e ........................
Copper mining, crude ore ....................
Copper mining, recoverable metal . . . .
Coal m ining..........................................
Bituminous coal and lignite mining . . . .
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels . . . .
Crushed and broken stone ..................
3.0
2.1
2.4
2.8
0.7
0.8
1.6
3.5
Manufacturing
2026
203
2033
204
2041
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047,48
Fluid m ilk ...............................................
Preserved fruits and vegetables .........
Canned fruits and vegetables .............
Grain mill products...............................
Flour and other grain mill products . . .
Cereal breakfast fo o d s ........................
Rice milling ..........................................
Blended and prepared flo u r..................
Wet corn m illing....................................
Prepared feeds for animals and fowls .
95.5
93.7
92.2
87.1
85.8
94.8
90.4
106.2
74.1
85.9
99.5
100.1
102.3
91.1
85.1
100.0
88.7
110.9
83.2
90.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
107.9
104.4
103.7
100.4
101.7
101.7
92.7
92.5
102.0
100.9
116.2
99.3
101.4
101.9
98.6
107.6
92.9
90.1
110.7
102.1
122.8
5.7
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
92.6
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
-6.1
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
<3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
205
2061,62,63
2061,62
2063
2065
2082
2086
2111,21,31
2111,31
93.4
94.0
90.8
98.1
90.8
86.1
87.2
93.9
93.9
95.8
92.5
101.7
84.9
95.5
94.2
97.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.2
100.7
100.0
101.1
107.9
100.3
104.5
102.8
94.1
108.6
106.4
111.0
( 3)
107.6
105.6
102.2
97.6
113.2
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
109.9
108.8
103.2
3.7
4.2
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
2.1
3.0
1.0
( 3)
4.6
4.4
1.8
2121
Bakery products....................................
Sugar ...................................................
Raw and refined cane s u g a r...............
Beet sugar............................................
Candy and confectionary products . . . .
Malt beverages ....................................
Bottled and canned soft drinks ...........
All tobacco products.............................
Cigarettes, chewing and smoking
to bacco............................................
C igars...................................................
93.3
93.7
96.7
99.9
100.0
100.0
103.8
98.0
102.1
103.8
102.2
110.8
0.1
6.7
1.9
2.7
2251,52
2281
2421
2435,36
2435
2436
251
2511,17
2512
2514
H o siery.................................................
Nonwool yarn m ills ...............................
Sawmills and planing mills, general . . .
Veneer and plywood.............................
Hardwood veneer and plywood...........
Softwood veneer and plywood ...........
Household furniture .............................
Wood household furniture....................
Upholstered household furniture .........
Metal household furniture ....................
94.3
101.2
98.8
97.8
92.5
100.5
97.5
98.0
97.2
94.1
106.4
93.5
103.2
97.9
89.1
102.1
99.7
101.3
98.1
96.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.8
104.2
101.4
101.7
100.7
102.1
104.6
104.9
108.8
97.4
106.5
103.9
104.8
95.8
101.2
93.4
101.3
101.6
104.9
89.9
108.0
106.1
102.8
96.7
98.2
96.6
99.1
1.4
2.1
-1 .9
0.9
-3 .0
3.4
-2.2
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
2.0
1.7
0.7
-0.3
2.0
-1.3
0.5
1.14
2.64
-0 .8 4
2515
2611,21,31,61
2643
2651
2653
2823,24
2834
2841
2851
2911
Mattresses and bedsprings..................
Paper, paperboard and pulp mills . . . .
Paper and plastic b a g s ........................
Folding paperboard boxes....................
Corrugated and solid fiber board boxes
Synthetic fibers ....................................
Pharmaceutical preparations...............
Soaps and detergents ........................
Paints and allied products....................
Petroleum refining ...............................
96.9
86.7
99.8
98.5
96.2
84.5
92.5
97.3
94.2
88.7
99.2
95.0
100.5
102.8
101.5
89.5
98.4
100.1
97.3
93.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.5
103.2
99.8
102.9
103.5
105.2
98.9
105.3
104.7
101.3
102.7
105.4
97.5
101.4
107.1
115.0
106.4
104.2
105.7
98.6
( 3)
106.6
( 3)
103.5
107.5
108.6
106.6
( 3)
106.2
102.9
( 3)
1.1
1.44
4.0
-0 .5 4
0.7
2.2
6.1
2.7
1.94
2.6
2.7
301
314
3221
3241
325
3251,3,9
3251
3253
3255
3271,72
Tires and inner tubes ..........................
Footwear...............................................
Glass containers .................................
Hydraulic cem ent.................................
Structural clay products ......................
Clay construction products ..................
Brick and structural c la y ......................
Ceramic wall and floor tile ..................
Clay refractories .................................
Concrete products ...............................
91.8
101.3
98.5
84.7
91.0
89.1
93.1
89.0
95.5
91.9
99.8
102.1
98.2
92.4
94.9
94.2
102.2
89.0
97.1
95.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
108.8
102.5
101.4
101.3
102.6
102.6
96.5
115.5
102.9
98.6
109.5
100.2
105.9
96.0
96.4
92.5
85.8
112.0
109.1
94.5
( 3)
102.0
112.7
92.0
92.0
90.2
79.9
( 3)
97.2
( 3)
( 3)
-10.9
( 3)
4.54
( 5)
2.6
1.6
0.4
0.1
-3.7
7.54
1.3
0.94
3273
331
3321
3324,25
3331,32,33
3331
3334
3351
3353,54,55
3411
Ready-mixed concrete ........................
S te e l.....................................................
Gray iron foundries...............................
Steel foundries......................................
Primary copper, lead, and zinc ...........
Primary copper ....................................
Primary aluminum ...............................
Copper rolling and draw ing..................
Aluminum rolling and drawing .............
Metal cans............................................
97.5
93.3
97.0
107.5
85.3
83.0
96.2
76.8
87.5
87.0
98.8
99.0
96.4
105.7
96.0
95.2
101.4
86.1
101.7
93.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.1
108.3
102.1
98.1
96.5
99.4
99.6
96.2
104.6
102.3
99.8
106.9
96.9
99.3
96.2
98.3
99.7
98.8
101.7
103.5
( 3)
102.9
91.1
96.6
91.9
88.3
97.4
94.0
104.5
106.9
( 3)
-3.7
-6 .0
-2.7
-4.5
-10.2
-2.3
-4.9
2.8
3.3
0.94
2.3
-0.8
-2.1
1.0
1.1
( 5)
4.0
2.7
4.0
3441
3531
Fabricated structural m e ta l..................
Construction machinery and equipment.
97.4
93.9
98.9
96.3
100.0
100.0
100.4
105.8
102.0
100.3
100.2
87.1
-1.8
-13.2
0.7
-0 .6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
2.1
0.4
-5 .6
0.2
( 3)
0.5
4.4
( 3)
1.8
6.4
-4.2
-4.6
-2.5
-6.9
5.3
1.64
2.1“
4.24
2.4
2.74
1.04
-5 .0 4
10.64
4.74
0.6
3.8
4.04
2.44
37
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Productivity Reports
Table 1.
Continued— Indexes of output per employee hour
[1977 = 100]
Industry
SIC code1
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
19802
Percent
Change
1979-80
Average Annual
Percent Change
1975-80
3541,42
3541
3542
3562
3612
3621
3631,2,3,9
3631
Machine tools
Metal cutting machine tools
Metal forming machine to o ls ...............
Ball and roller bearings........................
Transformers........................................
Motors and generators........................
Major household appliances ...............
Household cooking equipment.............
103.0
102.9
104.0
97.5
89.3
93.0
93.6
97.8
98.4
97.3
101.7
99.0
90.1
95.9
96.6
100.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.5
103.6
99.9
105.6
103.5
98.5
100.5
100.3
101.9
103.1
98.4
105.4
108.5
97.9
108.7
108.5
101.7
104.7
93.2
93.9
109.3
93.9
114.0
119.8
-0.2
1.6
-5.3
-10.9
0.7
-4.1
4.9
10.4
0.2
0.8
-1.8
0.2
4.7
0.3
3.9
3.6
3632
3633
3639
3641
3645,46,47,48
3651
371
Household refrigerators and freezers . .
Household laundry equipment.............
Household appliances, n .e.c .......................
Electric lamps ......................................
Lighting fixtures ....................................
Radio and television receiving sets . . .
Motor vehicles and equipment.............
94.5
93.6
88.8
96.4
89.2
90.1
87.7
94.0
99.0
93.0
102.9
95.1
100.8
93.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
98.4
102.3
104.0
103.0
100.5
113.1
99.7
112.2
108.2
104.3
106.2
95.0
118.1
98.5
115.9
113.1
101.0
103.8
97.1
111.4
94.2
3.3
4.5
-3.2
-2.3
2.2
-5.7
-4.4
4.5
3.6
3.0
1.4
1.2
4.9
1.4
401
401
4111,31,414 PT
4213 PT
4213 PT
4511,4521 PT
4612,13
4811
491,492,493
491,493 PT
Railroad transportation-revenue traffic .
Railroad transportation-car m ile s .........
Class I bus carriers .............................
Intercity trucking6 .................................
Intercity trucking— general freight6 . . .
Air transportation6 ...............................
Petroleum pipelines .............................
Telephone communications..................
Gas and electric utilities ......................
Electric utilities......................................
89.5
98.3
97.0
89.2
88.4
87.6
95.7
85.9
95.7
92.9
95.4
100.1
93.8
100.3
96.1
95.5
95.2
93.3
98.2
95.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
104.5
102.8
99.7
99.8
98.6
109.3
101.6
105.8
98.2
96.9
104.7
102.9
101.5
98.6
96.6
113.1
101.6
111.2
97.8
95.5
107.3
106.4
104.8
94.2
87.9
106.2
90.8
118.5
95.6
94.2
2.5
3.4
3.3
-4.5
-9 .0
-6.1
-10.6
6.6
-2.2
-1.4
3.6
1.5
1.8
0.6
-0.1
4.6
-0.1
6.5
-0.1
0.1
492,493 PT
54
5511
5541
58
5912
7011
721
Gas utilities ..........................................
Retail food stores7 ...............................
Franchised new car dealers ...............
Gasoline service stations7 ....................
Eating and drinking places7 ..................
Drug and proprietary stores7 ...............
Hotels, motels, and tourist courts7 . . . .
Laundry and cleaning services7 ...........
101.4
100.7
95.0
85.6
101.0
94.2
89.7
96.9
103.5
102.0
98.6
94.3
101.4
97.1
95.7
97.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.4
95.4
98.6
102.8
97.6
102.1
105.0
100.6
104.4
96.6
94.6
104.4
96.7
104.4
99.6
94.0
99.0
96.8
98.8
100.7
94.8
111.6
91.9
87.6
-5.2
0.2
4.4
-3.5
-2.0
6.9
-7.7
-6.8
-0.2
-1 .2
0.2
3.3
-1.4
3.2
0.8
1.7
Other
'As defined in the 1972 Standard Industrial C lassification M anual published by the Office
of Management and Budget.
Preliminary.
3Not available.
"Percent change 1975-79.
P a te of change is less than 0.05 percent.
6Output per employee.
7Output per hour of all persons.
N ote : Although the output per employee hour measures relate output to the hours
10.1-percent decline occurred in the petroleum pipeline
industry as output decreased because of reduced de
mand for petroleum products. Productivity dropped 6.1
percent in air transportation, the first productivity de
cline since the measure began in 1947, as output fell.
Productivity in intercity trucking fell 4.5 percent, the
fourth consecutive decline, as output dropped 9.7 per
cent due to decreased shipments of consumer products,
construction materials, and petroleum. Conversely, the
two transportation industries that posted gains were
bus earners (3.3 percent) and railroads (revenue traffic,
2.5 percent). Electric and gas utilities had a productivity
decline of 2.2 percent, based on a small increase in out
put and a larger gain in hours. Telephone communica
tions, however, had a productivity gain of 6.6 percent,
associated with a large gain in output.
Trade and services. Productivity changes also varied
among trade and service industries. Productivity de
Digitized for
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of all employees engaged in each industry, they do not measure the specific contribution of la
bor, capital, or any other single factor of production. Rather, they reflect the joint effects of
many influences, including new technology, capital investment, the level of output, capacity utili
zation, energy use, and managerial skills, as well as the skills and efforts of the work force.
Some of these measures use a labor input series that is based on hours paid and some use a
labor input series that is based on plant hours. Because of revisions in source data and
rebasing to 1977 = 100, a number of the measures published in this table differ from those
previously published.
clined in hotels and motels (-7.7 percent), laundries and
dry cleaning (-6.8 percent), gasoline stations (-3.5
percent), and eating and drinking places (-2.0 percent).
Output fell in all of these industries. Conversely, pro
ductivity in drugstores rose 6.9 percent as output was
up. New car dealers had a productivity gain of 4.4 per
cent, based on a sharp drop in output and an even
steeper drop in hours. Retail food stores posted a small
productivity gain of 0.2 percent, as output was up 2.6
percent.
Trends, 1975-80
While all of the measured industries registered gains
over the long term (generally 1947-80 or 195 8-80),2 a
significant number of industries had declining produc
tivity over the more recent 5-year period, 1975-80.
More than three-quarters of the industries recorded
lower productivity during this period than in the pre
ceding long term period (1947-75 or 1958-75.) This
slowdown was consistent with the trends in the non
farm business sector of the economy where productivity
grew 0.6 [ercent from 1975-80, compared with 2.4 per
cent from 1947-75.
Gains. In recent years, the wet corn milling industry
showed the highest rate of gain among the measured in
dustries. Productivity grew 10.6 percent during 1975-79
(1980 data were not yet available). The productivity ad
vance in this industry was aided by a high rate of out
put growth (9.2 percent) as strong demand for high
fructose syrup, one of the industry’s key products, con
tinued. During this period, a number of new plants
were opened and a significant amount of highly auto
matic manufacturing equipment came on line. The sec
ond highest rate of productivity growth was for ceramic
wall and floor tile (1975-79 rate of 7.5 percent). A new
technique for firing tile which became widespread in the
industry, coupled with changes in materials handling,
resulted in significant labor savings.
Other industries with current, high rates of growth
were telephone communications (6.5 percent), synthetic
fibers (6.1 percent), and fluid milk (5.3 percent). In the
telephone industry, high output growth was sustained
over 1975-80 (9.8 percent a year) and productivity was
aided by expanded use of electronic switching equip
ment. In synthetic fibers, a highly capital intensive in
1For a detailed report on these industries, see the following M o n th
articles: John Duke and Horst Brand, “Cyclical be
havior of productivity in the machine tool industry,” November 1981,
pp. 27-34; Phyllis Flohr Otto, “Transformer industry productivity
slows,” November 1981, pp. 35-39; and James D. York, “Nonwool
ly L a b o r R e v ie w
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dustry, output averaged 4.8 percent while hours were
down 1.1 percent, resulting in the productivity gain. In
the fluid milk industry, output was up at a low rate of
0.5 percent, while hours dropped at a rate of 4.5 per
cent. New, larger plants utilizing highly automatic
computerized processing came on line during this peri
od, while a number of smaller, less efficient milk plants
were closed.
Declines. The flour industry had the largest average
falloff in productivity, dropping 5.0 percent from 1975
to 1979. Output declined at an average rate of 2.2 per
cent while hours grew at a rate of 2.9 percent. Other in
dustries with significant declines over 1975-80 were
brick and structural clay tile (-3.7 percent), steel
foundries (-2.1 percent), metal forming machine tools
(-1.8 percent), and laundries (-1.7 percent). Twelve oth
er industries recorded declining rates over the 1975-80
period, including such large industries as eating and
drinking places (-1.4 percent), retail food stores (-1.2
percent), gray iron foundries (-0.8 percent), as well as
gas and electric utilities and intercity trucking (both -0.1
percent).
A full report, Productivity Measures for Selected In
dustries, 1954-80, BLS Bulletin 2128, is available from
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
□
yarn mills experience slow gains in productivity,” March 1982, pp.
30-33.
2About half of the data were collected beginning in 1947 and the
remainder was collected from 1958 to present.
39
Estimation procedures for
the Employment Cost Index
G. D onald Wood, Jr .
The quarterly Employment Cost Index ( e c i ) , 1 which in
cludes measures of change in wages and salaries and in
compensation (wages and salaries plus the employer
cost of employee benefits), is estimated using the stan
dard Laspeyres index formula. The general survey sam
ple was specially designed to permit the construction of
these standard indexes.
Indexes of wages and salaries are also available for
union status and location categories. It is not possible
to estimate standard Laspeyres indexes for these catego
ries, because union status and location were not includ
ed in the basic sample design. However, information on
these characteristics is collected from the sample estab
lishments, and may be combined with data on wages
and salaries to estimate quarter-to-quarter changes. The
quarterly changes can then be used to derive special in
dexes by union status and location.
These special indexes have many of the properties of
Laspeyres chain indexes. For example, each quarter the
fixed-base-period-employment weight for each occupa
tion by industry defined in the ECI sample design is ap
portioned between union and nonunion sectors. The
current distribution of the work force in that occupa
tion and industry, as reflected in the current sample, is
the basis for the appropriation. The weights are used to
compute quarterly changes in wages and salaries for the
union and nonunion series. These changes are then mul
tiplied together (chained) to estimate an index. Indexes
derived in this fashion— special indexes— will be dis
cussed in more detail after derivation of the standard
indexes is described.
The ECI index of wages
The standard formula for the wage index is:
( 1)
I W.tit E..ib
l
X too
v w F
1
G. Donald Wood, Jr. is Chief of the Division of Employment Cost
Trends, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Wi0 is the wage rate for the /th type labor in the refer
ence period 0— June 1981. (Labor of type i is defined in
terms of an occupation within an industry.) Wit is the
wage rate for the /th type labor in the current period t,
and E ibis employment of the /th type labor in the base
period b, 1970.
In actual practice, the formula becomes:
2 C W it
----------- X 100
2 C W i0
1
where:
CWi0= Wi0E,b
= The cost weight of the /th type
labor at time 0;
CWit= WitEib
= The cost weight of the /th type
labor at time t;
w„
= The average wage at time 0, es
timated from the sample obser
vations;
W, = r (W
)
11
11 ‘(t-i)
= The average wage at time t;
= The estimated relative change
in wages between time t-1 and
time t. It is the estimate of the
ratio of the wage rate at time t
to the wage rate at time t-1.
The estimate is based on
matched wages— that is, wages
for specific occupations and es
tablishments that provide data
for both periods.
The compensation index
The calculation of the ECI index of compensation is
similar to that described above for wages. For the refer
ence period 0, a cost weight for wages (CWi0) is calcu
lated as described above. In addition, a cost weight for
benefits (CBi0) is calculated by multiplying the average
cost of benefits per hour worked times employment in
1970:
CB lO„ = B.„
(E IDJ
lU
= The cost weight for benefits in the
reference period 0.
where B]0is the average cost of benefits per hour worked
for the /th type labor in period 0.
The benefit cost weight in period t-1 is multiplied by
the estimated change in benefit cost (rf(0) between times
t-1 and t to get the next quarter’s cost weight (CBi):
(3)
CBit = r j , CB1(1_„
The compensation index at time t is formed by sum
ming the wage and the benefit cost weights at time t,
dividing by the sum of the wage and benefit cost
weights for the reference period 0, and multiplying by
100.
Calculation of component indexes
As noted, the ECI is a system of indexes. In addition
to the indexes of wages and compensation for the pri
vate civilian economy, there are indexes for State and
local governments, and for the private nonfarm econo
my. For each of the chief economic sectors, there are
subindexes for both wages and compensation by indus
try and occupation. At this time, more industry and oc
cupation indexes of wages than of compensation meet
publication standards.
The standard subindexes of the ECI are estimated us
ing the formulas given above. All that is necessary is to
limit the summation to the groups of labor included in
the component series. This is possible because a Laspeyres index can always be expressed as a weighted sum
of any set of component indexes. Thus, the overall in
dex I at time t may be expressed as:
(4)
It = 2 l\ (RI)q
where its subindexes (Ik) are defined by:
. ? W i , E ib
Ik =
(5)
represent operatives in the textile industry, the change
in their wage rate between quarters would be used in
calculating the quarterly relative for all series that in
cluded this type of labor. No change in the computa
tion procedure would be made if the workers in the mill
became union members. Both before and after the
workers were organized, the change in the wage rate
would represent operatives in the textile industry.
But for the union and nonunion series, it is desirable
to take account of changes in the union status of work
ers. Using the example above, before the weavers are
organized, they are included as nonunion textile opera
tives in the wage index for nonunion workers. After
they are organized, they should be included in the
union index for textile operatives.
Because such categorical shifts cannot be accommo
dated with a fixed-weight index, the union-status and
other special indexes are derived in such a way that
they are like chain indexes. The relative importance of
the union and nonunion components of the /th type of
labor (that is, an occupation within an industry) is al
lowed to vary over time as the sample changes. The
union and other special indexes are derived by com
pounding successive quarter-to-quarter relatives (that is,
percentage changes expressed as ratios) and multiplying
by 100, rather than by comparing a current-quarter cost
weight to some base-period cost weight. This procedure
is followed because any base-period cost weight might,
for example, reflect a different employment distribution
between union and nonunion than prevails currently.
These special indexes differ from the usual chain index,
however, in that total employment, union plus non
union, for each type of labor is held fixed at the 1970
level. The union relative, R u, has the form:
2 W 10, E,lb
and the weights used to aggregate them to the total are
called relative importances (R I)k0, defined by:
(6)
2 W E
(RI)0k = —---- , and 2 (RI)k = 1
2 2 W.n E.
k
k
Uk
,0
lb
Special wage indexes
The indexes by union, metropolitan area, and region
use a different estimation formula. The reason for the dif
ference deserves attention.
The national ECI measures the change in the cost of
fixed labor inputs where units of labor input are defined
by an occupation in an industry, for example, operatives
except transport in the textile mill products industry.
For the aggregate index, no distinction is made between
union and nonunion labor. For instance, if weavers per
forming a specific job in a textile mill were selected to
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__
£u
2 W.“
-Aiidl E.„
i "'
p
lb
Ru - ------------- Ellizil-----Eu
2 W \ n
i(t- ° E .
i
1(t-» p
lb
■(t-i)
(7)
where:
Wage of union labor of type i in
time t;
w,r
E-Ki-D
=
Employment of union labor of type
i in time t-1;
^i(t-l)
=
Employment of union and non
union labor of type i in time t-1.
The index, I u, is the product of the relatives times 100:
I “ = R" X R u(t.0 . . . R,u X 100
The proportion of total employment represented by
union labor at time t for the comparison between times
41
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Technical Note
t-1 and t is based on the sample of matched quotes used
in the estimation of the aggregate index. But note that
the union wage in time t-1 is not estimated directly
from the sample observations. Rather, the matched
sample is used to estimate the union wage rate for the
/'th type of labor relative to the wage of all labor of the
/th type. This estimated relative is multiplied by the es
timated average wage for all types of labor used in the
aggregate index, as indicated by:2
( 8)
The union wage rate at time t is estimated as:
(9)
Indexes before June 1981
All standard and special index values since June 1981
have been estimated using the equations described
above. But before June 1981, only quarterly relatives for
each series were calculated. Because index numbers
were not being constructed at that time, there was no
need to compare the current quarter cost weights to the
reference period cost weights. Instead, the wages or
compensation based on matched quotes were directly
multiplied by 1970 employment.
For this reason, the indexes for periods before June
1981 have been estimated by dividing the index (7) for
June 1981 by the product of previously derived quarter
ly change relatives (R ). That is:
(10a)
W -,= r ; W - ,„
where r“t is the wage relative of union labor of type i
based on matched quotes between time t-1 and t.
(10b) I December
and so forth.
T
1 March 1981
1980 =
=
T
/ R
L u n e 1981 1 IVJune 1981
^June 1981 ^ ^ J u n e 1981^ ^ M a r c h 1981^
□
FOOTNOTES
1See Beth Levin, “The Employment Cost Index: recent trends and
expansion,” elsewhere in this issue for additional information on the
e c i program.
Digitized for
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2In fact, the system does not explicitly compute all of the estimates
described, but uses a simplified computational procedure which yields
the same final estimates.
Foreign Labor
Developments
Solidarity’s proposals
for reforming Poland’s economy
Horst Brand
Worker opposition in Eastern Europe is not a new phe
nomenon. Recall East Germany in 1953, Hungary in
1956, Poland in 1956 and subsequent years, and
Czechoslovakia in 1968. Industrial unrest of more limit
ed scope has occurred in Rumania and, according to
Roy Medvedev,1in the Soviet Union. But in all of these
countries, the revolts were short-lived, being quickly
suppressed by the armed forces; thus, the political ten
dencies they might have spawned given time could not
bear fruit. In Poland, by contrast, the broad-based
workers’ movement had the opportunity to mature to a
much more advanced stage, characterized by Solidarity,
an autonomous movement which superseded the estab
lished state-sponsored trade unions.
With the emergence of Solidarity, the workers left be
hind the more limited strike and protest actions of the
early and mid-1970’s which had had some favorable ef
fects on the government’s price, wage, and production
policies, but made little lasting impact. Solidarity
emerged from the inter-enterprise strike committee
formed in August 1980 at Gdansk and Szczecin. Some
of the committee’s demands were unprecedented and
audacious. It wanted free unions, in accordance with
the 87th convention of the International Labour Orga
nization, which had been ratified by Poland; the right to
strike, and safety for strike participants and their help
ers; freedom of speech, as guaranteed by the Polish con
stitution; restoration of jobs to employees dismissed for
participating in earlier strike actions; liberation of all
political prisoners; full publicity for Solidarity; the ap
pointment of managers on the basis of competence; the
abolition of privileges for the party apparatus, the po
lice, and the internal security police; and a number of
improvements in economic and social services.2
Horst Brand is an economist in the Office of Productivity and Tech
nology, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The author alone is responsible for
the content of this report.
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Solidarity lent form, structure, and articulateness to
worker protest. By force of circumstance, it evolved into
an opposition party, breaking the monopoly of the Pol
ish United Workers Party.3 (Solidarity explicitly recog
nized that party’s “leading role,” although this recog
nition came increasingly under attack from groups
within the organization.) Among the tasks Solidarity
faced was to formulate alternatives to the government
policies and institutions that had led Poland to the
brink of economic ruin. Here, another development
which had gathered momentum since the mid-1970’s
became pertinent: some dissident Polish intellectuals,
among them noted scholars and experts in economics,
history, and other social sciences, either supported Soli
darity or generated a climate in which ideas for reform
ing the Polish polity could flourish. Examples of this
support included KOR (Committee for Worker Defense),
established in 1976 to free workers from jail; the Expe
rience and Future group, more inclined than KOR to re
form the system “from within” ; and the Flying
University. Some members of these groups became key
advisers to Solidarity during the crucial Gdansk nego
tiations in 1980.
Following is a discussion of some of Solidarity’s goals
and policies formulated and issued at its October 1981
convention. The discussion is based essentially on two
documents which contain the basic thinking of Solidari
ty: Position on Social and Economic Reform o f the Coun
try, issued by the Network of Solidarity Organizations
in Leading Factories, and Programs o f the Independent
Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity Adopted by the
First National Congress o f Delegations, the Solidarity
Congress’ program resolution.4 Solidarity’s proposals
can be divided into those involving (1) civil liberties and
the rule of law; (2) the self-managed enterprise and its
relation to the economy; and (3) the improvement of
current economic conditions. Only the proposals deal
ing with self-managed enterprises are discussed in detail
in this report.
Autonomous enterprise favored
Solidarity favors the creation of several types of en
terprise— “social,” state, cooperative, private, and
mixed. The social enterprise was to be “the basic ele
ment of the national economy [with] full independence,
43
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Foreign Labor Developments
autonomy of its workforce, and . . . self-financing.” In
contrast, state enterprises were to be created “only in
exceptional cases, inspired by national interest . . . veri
fied by Parliament.” Like the social enterprise, the state
enterprise was to be controlled by means of “economic
instruments” and had to be self-financing.5
Self-financing was conceived to be a condition sine
qua non of the self-managed enterprise. Self-financing
would free enterprises from control of the government;
it would be an incentive for efficiency, penalizing the in
efficient enterprise. To encourage long-term investment,
certain modifications to monetary policy would be nec
essary, for instance, low-interest loans and compulsory
reserve funds. But, the principle of self-finance should
be “unconditionally observed,” and accordingly, the
granting of bank credit should no longer be automatic.
The self-managed enterprise, as conceived by Solidari
ty, does not resemble in either form or structure the en
trepreneurial firm in Western countries. There are
fundamental differences in legal status. The self-man
aged enterprise would be run by its employees and their
elected representatives, or an employees’ council. The
enterprise managers would be appointed by the employ
ees’ council, be “subservient” to it, and would be
obliged to carry out the council’s resolutions. Such sub
servience was intended not merely to ensure the demo
cratic control of the enterprise, but also to sever the
link between enterprise management, on the one hand,
and the central administration and party hierarchy, on
the other.
The function of an employees’ council is not compa
rable to that of a board of directors in Western
countries. The directors’ authority is usually nominal
and they often have interests in firms other than the one
on whose board they sit. The employees’ council would
determine the direction of the enterprises’ development
and operation, labor and training policies, the division
of profits, and the extent of cooperation with other en
terprises and of foreign trade, for example. Profits
would indeed “become the main stimulus of economic
activity of an enterprise,” and the amount of wages
above a certain fixed floor would be determined by prof
its. However, profits could not be derived from monopo
ly practices, and enterprises would be monitored by a
state agency to prevent such practices— to be specified
by law — and sanctions would be imposed on violators.
Solidarity did not define “profits,” and it is not clear
whether profits can be generated under the proposed
conditions, which include the regulation of prices by the
market, bolstered by competitive imports. The advocacy
of the market as price regulator (with a few exceptions)
was not a m atter of ideology. It emerged from experi
ence with Poland’s system of rigid prices, which had
stymied increases in supplies and, more important, had
contributed to fostering bureaucracy.
44
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Decentralization— a major concern
If there is one notion that pervades Solidarity’s think
ing as reflected in its program, it is decentralization:
“The basic principle underlying economic reform is to
provide safeguards for independence, self-management,
and self-financing of enterprises, which implies the abol
ishment of the directive-allocative system and the struc
tures associated with it.”6 The dismantling of the
“directive-allocative system” would mean the demise of
a vast state bureaucracy, as well as of the patronage
base of the ruling party. There would still be a Council
of Ministers, whose responsibilities would include for
mulating economic policies, and to which a staff of eco
nomic planners would report. But the state would no
longer have ultimate authority; that authority would be
transferred to the Sejm— the Polish parliament— which
would have its own economic planning staff to avoid a
“central planning monopoly.” Furthermore, the plan
ning authority of the Council of Ministers would not be
inherent but delegated by the Sejm, for according to
Solidarity’s thinking, “socialized planning should be op
erated on the principle that the final decision belongs to
representative, not executive bodies.”7
The importance of central planning would be drasti
cally reduced under Solidarity’s proposals. Its scope
would be restricted to the “indispensable, leaving the
remainder to the self-controlling mechanisms” because
experience has taught “that planning covering all
spheres of social and economic life becomes the way
and method for developing a totalitarian system that at
tempts to predict and control everything.” 8 The central
plan “is merely a plan for the government”9and it must
not impose decisions on enterprises and regional enti
ties, whose planning is to be “autonomous.” Underlying
the conception of autonomous planning is the assump
tion that the enterprise, being subject to various market
and social forces, will always plan so as to improve its
operations. Yet, such efforts must surely give rise to im
balances, and it is the task of central planning to deal
with these imbalances, that is, “to determine basic dy
namics and structural proportions,” including the allo
cation of new capital investment.
Solidarity viewed the central administrative system
that dominates the Polish economy as shackling the
natural energies and competence of the Polish work
force. It declared that the “essential m atter” is to elimi
nate “the dictative and distributional mechanism of
management, consisting, on the one hand, in estab
lishing tasks and, on the other, establishing means or
limits of expenditures . . . [This] mechanism is responsi
ble for decrease in economic effectiveness, lack of bal
ance, negative social effects (falsification of information,
bureaucratization, disappearance of self-management).” 10
But what would replace the central administrative
system? Some of Solidarity’s pertinent proposals in
clude: direct, legally protected contract relations be
tween suppliers and customers to replace directed
distribution; self-financing of enterprises, regulated by
taxation and credit, to supersede centrally controlled
funding (the supervision of enterprise finances would be
confined to ensuring conformance to law); and job as
signments, plant layout, establishment of work norms
and wage rates, and similar matters set by the self-man
aged enterprise, not the Ministry of Labor and Wages
which no longer would oversee the enterprise staff (this
task would fall to specialized institutions, themselves
self-managed, which would render purely advisory and
training services).
How, in Solidarity’s conception, would central plan
ning be implemented? Recall that Solidarity demanded
that all administrative bodies charged with resource al
location be eliminated; that economic enterprises plan
autonomously; that no administrative links exist be
tween the planning authorities (at the top there would
be at least two of them) and enterprises; and that the
state budget be the only financial plan of the state.
The key to the answer is Solidarity’s proposal that
“instruments incoherent with the logic of economic
market relations should be replaced by instruments op
erating via income and demand basis.’’11 One infers from
this viewpoint that the instruments consist largely of
taxation and credit. Taxation is a policy instrument, in
addition to financing the state budget, “ . . . [The] taxes
included in the liabilities of an enterprise would regulate
the total financial balance in the economy, and also reg
ulate the amount and distribution of income into pro
duction and consumption funds.” 12 Taxes on enterprise
income, furthermore, would be graduated to regulate in
creases in profits. Taxes on the enterprise’s wage expen
ditures would be assessed so as to eliminate excessive
differences in personal incomes between groups of em
ployees.
Credit policy would function as it is designed to func
tion in Western countries, that is, to protect the
purchasing power of money and help stabilize the econ
omy. The question of credit policy is much more com
plex than Solidarity’s proposals suggest. Controls over
foreign capital investments, for example, are not men
tioned in its discussion of credit policy. Also the prob
lem of rampant inflation in the current administeredprice system is not satisfactorily discussed. Institutional
reforms evidently take precedence over current policy
problems. The banking system would be autonomous
(although accountable to parliament, as it is not, or to
only a tenuous degree, in the United States or in Great
Britain). The banking system would cease to be ac
countable to the Ministry of Finance and, thus, could
no longer be used to control enterprise funds. Enter
prises would be free to avail themselves of credit, sub
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ject only to criteria of solvency and interest rates.
Abolishment of privileges
Decentralization and the self-managed enterprise
directed by a workers’ council is one of the axes of Soli
darity’s program. The abolition of privilege and social
inequality is the other. The term “axes” is used deliber
ately here, for it refers to a coordinate system in which
efficiency and equality are not tradeoffs, but are indis
pensable to each other. That is the sense of Solidarity’s
program.
The extent of privilege and inequality in Poland has
been summarized in the Experience and Future group’s
Report on the State o f the Republic:13
The seventies were a decade when incomes rose rap
idly, albeit most rapidly in the highest income brack
et, the end result being a widening of the income
differential to a ratio of 1 : 20 . . . . Part of society
continues to live with lower than the social minimum
income, while another segment, consisting of the pri
vileged, has incomes several or even dozens of times
the average . . . . There exists in Poland a very large
group of people who live in poverty, quite often near
the subsistence level.
The mere fact of belonging to the Polish United
Workers’ Party does not automatically yield benefits.
Only members of the active political core of the Par
ty, its allied political groupings, and the administra
tive apparatus enjoy a privileged position in society.
Their privileges extend to almost all spheres of life:
access to status positions, real incomes, easier shop
ping, health, education, and foreign travel . . . . Dur
ing the 1970’s, these privileges were extended to
relatively large groups in society; the decade also
witnessed the inheritance of privilege. These groups,
which do not share the concerns of the majority, are
more interested in supplementing existing privileges
and acquiring new ones than they are in improving
any aspect of public life.”
This situation lay at the root of the rise of Solidarity as
a social movement; its program manifests the urge to
deal with it.
The abolition of privilege is implicit in the proposed
economic reforms. Employees’ councils could readily
control the pay and other compensation of appointed
managers. They could institute personnel policies based
on competence and experience rather than party mem
bership. The accountability of government executives to
the Sejm could serve to control their emoluments. And
the proposed abandonment of the system of allocation
and directed distribution would likewise eliminate many
jobs to which privileges attach. The abolition of privi
lege is inseparable from the creation of a more produc45
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Foreign Labor Developments
tive economy. “The union calls for reform. Its purpose
is to abolish the privileges of the bureaucracy and to
rule out the possibility of their restoration. The reform
must bring about the general liberation of industrious
ness and enterprise.” 14
Cost to workers not defined
The reform implies “public costs,” but does not de
fine what these costs would include. There is a pos
sibility that jobs and income would be lost and
inefficient enterprises would close. No central authority
would be established to cope with these problems. The
idea of the state as a service state is not considered; it is
left implicit at best and usually ignored. For example,
Solidarity’s program declares that “the Union will resist
the growing differences among enterprises and regions.”
Appropriate tax measures can help do this, but it has
been the experience in Western countries that central
authority must actively intervene (for example, federally
sponsored area redevelopment or some kind of urban
aid), however ineffectual such intervention may be. Soli
darity would assign this task mainly to territorial bod
ies, and it would be implemented chiefly by taking over
the social welfare activities currently operated by enter
prises. A national social fund would shift aid to needy
regions. It is not clear (but appears doubtful) whether
the central planning or banking authorities would have
sufficient power to influence the flow of investment
funds so as to compensate regional imbalances. The am
bivalence on this and related points reflect Solidarity’s
profound distrust of the state as it has experienced it.
Such distrust is apparent in the area of employment
as well. Solidarity advocated “the universal right to
work,” and opposed unemployment.15 It opposed staff
reduction unless “there are social guarantees [such as
allowances and retraining,] for people who are tempo
rarily jobless.” It did not, however, explicitly obligate
the state to ensure full employment, although it foresaw
“public costs” for the reforms it demanded. Other than
to propose that regional boards form special employ
ment commissions, Solidarity did not assign specific
job-creating responsibilities to the state. It may be that
it feared the state would create “unproductive” jobs.
s u p p r e s s i o n o f s o l i d a r i t y does not impair the
significance of its program. On the contrary, the pro
gram articulated the threat Solidarity ultimately posed
to the “New Class” 16 and to its monopolistic control
over social property. The program corresponded to pro
found social needs which, of course, will persist and
which, if postwar history is any guide, will reassert it
self in political action.
□
The
FOOTNOTES
See Roy A. Medvedev,
A. Knopf, 1975).
O n S o c ia lis t D e m o c r a c y
(New York, Alfred
2The list of Solidarity’s demands is reproduced in Jadwiga
Staniszkis, “The Evolution of Forms of Working Class Protest in Po
land: Sociological Reflections on the Gdansk-Szczecin Case, August
1980,” S o v ie t S tu d ie s, April 1981, pp. 222-23.
The Polish United Workers Party represents an amalgamation,
compelled in the late-1940’s, of the communist Polish Workers Party
and the Polish Socialist Party. For a brief survey of the history of this
amalgamation, see, Jaime Reynolds, “Communists, Socialists and
Workers: Poland, 1944-48,” S o v ie t S tu d ie s , October 1978, pp. 516-30.
4The writer uses the English translations of these documents. The
translation for the P r o g r a m is from the D a ily R e p o r t, Eastern Europe,
Nov. 4, 1981, of the U.S. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. The
translator of the P o sitio n paper is unknown.
5Network of Solidarity Organizations in Leading Factories,
46FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P o sitio n
on S o c ia l a n d E c o n o m ic R e f o r m o f th e C o u n tr y ,
6 P o sitio n . . . , p. 2.
p. 7 if.
7I b id ., p. 4.
8I b id .
9I b id .
'° I b id ., p. 5.
" I b id .
12I b id ., p. 11.
'3The Experience and Future Group, P o la n d T o d a y : T h e S ta te
(Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe, 1981), pp. 55 and 65.
14S o lid a r ity C o n g ress P ro g r a m , p. G-33.
15 P r o g r a m , p. G-38.
of
th e R e p u b lic
16The term originated with Milovan Djilas, the Yugoslav dissident
who wrote a prophetic book titled, T h e N e w C la ss (New York,
Praeger Publishers, 1957).
Research
Summaries
Workers on long schedules,
single and multiple jobholders
D aniel E. Taylor
and
Edward S. Sekscenski
Although the “standard workweek” in the United
States has been 40 hours for several decades, about 1 in
every 4 workers labored 41 hours or more per week in
May 1980. Workers on long schedules holding a single
job totaled 21.3 million and those with two jobs or
more, 3.2 million.
This report is concerned with that segment of the
work force that works more than 40 hours per week,
whether at one job or more. Data on multiple jobhold
ers who worked less than 41 hours are also examined.
The analysis consolidates data that previously appeared
in two separate Bureau of Labor Statistics’ reports. One
report focused on extended workweeks of single jobs
and the other on multiple jobholding. The information
is from the May supplement to the Current Population
Survey (cps).1
The 40-hour workweek is widely accepted as the
standard in labor law and collective bargaining agree
ments. In 1980, more than 56 million wage and salary
workers, three-fifths of the total, were covered by provi
sions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (flsa) that re
quired premium wages for work in excess of 40 hours a
week. Other laws covering workers in the Federal Gov
ernment or in firms having Federal contracts contain
premium pay provisions to discourage work in excess of
40 hours a week.2 Forty hours is also the usual cutoff in
major collective bargaining agreements that provide
premium pay after a minimum number of weekly
hours.3
A third of all employed men and more than 1 in 7
women in the work force exceeded the standard work
week in May 1980. (See table 1.) Full-time workers put
in an average of 43.1 hours a week. One-third of both
Daniel E. Taylor and Edward S. Sekscenski are economists in the Di
vision of Labor Force Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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a
single and multiple jobholders who exceeded the
40-hour standard worked from 49 to 59 hours. However, a far higher proportion of single jobholders worked
41 to 48 hours than worked 60 hours or more, while
the reverse was true for multiple jobholders, as shown
in the following tabulation (numbers in thousands):
N um ber at
w ork
Single jobholders .
Men ...........
Women . . . .
Multiple jobhold
ers ..................
Men ...........
Women . . . .
P erce n t a t w ork _
60
4 9 to 5 9
h ou rs
o r m o re
h ou rs
41 h ou rs
o r m o re
41 to 4 8
h ou rs
21,300
16,600
4,800
40
37
53
33
34
29
26
29
18
3,200
2,400
800
27
23
37
34
33
36
39
44
27
For many workers, longer workweeks, whether on
overtime or on second jobs, represent a tradeoff be
tween income and leisure. It is not always the workers’
choice, however, as evidenced by collective bargaining
agreements that include provisions on the right to re
fuse overtime alongside provisions on the right to equal
opportunity for overtime. Reasons for multiple
jobholding include a variety of motivations in addition
to increasing income such as gaining work experience,
enjoyment of work, and helping a friend.4
Firms use overtime to overcome “disequilibrium con
ditions,” such as a sudden increase in product demand,
higher than usual worker absences, or other unantici
pated events. Where premium wages cost less than re
cruiting, hiring, training, and fringe benefits for
additional workers, overtime may be regularly sched
uled.5 A firm’s demand for moonlighters, in contrast,
usually represents a demand for part-time workers.
Part-time employees are often relatively low-cost labor.
Their wage rates tend to be below those of full-time
workers and their fringe benefits fewer.
Single jobholders
About 16.6 million wage and salary workers were on
extended schedules on their sole or primary job in May
1980; two-fifths of them received premium pay. Work-
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Research Summaries
Table 1. Employed persons with single and multiple jobs working 41 hours or more, by sex, age, and marital status,
May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Worked 41 hours or more
Characteristics
Total
employed
Total
Number
of
workers
Single jobholders
Percent of
total
employed
Number
of
workers
Multiple jobholders
Percent of
total
employed
Number
of
workers
Percent of
total
employed
Age
Total, both sexes, 16 and over........................
96,809
24,530
25.3
21,346
22.0
3,184
3.3
Total, m e n .......................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................
20 to 24 years ............................................
25 to 34 years ............................................
35 to 44 years ............................................
45 to 54 years ............................................
55 to 64 years ............................................
65 years and o v e r........................................
55,782
3,929
7,236
15,129
11,075
9,606
6,992
1,815
18,935
471
2,035
5,621
4,622
3,524
2,319
343
33.9
12.0
28.1
37.2
41.7
36.7
33.2
18.9
16,570
419
1,785
4,911
3,974
3,073
2,083
325
29.7
10.7
24.7
32.5
35.9
32.0
29.8
17.9
2,365
52
250
710
648
451
236
18
4.2
1.3
3.5
4.7
5.9
4.7
3.4
1.0
Total, w o m en...................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................
20 to 24 years ............................................
25 to 34 years ............................................
35 to 44 years ............................................
45 to 54 years ............................................
55 to 64 years ............................................
65 years and o v e r........................................
41,027
3,405
6,273
10,930
8,243
6,614
4,424
1,139
5,595
160
827
1,665
1,276
985
579
103
13.6
4.7
13.2
15.2
15.5
14.9
13.1
9.0
4,776
125
686
1,383
1,098
853
530
101
11.6
3.7
10.9
12.7
13.3
12.9
12.0
8.9
819
35
141
281
178
132
49
2
2.0
1.0
2.2
2.6
2.2
2.0
1.1
.2
Men:
Never married ............................................
Married, spouse present .............................
Separated ...................................................
Widowed or divorced...................................
13,031
38,080
1,308
3,363
2,882
14,508
429
1,116
22.1
38.1
32.8
33.2
2,529
12,664
384
993
19.4
33.3
29.4
29.5
353
1,844
45
123
2.7
4.8
3.4
3.7
Women:
Never married ............................................
Married, spouse present .............................
Separated ...................................................
Widowed or divorced...................................
10,092
23,041
1,546
6,348
1,232
2,955
293
1,114
12.2
12.8
19.0
17.5
1,023
2,601
233
919
10.1
11.3
15.1
14.5
209
354
60
195
2.1
1.5
3.9
3.1
Marital status
weeks of 41 hours or more were the usual routine for
many workers— two-thirds of the workers on long
hours in May 1980. Such workers are less likely to re
ceive premium pay than those who worked more than
40 hours in the survey week but usually do not. This is
probably because the latter group works more often on
jobs that are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards
Act or by collective bargaining provisions on overtime
pay.
Between May 1973 and May 1980, the proportion of
full-time wage and salary workers who reported long
workweeks on a single job turned down slightly (table
2). Amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act dur
ing the 1970’s, which brought additional workers under
its overtime provisions, primarily in the service and re
tail trade industries, played an im portant role in the
trend.6
Extended workweeks and premium pay are sensitive
to changes in economic conditions. During the reces
sions of 1974-75 and 1980, both the proportion of
workers on long schedules and the prevalence of premi
um pay for those who exceeded the standard workweek
showed significant declines. Manufacturing plays an im
portant role in such cyclical patterns. For example, in
May 1980, manufacturing industries accounted for
48
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about 40 percent of the decline in the number of work
ers on extended workweeks although they employed 22
percent of all workers.
Sex and age. Men are far more likely than women to
put in long workweeks. In May 1980, men made up 77
percent of the employees who exceeded 40 hours on a
single job and accounted for 62 percent of all full-time
employees. Further underscoring the differences, the
majority of men reported working more than 49 hours,
while the majority of women worked 41 to 48 hours.
Married men are particularly prone to work extended
weeks. In May 1980, 30 percent of married men but
only 21 percent of single men exceeded the standard.
Marital status had the reverse effect on women— those
who were separated, divorced, or widowed were most
likely to exceed the standard (table 3). Race had the
same relationship to extended workweeks for men and
women. White men and women were more likely than
blacks to work 41 hours or more on a single job.
Overall, a higher proportion of women than men re
ceived a premium rate of pay for hours in excess of 40
per week (43 versus 40 percent). This relationship was
reversed for blacks, with men far more likely to receive
premium pay for extended workweeks.
Workers, aged 25 to 44 years, were slightly over-represented among employees who exceeded the standard
workweek on a single job in May 1980. Teenagers, as
might be expected, had relatively small proportions on
long workweeks. In each of the four age groups that
span the working-age population, men were two-and-ahalf times as likely as women to work extended hours.
Union status. Workers covered by union contracts are
less apt to work long schedules and more likely to re
ceive premium pay for weeks in excess of the standard.
In May 1980, 16 percent of the union workers and 26
percent of nonunion workers had such schedules.
Among workers on long workweeks, 68 percent of
those covered by union contracts received premium pay,
compared to 33 percent of other workers. These differ
ences are explained, in part, by organized labor’s ability
to gain overtime premium provisions in collective
bargaining agreements and the greater likelihood that
union members will be covered by the Fair Labor Stan
dards Act. As a result, employers generally incur higher
costs for employing union members beyond the stan
dard workweek.
Occupation and industry. Professional and technical
workers, managers and administrators, and craftworkers
accounted for over 9 million of the employees who
exceeded the standard workweek in May 1980, 55 per
cent of the total. Of these three groups, however, only
managers were heavily overrepresented. Employees in
this group made up 21 percent of all employees who
exceeded the standard workweek, but only 12 percent
of all full-time employees.
Other occupations that were overrepresented on ex
tended workweeks included farmers, transport equip
ment operatives, and salesworkers. In contrast, clerical
and service workers and factory operatives were under
represented (table 4).
Table 2. Full-time wage and salary workers who worked
41 hours or more on a single job and those who received
premium pay, May 1973 to May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Year
1973 ..
1974 ..
1975 ..
1976 ..
1977 ..
1978 . .
19791 .
19801 .
All
full-time
wage and
salary
workers
62,202
63,714
61,765
64,546
66,441
69,428
71,677
71,728
Worked 41 hours or
more
Number
Percent of
full-time
workers
18,105
17,564
15,450
16,679
18,174
18,977
18,765
16,600
29.1
27.6
25.0
25.8
27.4
27.3
26.2
23.1
1 Data are not strictly comparable to those of earlier years.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Received premium pay
Number
7,697
7,302
5,597
6,621
7,697
8,138
7,999
6,708
Percent of
those who
worked 41
hours or
more
42.5
41.6
36.2
39.7
42.4
42.9
42.6
40.4
Table 3. Full-time wage and salary workers who worked
41 hours or more on a single job and those who received
premium pay, by sex, age, race, and marital status,
May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Worked 41 hours
or more
Number
Percent of
full-time
workers
Number
Percent who
worked 41
hours or
more
12,746
288
5,069
39.8
362
1,558
9,243
1,582
23.2
26.4
30.2
25.5
210
912
3,397
549
58.0
58.5
36.8
34.7
11,962
783
30.2
16.8
4,623
446
38.6
57.0
2,075
9,600
1,071
23.7
30.3
27.8
998
3,630
441
48.1
37.8
41.2
3,854
14.1
1,639
42.5
109
637
2,673
435
9.2
13.3
14.7
13.2
53
353
1,062
172
48.6
55.4
39.7
39.5
3,477
378
14.8
9.5
1,451
188
41.7
49.7
924
1,967
963
14.1
13.3
16.0
393
809
437
42.5
41.1
45.4
Characteristic
Men
Age:
16 to 19 years ...........
20 to 24 ......................
25 to 54 ....................
55 and over ...............
Race
W h ite ...........................
Black and o ther...........
Marital status:
Never m arried.............
Married, spouse present
O th e r...........................
Women
Age:
16 to 19 years ...........
20 to 24 ......................
25 to 54 ......................
55 and over ...............
Race:
White ..........................
Black and oth e r...........
Marital status:
Never m arried.............
Married, spouse present
O th e r...........................
Received premium
pay
The inverse relationship that generally exists between
the prevalence of extended hours and premium pay may
be observed among occupations. To illustrate, nearly
half of all full-time farmworkers had extended work
weeks, but only one-tenth of these received premium
pay. However, 18 percent of factory operatives reported
working more than 40 hours, with 84 percent of them
receiving premium pay.
Similar proportions of employees were on long work
weeks in the goods-producing and service-producing
sectors in May 1980— about 23 percent (table 5). With
in the goods-producing sector, agriculture had the
highest proportion (46 percent), followed by mining (38
percent). Within the service-producing sector, the pro
portion of full-time workers on extended schedules
ranged from 31 percent in trade to 10 percent in State
public administration.
Nearly twice as many workers in the goods-produc
ing sector as in the service-producing sector received a
premium rate of pay for work in excess of the standard
in May 1980 (56 versus 31 percent). Again, coverage by
the Fair Labor Standards Act and collective bargaining
agreements is an important factor in this difference. In
September 1980, FLSA provisions covered 81 percent of
the employees in the goods-producing sector compared
with 51 percent in the service-producing sector. In
terms of union coverage, 34 percent of the full-time
workers in the goods-producing sector, and 26 percent
49
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Research Summaries
S in g le
jo b h o ld e r s
Table 4. Full-time wage and salary workers who worked
41 hours or more a week on a single job and those who
received premium pay, by occupational group, May 1980
M u ltip le
jo b h o ld e r s
P rim a r y
jo b
[Numbers in thousands]
1980
Worked 41 hours or more
Occupation
All occupations
Professional, technical and kindred worke r s ..........................................................
Managers and administrators, except farm
Salesworkers............................................
Clerical and kindred w o rkers....................
Craft and kindred w orkers........................
Operatives, except tran sport....................
Transport equipment operatives...............
Laborers, except fa rm ...............................
Service w o rkers........................................
Farm workers' ..........................................
Number
Percent of
full-time
workers
Percent who
received
premium pay
16,600
23.1
40.4
3,018
3,513
1,106
1,620
2,655
1,646
938
528
1,172
404
24.0
41.4
31.6
11.8
25.1
18.0
33.0
17.3
16.8
47.8
21.4
12.7
13.5
58.5
65.8
84.4
52.9
69.3
40.7
10.9
' Includes farmers and farm managers.
Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
N ote :
in the service-producing sector were under collective
bargaining agreements.
Multiple jobholders
In all, about 4.8 million persons, including both wage
and salary workers and the self-employed, worked two
jobs or more in May 1980. Their percentage distribu
tion by hours on their primary job was similar to that
of other jobholders, as shown below:
A ll
jo b s
Total..........................
1-34 hours...........
35-40 hours.........
41 hours or more .
100
25
51
24
100
30
48
22
100
15
9
76
Median weekly hours . .
40
40
51
As the tabulation shows, when hours on all jobs are
cumulated, more than three-quarters of all dual job
holders worked beyond the standard workweek in May
1980. This represents 4 of every 5 men, and more than
2 of every 5 women, who held more than one job.
For all dual jobholders, combined median hours
worked were slightly lower in 1980 than in 1979. The
decrease resulted primarily from a drop of 2 hours
(from 54 to 52) in the average workweeks of dual
jobholding men. In addition, women— whose work
weeks generally are shorter than those of men— in
creased their share of total dual jobholding from 30 to
33 percent, continuing a trend of at least a decade (ta
ble 6).
While total hours by dual jobholding women have
been rising for several years, half of all women working
two jobs continue to hold two part-time jobs. In con
trast, more than three-fourths of the men who hold two
jobs work one part-time and one full-time job. Another
6 percent of the men work two full-time jobs.
Table 5.
Full-time wage and salary workers who worked 41 hours or more on a single job and those who received premium
pay, by industry, May 1973 to 1980
Worked 41 hours or more
Industry group
All industries
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
Received premium pay
1978
1979'
1980’
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979'
1980’
29.1
27.6
25.0
25.8
27.4
27.3
26.5
23.1
42.5
41.6
36.2
39.7
42.4
42.9
42.6
40.4
Goods producing ....................
Agriculture ...........................
Mining .................................
Construction........................
Manufacturing......................
Durable goods ...............
Nondurable go o d s...........
30.0
54.6
38.4
23.0
30.1
31.3
28.3
27.7
54.7
41.7
21.8
27.3
28.7
25.1
23.4
55.9
36.6
20.9
21.5
20.6
22.8
26.6
56.8
34.1
21.4
25.7
25.3
26.4
28.6
53.1
34.5
23.9
28.0
28.7
27.1
28.0
47.4
40.9
22.3
27.7
28.6
26.2
27.5
53.2
34.8
21.4
27.1
28.2
25.5
23.5
46.4
37.5
20.6
22.3
22.5
21.8
63.9
7.9
65.8
56.6
69.9
73.7
63.4
60.5
10.4
64.8
53.1
66.7
70.3
60.4
53.7
11.6
57.5
52.2
59.9
62.6
56.1
60.4
13.4
57.4
52.6
67.3
69.5
64.1
62.0
10.9
64.5
55.9
68.4
70.4
65.2
61.1
14.0
65.6
55.1
66.7
70.0
60.9
61.4
12.2
65.0
54.5
67.9
70.9
62.5
56.2
13.9
63.0
51.0
61.9
64.2
58.3
Service producing....................
Transportation and public
utilities .............................
Wholesale and retail trade ..
Finance, insurance, and real
estate...............................
Miscellaneous services . . . .
Professional2 ....................
Other3 .............................
Public administration ...........
Federal.............................
P o stal...........................
Other Federal .............
State ...............................
Local ...............................
28.5
27.4
26.0
25.4
26.6
26.9
25.8
22.9
27.3
28.9
26.9
26.6
29.6
31.3
30.4
30.9
27.1
39.3
26.2
37.1
23.3
35.9
24.1
35.7
26.2
36.6
28.7
35.8
29.1
34.6
23.6
31.4
53.6
27.5
53.2
30.0
48.4
28.3
44.1
28.5
51.1
31.0
49.8
32.0
49.7
32.0
52.5
31.3
21.7
26.2
23.4
34.4
17.1
15.0
20.4
12.1
15.8
21.4
20.4
25.9
23.5
33.1
17.0
13.5
12.9
13.8
14.7
23.9
21.6
24.0
22.0
30.6
15.5
11.4
9.0
12.4
14.3
21.7
20.5
22.7
20.6
29.2
15.5
13.4
16.7
11.9
11.4
20.3
22.2
23.7
21.6
30.6
16.6
14.8
18.1
13.4
11.1
21.6
21.8
24.3
22.5
29.9
16.7
15.2
21.3
12.6
12.1
21.1
20.9
22.9
21.0
28.9
15.7
14.6
18.1
13.1
9.7
20.3
18.2
20.5
19.1
25.1
15.5
15.2
20.9
13.0
10.3
18.5
16.2
18.8
15.3
25.8
36.9
58.1
68.2
49.1
24.0
18.1
21.2
19.9
16.4
27.7
34.8
57.3
59.1
56.6
16.5
19.5
19.8
18.8
16.5
24.4
35.9
53.1
( 4)
46.6
11.2
30.3
18.4
19.0
16.4
24.6
37.5
58.8
76.4
48.0
17.9
23.2
19.3
22.0
18.5
29.8
36.2
53.0
78.3
38.4
18.9
25.5
21.3
24.0
20.4
32.0
43.4
58.7
80.8
43.3
31.0
32.7
20.4
21.6
18.2
29.2
40.7
52.3
78.4
37.7
41.5
29.8
20.2
23.4
20.7
30.0
40.7
51.7
73.9
38.2
30.1
31.7
1Data are not strictly comparable to those of earlier years.
2 Includes health, education, and welfare services.
3 Includes forestry and fisheries, business and repair services, entertainment, personal services, and private household workers.
4 Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
50
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Table 6.
Multiple jobholders and multiple jobholding rates, May 1970 to May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
Total
employed
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
78,358
78,708
81,224
83,758
85,786
84,146
87,278
90,482
93,904
96,327
96,809
All
multiple
jobholders
4,048
4,035
3,770
4,262
3,889
3,918
3,948
4,558
4,493
4,724
4,759
At least
one job in
agriculture
943
851
831
987
848
890
819
922
905
871
835
Multiple jobholding rate1
Two jobs in nonagricultural
industries
Total
Two wage
and salary
jobs
Wage and
salary and
self employed
3,105
3,184
2,939
3,275
3,041
3,028
3,129
3,637
3,587
3,852
3,923
2,356
2,288
2,066
2,410
2,169
2,131
2,191
2,515
2,513
2,650
2,674
749
896
873
865
872
897
938
1,122
1,074
1,203
1,235
Both
sexes
5.2
5.1
4.6
5.1
4.5
4.7
4.5
5.0
4.8
4.9
4.9
Men
Women
White
Black2
7.0
6.7
6.0
6.6
5.8
5.8
5.8
6.2
5.8
5.9
5.8
2.2
2.6
2.4
2.7
2.6
2.9
2.6
3.4
3.3
3.5
3.8
5.3
5.3
4.8
5.1
4.6
4.8
4.7
5.3
5.0
5.1
5.1
4.4
3.8
3.7
4.7
3.8
3.7
2.8
2.6
3.1
3.0
3.2
1 Multiple jobholders as a percent of all employed persons.
2 Starting with 1977, data are for black workers only. Data for prior years are for persons of black and other races except white, about 90 percent of whom are black.
Married men continued to be the most likely workers
to extend their workweeks on second jobs (table 7), al
though their dual jobholding rates declined from 7.8 to
6.2 percent between 1970 and 1980. In contrast, the
rates for married women rose from 1.8 to 3.4 percent
over the same period. Dual jobholding rates also in
creased for women who were divorced, separated, or
widowed, from 3.0 to 4.6 percent.
Occupations o f dual jobholders. Wage and salary work
ers whose primary jobs were in professional or technical
occupations were most likely to hold more than one
job. Workers in these occupations tend to have both
highly marketable skills and relatively flexible work
schedules. Nearly 1 in 12 professional or technical
workers held a second job in May 1980. For half of
them, the second job was in the same occupation as
their first job.
Teachers below the college level were particularly
likely to hold a second job. About 11 percent of all
teachers, and nearly 1 in 5 men in this profession, were
moonlighters. Workers in the protective services (police,
guards, and firefighters) and farmworkers also had
higher than average rates of dual jobholding in 1980
(9.6 and 6.4 percent).
Factory operatives and clerical workers were the least
likely to hold second jobs. For factory operatives, the
greater availability of premium pay for extended work
weeks undoubtedly is a factor in their lower incidence
of multiple jobholding. In the case of clerical workers,
the relatively high proportion of women in the occupa
tion tends to lower the proportion of those holding two
jobs. The dual jobholding rate for clerical workers was
3.8 percent, the same as for all women.
Self-employment and multiple jobholding. Two-fifths of
all dual jobholders were self-employed on one of their
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
jobs.7 About 7 percent held primary self-employed posi
tions; 34 percent were self-employed, on a second job.
The proportion of dual jobholders who were selfemployed on a second job in agriculture was much
higher than that in the nonagricultural sector (table 8).
One half of all dual jobholders whose primary jobs
were in agriculture were self-employed compared to 1 in
20 whose self-employment was in a nonagricultural in
dustry.
Median hours worked at a self-employed second job
were 13 per week in 1980, the same as for wage and sal
ary second jobs. The average of those self-employed in
agricultural second jobs, however, was 16 hours per
week, compared to 11 hours per week for those in
nonagricultural self-employed jobs. About one dual job
holder in eight who was self-employed on a second job
in agriculture worked full time on both jobs. This com
pares to only 1 in 20 second jobholders in the nonag
ricultural sector who held two full-time jobs.
Reasons fo r working a second job. About 2 of every 5
persons working two jobs reported they did so to meet
regular expenses or pay off debts. Another fifth said
they wanted to save for the future or buy something
special with their extra earnings. There is evidence that
some multiple jobholders work a second job in prepara
tion for a career change. More than 8 percent of the
men and 6 percent of the women reported working two
jobs in order to gain the necessary experience to meet
the skill requirements of the second job. Another 17
percent stated that enjoyment of their second job was
the main reason for dual jobholding.
Black workers, especially women, were more likely
than white workers to report economic reasons as their
prime motivation for working more than one job. Al
most one-half of the black men and three-fifths of black
women reported meeting regular expenses or paying off
51
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Research Summaries
Table 7.
Multiple jobholders by sex, age, marital status, race, and Hispanic origin, May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Both sexes
Characteristic
Total
employed
Men
Multiple jobholders
Women
Multiple jobholders
Multiple jobholders
Number
Percent
Total
employed
96,809
2,900
4,434
13,509
26,058
19,318
16,220
11,417
2,954
4,759
92
169
640
1,450
1,132
797
414
65
4.9
3.2
3.8
4.7
5.6
5.9
4.9
3.6
2.2
55,782
1,609
2,321
7,236
15,129
11,075
9,606
6,992
1,815
3,210
53
95
382
943
813
564
307
52
5.8
3.3
4.1
5.3
6.2
7.3
5.9
4.4
2.9
41,027
1,291
2,113
6,273
10,930
8,243
6,614
4,424
1,139
1,549
39
73
258
507
320
233
107
13
3.8
3.0
3.5
4.1
4.6
3.9
3.5
2.4
1.1
23,123
61,121
12,565
1,015
3,142
602
4.4
5.1
4.8
13,031
38,080
4,671
616
2,356
237
4.7
6.2
5.1
10,092
23,041
7,894
398
786
364
3.9
3.4
4.6
85,955
9,116
4,985
4,401
290
147
5.1
3.2
3.0
50,172
4,706
3,043
2,990
176
104
6.0
3.7
3.4
35,783
4,409
1,942
1,410
114
43
3.9
2.6
2.2
Number
Percent
Total
employed
Number
Percent
Age
Total, 16 years and o v e r ......................
16 and 17 years ..........................................
18 and 19 years ......................................
20 to 24 ye a rs........................................
25 to 34 ye a rs......................................
35 to 44 ye a rs......................................
45 to 54 years...............................................
55 to 64 ye a rs...............................................
65 years and o v e r ........................................
Marital status
S ingle............................................
Married, spouse present...............................
Other marital s ta tu s......................................
Race and Hispanic origin
White ............................................................
Black ..........................................................
Hispanic origin1 ..........................................
~C
1Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; hence, their numbers are included in the data for whites and blacks.
debts as their main reason for dual jobholding. White
men and' women reported these reasons about 40 per
cent of the time.
Age has a different effect on the motivations of men
and women for multiple jobholding. For men, economic
incentives to work a second job increase with age
through the 25- to 34-year-old group, then decrease.
For women, there is no similar pattern. More than twofifths of women multiple jobholders reported that they
worked two jobs to meet regular expenses or pay off
debts. In general, more older than younger workers,
both men and women, reported that enjoyment of their
second job was the reason for dual jobholding.
Marital status also has different effects on the motiva
tions of men and women for working second jobs. M ar
ried men were more likely to report economic reasons
Table 8.
than married women (41 versus 34 percent). Single, di
vorced, separated, and widowed women, however, were
much more likely than men of similar status to work
two jobs out of economic need (49 versus 30 percent).
Underground economy— hidden employment
It is not known to what extent the estimates of
moonlighting understate the true level of multiple
jobholding in the United States. Some underestimating
may result from nonreporting of work in the “under
ground” or “hidden” economy in an effort to avoid the
payment of taxes or to draw unemployment compensa
tion while employed. However, a large part of the hid
den economy may simply represent the production of
goods and services in an informal manner. Louis A.
Ferman and others provide some information on the
Multiple jobholders by type of industry and class of worker, May 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Primary job
Multiple
jobholders
Total
employed
Second job in
agriculture
Second job In
nonagriculture
Number
Percent of
employed
Total
Wage and
salary
Self
employed
Total
Wage and
salary
Self
employed
Total ..........................................
96,809
4,759
4.9
722
173
549
4,036
3,024
1,012
Agriculture ............................................
Wage and salary ...............................
Self-employed ...............................
Unpaid fam ily......................................
3,458
1,455
1,677
326
180
67
94
20
5.2
4.6
5.6
6.1
67
44
23
0
42
19
23
0
25
25
( 1)
<2)
113
23
71
20
107
17
71
20
6
6
Nonagriculture.............................
Wage and salary ........................
Self-employed ....................................
Unpaid fam ily.............................
93,351
86,024
6,847
479
4,578
4,328
236
14
4.9
5.0
3.4
3.0
655
649
6
0
131
124
6
0
524
524
( ')
( 2)
3,923
3,680
229
14
2,917
2,674
229
14
1Self-employed persons with secondary businesses or farms, but no wage or salary jobs,
were not counted as multiple jobholders.
52 FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
( 1)
( 2)
1 006
1 006
( 1)
( 2)
2 Persons whose primary jobs were as unpaid family workers.were counted as multiple jobholders only if they also held wage or salary jobs.
types of jobs and motivations of persons who work in
the regular economy but moonlight in the hidden econ
omy. They state that most of these moonlighters were
“concerned primarily with meeting actual or perceived
needs.” 8 As to the extent of the hidden economy, esti
mates have ranged from 10 to 33 percent of the gross
national product.9
Summary
1978), p. 322. For a discussion of the fixed costs of labor, see Walter
Oi, “Labor as a Quasi-Fixed Factor,” J o u r n a l o f P o litic a l E co n o m y ,
December 1962, pp. 538-55 and John D. Owen, “Why part-time
workers tend to be in low-wage jobs,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , June
1978, pp. 11-14.
"See M in im u m W a g e a n d M a x im u m H o u rs, An Economic Effects
Study Submitted to Congress, 1979 (U.S. Department of Labor, Em
ployment Standards Administration, 1979).
7By definition, dual jobholders must hold at least one wage and
salary job; they cannot be self-employed at two jobs.
8Louis A. Ferman, Louise Berndt, Elaine Selo,
Among all employed persons, men are far more likely
than women to exceed the standard workweek. Women
who work extended hours are slightly more likely than
men to do so through multiple jobholding than on one
job alone. Multiple jobs for women often consist of two
part-time jobs, whereas men usually combine a full-time
and a part-time job.
The occupational distribution of wage and salary
workers on extended workweeks differs markedly be
tween single and multiple jobholders. Managers and ad
ministrators who exceeded the standard workweek in
May 1980 made up a far larger proportion of single
than multiple jobholders (21 versus 11 percent).
Salesworkers and operatives also were more heavily rep
resented among single jobholders. In contrast, profes
sional, technical, and service workers were more heavily
represented among multiple than among single jobhold
ers working 41 hours or more per week in May 1980. □
--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------' The Current Population Survey (CPS) is conducted for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the Census. Information on the
number of hours worked is collected monthly. A May supplement to
the survey provided data on the receipt of premium pay for hours in
excess of 40 per week and on multiple jobholding.
2
Estimates of coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act are
from M in im u m W a g es a n d M a x im u m H ou rs, S ta n d a r d s U n d e r th e
F a ir L a b o r S ta n d a r d s A c t: A n E c o n o m ic E ffe c ts S tu d y , submitted to
Congress in 1981 (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards
Administration, 1981), p. 42. For a history of the act, see Peyton K.
Elder and Heidi D. Miller, “The Fair Labor Standards Act: changes
of four decades,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1979, pp. 10-16. The
Federal Pay Act (U.S. Code, Title 5, ch. 61) covers Federal employ
ees, while the Walsh-Healey Contracts Act (Public Law 74-846, June
30, 1936) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act
(Public Law 87-581, Aug. 13, 1961) apply to workers in firms hold
ing Federal Government contracts.
C h a r a c te r istic s o f M a jo r C o lle c tiv e B a rg a in in g A g re e m e n ts , Jan. 1,
1 9 8 0 , Bulletin 2095 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 1981), p. 60.
4 See H. G. Lewis, “Hours of Work and Hours of Leisure,” P r o
c e e d in g s o f th e N in th A n n u a l M e e tin g o f th e I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s R e
s ea rc h A sso c ia tio n , 1956, pp. 196-206; Robert Shisko and Bernard
Rosther, “The Economics of Multiple Job Holding,” T h e A m e r ic a n
E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , June 1976, pp. 298-308; and Nand K. Tanden,
W o rk e rs w ith L o n g H o u rs, Special Labor Force Studies, Series A, No.
9 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Com
merce, 1972), pp. 33-37. Information on the overtime provisions in
collective bargaining agreements are from C h a r a c te r istic s o f M a jo r C o l
le c tiv e B a r g a in in g A g re e m e n ts , pp. 60-61.
Joyce M. Nussbaum and Donald E. Wise, “The Overtime Pay
Premium and Employment,” W o rk T im e a n d E m p lo y m e n t, Special
Report No. 28 (National Commission for Manpower Policy, October
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A n a ly sis o f th e I rr e g
a report to the Bu
reau of Employment and Training, Michigan Department of Labor,
March 1978, p. 3-13.
u la r E c o n o m y : C a sh F lo w in th e I n f o r m a l S ecto r,
Norman N. Bowshner, “The Demand for Currency: Is the Under
ground Economy Undermining Monetary Policy?” R ev ie w , Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis, January 1981, p. 13.
Marital and family patterns
of workers: an update
H ow ard H ayghe
A record 18.4 million women with children under
age 18 were in the labor force in March 1981, includ
ing nearly half of all mothers with preschool children.
The high level indicates the continuing impact that
women of the “baby boom” generation are having on
the job market. Now in their 20’s and early 30’s, many
of these women are returning to work while their chil
dren are still infants. This is also one reason why today
every other married-couple family is in the dual-earner
category.1
Over-the-year changes
Wives. Labor force changes during the 12 months end
ing with March 1981 were typical of those that have
been observed in recent years in connection with the en
try or re-entry into the job market of women born after
World War II. About 25.5 million wives, or 51 percent,
were working or looking for work in March, 560,000
above the previous year’s level. More than 2 of 3 of
these net additions were mothers, and most of them had
children under 6 years old. (See table 1 and 2.)
The rise in the number and proportion of working
mothers, especially those with preschool children, is
partly related to a small rebound in births among wom
en 20 to 34 years old.2 During the 1970’s, women in this
age group tended to delay marriage and postpone
childbearing, often acquiring lengthy job experience and
strong ties to the labor force. Now most are married
Howard Hayghe is an economist in the Division of Labor Force Stud
ies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
53
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Research Summaries
Table 1. Employment status of persons 16 years and
over by marital status and sex, March 1980, and March
1981
[Numbers in thousands]
Civilian labor force
Marital status and sex
March 1980
Original Revised
Both sexes ...............
103,339
March
1981
105,449 107,721
Labor force participation
rate (in percent)
March 1980
Original Revised
March
1981
63.2
63.2
63.6
Men' ......................................
Never m arried...............
Married, wife present . . .
Married, wife absent . . .
Widowed ......................
Divorced........................
59,376
15,134
38,962
1,628
565
3,087
60,514
15,590
39,647
1,629
552
3,097
61,306
15,799
39,674
1,777
544
3,532
76.8
70.7
81.0
79.2
28.7
80.3
76.6
70.6
80.9
79.0
27.9
79.4
76.4
70.6
80.5
78.9
27.9
80.9
Women .................................
Never m arried...............
Married, husband present
Married, husband absent
Widowed ......................
Divorced........................
43,963
10,911
24,466
1,881
2,359
4,347
44,934
11,242
24,900
1,928
2,421
4,443
46,414
11,628
25,460
2,076
2,416
4,835
51.1
61.2
50.2
59.4
22.5
74.5
51.1
61.5
50.1
59.4
22.5
74.5
52.0
62.3
51.0
60.8
22.3
75.0
'Population includes male members of the Armed Forces living off post or with their fami
lies on post.
N ote : Estimates of the civilian noninstitutional population have been recalculated using
updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population; therefore, the 1980 revised
data differ from 1980 data previously published.
Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
and many are having children. But, unlike the preceding
generation of mothers whose early marriage and
childbearing was followed by prolonged withdrawal
from the labor force,3 women are now either remaining
in the work force or returning to it shortly after
childbirth.
Reflecting these events, the labor force participation
rate of wives with preschool children increased from
45 percent in March 1980 to nearly 48 percent a year
later. Even though there was no change in their partici
pation rate, divorced mothers (regardless of their youn
gest child’s age) remained considerably more likely than
mothers in any other marital status category to be in
the labor force. About 78 percent of all divorced m oth
ers were working or looking for work in March 1981,
compared with around 60 percent of widowed, separat
ed, or never-married mothers and 56 percent of married
mothers. Even when they were childless, divorced wom
en were more apt to be in the labor force than other
women with no children under age 18.
Single, divorced, and separated persons. Like wives, sin
gle persons also accounted for 25 percent of the labor
force growth over the year ending with March 1981.
The number of single men in the labor force reached
15.8 million while that of single women grew to 11.6
million. These increases were largely because of a rise in
the number of persons in their early 20’s and the con
tinuing tendency among them to delay marriage. The
labor force participation rates of single men (71 percent)
and of women (62 percent) remained relatively stable.
Digitized for
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As was the case for singles, the number of divorced
and separated persons in the labor force rose, primarily
because the divorce rate remained high. The labor force
participation rates of separated and divorced men were
about the same as for husbands (80 percent) while the
rates for divorced (75 percent) and separated (61 per
cent) women continued to be higher than for wives.
In contrast to the other marital groups, the number
of husbands who were working or looking for jobs re
mained steady over the year ending in March 1981. The
participation rate of husbands continued its long-term
downward drift.
Race and Hispanic origin. Although white wives are still
less likely to be in the labor force than black ones, their
participation rate has been rising faster in recent years,
narrowing the difference between the two groups. By
March 1981, more than 50 percent of white wives and
nearly 60 percent of black wives were in the work force.
Ten years earlier, the proportions were about 40 and 53
percent. In contrast, the participation rate, for white
husbands and black husbands were nearly identical;
both rates have declined by roughly 6 percentage points
since March 1971.
Hispanic men were more apt than whites or blacks to
be in the labor force regardless of their marital catego
ry. This is partly because Hispanic men are, on average,
younger; in March 1981, their median age (for those 16
years and over) was 32.1 years, compared with 34 years
for blacks and 38 years for whites. In contrast to the
men, Hispanic women traditionally have had lower par
ticipation rates than whites or blacks.4 (See table 3.)
Table 2. Labor force status of women 16 years and over,
by marital status and presence and age of youngest child,
March 1980 and March 1981
[Numbers in thousands]
Labor force participation
rate (in percent)
Labor force
Marital status and presence
and age of children
March 1980
Original Revised
March
1981
March 1980
Original Revised
March
1981
Women, 16 years and over ..
No children under 1 8 .........
With children under 18 . . . .
Children 6 to 17, none
younger ......................
Children under 6 years . .
43,963
26,470
17,493
44,934
27,144
17,790
46,414
27,992
18,422
51.1
48.0
56.6
51.1
48.1
56.6
52.0
48.7
58.1
11,168
6,325
11,252
6,538
11,490
6,933
64.4
46.6
64.3
46.8
65.5
48.9
Married, husband present . . .
No children under 1 8 .........
With children under 18 . . . .
Children 6 to 17, none
younger ......................
Children under 6 years ..
24,466
11,019
13,447
24,900
11,246
13,654
25,460
11,426
14,035
50.2
46.1
54.2
50.1
46.0
54.1
51.0
46.3
55.7
8,381
5,067
8,428
5,227
8,432
5,603
61.8
45.0
61.7
45.1
62.5
47.8
N ote : Estimates of the civilian noninstitutional population have been recalculated using
updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population; therefore, the 1980 revised
data differ from 1980 data previously published.
Children are defined as “ own” children. Included are never-married daughters or sons,
stepchildren, and adopted children. Excluded are other related children such as
grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins and unrelated children.
Because of rounding, sums of individual Items may not equal totals.
Table 3. Labor force participation rates by marital status,
sex, race, and Hispanic origin, March 1980 revised and
March 1981
[In percent]
Black
White
Sex and marital status
Revised
1980
Hispanic
1981
Revised
1980
Revised
1980
1981
1981
77.6
72.6
81.1
83.6
80.7
27.3
77.4
72.7
80.6
82.3
82.4
27.3
68.0
60.4
78.1
67.4
69.9
31.6
68.8
60.5
78.8
71.9
72.8
29.6
80.6
70.0
87.5
85.3
78.3
80.6
71.6
86.3
83.7
84.5
<1)
< 1)
50.9
64.2
49.3
60.4
75.6
22.3
51.8
65.0
50.3
61.8
76.0
21.7
52.1
49.4
59.0
58.0
68.8
24.3
53.2
50.3
59.5
59.9
68.8
26.6
48.0
53.9
46.1
45.3
64.7
26.3
47.5
51.4
47.0
39.9
65.8
22.3
Men
T o ta l...........................
Never married ......................
Married, wife present ...........
Married, wife a b se n t.............
Divorced ...............................
Widowed ...............................
Women
T o ta l...........................
Never married ......................
Married, husband present .. .
Married, husband absent . . . .
Divorced ...............................
Widowed ...............................
'Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
N ote : Estimates of the civilian nonlnstitutlonal population have been recalculated using
updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population; therefore, the 1980 revised
data differ from 1980 data previously published.
Earners, income, and poverty
During the past decade, the dramatic increase in the
proportion of working wives has led to substantial gains
in the number of married-couple families where both
spouses were earners during the same year. In 1980,
there were approximately 25.6 million such dual-earner
families, 25 percent more than in 1970.5 Over the same
period, the traditional-earner family (married-couple
families where the husband, but not the wife, was an
earner) declined in im portance— falling from 44 percent
of all married couples in 1970 to less than 31 percent in
1980.6
However, despite the ongoing rise in the number of
wives in the labor force, there was no change in either
the number or proportion of dual-earner families from
1979 to 1980. Several factors interacted to produce this
result. One was the sluggish economic climate that pre
vailed during 1980 which led to greater levels of unem
ployment than in 1979. Another was the continuing
high level of divorces and the consequent breakup of
many married-couple families. Also, the number of mar
ried couples without earners continued its long-term
climb. From 1970 to 1980, the number of married per
sons 65 years and over rose by about a third, and the
number of families with no earners reached 5.9 million.
(See table 4.)
Income. Overall, median income in 1980 was $23,300
for married-couple families, compared with $10,230 for
families maintained by women and $17,740 for those
maintained by men (no spouse present). A major reason
for the differences is that almost 60 percent of all m ar
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ried-couple families contained at least two earners, com
pared with 28 percent of the families maintained by
women and 42 percent of those maintained by men.
(This is not the entire explanation; even when there
were two earners or more, families maintained by men
or women had lower median annual incomes.)7 Who the
earners are— husband, wife, children, and so forth— is
also an important determinant of family income. To il
lustrate, median income of married-couple families in
1980 was $20,500 where the husband was the only
earner, but only $13,600 where the wife was the sole
earner. For families with two earners or more, the medi
an was more than $31,000 where the husband (but not
the wife) was among the earners, but only $22,700
when the husband had no earned income.
Poverty. The presence of earners does not guarantee a
family freedom from poverty. In 1980, about 6.4 million,
or 10.5 percent, of the Nation’s families had incomes be
low the poverty level.8These families were approximately
equally divided between married couples (47 percent)
and those maintained by women (49 percent), with rela
tively few maintained by men. (See table 5.)
The majority of married-couple families in poverty
had income from the earnings of one member or more
during 1980. In most of these families, the husband was
an earner, but for an unusually large proportion— 21
percent compared with 6 percent for families not in
poverty— the earner was the wife or some other mem
ber, such as a son or daughter, whose wages were typi-
Table 4. Number of earners in families, relationship, and
median family income in 1979 and 1980, by type of family,
March 1980 and March 1981
Number (in thousands)
Number of earners,
relationship,
and type of family
March 1980
Original Revised
March
1981
Median family income
1979
Original Revised
1980
$21,545 $23,263
10,187
8,855
18,073
19,368
18,850
20,472
12,527
13,612
17,072
16,148
25,501
28,025
25,167
27,745
Married-couple fam ilies.........
No earners........................
One earner........................
Husband only ...............
Wife o n ly ........................
Other relative o n ly .........
Two earners or m o re .........
Husband and wife .........
Husband and others,
not w ife ......................
Husband non-earner . . .
48,199
5,420
13,598
11,667
1,463
468
29,180
25,148
49,132
5,559
13,912
11,934
1,499
480
29,660
25,595
49,316
5,903
13,900
11,621
1,707
573
29,513
25,557
$21,621
8,833
18,092
18,874
12,504
17,061
25,594
25,263
3,448
585
3,476
591
3,380
576
29,146
20,343
29,121
20,361
31,031
22,684
Maintained by women1 .........
No earners........................
One earner........................
Two earners or m o re .........
8,834
2,041
4,290
2,503
9,009
2,084
4,391
2,534
9,416
2,216
4,612
2,589
9,773
4,267
9,567
16,973
9,719
4,245
9,513
16,937
10,233
4,494
10,350
18,673
Maintained by men1 .............
No earners........................
One earner........................
Two earners or m o re .........
1,742
219
778
745
1,769
225
788
755
1,969
244
891
835
16,600
7,217
14,388
23,040
16,533
7,241
14,347
22,936
17,743
7,790
15,577
23,785
’ Divorced, separated, widowed, or never-married persons.
Estimates of the civilian noninstitutlonal population have been recalculated using
updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population; therefore, the 1980 revised
data differ from 1980 data previously published.
Because of rounding, sums of individual Items may not equal totals.
N ote :
55
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Research Summaries
Table 5. Families in poverty in 1980 by family type and
number of earners, March 1981
Number in pov
erty
(in thousands)
Percent
distribution
As percent
of
all families
Total fam ilies........................
6,402
-
10.5
Married-couple fam ilies........................
No e a rners...............................
One earner.................................
Husband ...................................
Wife ..........................................
Other m ember...........................
Two earners or m o re ....................
Husband and wife ....................
Husband and other(s), not wife .
Husband nonearner ..................
3,036
996
1,294
945
237
113
745
540
137
68
100.0
32.8
42.6
31.1
7.8
3.7
24.5
17.8
4.5
2.2
6.2
16.9
9.3
8.1
13.9
19.7
2.6
2.1
4.1
11.8
Families maintained by women1 ...........
No e arners.................................
One earner...................................
Householder .............................
Other ........................................
Two earners or m o re ....................
3,142
1,617
1,267
1,034
233
258
100.0
51.5
40.3
32.9
7.4
8.2
33.4
73.0
27.5
28.6
23.5
10.0
Families maintained by men1 ................
No e a rners...................................
One earner...................................
Two earners or m o re ....................
224
76
115
32
100.0
33.9
51.3
14.3
11.4
31.1
12.9
3.8
Type of family, number and
relationship of earners
'Includes only divorced, separated, widowed, or never-married persons.
N ote :
Because of rounding, sums of Individual Items may not equal totals.
cally lower than those of the husband.
A third of all families maintained by women had
incomes below the poverty level in 1980, with children
in more than four-fifths of them. Less than half of these
families had earnings and only 8 percent contained
more than one earner.
As expected, large families face a greater likelihood of
poverty than small ones with the same number of earn
ers. For instance, among one-earner families in 1980,
about 10 percent with only two members were in pover
ty, compared with 20 percent of five-member families.
The proportions in poverty were less for families with
more than one earner.
T h i s REPORT h a s PRESENTED some recent data on the
marital-family characteristics of workers. However, the
situation may change under the pressure of demograph
ic and other trends that are already underway. For ex
ample, recent increases in the birth rate indicate that
the number of dual-earner families with young children
will continue to increase. Thus, the need for adequate
child care in the working parents’ absence will probably
expand rather than diminish. In addition, if marital
breakups— currently at record levels— rise, the demand
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for child care will grow even further as the number of
one-parent families increases.
□
-------------- FOOTNOTES ---------------
1Unless otherwise indicated, data are based on tabulations from the
March 1981 Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted for the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the Census. The data have
been inflated using population weights based on results from the 1980
Census of the Population. The March 1980 data discussed in this re
port also have been revised to bring them in line with the new popu
lation weights and to make them comparable with the March 1981
data. Previously published 1980 data (as they appear in Beverly L.
Johnson and Elizabeth Waldman, “Marital and family patterns,”
Monthly Labor Review, October 1981, pp. 36—38) reflected population
weights projected forward from the 1970 Census of the Population.
As shown in table 1, the number of married women in the labor
force in March 1980 was revised upward by 434,000. Despite this,
and similarly significant changes in other data for 1980, the various
relationships and percentages based on new estimates are nearly the
same as those based on previously published estimates.
For a more complete description of changes in labor force data
stemming from the use of 1980 census population weights in the CPS,
see Kenneth D. Buckley, Jennifer Marks, and Ronald J. Statt, “Revi
sions in the Current Population Survey Beginning in January 1982,”
Employment and Earnings, February 1982, pp. 7-15.
Estimates based on a sample, such as those shown in the tables,
may vary considerably from results obtained by a complete count in
those cases where the numbers are small. Therefore, differences based
on them may not be significant. For more detail on the interpretation
of such differences, see Marital and Family Characteristics of Workers,
March 1979, Special Labor Force Report 237 (Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, 1981).
2Final Natality Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Di
vision of Vital Statistics, Natality Statistics. Also see Allyson
Sherman Grossman, “More than half of all children have working
mothers,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1982, pp. 41—43, for infor
mation on trends in numbers of children whose mothers work.
3See Howard Hayghe, “Families and the rise of working wives— an
overview,” Monthly Labor Review, May 1976, pp. 12-19; Janet L.
Norwood and Elizabeth Waldman, Women in the Labor Force: Some
New Data Series, U.S. Department of Labor, Report 575; and George
Masnich and Mary Jo Bane, The Nation's Families, 1960-1990 (Cam
bridge, Mass., Joint Center for Urban Studies of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Harvard University, 1980), pp. 52-85.
4 For a discussion of some of the factors underlying the labor force
patterns of Hispanic women, see Morris J. Newman, “A profile of
Hispanics in the U.S. work force,” Monthly Labor Review, December
1978, pp. 3-14.
5Only about two-fifths of the gain in the number of dual-earner
families was because of the increase in the number of married-couple
families.
See Howard Hayghe, “Husbands and wives as earners: an analysis
of family data,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1981, pp. 46-53.
7A forthcoming Monthly Labor Review article will focus on women
who maintain families.
8The average poverty threshold for a nonfarm family of four was
$8,414 in 1980. The level varied depending on family size, sex and age
of householders, family composition, and farm-nonfarm residence. For
further details, see Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 124.
M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of collective bargaining agreements expiring in June is based on contracts on file in the Bu
reau’s O ffice of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering 1,000 workers
or more.
U n io n 1
In d u stry
E m p lo y e r a n d l o c a t i o n
N um ber of
w orkers
Air Conditioning C ontractors of A r iz o n a ...........................................................
Allied Chemical Corp., Industrial Chemical Division (New York) .............
Almacs, Inc. (Rhode Island, M assachusetts, and C o n n e c tic u t).....................
American M otors Corp., AM General Corp. (I n d ia n a )...................................
Associated Building C ontractors of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., 2 agreements
Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York ...................
Associated G arm ent Industry of St. Louis (Interstate) ...................................
Associated M anufacturers Tubular Piping & Trimming, Inc. (New York) .
Automobile Dealers Industrial Relations Association of New York ...........
C o n s tru c tio n ................................
C h e m ic a ls......................................
Retail t r a d e ...................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
C o n stru c tio n ................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Apparel ........................................
Apparel ........................................
Retail t r a d e ...................................
Sheet Metal W o rk e rs ................................
Steelworkers ..............................................
Food and Commercial W orkers ...........
Auto Workers ( I n d . ) ................................
Laborers; C a rp e n te rs................................
P lu m b e rs ......................................................
G arment W o rk e rs .....................................
Ladies G arment W o rk e rs ........................
Auto Workers ( I n d .) ................................
3,000
1,200
1,200
2,300
1,500
3,000
3,550
3,000
1,200
1,000
2,100
Bath Iron Works Corp. (Maine) ...........................................................................
Belt Association, Inc. (New York, N.Y.) ...........................................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
Apparel ........................................
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers . . . .
Ladies G arment W o rk e rs ........................
4,500
3,800
California Processors, Inc...........................................................................................
Food p ro d u c ts .............................
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. (Utica, N .Y . ) ........................................................
Copeland Corp. (Ohio) ...........................................................................................
M achinery......................................
M ach in ery ......................................
Teamsters ( I n d .) ........................................
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
M ac h in ists...................................................
Electrical Workers ( I U E ) ........................
55,000
7,000
1,150
2,800
D etroit Mason C ontractors Association (M ic h ig a n )........................................
C o n s tru c tio n ................................
Bricklayers
................................................
3,300
East Ohio Gas C o........................................................................................................
Eastern New York Construction Employers, Inc., 3 a g re em en ts...................
Utilities ........................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
2,050
Executive Council of the California Conference of Mason
C ontractors Association, Inc. (California)
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Service Employees ...................................
Operating Engineers; Laborers;
Bricklayers
L a b o r e r s ......................................................
4,150
Freightliner Corp. (Portland, O re g .)......................................................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
M ac h in ists...................................................
6,000
General
General
General
General
Electric Co. (A uburn, N . Y . ) ...................................................................
C ontractors Association of New York C i t y ........................................
Dynamics Corp., Pomona Division (C a lifo rn ia )................................
Electric Co., 3 agreements (Interstate) ................................................
Electrical p r o d u c ts .....................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Fabricated metal products . . . .
Electrical p r o d u c ts .....................
General Telephone Co. of Kentucky ...................................................................
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. (Connecticut and M assachusetts) . .
G reater Milwaukee Hotel-M otel Association, 2 agreements (Wisconsin) . .
Grocery Agreement, Quad-Cities (Iowa and Illinois)2 ......................................
C o m m u n ic atio n ...........................
Retail t r a d e ...................................
Hotels ...........................................
Retail t r a d e ...................................
M ac h in ists...................................................
Operating Engineers ................................
M ac h in ists...................................................
Machinists; Sheet Metal Workers; Electrical Workers (UE) (Ind.)
Communication W o rk e rs ........................
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
Hotel and Restaurant Employees . . . .
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
1,700
1,000
4,300
1,650
19,500
1,300
2,000
2,200
2,000
Hammermill Paper Co., Erie Plant (P en n sy lv a n ia )...........................................
P a p e r ..............................................
P a p e rw o rk e rs...................................... * . .
1,300
Independent Shops, Cloth Hats & Caps (New York, N.Y.)2 ........................
Apparel
........................................
H a t t e r s ........................................................
1,300
Kansas City Power & Light Co., Production Department (Missouri)2 . . . .
Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. (Cumberland, M d .) ...................................................
Keystone Building C ontractors Association and 1 other (Pennsylvania) . . .
Utilities ........................................
R u b b e r ...........................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
Rubber W o rk e rs ........................................
L a b o r e r s ......................................................
1,000
1,800
1,400
Lathing & Metal Furring Contractors Association of California, Inc............
Long Island Lighting Co., 2 agreements (New Y o r k ) ......................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Utilities ........................................
L a th e r s ........................................................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
1,250
4,000
M ajor Food Chains (Illinois) .................................................................................
M anufacturing W oodworkers Association of G reater New York, Inc...........
M aster Cement & All Dry Bulk Commodities (Interstate)2 ...........................
Retail t r a d e ...................................
Furniture ......................................
T ru c k in g ........................................
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
C a rp e n te rs...................................................
Teamsters ( I n d .) ........................................
1,450
1,200
5,000
National H and Embroidery & Novelty Manufacturers Association, Inc.
(New York)
New England Sportswear M anufacturers’ Association (M assachusetts) . . .
Northw est Airlines, Clerical Employees3 ..............................................................
Apparel
........................................
Ladies G arment W o rk e rs ........................
4,650
Apparel ........................................
A ir transportation .....................
Ladies G arment W o rk e rs ........................
Railway C le rk s ...........................................
2,500
3,200
Utilities
Utility Workers
2,000
Ohio Edison Co. (Akron, Ohio)
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
...........................................................................
........................................
........................................
57
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Major Agreements Expiring Next Month
Continued— Major Agreements Expiring Next Month
E m p lo y e r an d lo c a tio n
U n io n 1
I n d u str y
N um ber of
w orkers
Pleaters, Stitchers & Embroiderers Association, Inc. (New Y o r k ) ................
Plumbing C ontractors of M etropolitan St. L o u i s ..............................................
Apparel ........................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Ladies Garment W o rk e rs........................
P lu m b ers......................................................
2,200
1,200
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning C ontractors National Association,
Los Angeles Chapter
Star M arket Co. Division, Jewel Companies, Inc. (Rhode Island and
M assachusetts)
Strayton Canning Co. Cooperative (O re g o n )......................................................
Stockham Valves & Fittings, Inc. (Birmingham, Ala.) ...................................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Sheet Metal Workers
.............................
2,050
Retail tr a d e ...................................
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
1,200
Food p ro d u c ts ..............................
Primary metals ...........................
Teamsters ( I n d .) ........................................
Steelworkers ..............................................
1,800
1,850
Trico Products Corp. (Buffalo, N .Y .) ...................................................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
A uto Workers ( I n d .) ................................
2,500
Union Painting Contractors Association and 1 other ( I n te r s ta te ) ................
C o n stru c tio n ................................
Painters
......................................................
1,000
Varsity Transit, Inc., New York D iv is io n ...........................................................
T r a n s it...........................................
Amalgamated T r a n s i t ..............................
1,000
Food p ro d u c ts ..............................
Teamsters ( I n d .) ........................................
4,000
W atsonville Employers Frozen Food Employers Association (California)
.
G overnm ent
U n io n o r e m p lo y e e a s s o c i a t io n
Arizona: Municipal E m p lo y e e s ..............................................................................
M ultidepartments
......................
American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees
California:
Orange County General U n i t ..............................................................................
M ultidepartments
......................
10,000
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, 2 agreements ................
Connecticut: M aintenance and Service Unit ......................................................
Transportation ...........................
Public w o r k s ................................
Orange County Employees Association
(Ind.)
Amalgamated T r a n s i t ..............................
Connecticut Employees Union
“Independent” , Inc.
M aryland:
Anne Arundel County Board of Education, A d m in istra to rs......................
Baltimore Board of School Commissioners, Professional Employees . . . .
E d u c a tio n ......................................
E d u c a tio n ......................................
National Education Association (Ind.) .
American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers . . . .
American Federation of Teachers . . . .
4,000
8,500
Michigan: Detroit Board of Education, T e a c h e rs ..............................................
New Jersey: Newark Board of Education, T e a c h e r s ........................................
New York:
New York City Board of Education, Lunchroom Employees ...................
E d u c a tio n ......................................
E d u c a tio n ......................................
New York City Board of Education, School Aides ......................................
E d u c a tio n ......................................
New York City Sanitation D e p a r tm e n t...........................................................
New York State Albany University, Professional Employees ...................
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Police D e p a rtm e n t...................................................
E d u c a tio n ......................................
Law en fo rc e m e n t........................
1Affiliated with A FL-C IO except where noted as independent (Ind.)
2Industry area (group of companies signing same contract).
58 FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E d u c a tio n ......................................
American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees
American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees
United University Professors, Inc. (Ind.)
Fraternal Order of P o lic e ........................
3Information is from newspaper reports.
1,800
3,200
8,000
11,000
4,700
6,900
8,900
7,750
15,000
7,500
Developments in
Industrial Relations
GM-UAW agreement
General Motors Corp. and the Auto Workers agreed to
a 30-month accord that paralleled the terms of the
union’s February agreement with Ford Motor Co. (See
Monthly Labor Review, April 1982, p. 62.) GM and UAW
officials said they were optimistic that the new contract
will help alleviate the severe sales and employment
downturn that has afflicted the domestic automobile in
dustry for several years. The day after the settlement,
domestic car makers reported that they built 325,000
units in February, a decline of more than 32 percent
from February of 1981, and the lowest total for that
month since 1948.
UAW President Douglas A. Fraser emphasized that
the job security aspects of the agreement would “stop
the hemorraging of GM workers’ jobs.” Currently,
320.000 UAW members are on the job at GM and
140.000 are on layoff. Alfred S. Warren Jr., the compa
ny’s vice president for industrial relations, called the ac
cord “historic” because it recognizes the unexpected
changes taking place in world competition.
The GM contract was effective immediately, supersed
ing the current contract which would have expired in
September. The new contract did not provide for any
specified wage increases. The cost-of-living pay adjust
ment provision differed slightly at the two companies,
but the goal was the same— to equalize labor cost in
creases. At GM, the June and September 1982 cost-ofliving adjustments will each be deferred 18 months, as
will 10 cents of any adjustment that occurs in Decem
ber 1982. The 10-cent December deferral was intended
to offset the 10-cent cost-of-living adjustment effective
in March 1982 under provisions of the 1979 contract.
The Ford settlement provided for 18 month deferrals of
the 10 cents adjustment normally effective in March
1982, as well as the June and September 1982 quarterly
adjustments.
There also were other differences between the GM and
Ford contracts:
“Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben
and other members of the staff of the Division of Developments in
Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is
largely based on information from secondary sources.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
• The GM contract called for the company to reopen
four of the six plants it had closed after the parties
had temporarily broken off negotiations in January.
The four plants employed about 5,000 UAW members.
In addition, GM agreed to aid some of the 5,000
workers affected by the closing of the other two
plants, located in California, by permitting laid-off
employees with 10 years of service to participate in
the Guaranteed Income Stream program. GM also
agreed to reopen one other plant and to transfer
1,500 employees affected by the closing of a stamping
plant in Cleveland. At Ford, eligibility for the Guar
anteed Income Stream was limited to laid off employ
ees with 15 years of service. The Ford accord did not
provide for the reopening of any plants. However,
Ford announced the reopening of a valve plant, a re
sult of the contract provision limiting the purchase of
parts from other companies.
• At GM, a legal services plan was established, financed
by company funding of 3 cents an hour per worker.
Legal representation will be provided by the plan’s
staff attorneys. Ford workers did not win a legal ser
vices plan (but the parties will study such plans),
opting instead for an increase in the company’s fi
nancing of Supplemental Unemployment Benefits.
• The new profit-sharing plan at GM calls for employees
to receive 10 percent of that portion of the company’s
U.S. pretax profit in excess of the sum of 10 percent
of net worth and 5 percent of other assets. Any re
sulting distribution to GM workers will be reduced by
0.1 percent of the value of the “other asset” to help
defray the cost of extending the Guaranteed Income
Stream to cover laid-off workers with 10 years of ser
vice. The union admitted that this formula was not as
liberal as the Ford formula, but asserted that GM
workers still would fare better because of GM’s bet
ter operating results. According to union officials,
over the preceding 6 years, GM workers would each
have received $2,231 under their new formula, and
Ford workers would have received $826 under their
formula.
• At GM, the pilot “lifetime job guarantee” program
will be tested at four plants, compared with two
plants at Ford. Percentagewise, these numbers are
equivalent because GM hase more plants than Ford.
59
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Developments in Industrial Relations
• GM adopted a program to reduce unwarranted time
off by reducing the nonwage benefits available for
chronic absentees, and agreed to establish and finance
an internal occupational safety and health advisory
board.
The ratification vote tally, announced by the UAW in
mid-April was 114,510 to 105,297 in favor of the agree
ment.
The International Union of Electrical Workers also
negotiated similar terms for the 22,000 workers it repre
sents at GM plants.
Elsewhere, at General Motors, the company con
firmed that it was laying off some salaried employees
with low performance ratings and reducing the sever
ance pay and other monetary benefits of the others. A
GM official said that the actions will involve “a very
limited number” of the company’s 137,000 salaried em
ployees in the United States and Canada.
Wage-and-benefit concessions
Workers at Gulf and Western automobile parts
plants in Mancelona and East Jordan, Mich., voted to
accept a $1.54-an-hour pay cut to avert closing of some
plants. The company said it needed the pay cut and a
2-year freeze on future wage-and-benefit improvements
to compete effectively for production contracts. At the
time of the settlement, layoffs had reduced the com
bined work force in these plants to 200, from 600.
Members of Allied Industrial Workers Local 78 in
Kent, Ohio, agreed to labor concessions to avert the
closing of a Russell Burdsall and Ward Corp. plant.
The 260 workers at the auto parts plant accepted a
$2.40-an-hour reduction in their cost-of-living allow
ance, reductions in paid holidays and vacations, and es
tablishment of an incentive pay plan. Union officials
said the concessions resulted from pressure by the ma
jor automobile manufacturers for lower prices from
their suppliers.
In Louisville, Ky., members of four unions at Stan
dard Gravure Co. agreed to a 5-year moratorium on
wage increases and suspension of certain restrictive
work practices. In exchange, the company agreed to in
vest $13.5 million in new printing equipment to im
prove its competitive ability, and to institute a profitsharing plan.
Plans to return the bankrupt Milwaukee Railroad to
profitability by 1985 moved forward, as a Federal dis
trict court approved a 7-percent wage reduction that
will apply to 7,000 persons, including management and
members of about 13 unions. In addition to negotiating
a paycut for their members, the unions also agreed to
reductions in train crew sizes which may result in the
layoff of more than 500 workers within 6 months. The
paycut, scheduled to extend to the end of 1984, was
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
expected to save the railroad $44 million and the reduc
tion in crew size was expected to save $56 million over a
5-year period. In his recovery plan, bankruptcy trustee
Richard Oglvie projected that in 1985, the railroad would
be a 2,900 mile system with about 6,000 employees. In
1977, when the bankruptcy proceedings began, the rail
road had 10,000 miles of track and 11,000 employees.
Volkswagen of America moved to reduce labor costs
by limiting payment of its cost-of-living allowance for
salaried employees to straight time hours worked.
Previously, the 4,000 workers had also received the al
lowance for overtime hours and for vacations, holidays,
and sick days. Earlier, the company had postponed
plans to build a second plant in the United States. The
4,600 UAW-represented production workers at the
Volkswagen plant in Westmoreland County, Pa., nego
tiated a 16-month agreement in late 1981 that provided
for an immediate 50-cent-an-hour wage increase, for a
10-cent-an-hour increase in June 1982, and for a 1982
specified wage increase that matched the specified in
crease resulting from the GM-UAW negotiations. There
were no indications whether Volkswagen was planning
to ask for revisions in its agreement because of the la
bor cost concessions included in the 1982 GM settle
ment.
The 550 employees of the McCreary Tire & Rubber
Co. of Indiana, Pa., were expected to attain 70 percent
ownership of the plant within 7 years under an Employ
ee Stock Ownership Plan announced in late 1981. The
purchase will be financed by withholding scheduled pay
increases. The 400 production employees, who are rep
resented by the United Rubber Workers, will forgo 50
cent increases in both 1982 and 1983. Similarly, the 175
salaried employees, who are not represented by a union,
will forgo 5 percent pay increases in both years.
McCreary specializes in truck tires, but also makes tires
for farm and construction equipment and racing cars.
In the Detroit area, members of Teamsters’ Local 337
and the Kroger Co. and A&P supermarket chains
agreed on a wage freeze that will extend 18 months be
yond the scheduled March 31, 1984, expiration date of
current agreements. Bargaining on wage-and-benefit
concessions was continuing between various unions and
Kroger and other chains in the area. The stores con
tended that labor cost relief was needed to enable them
to compete effectively with nonunion chains, which they
claimed had a $5-an-hour edge in labor costs.
At Acme-Cleveland Corp.’s plant in Cleveland, Ohio,
workers agreed to eliminate ceilings on the output of
pieceworkers. In return for the change— which a union
official said would result in higher earnings for some of
the employees— the maker of machine tools guaranteed
the 647 remaining jobs until the September 1982 expira
tion of its contract with the Mechanics Educational So
ciety. Company officials indicated that the termination
of the piecework ceiling and the elimination of 500 jobs
in the past 2 years had been necessitated by a
“noncompetitive” labor cost structure.
In Jefferson, Wise., employees of Borg Textiles Corp.
agreed to a number of contract changes in an effort to
keep the plant in operation. The changes include a
1-year extension of their contract (to May 1984); a
$1.38-an-hour pay cut, (pay had ranged from $7.93 to
$9.74 an hour); a 40-percent reduction in paid vacation
days (the workers will receive the lost money after Jan
uary 1, 1983); postponement of payments to workers
for gains in productivity; and postponement of a 6-percent wage increase and a cost-of-living adjustment of up
to 26 cents an hour that had been scheduled for May
1982. The company and the Ladies Garment Workers
will meet in January 1983 to discuss possible restora
tion of the wage-and-benefit cuts. Union official Donald
Kret attributed the plants’ problems to a decline in de
mand for artificial fur and paint brush roller fabric. He
said that other apparel manufacturers in the region were
pressing for labor cost cuts. At the time of settlement,
two-thirds of the firm’s 140 employees were on layoff.
The round of bargaining at major meat processing
companies closed when employees at several Oscar
Mayer & Co. plants accepted a wage freeze extending
to August 31, 1985. Actually, the employees accepted a
pay cut because they gave up the 30-cent-an-hour costof-living adjustment they received in January under the
superseded contract, which had been scheduled to ex
pire in August. Workers at the other meat processing
companies (Armour, Wilson, Swift, and Hormel) did
not get a pay cut because their wage freezes were nego
tiated in December 1981. (See Monthly Labor Review,
February 1982, p. 48.) Other contract terms at Oscar
Mayer were similar to those at the other companies.
Plant closings
The Potter and Brunfield Division of AMF Inc. closed
its electromagnetic relay switch plant in San Juan Cap
istrano, Calif., to “consolidate excess capacity” in six
other AMF plants. About 300 workers were involved.
Some of the employees charged that the closing resulted
from a company decision to shift some production to its
plant in Mexico, which has lower labor costs. The plant
manager acknowledged that this may have been a factor
in the decision, but pointed out that the California
plant was the smallest in the chain and the most distant
from corporate headquarters in Princeton, Ind. Accord
ing to the Bank of Mexico, U.S. companies now operate
225 plants across the border, employing 133,000 work
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ers who earn about one-fourth as much as their Ameri
can counterparts.
Scottdale Mills Ltd., which survived the Great De
pression without reducing production or employment,
announced that it was closing. The Decatur, Ga., com
pany attributed its demise to foreign competition.
About 500 employees were affected. Elsewhere in the
textile industry, J. P. Stevens & Co. began phasing out
its denim plant in Rock Hill, S.C. About 540 employees
were affected.
The Singer Co. announced that it was closing its in
dustrial sewing machine plant in Elizabeth, N.J., be
cause worldwide recessions and high interest rates had
accelerated a slump in demand for its machines. The
decision affected 560 employees. Most of Singer’s ma
chines are produced in Brazil and Japan.
The Allis-Chalmers Corp. announced plans to close
its foundry in West Allis, Wise., after members of Auto
Workers Local 248 rejected a request for an $8-an-hour
cut in wages and benefits. Officials of the foundry,
which produces castings for farm machinery, said the
cut was necessary because its workers averaged $23 an
hour in wages and benefits, nearly twice as much as
some competitors. However, union officials attributed
the foundry’s problems to the company’s failure to
modernize the facility.
Hospital workers get new contracts
In Northern California, Service Employees Local 250
negotiated a 2-year contract for employees of 18 hospi
tals and medical centers of the Kaiser Permanente Med
ical Care Program. According to the union, the accord
makes the 7,500 workers the Nation’s highest paid ser
vice employees in hospitals and clinics.
Provisions included an 11-percent pay raise on No
vember 1, 1981, a 9-percent raise on October 31, 1983,
and upgrading of several job classifications. The highest
paid employees in the bargaining unit are pharmacists,
who will receive $17.30 an hour after the 1983 pay in
crease.
What may have been the longest nurses strike in
American history ended when registered nurses em
ployed by Ashtabula (Ohio) General Hospital ratified a
contract calling for a 9-percent salary increase. They
also received an 11.9-percent increase that the hospital
put into effect in May 1981. The strike lasted for more
than 18 months and involved 170 nurses when it began
in July 1980. In subsequent months, 50 nurses returned
to work and 20 quit their jobs. The nurses are repre
sented by the American Nurses Association.
□
61
Book Reviews
The unspeakable
Fellow Workers and Friends: IW W Free-Speech Fights as
Told by Participants. Edited by Philip Foner. Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, 1981. 242 pp.
$29.95.
There is a plethora of current interest in the much
celebrated labor union of the early 20th century, the In
dustrial Workers of the World (iww). Popularly called
the “Wobblies,” they have an unparalleled place in la
bor history and are a fascinating subject for motion pic
tures, books, and museum exhibits. One example is the
movie, “Reds,” a chronicle of the life of iww member
John Reed. The Botto House, headquarters for the
Wobblies during the famous Paterson (N.J.) Silk Work
ers Strike of 1913, has been designated a historic land
mark. Even the Smithsonian Institution, in a recent
labor history exhibit, displayed some Wobbly memora
bilia. Fellow Workers and Friends keeps faith with such
current interest.
This book is an anthology of the so-called “FreeSpeech Fights,” occurring between 1909 and 1916, and
pitting iww organizers against local municipal authori
ties. Ten such “fights” ensued, most of them in the west
ern half of the United States: Missoula, Mont.; Spokane
and Everett, Wash.; Fresno and San Diego, Calif.; Aber
deen, S. Dak.; Minot, N. Dak.; Denver, Colo.; and Kan
sas City, Mo. The Wobblies attempted to organize the
mass of itinerant, and often illiterate, migratory workers
who labored in the mining camps, timberlands, and agri
cultural valleys of the West. Fearful of the radical labor
union, established interests, especially Chambers of
Commerce, tried to restrict IWW activities by prohibiting
open-air speeches in public areas.
The “gag rules” against public speaking hit the
Wobblies in the jugular. If prevented from spreading
their creed, the union would have little chance of re
cruiting members. To retaliate, they called transient
Wobblies from the four corners of the Nation to de
scend on the site of an impending free-speech battle. A
telegram sent to all iww offices from national SecretaryTreasurer Vincent St. John vividly illustrated their sin
cerity: “If you are footloose, make for Kansas City at
once, . . . wire the local you are coming.”
With a high concentration of sympathetic Wobblies
in one area, the local union leadership implemented bat
tle plans. They paraded, en masse, to a public area
where a man or woman stood on a “soap box” and
cried out, “Fellow Workers and Friends,” to the gather
ing crowds. That brief oration usually resulted in the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
62
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
speaker’s arrest. But another iww member immediately
ascended the podium and repeated the same four words.
Soon, the jails were overflowing with the speakers, tax
ing the municipal resources of the locality to the break
ing point, and forcing, in most cases, the rescission of
anti-free speech laws.
The personal stories of the free-speech participants
are a fine mixture of pathos and humor. For example,
one iww member recalled the woeful tale of Michael
Hoey, a 65-year-old member of the union, who was
arrested and jailed by San Diego police for speaking in
public. The jailers beat him mercilessly, kicked him re
peatedly in the groin, and left him in a semiconscious
state. He died 40 days later, allegedly from the injuries
received in jail.
Even more heinous violations of civil liberties were
recorded and experienced by union member Agnes
Thecla Fair. After her arrest in Spokane, Wash., the
civil authorities attempted to remove her clothing while
she was in custody, threatening her with rape. The
young Wobbly described her plight further, stating:
I was hardly over the first (episode) when they brought in a
man disguised as a woman and put him in a cot next to me.
I thought it was a drunken woman until the officers went
out. Then I felt a large hand creeping over me. It’s too hor
rible (to continue) . . . !
Yet, the free-speech fights had lighter moments.
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the notorious “ Rebel Girl,”
told of one comrade who found himself released from
custody when the police officer escorting him to jail
stumbled across two brawling drunkards and arrested
them. The constable noticed the big, strapping Wobbly
tagging along behind them and asked, “What are you
doing here?” The free-speech fighter retorted, “What do
you want me to do, go back there and make another
speech?”
In addition to the personal vignettes, the book also
contains entertaining chapter introductions, including a
broad overview on the origins and development of the
IWW. Few labor historians are better qualified to eval
uate this aspect of the labor movement than Philip
Foner. His expertise is widely recognized and his anec
dotal style adds spice to an already lively topic. For ex
ample, he briefly explains that Elizabeth Gurley Flynn,
one of the earliest feminists, had her family’s support,
and, in fact, was delivered by a woman doctor at birth.
Foner also explains that the derivation of the term
“Wobbly” originated from the inability of a Chinese
waiter in California to say iww. It is quite obvious that,
for Foner, this book was a labor of love.
Foner is one of our most brilliant, yet controversial
historians. Often criticized for letting his Marxist ideol
ogy distort the historical picture he paints, in this book,
he apparently tempers his political inclinations. Howev
er, there is an overglorification of the radical Wobblies,
and this is the one flaw in the monograph. Foner fails
to show, as does Paul Bressenden— the dean of IWW
scholars— in his monograph on the subject, that the se
ditious and unpatriotic language utilized by the
Wobblies very often sent ripples of fear through even
moderate members of local communities, let alone the
labor baiters. But this book is for the students of the la
bor movement and they should, by now, be aware of
Foner’s proclivities.
On a positive reflection, Foner has once again cham
pioned the participation of blacks, women, immigrants,
and other minorities in the labor movement. He vividly
illustrates that the IWW targeted their energies toward
organizing the largely unskilled work force of the Na
tion, the “Dagoes, Hunks, and Bohunks,” often
shunned by the rival American Federation of Labor. As
Foner states in one chapter introduction, the Wobblies
elevated the transient unskilled working class, giving
them their own anthem in the song “Hallelujah, I’m a
Bum.”
Fellow Workers and Friends is an outstanding com
panion to similar anthologies such as Joyce Kornbluh’s
Rebel Voices, and Foner’s The Letters o f Joe Hill. It
complements several narratives on the IWW including
Patrick Renshaw’s The Wobblies and, again, Foner’s
The Industrial Workers o f the World, 1905-1917.
In light of recent political and social trends, this
study is timely and important. The constitutional ques
tions on what constitutes “free speech” and the first
amendment are, even now, causing debate in Congress.
Fellow Workers and Friends should interest both rightist
and leftist sides of the U.S. political spectrum and
should cause neither to see red.
— H enry P. G uzda
Historian
U.S. Department of Labor
More recent arrivals
Immigration: New Americans, Old Questions. Edited by
Melinda Maidens. New York, Facts on File, 1981.
190 pp. $17.50.
Instead of the 450,000 legal immigrants and refugees
anticipated by U.S. law, over 1 million legal immi
grants, refugees, and illegal aliens entered the United
States in 1981. Like his predecessors, President Reagan
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
appointed a study group to examine immigration and
refugee problems and suggest reforms that will enable
America to reassert control over its borders.
The Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee
Policy issued its final report in March 1981. A series of
congressional hearings was held on immigration prob
lems and reform proposals in 1981 and 1982. Three
comprehensive reform packages are now awaiting con
gressional action. President Reagan has proposed a lim
ited amnesty for aliens now in the United States
illegally, Federal sanctions on employers who knowing
ly hire illegal aliens, and a streamlining of Immigration
and Naturalization Service procedures. Senator Walter
D. Huddleston (D-Ky.) has proposed more sweeping
enforcement measures designed to reduce the influx of
aliens and a fixed cap on total legal immigration to the
United States. Senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.)
modified the Reagan administration proposals by delet
ing the temporary guestworker idea and its strengthen
ing enforcement provisions. Public opinion and this
spectrum of reform options promise to make 1982 a
year of further debate and possible action on immigra
tion reform.
This book is a collection of newspaper articles and edi
torials that helps explain why the immigration issue
arouses so much debate and sd little action. The articles,
published between 1978 and 1981, discuss immigration,
refugees, and policy. Many of the editorials are from less
er known newspapers, for example, The Tulsa World, The
Arkansas Democrat, and The Sacramento Bee.
The theme running through most of the articles and
editorials is the need to continue American compassion
for the world’s “huddled masses,” but to temper our
compassion in this age of limits. For example, most
newspapers endorsed the initial Cuban offer of 1,000
political prisoners in the fall of 1978, arguing that
American acceptance of these Cubans would demon
strate to the world the economic and moral failures of
Cuban socialism. However, when Cubans began stream
ing across the Florida straits in small boats one and
one-half years later, these same newspapers demanded
that the government reassert control over who enters
America. Most newspapers demanded a similar tough
line when Cubans, impatient to be resettled, rioted at
Fort Chaffee, Ark.
This book does not contain interpretive articles that
help explain the evolution or future direction of U.S.
immigration policies. It is rather a chronicle of Ameri
ca’s response to immigration issues that were salient be
tween 1978 and 1980. It is a valuable mirror of our
diversity in a time when we seek consensus.
— P hilip M artin
Associate Professor
University of California, Davis
63
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Book Reviews
Publications received
Agriculture and natural resources
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Manpower Factbook,
1981. Washington, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of
Energy Research, Office of Field Operations Manage
ment, 1981, 296 pp. $24, National Technical Information
Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.
-------- Geothermal Energy Employment and Requirements,
1977-1990. Washington, U.S. Department of Energy, Of
fice of Energy Research, Office of Field Operations Man
agement, 1981, 156 pp. $14, National Technical Informa
tion Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.
Economic and social statistics
Frisch, Ragnar, “From Utopian Theory to Practical
Applications: The Case of Econometrics,” The American
Economic Review, December 1981, pp. 1-16.
Green, Jerry R. and Nancy L. Stokey, A Comparison of Tour
naments and Contracts. Cambridge, Mass., National Bu
reau of Economic Research, Inc., 1982, 23 pp. ( n b e r
Working Paper Series, 840.) $1.50.
Lee, Joon Koo, Distributional Implications of Imperfect Capital
Markets. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Econom
ic Research, Inc., 1981, 41 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Se
ries, 663.) $1.50.
Tinbergen, Jan, “The Use of Models: Experience and
Prospects,” The American Economic Review, December
1981, pp. 17-22.
U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee, Maintaining the
Quality of Economic Data. A study prepared for the
[Congressional] Joint Economic Committee. Washington,
1981. 34 pp. (97th Cong., 1st sess.). For sale by the Su
perintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Education
Braddock, Jomills Henry, II, “The Issue Is Still Equality of
Educational Opportunity,” Harvard Educational Review,
November 1981, pp. 490-96.
Freeman, Richard B., The Changing Economic Value of
Higher Education in Developed Economies: A Report to the
O.E.C.D. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Eco
nomic Research, Inc., 1981, 55 pp.
Series, 820.) $1.50.
(n b e r
Working Paper
Economic growth and development
Economic Report of the President, Transmitted to the Congress
February 1982, Together with the Annual Report of the
Council of Economic Advisers. Washington, 1982, 357 pp.
Stock No. 040-000-00453-0. $7, Superintendent of Docu
ments, Washington 20402.
Friedman, Milton, Market Mechanisms and Central Economic
Planning. Washington, American Enterprise Institute for
Public Policy Research, 1981, 32 pp. (The G. Warren
Nutter Lectures in Political Economy.)
Greenwald, Douglas, ed., Encyclopedia of Economics. New
York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1982, 1,068 pp. $49.95.
Hicks, John, “The Mainspring of Economic Growth,” The
American Economic Review, December 1981, pp. 23-29.
Mincer, Jacob, Human Capital and Economic Growth. Cam
bridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research,
64 FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Inc., 1981, 28 pp.
$1.50.
(n b e r
Working Paper Series, 803.)
Industrial relations
Barkin, Solomon, Productivity Measures in Collective Bargain
ing. Reprinted from Relations Industrielles, Vol. 36, No.
2, 1981, pp. 361-70. Amherst, University of Massachu
setts, Labor Relations and Research Center, 1981. (Re
print Series, 63.)
Castle, Robert C. and Richard Pegnetter, “Secondary
Picketing: The Supreme Court Limits the Tree Fruit Ex
ception,” Labor Law Journal, January 1982, pp. 3-16.
Dertouzos, James N. and John H. Pencavel, Wage and Em
ployment Determination Under Trade Unionism: The
International Typographical Union. Reprinted from the
Journal of Political Economy, December 1981, pp. 1162—
81. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1981. ( n b e r Reprint Series, 235.) $1.50.
Fogel, Walter, ed., Job Equity and Other Studies in Industrial
Relations: Essays in Honor of Frederic Meyers. Los
Angeles, University of California, Institute of Industrial
Relations, 1982, 274 pp. (Monograph and Research Se
ries, 30.)
Freeman, Richard B. and James L. MedofF, The Impact of
Collective Bargaining: Can the New Facts Be Explained by
Monopoly Unionism? Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau
of Economic Research, Inc., 1982, 60 pp. ( n b e r Working
Paper Series, 837.) $1.50.
Gaal, John, “The N LR B ’s Misuse of Witnesses’ Statements in
Election Objection Proceedings,” Labor Law Journal,
January 1982, pp. 17-25.
Hill, Stephen, Competition and Control at Work. Cambridge,
Mass., The M IT Press, 1981, 280 pp., bibliography. $25,
cloth; $9.95, paper.
Klay, William E., “Combating Inflation Through Wage Nego
tiations: A Strategy for Public Administration,” Public
Administration Review, September-October 1981, pp. 52026.
Lazear, Edward P., A Competitive Theory of Monopoly Union
ism. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic
Research, Inc., 1981, 62 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series,
672.) $1.50.
McCollum, James K., Decertification of the Northern Virginia
Public Sector Local Unions: A Study of Its Effect: Reprint
ed from the Journal of Collective Negotiations in the Pub
lic Sector, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1981, pp. 345-53.
McLennan, Barbara N., “Sex Discrimination in Employment
and Possible Liabilities of Labor Unions: Implications of
County of Washington v. Gunther, ” Labor Law Journal,
January 1982, pp. 26-35.
Nalbandian, John and Donald Klingner, “The Politics of Pub
lic Personnel Administration Towards Theoretical Under
standing,” Public Administration Review, SeptemberOctober 1981, pp. 541-49.
r
Weinstein, Paul A., “The United States Construction Indus
try: The Economic Demographic and Industrial Relations
Environment,” Labour and Society, July-September 1981,
pp. 243-61.
Wilson, Marilyn, “Big Labor Faces Reality,” Dun's Business
Month, February 1982, pp. 36-43.
Industry and government organization
Barkin, Solomon, Management and Ownership in the New Eng
land Cotton Textile Industry. Reprinted from the Journal
of Economic Issues, June 1981, pp. 463-75. Amherst,
University of Massachusetts, Labor Relations and Re
search Center, 1981. (Reprint Series, 64.)
Mitchell, Olivia S., The Labor Market Impact of Federal Reg
ulation:
O SHA,
e r is a
,
eeo
and
Minimum
Wage.
Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1982, 51 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series,
844.) $1.50.
Paik, Soon and William R. Schriver, “The Effect of Increased
Regulation on Capital Costs and Manual Labor Require
ments of Nuclear Power Plants,” The Engineering Econo
mist, Spring 1981, pp. 223-44.
International economics
Destier, I. M. and Hideo Sato, eds., Coping with U.S. Japanese
Economic Conflicts. Lexington, Mass., D.C. Heath and
Co., Lexington Books, 1982, 293 pp. $24.95.
Fairlamb, David, “Strains on the Common Market,” Dun's
Business Month, February 1982, pp. 70-72.
Miller, Mark J. and Philip L. Martin, Administering ForeignWorker Programs: Lessons from Europe. Lexington,
Mass., D.C. Heath and Co., Lexington Books, 1982, 194
pp. $21.95.
“The Middle East, 1982,” Current History, January 1982, pp.
1-42.
Labor force
Brown, Charles, Curtis Gilroy, Andrew Kohen, The Effect of
the Minimum Wage on Employment and Unemployment:
A Survey. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Eco
nomic Research, Inc., 1982, 106 pp. ( n b e r Working Pa
per Series, 846.) $1.50.
Reubens, Beatrice G., John A. C. Harrison, Kalman Rupp ,
The Youth Labor Force, 1945-1995: A Cross-National
Analysis. Totowa, N.J., Allanheld, Osmun & Co., Pub
lishers, Inc., 1981, 387 pp., bibliography. $48.50.
Management and organization theory
Andrew, Charles G. and George A. Johnson, “The Crucial
Importance of Production and Operations Management,”
Academy of Management Review, January 1982, pp. 143—
47.
Beard, Donald W. and Gregory G. Dess, “Corporate-Level
Strategy, Business-Level Strategy, and Firm Perfor
mance,” Academy of Management Journal, December
1981, pp. 663-88.
Braun, Irwin, Building a Successful Professional Practice with
Advertising. New York, a m a c o m , A division of American
Management Associations, 1981, 289 pp. $24.95.
Denhardt, Robert B., “Toward a Critical Theory of Public
Organization,” Public Administration Review, NovemberDecember 1981, pp. 628-35.
Dossett, Dennis L. and Carl I. Greenberg, “Goal Setting and
Performance Evaluation: An Attributional Analysis,”
Academy of Management Journal, December 1981, pp.
767-79.
Duncan, W. Jack, “Humor in Management: Prospects for Ad
ministrative Practice and Research,” Academy of Manage
ment Review, January 1982, pp. 136-42.
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Ford, Jeffrey D. and Deborah A. Schellenberg, “Conceptual
Issues of Linkage in the Assessment of Organizational
Performance,” Academy of Management Review, January
1982, pp. 49-58.
Hendrick, Gregory, “Organizational Structure: The Source of
Low Productivity,” S.A.M. Advanced Management Jour
nal, Winter 1982, pp. 20-30.
Howell, Jon P. and Peter W. Dorfman, “Substitutes for Lead
ership: Test of a Construct,” Academy of Management
Journal, December 1981, pp. 714—28.
Kim, Jay S. and Anthony F. Campagna, “Effects of Flexitime
on Employee Attendance and Performance: A Field Ex
periment,” Academy of Management Journal, December
1981, pp. 729-41.
Korshak, Stuart R., “Arbitrating the Termination of a Union
Activist,” Personnel Journal, January 1982, pp. 54—57.
Korten, David C., “The Management of Social Transforma
tion,” Public Administration Review, November-December
1981, pp. 609-18.
Locke, Edwin A., “The Ideas of Frederick W. Taylor: An
Evaluation,” Academy of Management Review, January
1982, pp. 14-24.
McCroskey, Jacquelyn, “Work and Families: What Is the Em
ployer’s Responsibility?” Personnel Journal, January
1982, pp. 30-38.
Mitchel, James O., “The Effect of Intentions, Tenure, Person
al, and Organizational Variables on Managerial Turn
over,” Academy of Management Journal, December 1981,
pp. 742-51.
Muhs, William F., “Worker Participation in the Progressive
Era: An Assessment by Harrington Emerson,” Academy
of Management Review, January 1982, pp. 99-102.
Sims, Henry P., Jr. and Charles C. Manz, “Modeling Influ
ences on Employee Behavior,” Personnel Journal, January
1982, pp. 58-65.
Stewart, Rosemary, “A Model for Understanding Managerial
Jobs and Behavior,” Academy of Management Review,
January 1982, pp. 7-13.
Storey, John, The Challenge to Management Control. London,
England, Business Books, Ltd., 1981, 192 pp., bibliogra
phy. $13, Renouf USA, Brookfield, Vt.
Truskie, Stanley D., “Getting the Most from Management
Development Programs,” Personnel Journal, January
1982, pp. 66-68.
Tucker, Harvey J., “Budgeting Strategy: Cross-Sectional Ver
sus Longitudinal Models,” Public Administration Review,
November-December 1981, pp. 644-49.
Van Raalte, Susan D., “Preparing the Task Force to Get
Good Results,” S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal,
Winter 1982, pp. 11-19.
Monetary and fiscal policy
Carron, Andrew S., The Plight of the Thrift Institutions.
Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1982, 96 pp.
$10.95, cloth; $4.95, paper.
Higgins, Byron, “Should the Federal Reserve Fine Tune Mon
etary Growth?” Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank
of Kansas City, January 1982, pp. 3-16.
65
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Book Reviews
Productivity and technological change
Chilton, W. L., Labor Costs and International Competitiveness
in Manufacturing Industry. New York, Citibank, N.A.,
Economics Department, 1981, 19 pp.
Howard, Niles, “Piezoelectricity’s New Promise,” Dun's Busi
ness Month, February 1982, pp. 91-92.
International Labor Organization, New Technologies: Their
Impact on Employment and the Working Environment.
Washington, International Labor Office, 1982, 174 pp.
Long, Franklin A. and Alexandra Oleson, eds., Appropriate
Technology and Social Values— A Critical Appraisal.
Cambridge, Mass., Ballinger Publishing Co., 1980, 215
pp. $22.50.
Macarov, David, Worker Productivity: Myths and Reality. Bev
erly Hills, Calif., Sage Publications, Inc., 1982, 223 pp.
(Sage Library of Social Research, Vol. 137.) $20, cloth;
$9.95, paper.
Wages and compensation
Eaton, Jonathan and Harvey S. Rosen, Agency, Delayed Com
pensation and the Structure of Executive Remuneration.
Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1981, 30 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series,
777.) $1.50.
Ehrenberg, Ronald G. and Paul L. Schumann, Compensating
Wage Differentials for Mandatory Overtime. Cambridge,
Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.,
1981, 35 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 805.) $1.50.
-------- Long Hours or More Jobs? An Investigation of
Amending Hours Legislation to Create Employment. Itha
ca, N.Y., Cornell University, New York State School of
Industrial and Labor Relations, 1982, 177 pp. $22.50,
cloth; $12.95, paper.
Lazear, Edward P. and Sherwin Rosen, Rank-Order Tourna
ments as Optimum Labor Contracts. Reprinted from the
Journal of Political Economy, October 1981, pp. 841-64.
Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1981. ( n b e r Reprint Series, 230.)
Mincer, Jacob, The Economics of Wage Floors. Cambridge,
Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.,
1981, 19 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 804.) $1.50.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Workers' Com
pensation Law of 1980: One Year's Experience. (Proceedings
of an Institute of Management and Labor Relations Confer
ence Held on May 13, 1981.) New Brunswick, N.J.,
Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Institute of
Management and Labor Relations, 1982, 28 pp. $3, paper.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Area Wage Surveys: Los
Angeles-Long Beach, California, Metropolitan Area, Octo
ber 1981 (Bulletin 3010-66, 55 pp., Stock No.
029-001-90113-5, $4.25); Denver-Boulder, Colorado, Met
66
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ropolitan Area, December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-67, 41 pp.,
Stock No. 029-001-90114-3, $3). Available from the Su
perintendent of Documents, Washington 20402, GPO
Bookstores, or BLS regional offices.
Weiner, Nan, “The Japanese Wage System,” Compensation
Review, First Quarter 1982, pp. 46-56.
Welfare programs and social insurance
Bartlett, Dwight K. Ill and Joseph A. Applebaum, “Econom
ic Forecasting: Effect of Errors on OASDI Fund Ratios,”
Social Security Bulletin, January 1982, pp. 9-14.
Myers, Robert J., “Investment Policies and Procedures of the
Social Security Trust Funds,” Social Security Bulletin,
January 1982, pp. 3-8.
Snipp, C. Matthew and Gene F. Summers, “The Welfare State
in the Community: A General Model and Empirical As
sessment,” Rural Sociology, Winter 1981, pp. 582-607.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Characteristics of the Population
Below the Poverty Level: 1979. Washington, U.S. Depart
ment of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1981, 247 pp.
(Current Population Reports, Consumer Income Series
P-60, No. 130.) $7.50, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington 20402.
Worker training
Bullock, Paul, c e t a at the Crossroads: Employment Policy and
Politics. Los Angeles, University of California, Institute of
Industrial Relations, 1981, 270 pp. (Monograph and Re
search Series, 29.)
Freeman, Richard B., Career Patterns of College Graduates in
a Declining Job Market. Cambridge, Mass., National Bu
reau of Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 29 pp. ( n b e r
Working Paper Series, 750.) $1.50.
Great Britain, Department of Employment, Early Careers of
1970 Graduates. By Peter Williamson. London, Depart
ment of Employment, Unit for Manpower Studies, 1981,
151 pp. (Research Paper 26.)
Haveman, Robert H. and John L. Palmer, eds., Jobs for Dis
advantaged Workers: The Economics of Employment Sub
sidies. Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1982, 336
pp. $28.95, cloth, $11.95, paper.
Sawhney, Pawan K., Robert H. Jantzen, Irwin L. Herrnstadt,
“The Differential Impact of c e t a Training,” Industrial
and Labor Relations Review, January 1982, pp. 243-51.
Schreiber, Carol Tropp, Men and Women in Transitional Oc
cupations. Cambridge, Mass., MIT Press, 1981, 244 pp.,
bibliography. $6.95, paper.
Taggart, Robert, A Fisherman's Guide: An Assessment of
Training and Remediation Strategies. Kalamazoo, Mich.,
The W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research,
1981, 373 pp.
□
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, 1950-81
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 a d ju ste d ................................................................................................
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.
Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-81
Employment by State ....................................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing g r o u p ................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted ........................................
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-81
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing g r o u p .............................................................................
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonallyadjusted .......................................
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 ...............
Unemployment insurance data. Definitions
..................................................................................................................
18. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations ........................................................................................
Price data. Definitions and notes
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
..........................................................................................................................................
Consumer Price Index, 1967-81
Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, general summary and selecteditems ............................................................
Consumer Price Index, cross classification of region and population sizeclass ............................................................
Consumer Price Index, selected areas .....................................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing ..................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings .............................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings ................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product ................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
.................................................................................
Productivity data. Definitions and notes
28.
29.
30.
31.
........................................................................................................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,selected years, 1950-81
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1971-81
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
................................................................................................................................
32. Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1977 to date ........................................................
33. Effective wage rate adjustments in major collective bargaining units, 1977 to date ...................................................
34. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more, 1947 to date .....................................................................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NOTE
Because of the deletion of former tables 12, 13, and 20, the
succeeding tables have been renumbered.
68
68
69
69
70
71
72
73
73
73
74
75
76
76
77
78
79
80
81
81
82
83
83
84
85
86
91
92
93
94
96
96
96
99
99
100
100
101
102
102
102
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 eview . Some general notes applicable to
several series are given below.
Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted
to eliminate the effect of such factors as climatic conditions, industry
production schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday buying
periods, and vacation practices, which might otherwise mask short
term movements of the statistical series. Tables containing these data
are identified as “seasonally adjusted.” Seasonal effects are estimated
on the basis of past experience. When new seasonal factors are com
puted each year, revisions may affect seasonally adjusted data for sev
eral preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 2-7 were revised in
the March 1982 issue of the Review to reflect experience through 1981.
The original estimates also were revised to 1970 to reflect 1980 census
population controls.
Beginning in January 1980, the BLS introduced two major modifi
cations in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data.
First, the data are being seasonally adjusted with a new procedure
called X -ll/A R IM A , which was developed at Statistics Canada as an
extension of the standard X -11 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, Feb
ruary 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, 14, and 16 begins with the August 1980 issue using the X -ll
ARIM A seasonal adjustment methodology. New seasonal factors for
productivity data in tables 30 and 31 are usually introduced
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.
A vaila b ility 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 of 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 tmd Earnings, a
monthly publication of the Bureau. Historically, comparable informa
tion from the establishment survey is published in two comprehensive
data books— Employment and Earnings, United States and Employ
ment and Earnings, States and Areas, and their annual supplements.
More detailed information on wages and other aspects of collective
bargaining appears in the monthly periodical, Current Wage Develop
ments. More detailed price information is published each month in the
periodicals, the CPI Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price In
dexes.
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
Series
Employment situation..................................................................
Producer Price Index ..................................................................
Consumer Price Index ................................................................
Real earnings ............................................................................
Productivity and costs:
Nonfinancial corporations ........................................................
68
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Release
date
Period
covered
Release
date
Period
covered
MLR table
number
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 21
April
April
April
April
June 4
June 11
June 22
June 22
May
May
May
May
1-11
23-27
19-22
12-17
May 26
1st quarter
28-31
EMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
E
in this section are obtained from the
Current Population Survey, a program of personal interviews
conducted monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. The sample consists of about 60,000
households beginning in May 1981, selected to represent the
U.S. population 16 years of age and older. Households are
interviewed on a rotating basis, so that three-fourths of the
sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.
m p l o y m e n t
d a t a
Full-tim e workers are those employed at least 35 hours a week;
part-time workers are those who work fewer hours. Workers on part-
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.
time schedules for economic reasons (such as slack work, terminating
or starting a job during the week, material shortages, or inability to
find full-time work) are among those counted as being on full-time
status, under the assumption that they would be working full time if
conditions permitted. The survey classifies unemployed persons in
full-time or part-time status by their reported preferences for full-time
or part-time work.
Notes on the data
From time to time, and especially after a decennial census,
adjustments are made in the Current Population Survey figures to
correct for estimating errors during the preceding years. These
adjustments affect the comparability of historical data presented in
table 1. A description of these adjustments and their effect on the
various data series appear in the Explanatory Notes of E m p lo y m e n t
a n d E a rn in g s.
Data in tables 2-7 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-81
[Numbers in thousands]
Civilian labor force
Total labor force
Year
Total non
institutional
population
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
59.7
62,208
65,023
69,628
73,091
74,455
58,918
62,170
65,778
69,305
71,088
7,160
6,450
5,458
4,523
4,361
51,758
55,722
60,318
64,782
66,726
3,288
2,852
3,852
3,786
3,366
5.3
4.4
5.5
5.2
4.5
42,787
44,660
47,617
51,394
52,058
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
131,180
133,319
135,562
137,841
140,272
78,893
80,793
82,272
84,240
85,959
60.1
60.6
60.7
61.1
61.3
75,770
77,347
78,737
80,734
82,771
72,895
74,372
75,920
77,902
78,678
3,979
3,844
3,817
3,606
3,463
68,915
70,527
72,103
74,296
75,215
2,875
2,975
2,817
2,832
4,093
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.5
4.9
52,288
52,527
53,291
53,602
54,315
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
143,033
146,574
149,423
152,349
155,333
87,198
89,484
91,756
94,179
95,955
61.0
61.1
61.4
61.8
61.8
84,382
87,034
89,429
91,949
93,775
79,367
82,153
85,064
86,794
85,846
3,394
3,484
3,470
3,515
3,408
75,972
78,669
81,594
83,279
82,438
5,016
4,882
4,365
5,156
7,929
5.9
5.6
4.9
5.6
8.5
55,834
57,091
57,667
58,171
59,377
1976
1977
1978
1979
.......................................... ..................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
158,294
161,166
164,027
166,951
98,302
101,142
104,368
107,050
62.1
62.8
63.6
64.1
96,158
99,009
102,251
104,962
88,752
92,017
96,048
98,824
3,331
3,283
3,387
3,347
85,421
88,734
92,661
95,477
7,406
6,991
6,202
6,137
7.7
7.1
6.1
5.8
59,991
60,025
59,659
59,900
1980 ............................................................
1981 ............................................................
169,848
172,272
109,042
110,812
64.2
64.3
106,940
108,670
99,303
100,397
3,364
3,368
95,938
97,030
7,637
8,273
7.1
7.6
60,806
61,460
N o te :
Data for 1970-81 have been revised to reflect 1980 census population controls.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
69
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.
Employment status by sex, age, and race, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Annual average
1981
1982
Employment status
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
169,848
109,042
167,745
106,940
99,303
3,364
95,938
7,637
7.1
60,806
172,272
110,812
170,130
108,670
100,397
3,368
97,030
8,273
7.6
61,460
171,581
110,492
169,453
108,364
100,406
3,343
97,063
7,958
7.3
61,089
171,770
110,906
169,641
108,777
100,878
3,470
97,408
7,899
7.3
60,864
171,956
111,420
169,829
109,293
101,045
3,405
97,640
8,248
7.5
60,536
172,172
110,565
170,042
108,434
100,430
3,348
97,082
8,004
7.4
61,608
172,385
110,827
170,246
108,688
100,864
3,342
97,522
7,824
7.2
61,558
172,559
110,978
170,399
108,818
100,840
3,404
97,436
7,978
7.3
61,581
172,758
110,659
170,593
108,494
100,258
3,358
96,900
8,236
7.6
62,099
172,966
111,170
170,809
109,012
100,343
3,378
96,965
8,669
8.0
61,797
173,155
111,430
170,996
109,272
100,172
3,372
96,800
9,100
8.3
61,724
173,330
111,348
171,166
109,184
99,613
3,209
96,404
9,571
8.8
61,982
173,495
111,038
171,335
108,879
99,581
3,411
96,170
9,298
8.5
62,456
173,657
111,333
171,489
109,165
99,590
3,373
96217
9,575
8.8
62,324
173,843
111,521
171,667
109,346
99,492
3,349
96,144
9,854
9.0
62,321
71,138
56,455
53,101
2,396
50,706
3,353
5.9
14,683
72,419
57,197
53,582
2,384
51,199
3,615
6.3
15,222
72,037
57,028
53,618
2,352
51,266
3,410
6.0
15,009
72,142
57,157
53,820
2,419
51,401
3,337
5.8
14,985
72,251
57,479
53,884
2,390
51,494
3,595
6.3
14,772
72,359
57,094
53,597
2,379
51,218
3,497
6.1
15,265
72,472
57,172
53,874
2,383
51,491
3,298
5.8
15,300
72,559
57,250
53,791
2,422
51,369
3,459
6.0
15,309
72,670
57,262
53,693
2,383
51,310
3,569
6.2
15,408
72,795
57,355
53,504
2,413
51,091
3,851
6.7
15,440
72,921
57,459
53,354
2,382
50,972
4,105
7.1
15,462
73,020
57,665
53,122
2,311
50,811
4,543
7.9
15,355
73,120
57,368
53,047
2,390
50,657
4,322
7.5
15,752
73,209
57,448
53,097
2,386
50,711
4,351
7.6
15,761
73,287
57,554
53,006
2,377
50,629
4,548
7.9
15,733
80,065
41,106
38,492
584
37,907
2,615
6.4
38,959
81,497
42,485
39,590
604
38,986
2,895
6.8
39,012
81,076
42,152
39,365
610
38,755
2,787
6.6
38,924
81,193
42,332
39,536
609
38,927
2,796
6.6
38,861
81,308
42,608
39,737
605
39,132
2,871
6.7
38,700
81,434
42,581
39,757
585
39,172
2,824
6.6
38,853
81,561
42,682
39,810
590
39,220
2,872
6.7
38,879
81,671
42,666
39,841
609
39,232
2,825
6.6
39,005
81,792
42,344
39,426
608
38,818
2,918
6.9
39,448
81,920
42,831
39,814
596
39,218
3,017
7.0
39,089
82,038
42,987
39,878
635
39,243
3,109
7.2
39,051
82,151
42,888
39,713
572
39,141
3,175
7.4
39,263
82,260
42,868
39,764
649
39,115
3,104
7.2
39,392
82,367
43,031
39,744
628
39,116
3,286
7.6
39,336
82,478
43,243
39,807
636
39,172
3,435
7.9
39,235
16,543
9,378
7,710
385
7,325
1,669
17.8
7,165
16,214
8,988
7,225
380
6,845
1,763
19.6
7,226
16,341
9,184
7,423
381
7,042
1,761
19.2
7,157
16,305
9,288
7,522
442
7,080
1,766
19.0
7,017
16,270
9,206
7,424
410
7,014
1,782
19.4
7,064
16,249
8,759
7,076
384
6,692
1,683
19.2
7,490
16,213
8,834
7,180
369
6,811
1,654
18.7
7,379
16,169
8,902
7,208
373
6,835
1,694
19.0
7,267
16,131
8,888
7,139
367
6,772
1,749
19.7
7,243
16,093
8,826
7,025
369
6,656
1,801
20.4
7,267
16,037
8,826
6,940
355
6,585
1,886
21.4
7,211
15,995
8,631
6,778
326
6,452
1,853
21.5
7,364
15,955
8,643
6,771
373
6,398
1,872
21.7
7,312
15,913
8,686
6,748
359
6,389
1,938
22.3
7,227
15,902
8,549
6,679
336
6,343
1,870
21.9
7,353
146,122
93,600
87,715
5,884
6.3
52,522
147,908
95,052
88,709
6,343
6.7
52,856
147,335
94,756
88,653
6,103
6.4
52,579
147,539
95,199
89,080
6,119
6.4
52,340
147,670
95,666
89,237
6,429
6.7
52,004
147,804
94,887
88,799
6,088
6.4
52,917
147,976
95,126
89,170
5,956
6.3
52,850
148,144 148,370
95,163 94,884
89,221
88,628
5,942
6,256
6.2
6.6
52,981
53,486
148,562
95,365
88,734
6,631
7.0
53,197
148,631
95,535
88,498
7,037
7.4
53,096
148,755
95,329
88,010
7,319
7.7
53,426
148,842
95,120
87,955
7,165
7.5
53,722
148,855
95,333
87,990
7,344
7.7
53,522
149,132
95,508
87,956
7,552
7.9
53,624
17,824
10,865
9,313
1,553
14.3
6,959
18,219
11,086
9,355
1,731
15.6
7,133
18,105
11,036
9,383
1,653
15.0
7,069
18,137
11,126
9,488
1,638
14.7
7,011
18,170
11,126
9,460
1,666
15.0
7,044
18,206
11,033
9,310
1,723
15.6
7,173
18,239
10,971
9,338
1,633
14.9
7,268
18,333
11,188
9,313
1,875
16.8
7,145
18,362
11,207
9,321
1,886
16.8
7,155
18,392
11,226
9,279
1,947
17.3
7,166
18,423
11,188
9,314
1,874
16.8
7,235
18,450
11,205
9,265
1,939
17.3
7,245
18,480
11,217
9,197
2,020
18.0
7,263
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 to 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 ......................................
Employed ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................
Black
Civilian noninstitutional population1 ......................
Civilian labor force ......................................
Employed ............................................
Unemployed ........................................
Unemployment rate ..............................
Not in labor force ........................................
1As in table 1, population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are
Incorporated Into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for
N ote :
70
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
18,266
11,069
9,267
1,802
16.3
7,197
18,297
11,134
9,319
1,815
16.3
7,163
1970-81 have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
3.
Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted
[ Numbers in thousands]
Annual average
1981
1982
Selected categories
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
100,343
57,266
43,077
38,746
23,874
100,172
57,051
43,121
38,553
23,820
99,613
56,725
42,888
38,342
23,691
99,581
56,629
42,952
38,234
23,744
99,590
56,658
42,932
38,255
23,727
99,492
56,472
43,020
38,181
23,900
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over ......................
Men ..................................................
Women........................................................
Married men, spouse present ........................
Married women, spouse present....................
99,303
57,186
42,117
39,004
23,532
100,397
57,397
43,000
38,882
23,915
100,406
57,531
42,875
39,036
23,920
100,878
57,792
43,086
39,186
23,979
101,045
57,793
43,252
39,120
24,192
100,430
57,279
43,151
38,930
24,106
100,864
57,640
43,224
38,961
24,159
51,882
15,968
11,138
6,303
18,473
31,452
12,787
10,565
3,531
4,567
13,228
2,741
52,949
16,420
11,540
6,425
18,564
31,261
12,662
10,540
3,476
4,583
13,438
2,749
52,860
16,219
11,725
6,372
18,544
31,288
12,826
10,464
3,447
4,551
13,478
2,730
52,855
16,178
11,616
6,290
18,771
31,685
12,825
10,691
3,483
4,686
13,468
2,826
53,016
16,093
11,488
6,562
18,873
31,796
12,911
10,716
3,466
4,703
13,470
2,748
52,957
16,410
11,411
6,513
18,623
31,538
12,749
10,703
3,493
4,593
13,214
2,710
52,907
16,364
11,578
6,373
18,592
31,580
12,787
10,719
3,526
4,548
13,526
2,727
53,141
16,621
11,460
6,490
18,570
31,611
12,724
10,658
3,530
4,699
13,282
2,753
52,908
16,598
11,533
6,441
18,336
31,266
12,514
10,524
3,506
4,722
13,391
2,743
53,199
16,681
11,616
6,400
18,502
30,953
12,446
10,410
3,580
4,517
13,525
2,770
53,086
16,657
11,461
6,418
18,550
30,683
12,411
10,220
3,438
4,614
13,670
2,802
53,084
16,774
11,424
6,450
18,436
30,344
12,446
10,169
3,368
4,361
13,639
2,660
52,836
16,803
11,091
6,520
18,423
30,203
12,370
9,966
3,415
4,451
13,709
2,817
52,841
16,612
11,253
6,544
18,432
30,309
12,454
9,955
3,503
4,397
13,612
2,787
52,763
16,659
11,311
6,637
18,155
30,416
12,511
9,860
3,397
4,648
13,526
2,710
1,425
1,642
297
1,464
1,638
266
1,391
1,638
299
1,560
1,661
286
1,499
1,654
235
1,437
1,664
263
1,495
1,593
244
1,501
1,638
256
1,461
1,643
256
1,502
1,631
261
1,436
1,641
321
1,352
1,602
228
1,377
1,674
380
1,426
1,596
359
1,416
1,644
277
88,525
15,912
72,612
1,192
71,420
7,000
413
89,543
15,689
73,853
1,208
72,645
7,097
390
89,592
15,930
73,662
1,242
72,420
7,065
374
89,913
15,885
74,028
1,249
72,779
7,150
325
90,402
15,776
74,626
1,192
73,434
6,966
356
89,508
15,707
73,801
1,177
72,624
7,128
376
89,971
15,637
74,334
1,216
73,118
7,071
389
89,995
15,526
74,469
1,259
73,210
7,103
387
89,376
15,475
73,901
1,102
72,799
7,217
399
89,460
15,491
73,969
1,162
72,807
7,152
451
89,238
15,397
73,841
1,204
72,637
7,141
425
88,991
15,585
73,406
1,291
72,115
7,057
410
88,759
15,578
73,181
1,248
71,932
6,971
410
88,586
15,527
73,059
c 1,161
71,898
7,055
408
88,526
15,492
73,034
1,225
71,809
7,126
434
90,209
73,590
4,064
1,714
2,350
12,555
91,377
74,339
4,499
1,738
2,761
12,539
91,405
74,453
4,290
1,660
2,630
12,662
91,094
74,259
4,200
1,593
2,607
12,635
91,745
74,871
4,264
1,657
2,607
12,610
91,500
74,693
4,033
1,465
2,568
12,774
92,532
75,620
4,374
1,680
2,694
12,538
91,569
74,467
4,350
1,729
2,621
12,752
90,878
73,794
4,656
1,759
2,897
12,428
91,384
73,886
5,009
2,006
3,003
12,489
91,323
73,915
5,026
1,945
3,081
12,382
90,922
73,360
5,288
2,121
3,167
12,274
90,125
72,803
5,071
1,783
3,287
12,251
90,892
73,028
5,563
2,193
3,370
12,300
90,548
72,649
5,717
2,237
3,480
12,183
100,840 100,258
57,551 57,471
43,289 42,787
38,961 38,855
24,043 23,626
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 ’
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.
N ote :
Effective
with
January
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1982
data,
population
counts
derived
from
the
1980
census are incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for
1970-81 have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
c=corrected.
71
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
[Unemployment rates]
1982
1981
Annual average
Selected categories
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Total, 16 years and over......................................
Men, 20 years and o v e r................................
Women, 20 years and over............................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years............................
7.1
5.9
6.4
17.8
7.6
6.3
6.8
19.6
7.3
6.0
6.6
19.2
7.3
5.8
6.6
19.0
7.5
6.3
6.7
19.4
7.4
6.1
6.6
19.2
7.2
5.8
6.7
18.7
7.3
6.0
6.6
19.0
7.6 '
6.2
6.9
19.7
8.0
6.7
7.0
20.4
8.3
7.1
7.2
21.4
8.8
7.9
7.4
21.5
8.5
7.5
7.2
21.7
8.8
7.6
7.6
22.3
9.0
7.9
7.9
21.9
White, total ..................................................
Men, 20 years and over..........................
Women, 20 years and over ....................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ....................
6.3
5.3
5.6
15.5
6.7
5.6
5.9
17.3
6.4
5.3
5.7
16.8
6.4
5.2
5.7
17.0
6.7
5.6
5.9
17.5
6.4
5.3
5.7
16.8
6.3
5.0
5.8
16.4
6.2
5.2
5.5
16.1
6.6
5.5
5.9
17.2
7.0
5.9
6.1
17.7
7.4
6.4
6.3
19.0
7.7
6.9
6.4
19.0
7.5
6.6
6.3
19.6
7.7
6.7
6.6
20.0
7.9
7.0
6.9
19.0
Black, total ..................................................
Men, 20 years and over..........................
Women, 20 years and over ....................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ....................
14.3
12.4
11.9
38.5
15.6
13.5
13.4
41.4
15.0
12.1
13.6
39.7
14.7
12.1
12.9
40.2
15.0
13.0
13.1
36.9
15.6
13.7
13.3
40.9
14.9
12.7
13.1
40.0
16.3
13.6
13.8
49.0
16.3
14.5
14.0
40.8
16.8
14.7
13.9
45.6
16.8
15.5
13.6
44.1
17.3
16.5
14.1
42.2
16.8
16.3
13.3
41.2
17.3
16.0
14.5
42.3
18.0
16.0
15.4
46.0
Married men, spouse present ........................
Married women, spouse present....................
Women who maintain families........................
Full-time workers..........................................
Part-time workers........................ ..................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over....................
Labor force time lost1 ....................................
4.2
5.8
9.2
6.9
8.8
1.7
7.9
4.3
6.0
10.4
7.3
9.4
2.1
8.5
4.1
5.9
9.6
7.1
9.1
2.1
8.2
3.8
5.9
9.9
6.9
9.2
2.0
8.2
4.0
5.8
10.4
7.1
9.6
2.0
8.6
4.2
5.7
10.7
7.1
9.2
2.2
7.9
3.9
5.7
11.2
6.8
9.3
2.0
7.9
4.0
5.5
• 10.1
6.9
9.6
2.0
7.9
4.4
6.0
10.7
7.3
9.6
2.1
8.5
4.8
6.1
10.6
7.7
9.5
2.1
9.1
5.2
6.5
10.8
8.1
10.2
2.2
9.5
5.7
6.6
10.5
8.7
9.2
2.2
10.1
5.3
6.2
10.4
8.4
9.6
2.2
10.0
5.3
7.0
10.2
8.5
10.8
2.5
9.8
5.5
7.1
10.6
8.9
10.0
2.7
10.4
3.7
2.5
2.4
4.4
5.3
10.0
6.6
12.2
8.8
14.6
7.9
4.6
4.0
2.8
2.7
4.6
5.7
10.3
7.5
12.2
8.7
14.7
8.9
5.3
3.9
2.7
2.5
4.1
5.7
10.0
7.1
11.7
9.1
14.2
8.3
5.2
4.0
3.1
2.4
4.2
5.6
9.7
6.8
11.6
8.1
14.0
8.5
3.9
4.0
2.8
2.6
4.6
5.6
9.9
7.2
11.8
8.2
13.5
9.4
5.2
3.9
2.8
2.7
4.3
5.4
9.8
7.1
11.1
8.1
14.7
8.9
6.2
4.0
2.8
2.6
4.9
5.7
9.5
6.9
11.1
7.3
14.4
8.0
4.8
3.9
2.5
2.7
4.7
5.7
9.5
7.0
11.1
8.0
13.2
8.9
5.4
4.1
2.8
2.7
5.0
5.8
10.2
7.7
11.6
8.7
14.6
9.0
4.0
4.1
2.6
2.8
4.9
6.0
10.9
8.3
12.8
8.0
15.6
9.3
6.2
4.2
2.7
3.0
5.0
6.0
11.8
8.5
14.1
10.4
16.0
9.7
6.2
4.5
3.4
3.1
4.9
6.2
12.7
9.3
15.5
10.5
16.9
9.6
6.4
4.2
2.9
2.7
4.5
6.3
12.5
9.0
15.4
10.2
16.9
9.2
6.9
4.6
3.1
3.1
4.8
6.7
12.5
8.4
15.4
10.3
17.9
9.8
4.9
4.8
3.2
3.0
5.8
6.9
12.9
9.1
15.9
10.4
17.9
10.2
5.4
7.4
14.1
8.5
8.9
7.9
4.9
7.4
5.3
4.1
11.0
7.7
15.6
8.3
8.2
8.4
5.2
8.1
5.9
4.7
12.1
7.5
14.7
8.1
8.0
8.3
6.1
7.6
5.6
4.6
12.1
7.3
14.5
7.6
7.5
7.8
5.5
7.5
5.8
4.7
9.4
7.7
15.7
7.8
7.4
8.6
5.7
8.3
5.8
4.7
11.0
7.4
16.1
7.4
7.1
7.9
4.9
7.7
5.8
4.6
13.3
7.2
15.2
7.3
7.1
7.6
4.1
7.9
5.7
4.6
10.7
7.3
16.2
7.0
6.5
7.9
4.8
7.9
5.7
4.5
12.0
7.7
16.3
7.9
7.7
8.3
4.2
8.5
6.0
4.7
11.0
8.1
17.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
4.8
8.4
6.2
4.7
13.4
8.4
17.8
9.4
9.5
9.3
5.5
8.6
6.1
5.2
14.1
9.1
18.1
11.0
11.8
9.6
6.0
8.9
6.4
5.0
14.8
8.8
18.7
10.4
11.0
9.5
6.4
8.7
5.9
4.8
16.2
9.0
18.1
10.6
11.3
9.5
5.9
9.0
6.5
5.2
12.8
9.5
17.9
10.8
10.8
10.8
5.6
10.3
6.9
4.9
14.0
CHARACTERISTIC
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 ......................................................
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers2 .
Construction ................................................
Manufacturing ..............................................
Durable goods ......................................
Nondurable goods..................................
Transportation and public utilities....................
Wholesale and retail trade ............................
Finance and service industries........................
Government workers ..........................................
Agricultural wage and salary workers....................
N ote : Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are
incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for 1970-81
have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal experience
through December 1981.
1Aggregate 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 for
72FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
f
5.
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
6.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
7.3
19.0
20.8
17.6
12.1
5.2
5.5
3.5
7.6
19.7
21.4
18.5
12.3
5.4
5.8
3.8
8.0
20.4
21.5
20.0
12.7
5.7
6.2
3.8
8.3
21.4
22.6
20.5
13.0
6.0
6.5
3.8
8.8
21.5
21.9
21.2
13.5
6.5
6.9
4,1
8.5
21.7
21.9
21.3
13.5
6.3
6.7
4.2
8.8
22.3
22.7
22.0
14.1
6.4
6.8
4.3
9.0
21.9
22.7
21.3
14.2
6.8
7.3
4.6
6.7
18.8
19.9
17.9
11.6
4.7
5.0
3.4
7.1
19.8
21.5
18.3
12.9
4.9
5.2
3.4
7.3
19.9
21.5
18.7
13.1
5.0
5.5
3.5
7.7
20.1
21.1
19.3
13.8
5.5
5.9
3.7
8.3
21.8
22.7
21.0
14.4
5.8
6.3
3.7
9.0
22.3
22.6
22.2
14.8
6.5
6.9
4.4
8.6
22.1
23.0
21.4
14.9
6.3
6.7
4.3
8.7
22.5
23.0
22.1
15.4
6.3
6.7
4.2
9.0
23.5
24.3
22.9
15.7
6.6
7.1
4.8
7.8
18.6
19.7
17.7
11.3
5.8
6.1
3.7
7.7
18.2
20.0
16.9
11.1
5.6
6.0
3.7
8.0
19.5
21.2
18.3
11.4
6.0
6.3
4.3
8.2
20.7
21.9
20.6
11.5
6.1
6.5
4.0
8.4
20.9
22.5
19.9
11.3
6.4
6.8
3.8
8.5
20.5
21.1
20.0
12.0
6.4
6.9
3.7
8.4
21.2
20.6
21.1
11.9
6.3
6.7
4.1
8.9
22.1
22.5
21.9
12.7
6.5
7.0
4.3
9.0
20.1
20.8
19.6
12.6
7.0
7.6
4.3
Aug.
July
1980
1981
7.1
17.8
20.0
16.2
11.5
5.1
5.5
3.3
7.6
19.6
21.4
18.4
12.3
5.4
5.8
3.6
7.3
19.2
21.4
17.6
11.8
5.2
5.6
3.6
7.3
19.0
21.6
17.2
12.0
5.1
5.4
3.4
7.5
19.4
21.3
17.7
12.6
5.2
5.6
3.4
7.4
19.2
22.6
17.5
12.1
5.3
5.6
3.5
7.2
18.7
19.8
17.8
11.5
5.2
5.5
3.5
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
6.9
18.3
20.4
16.7
12.5
4.8
5.1
3.3
7.4
20.1
22.0
18.8
13.2
5.1
5.5
3.5
7.1
19.8
21.7
18.5
13.0
4.8
5.1
3.3
6.9
19.5
22.5
17.4
13.0
4.6
4.9
3.2
7.3
20.0
22.3
18.0
13.8
4.7
5.1
3.4
7.2
20.0
24.0
18.2
12.9
5.0
5.2
3.4
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
7.4
17.2
19.6
15.6
10.4
5.5
6.0
3.2
7.9
19.0
20.7
17.9
11.2
5.9
6.3
3.8
7.7
18.5
21.2
16.6
10.5
5.8
6.2
4.2
7.7
18.4
20.5
17.1
10.9
5.7
6.1
3.7
7.8
18.7
20.2
17.4
11.2
5.8
6.4
3.4
7.7
18.4
21.1
16.8
11.2
5.7
6.1
3.5
Total, 16 years and o ve r........
16 to 19 years................
16 to 17 years..........
18 to 19 years..........
20 to 24 years................
25 years and over ..........
25 to 54 years..........
55 years and over . . .
1982
1981
Annual average
Sex and age
Mar.
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
1982
1981
Reason for unemployment
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
3,989
1,323
2,666
901
2,069
988
3,958
1,303
2,655
903
2,044
988
4,032
1,357
2,675
1,004
2,106
956
4,173
1,302
2,871
896
2,039
973
3,867
1,225
2,642
926
2,078
940
4,106
1,276
2,830
879
2,034
971
4,426
1,452
2,974
921
2,058
977
4,573
1,631
2,942
976
2,178
1,002
4,905
1,826
3,079
916
2,339
996
5,343
2,042
3,301
923
2,244
1,021
5,205
1,860
3,345
8352,079
1,055
5,153
1,740
3,413
964
2,277
1,100
5,622
1,828
3,794
885
2,249
1,044
100.0
50.2
16.6
33.5
11.3
26.0
12.4
100.0
50.1
16.5
33.6
11.4
25.9
12.5
100.0
49.8
16.8
33.0
12.4
26.0
11.8
100.0
51.6
16.1
35.5
11.1
25.2
12.0
100.0
49.5
15.7
33.8
11.9
26.6
12.0
100.0
51.4
16.0
35.4
11.0
25.5
12.2
100.0
52.8
17.3
35.5
11.0
24.6
11.7
100.0
52.4
18.7
33.7
11.2
25.0
11.5
100.0
53.6
19.9
33.6
10.0
25.5
10.9
100.0
56.1
21.4
34.6
9.7
23.5
10.7
100.0
56.7
20.3
36.5
9.1
22.7
11.5
100.0
54.3
18.3
35.9
10.2
24.0
11.6
100.0
57.4
18.7
38.7
9.0
22.9
10.7
3.7
.8
1.9
.9
3.7
.8
1.9
.9
3.7
.9
1.9
.9
3.8
.8
1.9
.9
3.6
.9
1.9
.9
3.8
.8
1.9
.9
4.1
.8
1.9
.9
4.2
.9
2.0
.9
4.5
.8
2.1
.9
4.9
.8
2.1
.9
4.8
.8
1.9
1.0
4.7
.9
2.1
1.0
5.1
.8
2.1
1.0
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Lost last jo b ........................................................................................
Or layoff......................................................................................
Other job losers............................................................................
Left last job ........................................................................................
Reentered labor force..........................................................................
Seeking first jo b ..................................................................................
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed................................................................................
Job losers ..........................................................................................
On 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]
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 ......................
1982
1981
Annual average
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
3,295
2,470
1,871
1,052
820
11.9
3,449
2,539
2,285
1,122
1,162
13.7
3,277
2,408
2,269
1,057
1,212
13.9
3,189
2,472
2,187
1,048
1,139
13.7
3,378
2,606
2,231
1,061
1,170
13.3
3,303
2,423
2,363
1,227
1,136
14.3
3,323
2,312
2,170
1,096
1,074
14.1
3,326
2,469
2,217
1,078
1,139
14.3
3,529
2,585
2,248
1,146
1,102
13.7
3,707
2,686
2,292
1,166
1,126
13.6
3,852
2,882
2,364
1,229
1,135
13.1
4,037.
3,016
2,372
1,189
1,183
12.8
3,852
3,068
2,399
1,210
1,190
13.5
3,789
3,052
2,724
1,445
1,278
14.1
3,825
3,078
2,954
1,605
1,349
13.9
N ote : Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for 1970-81 have been revised.
Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal experience through December 1981.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
73
EM PLOYM ENT, HOU RS, AND EARNINGS DATA FRO M ESTABLISHM ENT SURVEYS
E
,
,
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.
m p l o y m e n t
h o u r s
a n d
e a r n in g s
d a t a
Definitions
Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or
nonsupervisory workers for which pay was received and are different
from standard or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the por
tion of gross average weekly hours which were in excess of regular
hours and for which overtime premiums were paid.
Notes on the data
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holi
day and sick pay)
12th of the month.
cent of all persons
ment which reports
payments. Real earnings are earnings adjusted to eliminate the effects
of price change, using the . Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The H o u rly Earnings Index
is calculated from average 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 manu
facturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available) and
the effects of changes and seasonal factors in the proportion of work
ers in high-wage and low-wage industries.
for any part of the payroll period including the
Persons holding more than one job (about 5 per
in the labor force) are counted in each establish
them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker
supervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with
production operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 12-17 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
74FRASER
Digitized for
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 1981 data, published in the August 1981 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 1981 and seasonally adjusted data from January
1974 through March 1981) and in Employment and Earnings, United
States, 1909-78, BLS Bulletin 1312-11 (for prior periods).
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).
8.
Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-81
[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
1950 ..........................................................
1955 ..........................................................
I9601 ........................................................
1964 ..........................................................
1965 ..........................................................
45,197
50,641
54,189
58,283
60,765
901
792
712
634
632
2,364
2,839
2,926
3,097
3,232
15,241
16,882
16,796
17,274
18,062
4,034
4,141
4,004
3,951
4,036
9,386
10,535
11,391
12,160
12,716
2,635
2,926
3,143
3,337
3,466
6,751
7,610
8,248
8,823
9,250
1,888
2,298
2,629
2,911
2,977
5,357
6,240
7,378
8,660
9,036
6,026
6,914
8,353
9,596
10,074
1,928
2,187
2,270
2,348
2,378
4,098
4,727
6,083
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
89,823
90,564
779
813
851
958
1,020
3,576
3,851
4,229
4,463
4,399
18,997
19,682
20,505
21,040
20,300
4,582
4,713
4,923
5,136
5,143
17,755
18,516
19,542
20,192
20,386
4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5,281
13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,104
4,271
4,467
4,724
4,975
5,168
14,551
15,303
16,252
17,112
17,901
14,871
15,127
15,672
15,947
16,249
2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866
12,138
12,399
12,919
13,147
13,383
1981 ..........................................................
91,543
1,104
4,307
20,261
5,151
20,738
5,343
15,395
5,331
18,598
16,054
2,772
13,282
'Data include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
9.
E m p lo y m e n t b y S ta te
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
State
Alabama
....................................................................................
A la s k a .........................................................................................
Arizona
.......................................................................................
Arkansas ....................................................................................
C a lifo rn ia ....................................................................................
Colorado .....................................................................................
Connecticut ................................................................................
D e la w a re .....................................................................................
District of C o lu m b ia ....................................................................
F lo r id a ..........................................................................................
Georgia .......................................................................................
H a w a ii.........................................................................................
Id a h o ............................................................................................
Illinois
.........................................................................................
In d ia n a .........................................................................................
Iowa
............................................................................................
Kansas
.......................................................................................
K e n tu c k y ..........
......................................................................
L o u is ia n a ....................................................................................
Maine
.........................................................................................
Maryland .....................................................................................
M a s s a c h u s e tts ...........................................................................
Michigan
Minnesota
....................................................................................
..................................................................................
Mississippi ..................................................................................
M is s o u ri.......................................................................................
Feb. 1981
Jan. 1982
Feb. 1982»
1,341.9
162.8
1,038.0
732.7
9,891.5
1,333.3
172.1
1,038.9
712.4
10,005.1
1,337.8
173.5
1,049.5
717.6
10,004.4
1,263.0
1,414.7
248.8
610.6
3,703.5
1,277.8
1,417.7
244.5
600.3
3,805.3
1,276.6
1,409.6
247.9
600.0
3,812.9
2,163.4
404.9
323.4
4,691.2
2,100.2
2,155.9
397.9
313.7
4,623.3
2,024.3
2,159.9
402.2
314.5
4,605.4
2,022.6
1,074.7
937.7
1,186.4
1,592.1
405.4
1,046.7
9367
1,174.7
1,621.6
400.5
1,050.1
933.8
1,164.1
1,628.2
399.7
1,691.0
2,616.1
3,351.9
1,728.7
813.7
1,925.5
( 1)
( ')
3,214.5
1,710.1
806.9
1,922.3
3,218.2
1,709.8
808.6
1,919.7
1,651.7
1,654.4
Feb. 1981
Jan. 1982
Feb. 1982 p
273.1
611.7
401.3
381.6
3,015.1
289.8
609.4
410.2
388.6
3,028.4
290.5
609.3
412.5
386.5
3,027.9
467.1
7,142.6
2,369.6
238.7
4,251.3
470.9
7,183.0
2,337.7
244.6
4,190.3
471.7
7,200.9
2,343.2
245.5
4,176.0
1,161.7
1,007.0
4,662.2
392.7
1,186.9
1,203.6
970.8
4,577.2
388.1
1,172.9
1,201.6
972.3
4,572.9
387.2
1,176.0
230.1
1,723.9
6,000.7
546.3
200.5
227.9
1,701.4
6,243.9
556.5
200.1
228.7
1,699.3
6,280.3
556.7
200.4
Wyoming .............................................................................
2,122.4
1,582.0
624.7
1,910.1
208.6
2,139.9
1,539.9
609.3
1,859.4
209.6
2,140.6
1,536.7
608.6
1,854.6
208.2
Virgin Islands ......................................................................
36.6
36.1
State
M on ta n a ...............................................................................
N e b ra s k a .............................................................................
Nevada
...............................................................................
New Hampshire .................................................................
New Jersey ........................................................................
New M e x ic o ........................................................................
New Y o r k .............................................................................
North Carolina
....................................................................
North Dakota ......................................................................
Ohio
....................................................................................
Oklahoma ...........................................................................
Oregon ...............................................................................
Pennsylvania
......................................................................
Rhode Island
......................................................................
South Carolina ...................................................................
South D a k o ta ......................................................................
Tennessee ...........................................................................
Texas ..................................................................................
Utah ....................................................................................
V e rm o n t...............................................................................
V irg in ia ..................................................................................
Washington ........................................................................
West Virginia
......................................................................
W isconsin.............................................................................
(’ )
1Not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
75
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
10.
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
Annual average
1981
1982
Industry division and group
TOTAL ..........................................................
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.p
Mar.p
90,564
91,543
90,720
91,337
91,848
92,481
91,600
91,598
92,159
92,424
92,293
91,932
89,799
89,964
90,255
MINING ..............................................................
1,020
1,104
1,084
941
957
1,132
1,155
1,169
1,169
1,164
1,170
1,166
1,149
1,146
1,148
CONSTRUCTION ................................................
4,399
4,307
4,048
4,246
4,356
4,477
4,554
4,579
4,516
4,493
4,369
4,155
3,721
3,705
3,780
MANUFACTURING ..............................................
Production workers..................................
20,300
14,223
20,261
14,083
20,160
14,049
20,253
14,127
20,342
14,195
20,531
14,325
20,337
14,108
20,473
14,230
20,600
14,376
20,368
14,147
20,122
13,904
19,804
13,583
19,462
13,276
19,410
13,250
19,352
13,215
Durable goods ................................................
Production workers..................................
12,181
8,438
12,136
8,316
12,120
8,345
12,197
8,412
12,235
8,438
12,334
8,500
12,198
8,347
12,188
8,323
12,292
8,440
12,163
8,313
11,999
8,153
11,786
7,941
11,589
7,763
11,539
7,734
11,511
7,714
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 ..........................
690.3
468.8
665.6
1,144.1
1,609.0
2,497.0
2,103.2
1,875.3
708.5
419.3
679.3
476.6
650.2
1,128.2
1,583.6
2,512.6
2,133.9
1,837.8
718.0
415.3
678.3
472.1
639.5
1,141.3
1,585.4
2,504.3
2,119.5
1,860.4
712.1
406.7
686.9
478.0
652.6
1,149.9
1,593.7
2,506.1
2,129.7
1,874.3
714.4
411.3
703.4
479.0
659.7
1,147.5
1,596.1
2,508.6
2,134.7
1,877.4
715.2
413.4
711.0
480.5
671.0
1,155.5
1,606.8
2,531.3
2,152.7
1,882.7
723.2
419.5
708.6
472.0
666.7
1,135.5
1,584.5
2,517.4
2,138.9
1,840.3
722.1
412.3
701.5
480.6
669.1
1,140.3
1,590.9
2,511.4
2,146.1
1,799.6
726.2
421.8
691.0
484.7
664.5
1,138.8
1,607.5
2,540.7
2,164.8
1,848.3
723.1
428.7
664.5
483.5
652.8
1,109.3
1,584.2
2,528.4
2,158.3
1,832.3
720.0
429.9
638.7
476.5
641.2
1,087.8
1,563.5
2,512.3
2,131.3
1,803.0
718.6
426.2
618.8
471.1
619.6
1,058.0
1,532.8
2,495.4
2,104.1
1,755.7
718.0
412.2
602.4
463.2
589.1
1,041.7
1,502.3
2,465.0
2,099.3
1,719.4
710.8
395.3
610.6
459.8
584.6
1,024.1
1,494.4
2,458.3
2,089.2
1,713.8
708.1
396.2
608.0
456.1
588.1
1,018.3
1,485.7
2,442.1
2,077.5
1,734.5
704.5
396.5
Nondurable goods
Production workers..................................
8,118
5,786
8,125
5,766
8,040
5,704
8,056
5,715
8,107
5,757
8,197
5,825
8,139
5,761
8,285
5,907
8,308
5,936
8,205
5,834
8,123
5,751
8,018
5,642
7,873
5,513
7,871
5,516
7,841
5,501
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 ..........................
1,710.8
69.2
852.7
1,265.8
694.0
1,258.3
1,107.4
196.6
730.7
232.6
1,684.1
71.1
839.3
1,255.8
692.3
1,288.0
1,107.3
210.8
744.4
232.3
1,632.5
68.3
840.9
1,250.2
688.6
1,278.2
1,106.8
207.0
737.2
230.4
1,631.0
66.2
841.6
1,255.2
690.9
1,280.4
1,106.2
209.5
743.5
231.7
1,648.1
65.2
844.3
1,265.9
693.1
1,281.8
1,110.3
212.9
749.2
235.9
1,673.4
66.4
851.0
1,283.9
701.0
1,286.2
1,121.1
215.4
759.0
239.1
1,714.8
66.3
836.5
1,231.1
696.4
1,286.5
1,116.6
216.1
747.0
227.5
1,773.2
75.6
847.3
1,276.8
700.3
1,289.4
1,112.0
215.4
756.8
238.6
1,776.1
77.7
850.2
1,287.3
702.0
1,294.1
1,110.5
212.7
760.8
237.0
1,729.0
77.0
834.3
1,274.1
691.4
1,299.7
1,104.4
211.4
748.2
235.7
1,689.2
74.9
826.8
1,259.5
686.4
1,305.1
1,100.2
210.4
738.6
232.1
1,657.3
73.3
816.5
1,224.4
681.7
1,312.5
1,096.3
206.8
726.4
223.1
1,613.3
72.2
795.5
1,189.8
674.9
1,300.9
1,088.0
199.0
720.4
218.5
1,614.5
68.7
794.7
1,207.3
670.8
1,304.1
1,087.3
197.5
715.5
210.7
1,610.1
64.6
782.1
1,199.3
667.4
1,304.9
1,089.2
198.6
715.6
209.6
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES . . . .
5,143
5,151
5,095
5,120
5,148
5,195
5,177
5,175
5,222
5,204
5,183
5,153
5,063
5,045
5,047
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE......................
20,386
20,738
20,290
20,513
20,672
20,795
20,735
20,811
20,919
20,999
21,148
21,413
20,682
20,529
20,602
WHOLESALE TRADE ..........................................
5,281
5,343
5,293
5,317
5,335
5,381
5,376
5,386
5,370
5,381
5,379
5,352
5,294
5,283
5,288
RETAIL TRADE....................................................
15,104
15,395
14,997
15,196
15,337
15,414
15,359
15,425
15,549
15,618
15,769
16,061
15,388
15,246
15,314
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE . . . .
5,168
5,331
5,263
5,295
5,326
5,384
5,408
5,408
5,361
5,349
5,344
5,350
5,329
5,326
5,341
SERVICES ..........................................................
17,901
18,598
18,287
18,512
18,633
18,764
18,847
18,835
18,812
18,826
18,800
18,762
18,506
18,691
18,804
GOVERNMENT ....................................................
Federal..........................................................
State and local ..............................................
16,249
2,866
13,383
16,054
2,772
13,282
16,493
2,769
13,724
16,457
2,773
13,684
16,414
2,782
13,632
16,203
2,825
13,378
15,387
2,833
12,554
15,148
2,803
12,345
15,560
2,735
12,825
16,021
2,737
13,284
16,157
2,729
13,428
16,129
2,729
13,400
15,887
2,717
13,170
16,112
2,721
13,391
16,181
2,724
13,457
Digitized for
76 FRASER
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]
1981
Industry division and group
TOTAL ......................................
Mar.
Apr.
91,347
91,458
MINING ............................
1,098
950
CONSTRUCTION ......................
4,416
MANUFACTURING............
Production workers......................
Durable goods
Production workers........................
Lumber and wood products ..............
Furniture and fixtures..........................
Stone, clay, and glass products ........................
Primary metal industries..........................
Fabricated metal products ..................
Machinery, except electrical..............................
Electric and electronic equipment............
Transportation equipment............................
Instruments and related products . . .
Miscellaneous manufacturing ....................
Nondurable goods ..........
Production workers....................
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..............
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE..........
WHOLESALE TRADE ..................
RETAIL TRADE............
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE . .
May
June
July
1982
Aug.
91,880
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.p
Mar.p
92,033
91,832
91,522
91,113
90,879
91,040
90,822
’ 32
1,151
1,162
1,162
1,172
1,175
1,166
1,166
1,163
4,272
4,275
4,272
4,259
4,229
4,193
4,085
4,168
4,122
"0 r 3r
14,327
20,505
14,294
20,496
14,281
20,241
14,030
20,017
13,797
19,736
13,514
19,550
13,342
19,507
13,321
19,375
13,237
20,191
14,074
20,332
14,187
14247
12,099
8,325
8,412
8,442
8,455
8,491
12,332
8,485
8,465
12,115
8,267
11,932
8,083
11,714
7,868
11,596
7,758
11,562
7,745
11,485
7,691
692
467
651
1,141
1,581
2,480
2,117
1,849
712
409
702
478
656
1,145
1,595
2,491
2,134
1,878
714
414
710
484
658
1.142
1,604
2,511
2.143
1,872
716
414
699
486
658
1,144
1,604
2,521
2,148
1,886
717
415
702
488
658
1,140
1,614
2,533
2,163
1,886
723
426
686
487
660
1,148
1,610
2,542
2,166
1,889
727
417
677
485
655
1,139
1,606
2,551
2,163
1,889
727
419
652
480
644
1,114
1,575
2,549
2,150
1,811
723
417
634
470
634
1,090
1,546
2,522
2,119
1,783
719
415
619
464
622
1,058
1,516
2,488
2,089
1,725
717
416
615
458
607
1,042
1,501
2,455
2,093
1,706
711
408
625
454
605
1,026
1,493
2,441
2,085
1,721
709
403
620
451
599
1,017
1,481
2,418
2,075
1,722
704
398
8,092
5,749
8,125
5,775
8,160
5,805
8,146
5,790
8,202
5,836
8,173
5,809
8,185
5,816
8,126
5,763
8,085
5,714
8,022
5,646
7,954
5,584
7,945
5,576
7,890
5,546
1,691
72
838
1,243
689
1,276
1,108
210
734
231
1,697
72
842
1,250
691
1,280
1,107
211
744
231
1,703
71
843
1,258
694
1,283
1,109
213
753
233
1,673
71
846
1,264
695
1,284
1,111
212
757
232
1,691
71
856
1,278
696
1,290
1,110
212
760
238
1,668
73
849
1,272
698
1,295
1,106
212
764
236
1,669
71
849
1,273
703
1,301
1,112
211
760
236
1,675
70
833
1,259
691
1,302
1,108
210
744
234
1,676
70
823
1,251
686
1,302
1,104
210
733
230
1,669
70
812
1,233
682
1,302
1,100
208
722
224
1,663
71
795
1,210
678
1,301
1,093
203
718
222
1,678
70
792
1,211
673
1,303
1,093
201
712
212
1,667
68
780
1,192
667
1,302
1,090
201
713
210
5,139
5,161
5,148
5,149
5,167
5,170
5,186
5,168
5,147
5,122
5,124
5,101
5,088
20,635
20,636
20,714
20,717
20,796
20,862
20,872
20,916
20,838
20,735
20,849
20,925
20,904
5,316
5,333
5,346
5,349
5,360
5,375
5,370
5,360
5,363
5,336
5,321
5,320
5,309
15,319
15,303
15,368
15,368
15,436
15,487
15,502
15,556
15,475
15,399
15,528
15,605
15,595
5,293
5,316
5,326
5,331
5,344
5,354
5,366
5,360
5,355
5,366
5,361
5,364
5,373
SERVICES ............................
18,371
18,475
18,540
18,560
18,642
18,667
18,774
18,788
18,838
18,856
18,845
18,918
18,898
GOVERNMENT ..........................
Federal................................
State and local ............................
16,204
2,781
13,423
16,170
2,767
13,403
16,131
2,779
13,352
16,040
2,781
13,259
15,992
2,777
13,215
15,917
2,770
13,147
15,905
2,765
13,140
15,938
2,759
13,179
15,926
2,748
13,178
15,930
2,741
13,189
15,899
2,742
13,157
15,891
2,737
13,154
15,899
2,732
13,167
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
77
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
12.
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-81
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagricultural 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
1950 ..................
1955 ..................
I9601 ................
1964 ..................
1965 ..................
$53.13
67.72
80.67
91.33
95.45
39.8
39.6
38.6
38.7
38.8
$1.335
1.71
2.09
2.36
2.46
$67.16
89.54
105.04
117.74
123.52
37.9
40.7
40.4
41.9
42.3
$1.772
2.20
2.60
2.81
2.92
$69.68
90.90
112.67
132.06
138.38
37.4
37.1
36.7
37.2
37.4
$1.863
2.45
3.07
3.55
3.70
$58.32
75.30
89.72
102.97
107.53
40.5
40.7
39.7
40.7
41.2
$1.440
1.85
2.26
2.53
2.61
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
98.82
101.84
107.73
114.61
119.83
386
38.0
37.8
37.7
37.1
2.56
2.S8
2.85
3.04
3.23
130.24
135.89
142.71
154.80
164.40
42.7
42.6
42.6
43.0
42.7
3.05
3.19
3.35
3.60
3.85
146.26
154.95
164.49
181.54
195.45
37.6
37.7
37.3
37.9
37.3
3.89
4.11
4.41
4.79
5.24
112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33
41.4
40.6
40.7
40.6
39.8
2.71
2.82
3.01
3.19
3.35
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53
36.9
37.0
36.9
36.5
36.1
3.45
3.70
3.94
4.24
4.53
172.14
189.14
201.40
219.14
249.31
42.4
42.6
42.4
41.9
41.9
4.06
4.44
4.75
5.23
5.95
211.67
221.19
235.89
249.25
266.08
37.2
36.5
36.8
36.6
36.4
5.69
6.06
6.41
6.81
7.31
142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79
39.9
40.5
40.7
40.0
39.5
3.57
3.82
4.09
4.42
4.83
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10
36.1
36.0
35.8
35.7
35.3
4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6.66
273.90
301.20
332.88
365.07
396.14
42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.2
6.46
6.94
7.67
8.49
9.17
283.73
295.65
318.69
342.99
367.04
36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0
7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.92
209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62
40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7
5.22
5.68
6.17
6.70
7.27
1981 ..................
255.20
35.2
7.25
438.62
43.6
10.06
395.60
36.8
10.75
317.60
39.8
7.98
Trans portatlon and >ublic
utilities
Finance, insurance, and
real estate
Wholesale and retail trade
$44.55
40.5
$1.100
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
37 7
37 8
37 7
37 6
1 45
1 51
1 58
1 65
1 70
1956
1957
1958
19591
1960
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
36 9
36 7
37 1
37 3
37 2
1 78
1 84
1 89
1 95
2 02
1961
..............
1962
1963
1964 ..................
1965 ..................
38.3
38.2
38.1
37.9
37.7
1.76
1.83
1.89
1.97
2.04
85.79
88.91
36 9
37 3
37 fi
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
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
..
$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
325.58
351.25
39.8
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6
6.45
6.99
7.57
8.16
8.87
133.79
142.52
153.64
164.96
176.46
33.7
33.3
32.9
32.6
32.2
3.97
4.28
4.67
5.06
5.48
155.43
165.26
178.00
190.77
209.24
36.4
36.4
36.4
36.2
36.2
4.27
4.54
4.89
5.27
5.78
143.52
153.45
163.67
175.27
190.71
33.3
33.0
32.8
32.7
32.6
4.31
4.65
4.99
5.36
5.85
1981 ..................
382.97
39.4
9.72
190.35
32.1
5.93
228.69
36.3
6.30
208.97
32.6
6.41
1Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning In 1959.
78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13.
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Annual average
1981
Industry division and group
TOTAL PRIVATE......................
1980
1981
Mar.
1982
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.p
Mar.p
35.4
35.6
35.6
35.0
35.1
35.1
35.2
33.9
34.7
34.7
35.3
35.2
35.2
35.2
35.2
MINING..................................
43.2
43.6
42.3
43.6
43.8
42.1
43.5
44.1
43.8
44.5
44.3
44.7
428
43.6
43.9
CONSTRUCTION..............
37.0
36.8
37.2
36.9
36.9
37.2
37.7
37.3
35.7
37.5
37.0
37.0
33.2
35.6
36.7
MANUFACTURING ................
Overtime hours......................................
39.7
2.8
39.8
2.8
39.9
2.8
39.7
2.6
40.1
2.9
40.2
3.0
39.6
2.8
39.8
3.0
39.5
2.9
39.7
2.8
39.6
2.6
39.9
2.6
37.1
2.2
39.2
2.3
39.1
2.3
Durable goods
Overtime hours................................
40.1
2.8
40.2
2.8
40.5
2.9
40.3
2.7
40.6
3.0
40.6
3.0
39.9
2.8
40.2
2.9
39.8
2.8
40.1
2.7
40.0
2.5
40.4
2.6
37.7
2.1
39.6
2.2
39.5
2.2
Lumber and wood products ..........................
Furniture and fixtures ....................................
Stone, clay, and glass products......................
Primary metal industries................................
Fabricated metal products ............................
38.6
38.1
40.8
40.1
40.4
38.7
38.4
40.6
40.5
40.3
39.0
38.8
40.6
41.1
40.6
39.1
38.2
40.9
41.2
40.2
39.6
38.5
41.1
40.9
40.7
39.5
38.9
41.2
40.9
40.8
38.7
37.8
40.8
40.3
39.9
39.0
38.6
41.0
40.3
40.3
37.9
37.7
40.6
40.8
39.6
38.2
386
40.5
39.6
40.1
37.6
38.1
40.5
39.7
40.0
38.1
38.9
40.1
39.6
40.4
33.7
32.3
37.4
38.4
37.8
37.3
37.4
39.1
39.5
39.5
37.2
37.2
39.4
39.1
39.5
Machinery except electrical............................
Electric and electronic equipment ..................
Transportation equipment..............................
Instruments and related products ..................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ........................
41.0
39.8
40.6
40.5
38.7
40.9
39.9
40.9
40.4
38.9
41.2
40.2
41.1
40.6
38.9
40.8
39.8
41.0
39.9
38.6
41.2
40.1
41,6
40.3
38.9
41.1
40.2
41.3
40.4
39.0
40.4
39.7
40.7
39.9
38.5
40.7
40.0
40.5
40.4
39.0
40.4
39.7
39.9
40.4
38.7
40.6
39.9
40.9
40.4
39.3
40.9
39.8
40.8
40.8
39.5
41.5
40.3
41.4
40.7
39.1
39.1
38.1
38.4
38.6
36.7
40.6
39.8
40.4
40.0
38.5
40.3
39.7
40.4
40.4
38.7
Nondurable goods
Overtime hours......................................
39.0
2.8
39.2
2.8
39.1
2.7
38.9
2.6
39.4
2.9
39.5
2.9
39.1
2.8
39.4
3.0
39.1
3.1
39.1
2.9
39.1
2.8
39.2
2.6
36.2
2.4
38.6
2.5
38.4
2.4
Food and kindred products..................
Tobacco manufactures........................
Textile mill products........................
Apparel and other textile products..................
Paper and allied products............................
39.7
38.1
40.1
35.4
42.3
39.7
38.8
39.7
35.7
42.5
39.2
37.2
40.1
35.8
42.4
39.3
37.2
39.4
35.2
42.3
39.8
38.6
40.3
36.0
42.5
39.8
38.5
40.4
36.4
42.7
39.6
38.6
39.7
36.0
42.4
40.0
40.7
40.0
36.3
42.5
39.8
40.2
38.9
35.2
43.2
39.6
39.4
39.4
358
42.4
39.9
38.8
39.2
35.8
42.3
40.4
38.1
38.6
35.5
42.7
38.8
36.1
31.2
30.0
41.3
39.7
38.3
38.0
35.3
42.1
39.3
37.1
37.7
35.0
41.7
Printing and publishing ..................................
Chemicals and allied products........................
Petroleum and coal products ........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..
Leather and leather products ........................
37.1
41.5
41.8
40.1
36.7
37.3
41.6
43.2
40.4
36.8
37.1
41.6
42.6
40.7
36.8
37.0
41.6
43.9
40.4
36.3
37.3
41.6
43.6
40.9
37.4
37.2
41.6
43.5
40.9
38.1
37.2
41.5
43.7
40.0
36.6
37.5
41.4
43.0
40.4
36.9
37.4
42.2
44.4
39.8
36.0
37.2
41.5
43.1
40.2
36.7
37.3
41.7
43.0
39.9
36.6
37.9
41.8
42.6
40.1
36.4
36.2
40.8
43.1
37.9
33.3
37.1'
41.2
42.5
40.0
35.4
37.2
40.9
42.1
40.0
35.5
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES . . .
39.6
39.4
39.4
39.3
39.3
39.8
39.8
39.5
39.2
39.1
39.3
39.3
38.4
39.1
38.9
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ....................
32.2
32.1
31.9
32.1
32.0
32.3
32.8
32.8
32.2
31.9
31.9
32.2
31.1
31.5
31.5
WHOLESALE TRADE..................................
38.5
38.6
38.5
38.5
38.5
38.6
38.8
38.7
38.5
38.7
38.6
38.7
37.8
38.2
38.1
RETAIL TRADE ..........................................
30.2
30.1
29.8
30.0
29.9
30.4
30.9
30.9
30.2
29.8
29.8
30.3
29.0
29.5
29.4
36.2
36.3
36.4
36.3
36.1
36.1
36.3
36.3
36.0
36.2
36.2
36.2
36.2
36.3
36.2
32.6
32.6
32.6
32.6
32.5
32.7
33.0
32.9
32.4
32.5
32.5
32.6
32.3
32.5
32.4
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE .
SERVICES............................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
79
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
14.
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1982
1981
Industry division and group
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.P
Mar.p
TOTAL PRIVATE................................................
35.3
35.4
35.3
35.2
35.3
35.2
34.9
35.0
35.0
34.9
34.2
35.0
34.8
MANUFACTURING ..................................................
Overtime hours............................................
39.9
2.8
40.2
2.9
40.3
3.2
40.1
3.0
40.0
3.0
40.0
3.0
39.3
2.7
39.5
2.7
39.3
2.5
39.0
2.4
37.3
2.3
39.5
2.4
39.0
2.3
Durable goods ....................................................
Overtime hours............................................
40.4
2.8
40.8
3.0
40.8
3.2
40.5
3.0
40.5
3.0
40.5
3.0
39.7
2.6
39.9
2.6
39.7
2.4
39.3
2.4
37.9
2.2
39.8
2.2
39.4
2.1
Lumber and wood products ................................
Furniture and fixtures ..........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ..........................
Primary metal industries......................................
Fabricated metal products ..................................
39.1
38.6
40.7
41.0
40.4
39.6
38.8
41.2
41.2
40.9
39.8
39.0
41.0
41.0
40.9
39.0
38.9
40.8
40.8
40.7
38.8
38.5
40.9
40.5
40.5
38.6
38.6
40.8
40.7
40.5
37.3
37.5
40.3
40.6
39.5
37.6
38.1
40.0
39.8
40.0
37.5
37.7
40.0
39.7
39.6
37.6
37.7
39.5
39.2
39.2
34.6
32.6
38.3
38.4
37.9
37.9
37.6
40.1
39.5
39.7
37.3
37.0
39.5
39.0
39.3
Machinery, except electrical ................................
Electric and electronic equipment ........................
Transportation equipment....................................
Instruments and related products ........................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..............................
40.9
40.0
40.9
40.5
38.7
41.3
40.2
42.0
40.1
38.9
41.4
40.4
41.8
40.4
39.2
41.1
40.2
41.4
40.4
39.1
41.1
40.5
41.2
40.5
39.2
41.2
40.4
41.3
40.8
39.1
40.3
39.6
39.9
40.5
38.4
40.7
39.9
40.5
40.4
39.0
40.6
39.3
40.3
40.3
39.0
40.3
39.2
39.4
39.9
38.4
39.0
38.1
38.7
38.6
36.9
40.6
39.8
40.8
40.0
38.7
40.0
39.5
40.3
40.3
38.5
Nondurable goods ..............................................
Overtime hours............................................
39.2
2.8
39.3
2.9
39.6
3.1
39.4
3.0
39.3
2.9
39.3
2.9
38.9
2.8
39.0
2.8
38.8
2.7
38.6
2.4
36.4
2.4
39.0
2.6
38.5
2.5
Food and kindred products..................................
Textile mill products............................................
Apparel and other textile products........................
Paper and allied products....................................
39.7
39.9
35.7
42.4
40.1
39.8
35.5
42.6
40.0
40.5
36.0
42.8
39.8
40.2
36.1
42.7
39.4
40.4
35.9
42.7
39.4
40.3
36.1
42.7
39.2
38.9
35.2
43.1
39.5
39.3
35.7
42.4
39.6
38.8
35.6
41.9
39.8
37.8
35.1
41.8
39.1
31.3
30.7
41.2
40.3
38.0
35.5
42.3
39.9
37.5
34.9
41.7
Printing and publishing ........................................
Chemicals and allied products..............................
Petroleum and coal products ..............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ........
Leather and leather products ..............................
37.1
41.5
43.5
40.5
37.1
37.3
41.5
44.1
40.7
36.6
37.6
41.7
43.8
41.3
37.1
37.4
41.7
43.4
41.0
37.1
37.3
41.8
43.1
40.5
36.5
37.3
41.7
42.8
40.6
36.9
37.1
42.3
43.3
39.6
36.1
37.1
41.5
42.1
40.0
36.8
36.9
41.3
42.3
39.6
36.7
37.2
41.3
42.6
39.4
36.1
36.5
40.8
44.3
37.8
33.6
37.5
41.3
43.8
40.1
35.6
37.2
40.8
43.0
39.8
35.8
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ..........................
32.2
32.3
32.1
32.1
32.2
32.1
32.1
31.9
32.0
31.9
31.6
32.0
31.8
38.6
38.5
38.5
38.7
38.6
38.5
38.5
38.6
38.4
38.0
38.5
38.2
WHOLESALE TRADE ..............................................
38.6
RETAIL TRADE........................................................
30.2
30.3
30.1
30.1
30.1
30.1
30.1
29.9
29.9
29.9
29.6
30.0
29.8
SERVICES................................................................
32.8
32.8
32.7
32.5
32.5
32.4
32.4
32.5
32.6
32.7
32.5
32.7
32.6
Note : The industry divisions of mining; construction; tobacco manufactures (a major
manufacturing group, nondurable goods); transportation and public utilities; and finance, insurance,
and real estate are no longer shown. This is because the seasonal component in these is
80
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
small relative to the trend-cycle, or irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be precisely
separated,
15.
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Annual average
1981
1982
Industry division and group
TOTAL PRIVATE......................................
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.P
Mar.p
$6.66
$7.25
$7.10
$7.13
$7.17
$7.20
$7.24
$7.30
$7.40
$7.42
$7.46
$7.45
$7.55
$7.54
$7.55
MINING......................................
9.17
10.06
9.85
9.70
9.68
9.94
10.11
10.15
10.29
10.28
10.42
10.43
10.68
10.63
10.61
CONSTRUCTION........................................
9.92
10.75
10.44
10.43
10.53
10.60
10.74
10.87
11.02
11.10
11.12
11.19
11.56
11.27
11.27
MANUFACTURING ..............................
7.27
7.98
7.80
7.88
7.92
7.97
8.02
8.02
8.15
8.15
8.20
8.26
8.41
8.33
8.37
Durable goods......................
Lumber and wood products ............
Furniture and fixtures..........................
Stone, clay, and glass products ..............
Primary metal industries..........................
Fabricated metal products ......................
7.75
6.53
5.49
7.50
9.77
7.45
8.52
7.00
5.90
8.27
10.81
8.20
8.32
6.79
5.76
7.94
10.52
8.01
8.40
6.83
5.78
8.11
10.76
8.05
8.45
6.92
5.83
8.20
10.68
8.17
8.52
7.10
5.89
8.31
10.76
8.23
8.55
7.16
5.91
8.39
10.79
8.22
8.57
7.13
5.98
8.41
10.99
8.27
8.68
7.15
6.00
8.53
11.22
8.34
8.71
7.09
6.05
8.50
10.97
8.39
8.75
7.15
6.04
8.54
11.10
8.43
8.81
7.17
6.11
8.56
11.09
8.53
8.91
7.40
6.27
8.73
11.23
8.55
8.88
7.27
6.17
8.65
11.20
8.57
8.93
7.27
6.21
8.69
11.28
8.63
Machinery, except electrical....................
Electric and electronic equipment............
Transportation equipment........................
Instruments and related products ............
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................
8.00
6.95
9.32
6.80
5.47
8.83
7.65
10.31
7.44
5.98
8.62
7.47
10.08
7.23
5.85
8.67
7.51
10.14
7.25
5.91
8.75
7.55
10.25
7.31
5.93
8.81
7.60
10.36
7.34
5.93
8.85
7.69
10.35
7.44
5.98
8.86
7.76
10.30
7.56
5.97
8.98
7.79
10.41
7.60
6.07
9.05
7.84
10.65
7.61
6.06
9.10
7.86
10.66
7.70
6.12
9.20
7.93
10.69
7.83
6.20
9.21
8.02
10.72
7.94
6.31
9.22
8.00
10.76
7.96
6.34
9.24
8.05
10.83
7.96
6.36
Nondurable goods
Food and kindred products......................
Tobacco manufactures..........................
Textile mill products..............................
Apparel and other textile products ..........
Paper and allied products........................
6.56
6.86
7.73
5.08
4.57
7.84
7.19
7.45
8.82
5.52
4.98
8.60
7.01
7.29
8.61
5.36
4.94
8.30
7.08
7.37
8.90
5.36
4.96
8.37
7.11
7.43
9.03
5.40
4.98
8.42
7.14
7.43
9.33
5.42
5.00
8.55
7.23
7.47
<9.43
5.51
4.94
8.73
7.24
7.50
8.61
5.66
4.98
8.67
7.37
7.58
8.66
5.69
5.06
8.95
7.34
7.53
8.58
5.72
5.07
8.82
7.39
7.63
8.96
5.74
5.06
8.89
7.45
7.69
8.90
5.72
5.05
8.96
7.68
7.83
9.15
5.76
5.20
9.07
7.55
7.76
9.52
5.77
5.14
9.00
7.57
7.79
9.69
5.77
5.15
9.04
Printing and publishing............................
Chemicals and allied products ................
Petroleum and coal products ..................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products ..................
7.53
8.30
10.09
6.56
4.58
8.20
9.12
11.37
7.25
4.99
8.02
8.84
11.23
7.07
4.90
8.04
8.94
11.40
7.15
4.93
8.10
8.99
11.28
7.22
4.95
8.13
9.07
11.29
7.23
4.98
8.22
9.16
11.41
7.28
4.96
8.27
9.19
11.31
7.32
4.97
8.40
9.38
11.53
7.38
5.08
8.42
9.37
11.46
7.39
5.09
8.44
9.42
11.57
7.41
5.10
8.50
9.52
11.58
7.48
5.14
8.61
9.68
11.90
7.62
5.18
8.60
9.65
12.06
7.59
5.21
8.62
9.64
11.93
7.60
5.22
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES . .. .
8.87
9.72
9.42
9.54
9.59
9.63
9.69
9.89
9.97
9.96
10.07
10.08
10.15
10.16
10.14
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ..................
5.48
5.93
5.85
5.87
5.89
5.89
5.91
5.94
6.04
6.00
6.03
6.01
6.17
6.15
6.15
WHOLESALE TRADE....................................
6.96
7.58
7.42
7.47
7.51
7.51
7.59
7.67
7.71
7.74
7.81
7.83
7.95
7.93
7.96
RETAIL TRADE..........................
4.88
5.26
5.20
5.22
5.23
5.23
5.24
5.26
5.37
5.29
5.32
5.32
5.44
5.42
5.42
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE . . . .
5.78
6.30
6.19
6.20
6.24
6.24
6.27
6.37
6.38
6.42
6.51
6.46
6.57
6.62
6.64
SERVICES....................................
5.85
6.41
6.29
6.30
6.33
6.33
6.34
6.41
6.51
6.57
6.67
6.66
6.79
6.80
6.80
16.
Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls, by industry division
[Seasonally adjusted data: 1977=100]
1981
1982
Industry
TOTAL PRIVATE (in current dollars)
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb."
Mar. p
Feb. 1982
Mar. 1981
Mar. 1982
Mar. 19821
135.8
136.7
137.7
138.4
139.0
140.7
141.5
141.9
143.2
143.5
145.1
145.2
145.8
.5
7.4
Mining2 ......................................
Construction ..............................
Manufacturing ............................
Transportation and public utilities ..
Wholesale and retail trade ..........
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Services ....................................
144.0
128.6
138.5
136.1
135.8
136.0
134.0
145.7
129.0
139.9
137.3
136.4
135.4
134.8
145.6
129.4
140.7
138.9
137.4
136.8
136.0
147.2
130.4
141.6
139.8
137.8
137.1
136.6
148.9
131.8
142.5
139.3
138.4
137.4
136.9
149.4
132.5
143.6
141.8
140.0
140.4
139.4
151.5
132.9
144.8
141.7
141.2
140.3
139.8
151.3
134.3
145.5
142.0
140.5
140.9
140.7
153.3
135.4
146.4
144.0
141.5
143.2
142.6
153.2
136.2
147.0
144.4
141.9
141.8
142.7
156.0
140.8
149.0
145.8
142.3
143.4
143.6
155.8
138.0
149.1
146.3
142.7
143.8
144.1
156.2
138.0
150.0
147.2
143.1
145.7
144.6
.2
( 3)
.6
.6
.3
1.3
.4
8,4
7.3
8.3
8.1
5.4
7.1
7.9
TOTAL PRIVATE (in constant dollars)
92.8
93.1
'93.1
'92.0
92.2
'92.6
92.1
92.0
92.5
'92.3
93.1
92.9
(4)
(4)
( 4)
1Over-the-year percent change before seasonal adjustment.
This series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component is small relative to the trend-cycle,
irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 Less than 0.05 percent.
4 Not available.
r = revised.
81
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
17.
Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1982
1981
Annual average
Industry division and group
1980
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.p
Mar.»
TOTAL PRIVATE:
Current dollars..........................................
Constant (1977) dollars..............................
$235.10
172.74
$255.20
170.13
$249.92
171.06
$250.98
170.73
$252.38
170.18
$254.88
170.49
$257.74
170.35
$259 88
170.64
$259.00
168.40
$260.44
169.01
$261.85
169.48
$262.24
169.30
$255.95
164.70
$261.64
167.83
$261.99
MINING ........................................................
396.14
438.62
416.66
422.92
423.98
418.47
439.79
447.62
450.70
457.46
461.61
466.22
457.10
463.47
465.78
CONSTRUCTION ..........................................
367.04
395.60
388.37
384.87
388.56
394.32
404.90
405.45
393.41
416.25
411.44
414.03
383.79
401.21
413.61
MANUFACTURING
Current dollars........................................
Constant (1977) dollars ..........................
288.62
212.06
317.60
211.73
311.22
213.02
312.84
212.82
317.59
214.15
320.39
214.31
317.59
209.91
319.20
209.59
321.93
209.32
323.56
209.97
324.72
210.17
329.57
212.76
312.01
200.78
326.54
209.45
327.27
<1)
Durable goods..............................................
Lumber and wood products........................
Furniture and fixtures ................................
Stone, clay, and glass products..................
Primary metal industries ............................
Fabricated metal products..........................
310.78
252.06
209.17
306.00
391.78
300.98
342.50
270.90
226.56
335.76
437.81
330.46
336.96
264.81
223.49
322.36
432.37
325.21
338.52
267.05
220.80
331.70
443.31
323.61
343.07
274.03
224.46
337.02
436.81
332.52
345.91
280.45
229.12
342.37
440.08
335.78
341.15
277.09
223.40
342.31
434.84
327.98
344.51
278.07
230.83
344.81
442.90
333.28
345.46
270.99
226.20
346.32
457.78
330.26
349.27
270.84
233.53
344.25
434.41
336.44
350.00
268.84
230.12
345.87
440.67
337.20
355.92
273.18
237.68
343.26
439.16
344.61
335.91
249.38
202.52
326.50
431.23
323.19
351.65
271.17
230.76
338.22
442.40
338.52
352.74
270.44
231.01
342.39
441.05
340.89
Machinery except electrical........................
Electric and electronic equipment................
Transportation equipment ..........................
Instruments and related products................
Miscellaneous manufacturing......................
328.00
276.61
378.39
275.40
211.69
361.15
305.24
421.68
300.58
232.62
355.14
300.29
414.29
293.54
227.57
353.74
298.90
415.74
289.28
228.13
360.50
302.76
426.40
294.59
230.68
362.09
305.52
427.87
296.54
231.27
357.54
305.29
421.25
296.86
230.23
360.60
310.40
417.15
305.42
232.83
362.79
309.26
415.36
307.04
234.91
367.43
312.82
435.59
307.44
238.16
372.19
312.83
434.93
314.16
241.74
381.80
319.58
442.57
318.68
242.42
360.11
305.56
411.65
306.48
231.58
374.33
318.40
434.70
318.40
244.09
372.37
319.59
437.53
321.58
246.13
Nondurable goods........................................
Food and kindred products ........................
Tobacco manufactures ..............................
Textile mill products ..................................
Apparel and other textile products..............
Paper and allied products ..........................
255.84
272.34
294.51
203.71
161.78
331.63
281.85
295.77
342.22
219.14
177.79
365.50
274.09
285.77
320.29
214.94
176.85
351.92
275.41
289.64
331.08
211.18
174.59
354.05
280.13
295.71
348.56
217.62
179.28
357.85
282.03
295.71
359.21
218.97
182.00
365.09
282.69
295.81
364.00
218.75
177.84
370.15
285.26
300.00
350.43
226.40
180.77
368.48
288.17
301.68
348.13
221.34
178.11
386.64
286.99
298.19
338.05
225.37
181.51
373.97
288.95
304.44
347.65
225.01
181.15
376.05
292.04
310.68
339.09
220.79
179.28
382.59
278.02
303.80
330.32
179.71
156.00
374.59
291.43
308.07
364.62
219.26
181.44
378.90
290.69
306.15
359.50
217.53
180.25
376.97
Printing and publishing................................
Chemicals and allied products....................
Petroleum and coal products......................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products....................................
Leather and leather products......................
279.36
344.45
421.76
305.86
379.39
491.18
297.54
367.74
478.40
297.48
371.90
500.46
302.13
373.98
491.81
302.44
377.31
491.12
305.78
380.14
498.62
310.13
380.47
486.33
314.16
395.84
511.93
313.22
388.86
493.93
314.81
392.81
497.51
322.15
397.94
493.31
311.68
394.94
512.89
319.06
397.58
512.55
320.66
394.28
502.25
263.06
168.09
292.90
183.63
287.75
180.32
288.86
178.96
295.30
185.13
295.71
189.74
291.20
181.54
295.73
183.39
293.72
182.88
297.08
186.80
295.66
186.66
299.95
187.10
288.80
172.49
303.60
184.43
304.00
185.31
351.25
382.97
371.15
374.92
376.89
383.27
385.66
390.66
390.82
389.44
395.75
396.14
389.76
397.26
394.45
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
(’ >
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
176.46
190.35
186.62
188.43
188.48
190.25
193.85
194.83
194.49
191.40
192.36
193.52
191.89
193.73
193.73
WHOLESALE TRADE ......................................
267.96
292.59
285.67
287.60
289.14
289.89
294.49
296.83
296.84
299.54
301.47
303.02
300.51
302.93
303.28
RETAIL TRADE................................................
147.38
158.33
154.96
156.60
156.38
158.99
161.92
162.53
162.17
157.64
158.54
161.20
157.76
159.89
159.35
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE .
209.24
228.69
225.32
225.06
225.26
225.26
227.60
231.23
229.68
232.40
235.66
233.85
237.83
240.31
240.37
SERVICES........................................................
190.71
208.97
205.05
205.38
206.73
206.99
209.22
210.89
210.92
213.53
216.78
217.12
219.32
221.00
220.32
1Not available.
N ote : In the April issue, the 1981 annual average and data for November 1981 through February 1982 from “ Durable goods” forward were erroneously aligned.
82 FRASER
Digitized for
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
UNEM PLOYM ENT INSURANCE DATA
N
are compiled
monthly by the Employment and Training Administration of
the U.S. Department of Labor from monthly reports of unem
ployment insurance activity prepared by State agencies. Rail
road unemployment insurance data are prepared by the U.S.
Railroad Retirement Board.
a t io n a l
u n e m p l o y m e n t
in s u r a n c e
ployed. Persons not covered by unemployment insurance (about 10
percent of the labor force) and those who have exhausted or not yet
earned benefit rights are excluded from the scope of the survey. In i
tia l 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.
d a t a
Definitions
Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured
unemployment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation
for Ex-Servicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees, and the Railroad Insurance Act.
An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the be
ginning of his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no ap
plication is required for subsequent periods in the same year. Num
ber of payments are payments made in 14-day registration periods.
The average amount of benefit payment is an average for all com
pensable periods, not adjusted for recovery o f1overpayments or set
tlement of underpayments. However, total benefits paid have been
adjusted.
Under both State and Federal unemployment insurance programs
for civilian employees, insured workers must report the completion of
at least 1 week of unemployment before they are defined as unem-
18.
Unemployment insurance and employment service operations
[All items except average benefits amounts are in thousands]
1981
Feb.
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 ............................
Railroad unemployment insurance:
Applications ..................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)..............................
Number of payments ........................
Average amount of benefit
payment........................................
Total benefits paid ............................
Employment service:5
New applications and renewals ..........
Nonfarm placements..........................
Mar.
4,264
Apr.
3,948
May
3,453
June
3,111
1982
Aug.
2,949
3,012
Sept.
2,874
2,680
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
2,753
3,228
Jan.
Feb."
3,935
4,681
4,723
1,806
1,684
1,647
1,417
1,741
2,114
1,610
1,681
1,996
c 2,286
3,272
3,328
2,328
3,669
4.2
3,382
3.9
2,988
3.4
2,691
3.1
2,596
3.0
2,743
3.1
2,656
3.0
2,488
2.9
2,592
3.0
3,061
3.5
3,778
4.3
4,470
5.1
4,376
50
12,882
13,504
11,871
9,790
9,928
10,486
9,594
9,565
9,424
10,052
14,592
15,962
15,618
$105.63
$105.96
$105.49
$99.02
$103.47
$105.94
$107.39
$1,393,612 $1,226,815 $1,006,341 $1,012,764 $1,061,899 $1,004,864 $1,001,020
$108.92
$997,757
$101.89
$1,313,507
$110.52
$112.83
$114.83
$116.31
$1,080,810 $1,592,546 $1,764,206 $1,771,937
17
18
16
15
19
22
19
15
11
9
11
8
54
51
46
43
42
44
44
34
26
22
19
16
13
221
$22,517
234
$24,668
214
$23,048
183
$19,965
192
$21,145
203
$22,785
190
$21,425
153
$17,144
116
$12,952
91
$10,043
93
$10,155
65
$7,098
50
$5,362
13
12
12
11
13
15
17
18
20
16
17
17
12
40
36
31
27
25
25
25
29
32
36
39
40
40
148
$14,573
156
$15,561
135
$13,701
107
$11,023
105
$10,705
105
$10,805
102
$9,543
100
$10,495
112
$11,719
127
$13,491
174
$18,891
162
$18,040
154
$17,510
5
5
6
6
26
41
13
15
21
13
19
22
11
50
104
44
115
41
94
35
79
30
86
28
32
29
63
34
74
40
86
44
83
54
117
75
153
68
140
$214.56
$22,049
$214.93
$23,233
$201.12
$19,239
$199.43
$15,428
$201.06
$16,206
$199.63
$11,541
$202.53
$7,071
$207.98
15,046
$197.26
15,994
$207.08
$16,377
$212.33
$25,292
$213.39
$30,544
$214.07
$28,011
8,778
1,595
1 Initial 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
July
12,868
2,446
16,502
3,509
8
"3,363
"602
4 Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with State programs.
5 Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Data computed quarterly.
Note : Data for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands included. Dashes indicate data not available.
c=corrected.
83
PR IC E DATA
are gathered
the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from retail and primary markets in the United States. Price
indexes are given in relation to a base period (1967 = 100,
unless otherwise noted).
P
r ic e
d a t a
Definitions
The Consumer Price Index is a monthly statistical measure of the
average change in prices in a fixed market basket of goods and ser
vices. Effective with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics began publishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. One
index, a new CPI for All Urban Consumers, covers 80 percent of the
total noninstitutional population; and the other index, a revised CPI
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, covers about half the
new index population. The All Urban Consumers index includes, in
addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional, manageri
al, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the
unemployed, retirees, and others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuel, drugs,
transportation fares, doctor’s and dentist’s fees, and other goods and
services that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quali
ty of these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revi
sions so that only price changes will be measured. Prices are collected
from over 18,000 tenants, 24,000 retail establishments, and 18,000
housing units for property taxes in 85 urban areas across the country.
All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are
included in the index. Because the CPI’s are based on the expendi
tures of two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience of individual families and single persons with
different buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “Cost-of-Living Index,” it meas
ures only price change, which is just one of several important factors
affecting living costs. Area indexes do not measure differences in the
level of prices among cities. They only measure the average change in
prices for each area since the base period.
Producer Price Indexes measure average changes in prices ¿received
in primary markets of the United States by producers of commodities
in all stages of processing. The sample used for calculating these in
dexes contains about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations
per month selected to represent the movement of prices of all com
modities produced in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing,
mining, gas and electricity, and public utilities sectors. The universe
includes all commodities produced or imported for sale in commercial
transactions in primary markets in the United States.
Producer Price Indexes can be organized by stage of processing or
by commodity. The stage of processing structure organizes products
by degree of fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate or
semifinished goods, and crude materials). The commodity structure
organizes products by similarity of end-use or material composition.
To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price In
dexes apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the Unit
ed States, from the production or central marketing point. Price data
are generally collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire.
Digitized for8 4FRASER
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 21.)
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 Statistics, 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 of Methods
for Surveys and Studies, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1976), chapters 13-15. See also John F. Early, “Improving the meas
urement 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.
19.
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, annual averages and changes, 1967-81
[1967 = 100]
Food and
beverages
Alii ems
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
Percent
change
Index
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
123.8
137.7
150.6
5.2
1.1
3.3
11.2
9.4
128.4
132.5
137.7
150.5
168.6
6.5
3.2
3.9
9.3
12.0
122.9
126.5
130.0
139.8
152.2
5.3
2.9
2.8
7.5
8.9
122.4
127.5
132.5
142.0
153.9
4.8
4.2
3.9
7.2
8.4
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
170.5
181.5
195.3
217.7
247.0
5.8
6.5
7.6
11.5
13.5
177.4
188.0
206.2
228.7
248.7
3.1
6.0
9.7
10.9
8.7
174.6
186.5
202.6
227.5
263.2
6.1
6.8
8.6
12.3
15.7
147.6
154.2
159.5
166.4
177.4
3.7
4.5
3.4
4.3
6.6
165.5
177.2
185.8
212.8
250.5
9.9
7.1
4.9
14.5
17.7
184.7
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
1981 ..................
272.3
10.2
267.8
7.7
293.2
11.4
186.6
5.2
281.3
12.3
295.1
10.4
219.0
7.5
233.3
9.2
20. 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
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
All items......................................
263.2
297.3
Food and beverages ........................................................
Housing......................................
Apparel and upkeep..........................................
Transportation................................................
Medical care ....................................
Entertainment ..................................................
Other goods and services..........................................
263.7
280.9
182.0
270.9
282.6
216.7
227.4
270.7
303.7
190.7
285.2
301.7
224.0
243.0
Commodities..............................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ....................................
Nondurables less food and beverages..................................
Durables......................................................
248.3
237.4
258.6
220.3
Services ..................................................
Rent, residential..............................................
Household services less rent ..............................
Transportation services..............................
Medical care services......................................
Other services..............................................
1982
Nov.
Dec.
279.9
280.7
281.5
282.5
270.3
303.5
191.5
287.2
304.8
225.5
245.2
269.9
304.2
191.3
289.1
308.2
226.8
245.9
270.5
305.2
190.5
289.8
310.2
227.3
246.7
273.6
306.1
187.3
289.9
313.4
229.2
248.4
257.7
247.6
265.8
232.6
257.9
248.0
266.4
232.9
258.0 '
248.3
266.7
233.2
258.4
248.7
266.7
233.7
258.8
248.0
265.6
233.4
290.1
201.9
345.4
260.5
305.2
232.3
317.3
211.9
387.4
277.7
326.1
245.8
318.6
213.6
387.2
281.0
329.7
247.8
320.6
215.0
389.2
283.2
333.7
248.7
321.8
216.5
390.4
284.2
335.7
249.5
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
278.2
262.9
245.5
260.3
299.1
269.5
337.5
314.1
260.8
277.9
417.1
268.6
264.8
222.9
449.3
313.6
279.0
263.6
245.9
260.7
299.5
269.5
338.7
315.1
259.5
275.5
414.9
269.4
265.9
223.4
448.2
315.3
280.1
264.2
246.2
261.1
300.1
269.5
340.8
316.9
258.3
271.9
414.1
270.4
267.2
223.8
448.2
317.7
$0,380
$0,358
$0,357
$0,356
Jan.
1981
Feb.
Feb.
Sept.
283.4
263.5
275.8
307.3
188.0
288.0
316.2
231.2
250.3
264.3
280.7
181.8
272.1
284.4
215.0
225.6
259.5
248.1
265.3
233.7
323.9
217.8
392.4
286.6
339.4
251.7
280.8
264.9
246.5
261.1
300.7
269.8
342.0
318.1
259.1
270.7
414.6
271.1
267.9
224.2
448.0
318.9
$0,355
1982
Oct.
Nov.
279.1
279.7
280.4
281.1
282.1
282.9
271.0
303.6
190.5
286.6
300.9
221.5
239.3
270.7
303.3
190.6
288.9
304.0
223.4
241.4
270.3
303.8
190.5
290.8
307.1
224.3
242.5
270.8
304.7
189.4
291.5
309.1
224.4
243.5
273.9
305.6
186.5
291.6
312.0
226.1
245.0
276.0
306.7
187.3
289.6
314.9
228.1
247.1
248.8
237.9
261.4
218.6
258.2
248.4
268.5
231.5
258.4
248.7
268.6
232.0
258.5
249.1
269.0
232.3
258.8
249.3
268.9
232.7
259.3
248.7
267.8
232.4
259.9
248.6
267.5
232.5
325.3
218.6
393.7
287.6
342.4
253.0
290.8
201.6
348.5
259.7
307.4
232.1
317.7
211.5
392.2
276.3
324.7
243.6
319.2
213.2
391.8
279.9
328.3
246.6
321.1
214.5
393.6
282.3
332.0
247.2
322.4
216.0
394.8
283.6
334.0
248.0
324.3
217.4
396.5
285.9
337.5
250.0
325.5
218.1
397.7
286.7
340.6
251.3
281.4
266.1
245.9
260.2
301.0
270.8
344.2
320.0
262.4
269.6
416.4
272.1
268.5
223.7
446.4
320.5
282.1
267.1
246.0
260.1
300.5
271.7
345.7
321.1
265.1
271.7
413.0
273.4
269.5
224.5
440.1
321.9
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
278.2
263.3
246.3
262.9
301.3
270.7
338.3
314.6
259.9
279.7
420.1
267.5
263.6
222.1
450.0
314.0
279.1
264.0
246.6
263.0
301.5
270.7
339.7
315.8
258.6
276.5
417.9
268.3
264.8
222.6
448.9
316.0
280.1
264.6
247.0
263.4
302.0
270.7
341.6
317.5
257.8
273.2
417.3
269.2
265.9
223.0
449.0
318.2
280.7
265.2
247.2
263.3
302.5
270.9
342.9
318.7
258.2
271.9
417.6
269.9
266.6
223.3
448.7
319.5
281.3
266.4
246.6
262.4
302.6
271.9
345.0
320.5
261.4
271.1
419.0
270.9
267.1
222.8
447.0
321.0
281.7
267.2
246.6
262.2
302.0
272.8
346.3
321.6
264.0
273.1
415.4
272.1
268.0
223.6
440.7
322.2
$0,354
$0,353
$0,380
$0,358
$0,358
$0,357
$0,356
$0,354
$0,353
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Special indexes:
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....................................................
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1 ..................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
85
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
All Urban Consumers
19 32
1981
1982
1981
General summary
Feb.
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES ......................................................................
2637
270.7
270.3
269.9
270.5
273.6
275.8
264.3
271.0
270.7
270.3
270.8
273.9
276.0
Food ....................................................................................................
270.8
278.0
277.6
277.1
277.8
281.0
283.3
271.4
278.1
277.8
277.4
277.9
281.1
283.4
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
273.2
274.3
150.1
139.5
155.7
151.6
143.5
238.2
141.5
143.3
144.4
143.9
132.0
144.3
272.1
275.0
150.0
139.3
156.1
151.1
144.0
238.4
141.6
144.8
143.9
145.7
133.2
144.4
271.0
276.3
149.9
138.4
157.4
149.6
144.9
241.3
142.8
145.2
145.0
146.3
133.1
144.8
271.7
277.7
151.5
137.8
160.2
151.7
145.4
241.5
143.4
145.9
144.9
147.6
134.2
145.4
275.3
279.8
153.0
139.1
163.1
151.1
146.4
243.3
143.9
146.5
147.2
148.1
133.4
146.2
278.0
280.9
154.0
139.1
164.8
152.4
146.8
243.8
143.7
146.4
147.0
149.2
135.4
147.0
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
272.3
273.2
151.2
141.1
157.2
152.6
142.4
235.9
143.4
140.1
142.3
144.6
132.2
144.8
271.3
274.0
151.5
140.9
157.9
152.7
142.8
235.5
143.6
141.7
141.7
146.4
134.0
144.9
270.4
275.5
152.1
140.2
158.9
153.9
143.7
237.6
144.9
141.9
143.2
146.8
133.4
145.8
270.8
276.6
152.5
138.4
162.1
152.9
144.3
237.4
145.3
141.9
143.7
148.4
135.6
147.8
274.4
278.6
153.9
139.6
165.1
152.4
145.3
239.4
145.7
142.5
145.8
148.9
134.7
148.9
277.0
279.8
155.0
139.6
166.8
153.6
145.7
240.0
145.5
142.8
145.8
150.1
136.8
149.3
141.4
148.0
148.9
149.2
149.3
151.2
151.5
136.3
142.1
142.8
143.1
143.0
144.7
144.8
E g gs........................................................................................
257.7
252.5
263.4
257.9
263.4
256.4
277.1
272.3
270.3
272.8
288.1 - 289.4
244.1
248.0
255.9
259.0
281.9
262.0
157.7
164,9
223.6
238.1
221.7
237.1
210.3
225.1
100.0
106.8
300.7
282.3
239.5
238.0
135.4
125.4
260.7
260.8
259.4
256.4
149.4
147.5
129.8
131.8
144.4
144.1
199.7
203.7
197.3
207.0
131.9
130.5
129.9
128.5
362.6
355.0
140.9
138.0
136.5
133.5
188.2
188.8
256.4
262.2
262.5
274.9
267.4
287.8
245.1
259.0
273.3
163.4
238.6
240.1
223.1
109.4
298.7
241.9
134.1
261.6
261.2
147.6
131.8
143.4
196.6
194.0
129.2
127.2
360.8
140.5
135.6
185.9
254.2
259.2
259.6
271.5
266.1
282.6
245.0
256.7
262.0
161.1
235.6
238.1
217.0
108.9
298.1
243.1
131.1
260.5
259.9
146.7
132.1
141.7
192.3
190.9
127.3
122.2
358.9
141.5
133.9
194.7
253.7
258.4
258.7
270.5
264.5
282.2
242.6
254.6
260.1
161.0
234.3
237.2
212.4
109.1
299.1
244.3
130.0
260.6
261.0
146.4
132.6
140.7
191.7
190.1
128.1
120.7
359.6
140.7
134.7
198.0
253.7
259.1
257.8
269.4
262.2
279.6
241.6 ■
257.5
258.2
160.9
234.7
235.5
219.2
107.3
297.6
245.4
129.5
258.1
256.7
145.4
132.2
138.6
194.2
193.1
128.5
123.2
373.3
140.6
143.2
189.4
256.8
261.2
260,2
271.5
265.0
285.8
245.3
256.1
257.1
161.4
238.9
245.6
222.1
107.0
300.0
246.1
133.8
258.1
258.0
146.1
131.7
137.7
195.7
196.3
128.9
123.2
373.8
140.9
143.2
205.1
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
257.5
263.2
263.3
278.3
273.8
299.9
249.1
252.5
281.9
162.8
239.4
241.1
224.7
105.6
302.3
242.9
136.7
258.7
259.1
144.8
129.5
146.0
198.1
194.0
130.1
129.6
358.6
139.4
134.9
189.5
256.0
261.7
262.1
275.3
268.6
297.2
250.1
254.9
275.1
161.3
239.3
245.1
221.3
107.5
302.1
244.7
134.5
260.5
262.4
146.9
130.2
145.0
194.7
189.9
129.7
126.1
358.2
140.3
134.0
187.2
254.0
258.8
259.3
272.2
268.0
292.6
248.2
254.8
260.7
159.2
235.9
242.9
216.2
106.6
299.2
247.0
130.9
259.9
260.9
145.9
130.6
144.6
190.6
188.5
126,5
121.5
356.6
141.0
132.7
196.7
253.1
257.7
257.9
270.9
265.8
291.5
245.9
252.2
260.7
159.1
233.8
240.5
211.0
106.3
300.0
247.7
129.2
259.7
260.0
146.3
130.6
143.9
189.5
187.8
126.3
119.8
358.6
140.2
134.4
198.8
253.3
258-6
257.3
270.1
263.7
288.5
244.7
256.1
258.9
159.3
234.4
239.3
217.6
104.8
298.8
249.0
128.8
257.3
256.1
145.4
130.2
141.4
192.4
190.9
126.9
123.0
372.4
140.0
143.0
190.6
256.4
260.7
259.7
272.2
266.3
295.0
248.9
254.4
257.8
159.7
238.5
249.3
220.2
104.7
301.0
249.9
133.1
257.4
257.1
146.2
129.7
141.0
193.8
194.4
127.1
122.6
373.2
140.4
143.2
206.1
Dairy products ..........................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 - 100) ..................................
Fresh whole milk..............................................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 - 100) ......................
Processed dairy products (12/77 - 100)..............................
Butte'..............................................................................
Cheese (12/77 - 100)....................................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 - 100)..................
Other dairy products (12/77 - 100) ................................
242.1
134.0
219.3
134.2
140.8
242.2
139.2
145.9
134.5
244.3
134.7
220.0
135.4
143.0
247.1
140.8
148.7
137.3
244.6
134.7
220.2
135.2
143.3
247.2
140.9
149.9
137.0
245.0
134.9
220.8
134.9
143.5
248.0
141.1
149.3
138.7
245.5
135.2
221.2
135.3
143.9
248.7
141.0
150.3
139.7
245.8
135.1
221.2
135.1
144.4
249.3
142.0
150.8
138.4
246.5
135.5
221.5
135.8
144.8
248.9
142.8
150.0
140.0
242.5
134.1
219.3
134.4
141.6
246.0
139.6
146.8
135.0
244.1
134.3
219.4
135.3
143.4
249.9
140.9
149.1
137.6
244.2
134.4
219.5
135.2
143.6
249.7
140.7
149.9
138.1
244.7
134.6
220.1
134.9
144.0
250.2
141.1
149.4
140.2
244.9
134.6
220.2
134.9
144.2
251.3
141.3
149.4
140.5
245.2
134.6
220.2
134.7
144.7
252.0
142.3
149.9
139.1
245.8
134.9
220.5
135.5
145.1
251.4
143.1
149.1
140.8
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) ..........................
267.3
278.1
256.8
217.1
256.9
284.9
135.9
298.0
350.2
220.4
312.8
163.5
281.6
286.9
306.4
262.9
250.7
346.2
168.4
268.6
329.1
293.5
193.9
137.9
275.2
273.5
291.4
237.0
254.9
328.5
160.9
256.8
290.4
258.3
207.3
139.6
272.0
267.8
276.1
248.7
249.4
314.0
144.7
260.1
286.3
257.1
206.9
145.0
276.4
274.9
269.6
261.2
254.9
280.6
141.0
279.8
286.8
343.1
204.6
150.4
294.7
308.0
276.7
273.0
253.5
283.1
145.9
337.3
288.8
514.4
245.6
174.8
301.5
319.6
291.2
279.5
251.0
313.1
154.5
346.2
297.4
408.9
288.5
199.1
266.5
277.6
254.4
218.2
249.4
269.4
137.9
298.7
347.1
225.6
308.6
164.8
276.3
278.2
293.7
261.8
251.3
314.6
161.5
264.4
316.8
292.9
191.3
136.6
270.8
267.2
279.5
236.5
253.3
299.9
154.7
256.1
287.7
257.2
206.4
140.0
268.1
261.9
266.0
249.1
248.3
286.0
139.7
258.2
281.5
247.4
209.7
145.8
272.6
269.4
260.5
261.2
252.8
252.8
136.7
277.6
280.0
342.7
207.8
149.1
291.3
303.1
267.0
272.6
251.1
255.1
141.0
335.8
282.7
515.8
248.8
173.9
297.4
313.4
280.1
279.9
247.9
281.1
149.0
343.5
291.5
408.0
293.2
197.2
Processed fruits and vegetables ..........................................
Processed fruits (12/77 - 100)........................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 - 100) ....................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 - 100)..................
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 - 100)..........................
Processed vegetables (12/77 - 100) ..............................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 - 100) ................................
257.8
133.5
127.1
137.2
134.9
125.5
124.4
278.3
143.7
143.6
147.5
139.8
135.9
135.7
279.4
144.9
144.7
148.4
141.2
135.9
136.9
279.2
145.1
144.9
148.6
141.6
135.4
137.4
280.6
145.0
142.3
149.5
142.6
136.9
139.1
282.7
146.4
143.5
151.4
143.6
137.6
140.7
284.2
147.9
147.8
151.5
144.3
137.7
141.7
256.4
133.8
127.1
137.1
135.8
124.4
124.0
276.7
143.7
142.8
147.8
140.1
134.8
136.6
277.2
144.2
143.4
147.6
141.1
134.9
137.5
277.3
144.6
144.1
147.4
141.8
134.7
139.2
278.4
144.5
141.2
148.3
143.0
135.7
140.2
280.6
146.0
142.8
150.1
144.0
136.5
141.8
282.0
147.4
146.6
150.3
144.8
136.6
143.1
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) ................................................
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, 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) ............
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs............................................................
Meats, poultry, and fis h ..............................................................
Beef and veal..................................................................
Ground beef other than canned ....................................
Chuck roast ................................................................
Round roast ................................................................
Round steak ................................................................
Sirloin steak ................................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 - 100) ..............................
Pork................................................................................
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)..........
Digitized for
86FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
1982
1981
1982
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
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
136.8
135.6
325.7
361.4
146.8
163.0
145.3
268.5
256.7
178.5
129.6
413.7
298.9
142.4
345.1
330.8
134.9
259.0
134.9
144.8
149.6
144.4
143.3
142.3
139.9
137.7
134.6
326.4
359.9
148.8
157.1
145.2
268.5
256.6
176.5
130.5
414.8
301.1
142.3
343.1
329.9
135.6
260.5
133.1
144.1
152.0
146.2
143.5
144.5
140.5
138.3
133.1
326.0
359.1
149.3
155.2
144.9
262.2
255.2
163,0
129.8
413.4
298.8
141.4
341.0
330.8
136.4
262.7
133.4
146.5
152.5
148.9
145.0
144.8
141.8
138.9
134.8
325.6
359.3
149.9
153.4
146.1
261.1
255.7
160.1
129.7
412.5
298.1
139.3
344.4
332.0
137.0
262.8
133.7
145.9
152.2
148.8
144.6
145.8
142.5
139.9
135.0
328.7
361.6
150.1
155.6
147.1
261.6
257.8
157.7
130.5
418.7
302.4
141.9
353.3
336.9
138.0
264.6
134.3
147.8
152.6
149.7
146.4
146.9
142.5
140.7
134.1
330.7
364.2
150.0
160.0
146.9
260.5
256.7
157.8
129.8
423.4
304.6
143.8
364.4
342.8
138.4
265.3
135.9
146.2
153.4
151.3
146.9
147.0
143.0
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
135.1
133.8
326.2
363.1
147.6
164.9
143.8
267.4
254.5
177.2
129.2
414.7
295.6
140.3
340.5
331.4
134.6
260.5
136.4
142.7
152.6
142.7
145.3
142.8
141.1
135.5
133.3
327.1
360.2
148.7
158.4
144.0
268.1
255.9
175.2
130.3
416.0
297.7
139.6
338.9
332.7
135.5
262.3
135.6
142.8
155.3
144.8
145.5
143.9
141.9
136.0
131.8
327.0
359.0
148.9
157.0
143.1
263.1
254.9
163.0
130.4
415.2
296.1
139.3
337.3
333.2
136.4
264.5
136.1
145.1
155.6
147.4
146.5
145.2
143.0
136.5
133.2
326.4
359.3
149.9
154.6
144.2
261.0
254.9
158.5
130.1
414.2
295.7
137.2
340.1
331.6
137.1
264.4
135.7
145.3
154.2
147.7
146.2
145.8
143.9
137 5
133.5
329.6
361.6
150.0
157.0
145.2
261.5
257.2
156.0
131.0
420.5
300.0
139.7
348.8
336.5
138.2
266.3
136.4
147.4
154.6
148.6
148.0
147 0
143.9
138 3
1326
331.5
364.1
149.8
161 3
145.1
260.6
256 1
1563
130 2
425.0
302 0
141.7
359 9
342 5
138.6
266.9
137 9
145.6
155.2
150 3
148 4
147 1
144.5
284.7
138.6
138.2
137.0
294.8
143.6
142.4
143.1
296.2
143.9
143.2
143.9
297.2
144.4
143.6
144.6
297.7
144.6
144.0
144.7
299.8
146.1
144.8
145.4
301.2
146.6
145.2
146.9
287.3
139.8
139.4
138.5
297.6
144.6
144.3
143.9
299.0
145.3
144.8
144.8
299.6
145.6
145.1
145.1
300.7
146.3
145.6
145.4
302.8
147.7
146.4
146.2
304.2
148.2
146 8
147.6
Alcoholic beverages ....................
195.9
202.5
201.4
202.3
202.7
204.0
205.6
197.6
204.6
204.3
204.6
204.9
206.0
207.6
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)..................
127.4
197.6
140.0
224.0
113.9
129.7
131.4
203.6
145.4
229.7
117.5
135.4
130.5
202.5
144.0
228.2
116.3
135.5
131.2
204.0
144.8
227.5
117.3
135.7
131.4
204.1
145.0
230.0
117.3
135.8
132.2
205.0
145.9
232.2
117.5
137.0
133.3
207.4
146.8
234.2
117.8
137.6
128.8
197.2
142.0
231.6
113.3
129.4
132.8
203.5
146.2
237.6
117.1
■136.2
132.5
203.1
146.4
238.1
115.7
136.4
132.8
203.6
146.2
237.4
116.8
136.6
132.8
203.5
145.9
238.0
117.4
137.3
133.4
204.3
146.8
239 8
117.5
138.6
134.6
206.5
147.7
241 6
1178
139.1
FOOD AND BEVERAGES-Continued
Food — Continued
Food at home— Continued
Fruits and vegetables — Continued
Cut corn and canned beans except lima (12/77=100) . . . .
Other canned and dried vegetables (12/77=100) .
Other foods at home..............................
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) . . .
Food away from hom e..................
Lunch (12/77=100) ............................
Dinner (12/77=100) ................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77=100)................................
HOUSING......................
280.9
303.7
303.5
304.2
305.2
306.1
307.3
280.7
303.6
303.3
303.8
304.7
305.6
306.7
Shelter............................
300.5
326.9
326.6
327.2
328.0
328.3
329.5
301.7
328.6
328.1
328.5
329.3
329.4
330.3
Rent, residential......................................
201.9
211.9
213.6
215.0
216.5
217.8
218.6
201.6
211.5
213.2
214.5
216.0
217.4
218.1
Other rental costs ........................................
Lodging while out of town....................................
Tenants’ insurance (12/77= 100) ..................
278.5
297.4
129.3
308.1
326.3
135.9
308.7
324.2
140.0
305.3
318.6
140.4
306.3
319.9
140.7
313.6
331.1
141.8
316.9
335.9
143.5
278.3
296.0
129.9
308.0
325.3
136.4
308.4
323.3
140.1
305.0
317.9
140.3
305.3
318.0
140.6
312.3
328.4
142.0
315.6
333.0
143.6
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) ............
335.8
263.0
437.1
373.1
198.5
565.0
211.9
302.8
328.7
242.4
367.8
274.5
501.8
389.7
206.2
662.0
238.2
321.6
352.5
248.7
366.7
272.5
501.8
392.5
207.4
661.3
239.5
320.8
351.1
249.3
367.2
270.2
505.6
393.3
208.0
666.8
244.1
322.8
353.8
249.7
367.8
270.5
506.3
394.1
210.7
666.6
243.9
324.1
355.4
250.3
367.5
269.3
506.0
393.0
212.9
665.2
244.4
326.7
358.2
252.5
368.7
270.4
507.2
393.7
215.1
666.1
243.9
328.2
359.4
254.6
338.2
262.7
442.6
376.6
200.6
566.5
212.3
299.9
327.7
238.6
371.0
273.8
509.0
391.9
208.0
664.4
239.2
318.1
352.5
244.1
369.7
271.4
508.3
394.7
209.2
662.5
240.5
319.2
354.2
244.0
369.8
268.6
511.9
395.5
210.0
667.7
245.3
319.8
354.9
244.5
370.4
268.7
512.9
396.5
212.5
668.1
245.3
321.0
356.5
244.9
369.9
267.4
512.2
395.6
214.5
666.3
245.7
323.3
359.2
246.4
370.8
268.3
513.2
396.0
217.2
666.6
245.4
324.6
360.1
248.2
141.6
124.0
146.2
125.0
146.7
124.4
146.5
124.1
147.3
124.3
149.4
124.6
150.9
124.6
136.9
122.3
139.1
123.2
139.9
122.3
140.0
121.8
140.5
121.6
142.3
121.9
143.7
121.7
127.3
125.2
131.2
131.2
132.4
131.7
133.1
131.6
131.5
132.5
131.9
133.6
133.8
134.8
127.0
127.8
131.7
134.3
132.1
133.7
132.4
134.2
131.6
134.7
131.8
135.7
133 4
136.9
Fuel and other utilities........................
304.5
331.1
330.1
329.8
331.8
336.2
337.1
305.6
332.3
330.9
330.9
332.7
337.0
337.9
Fuels ..................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled gas....................
Fuel o il........................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) ..............................
Gas (piped) and electricity ....................................
Electricity............................
Utility (piped) gas ........................................
387.4
675.6
712.0
157.5
322.9
271.3
389.0
422.4
419.0
673.4 ■ 672.7
705.7
704.3
163.8
165.0
364.5
360.6
309.8
303.0
431.7
434.5
417.6
676.1
706.8
167.7
358.3
298.6
437.0
420.0
682.5
713.5
169.4
359.9
300.3
438.2
426.9
686.0
716.8
170.9
367.4
306.6
447.2
427.6
683.1
713.8
170.0
368.7
306.8
450.8
387.3
678.5
714.2
159.4
322.1
271.1
386.8
422.2
677.0
709.0
165.3
363.6
309.9
428.5
418.4
675.9
707.1
166.4
359.3
302.7
430.8
417.4
679.3
709.6
169.1
357.5
297.7
436.0
419.6
685.5
716.0
170.8
358.8
299.3
436.4
426.2
688.9
719.3
172.1
366.0
305.3
445.2
426.8
686.0
716.3
171.4
367.3
305.5
448.7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
87
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
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
1982
1981
1982
1981
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
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 ....................................................
173.6
142.4
113.5
101.8
101.2
274.7
187.4
152.5
120.5
114.9
103.9
304.1
189.4
154.3
121.5
116.6
105.5
305.2
190.7
155.6
123.5
116.7
105.3
306.1
191.9
156.8
124.4
116.7
107.1
307.4
192.7
157.2
124.0
116.8
109.2
309.8
193.9
157.9
125.3
116.6
109.1
313.3
173.9
142.5
113.6
101.9
101.0
276.3
187.8
152.7
120.7
115.1
103.7
306.0
189.8
154.5
121.8
116.6
105.3
307.3
191.0
155.8
123.8
116.8
105.0
307.9
192.2
156.9
124.6
116.8
106.9
309.4
193.1
157.3
124.2
116.9
109.0
312.2
194.3
158.0
125.4
116.7
108.8
315.7
Household furnishings and operations ................................................
214.9
224.5
225.6
227.2
227.7
228.4
230.2
211.7
221.2
222.2
223.6
224.2
224.9
226.7
189.3
218.5
132.1
141.0
205.5
137.1
116.5
118.8
133.4
149.6
108.4
103.3
113.8
179.9
187.9
133.8
119.7
HOUSING-Continued
Fuel and other utilities
Continued
Textile housefumlshings....................................................................
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) ..........................
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) .
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
187.9
207.7
127.7
131.4
207.7
137.6
118.6
116.8
137.3
147.7
108.7
104.6
113.4
175.7
177.5
129.7
119.7
188.7
210.4
130.1
132.2
207.9
137.4
119.3
117.0
137.3
147.8
109.1
105.0
113.8
175.3
177.0
130.5
118.9
189.4
211.7
130.8
133.1
209.2
139.6
118.7
118.8
137.1
148.2
109.0
104.8
113.9
176.1
178.7
130.7
119.4
189.2
211.2
128.8
134.7
209.7
138.6
119.4
119.0
138.4
147.9
108.9
104.7
113.7
175.9
179.9
130.5
118.7
189.8
210.1
127.3
134.8
209.5
139.7
117.3
118.9
138.5
148.8
108.8
104.4
113.8
178.0
180.8
132.2
120.6
191.4
216.0
131.0
138.5
209.4
140.5
116.4
118.6
138.1
149.9
109.2
104.5
114.5
179.7
182.6
133.5
121.6
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
185.7
213.0
129.7
136.3
202.7
132.9
117.4
117.2
132.3
146.7
107.8
103.6
112.4
174.4
180.6
128.8
117.1
186.6
214.1
132.0
135.2
203.8
132.3
119.0
118.5
133.0
147.2
108.1
103.8
112.8
175.1
181.6
129.8
117.1
187.3
214.7
131.9
136.1
205.3
135.2
118.8
118.9
133.1
147.7
108.3
103.6
113.4
175.9
182.7
130.8
117.4
187.1
213.9
129.9
137.4
206.0
135.2
119.5
119.1
134.0
147.5
108.0
103.3
112.9
176.0
185.3
130.3
116.8
187.7
212.5
128.6
137.0
205.9
136.5
117.6
119.0
133.9
148.5
107.9
103.1
113.0
178.1
186.1
132.4
118.5
115.1
118.8
118.2
118.7
117.9
119.4
121.0
114.2
116.0
115.9
116.8
116.2
117.4
118.9
118.1
132.4
117.3
131.9
119.7
132.9
120.5
134.7
115.7
127.9
120.8
133.1
119.8
134.2
120.1
134.4
119.6
134.0
121.9
134.9
122.4
136.7
113.1
125.6
118.3
131.6
118.4
132.4
128.7
124.1
134.8
128.2
135.4
128.7
136.1
129.5
135.9
128.4
136.3
128.6
139.1
129.8
120.8
121.7
129.6
123.8
129.6
124.5
129.7
125.2
128.3
124.7
128.6
124.8
131.0
126.0
134.8
119.9
140.4
124.5
141.1
127.2
141.2
126.9
141.0
126.3
142.3
127.8
143.3
130.3
131.0
123.8
137.8
129.2
137.9
131.2
137.5
131.6
137.1
131.5
138.2
133.2
139.5
135.5
262.8
256.2
129.3
138.4
121.4
135.9
134.0
273.3
268.9
135.7
139.9
127.2
142.8
137.8
274.3
269.3
136.7
141.8
128.1
142.8
136.6
275.4
269.7
137.3
143.6
128.5
143.0
136.8
277.4
271.6
138.8
144.5
128.8
145.4
136.7
279.1
275.5
139.6
145.1
128.8
146.2
137.1
282.4
278.0
141.0
145.7
130.4
146.9
141.8
260.1
254.3
129.6
139.2
122.4
132.2
126.1
270.4
265.6
135.8
140.4
128.7
138.1
131.1
271.2
265.3
136.6
142.4
130.8
137.8
129.0
271.9
265.2
137.0
143.9
131.3
137.4
129.6
274.1
268.0
137.5
144.4
131.6
140.4
129.4
275.7
272.0
138.4
145.1
131.7
141.2
129.2
278.8
274.4
139.8
145.6
133.4
141.8
134.1
Housekeeping services............................................................................
Postage ..........................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 - 100) ....................................
281.6
257.3
298.3
308.0
300.5
308.0
305.2
337.5
306.9
337.5
307.4
337.5
308.1
337.5
279.4
257.3
296.9
308.1
298.9
308.1
303.9
337.5
305.4
337.5
305.9
337.5
306.8
337.5
138.2
123.6
144.7
129.0
145.5
131.3
147.0
132.2
147.8
133.0
148.4
133.6
149.4
134.2
137.8
122.4
144.9
128.3
145.2
130.5
146.7
131.2
147.6
131.6
148.0
132.2
149.1
132.8
APPAREL AND UPKEEP........................................................................
182.0
190.7
191.5
191.3
190.5
187.3
188.0
181.8
190.5
190.6
190.5
189.4
186.5
187.3
Apparel commodities............................................................................
173.2
181.4
182.1
181.8
180.7
177.0
177.6
173.3
181.6
181.5
181.5
180.1
176.7
177.4
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
178.0
181.1
114.3
108.8
101.0
132.7
120.6
107.8
116.4
111.3
125.0
117.0
162.9
108.1
170.8
170.8
101.1
122.8
95.4
109.7
103.3
111.0
178.4
183.6
115.9
109.8
102.4
134.3
123.0
109.2
118.1
111.9
125.6
119.9
161.2
106.8
167.3
166.9
100.4
123.0
92.4
109.2
99.8
112.0
177.9
183.6
115.9
109.9
102.8
133.6
123.0
109.8
118.0
111.6
127.0
119.3
160.6
106.3
164.0
165.0
101.1
124.1
89.5
109.2
100.3
111.3
176.6
181.6
114.5
106.4
101.4
134.2
122.7
108.5
117.2
109.9
127.5
118.8
159.6
105.8
161.8
164.0
100.7
124.8
87.7
107.7
98.4
108.9
172.8
178.7
112.9
104.3
96.4
133.6
120.7
108.2
114.6
104.7
127.3
117.2
154.3
102.3
158.4
153.1
96.7
124.0
84.2
104.4
93.4
106.3
173.4
179.3
113.0
104.8
95.8
134.7
119.3
108.6
116.0
105.9
128.2
119.1
154.7
102.9
156.4
152.8
96.3
126.2
87.0
102.7
92.6
103.4
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
178.1
181.4
115.0
102.1
106.1
128.5
123.9
113.5
114.8
112.3
120.9
114.4
164.9
109.8
177.8
155.5
103.3
122.7
115.0
108.8
103.3
110.0
177.7
182.9
115.8
102.0
104.9
130.0
125.5
114.7
116.4
113.5
121.8
116.6
162.7
108.1
171.4
151.5
102.3
123.4
110.2
108.4
99.8
110.6
177.3
183.2
115.9
102.0
105.1
129.8
125.4
115.5
116.5
112.8
123.3
116.9
162.1
107.6
166.3
151.9
101.9
124.0
108.5
108.4
99.9
110.2
175.6
181.7
115.0
99.5
104.1
130.6
125.3
114.1
115.4
110.9
123.5
115.9
160.7
107.1
167.3
149.5
101.3
124.5
106.0
106.0
96.1
107.5
172.2
178.6
113.3
97.8
97.6
129.8
123.3
113.6
112.9
105.3
123.3
114.7
156.4
103.9
161.6
140.7
97.3
123.7
104.0
104.2
91.2
108.2
173.0
179.4
113.5
98.2
97.2
131.1
121.8
114.1
114.3
106.3
124.2
116.7
157.1
104.8
163.1
140.9
96.8
126.0
105.6
103.1
91.5
106.0
113.9
117.9
119.6
120.0
120.7
119.2
118.0
112.5
115.5
118.5
119.0
119.5
118.2
117.0
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)..........................................
Apparel commodities less footwear....................................................
Men's and boys' ..............................................................................
Men's (12/77 - 100) ................................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 - 100) ......................
Coats and jackets (12/77 - 100)........................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 - 100) ....................
Shirts (12/77 - 100)..........................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 - 100) ....................
Boys' (12/77 - 100) ................................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 - 100) ..............
Furnishings (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 - 100) ........
Women’s and girls' ...........................................................................
Women's (12/77 - 100)............................................................
Coats and jackets ..............................................................
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
20.
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
1982
1981
1982
1981
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Apparel commodities less footwear—Continued
Infants' and toddlers'......................................................................
Other apparel commodities ............................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) ............................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 - 100) ........................................
254.3
212.3
112.2
147.9
266.4
213.3
118.3
146.2
268.5
216.2
118.1
149.0
264.9
214.8
118.6
147.5
259.4
214.5
118.3
147.4
259.6
212.9
116.2
146.7
262.2
214.3
117.6
147.4
264.0
204.4
112.2
141.3
279.8
206.0
116,4
140.9
281 6
206.2
116.3
141.1
274.1
206.1
116.4
141.0
270.6
203.2
116.2
138.4
270.1
201.4
114.3
137.5
271.4
202.8
115.9
138.1
Footwear...............................................................................................
Men’s (12/77 - 100) ....................................................................
Boys’ and girls’ (12/77 - 100) ......................................................
Women’s (12/77 - 100)................................................................
194.9
125.0
125.3
117.9
202.4
128,8
129.7
123.5
204.2
129.3
131.1
124.9
205.4
130.3
132.1
125.2
205.7
130.7
132.1
125.4
202.8
130.3
130.1
122.6
202.8
130.7
129.5
122.7
194.9
125.7
126.2
115.9
202.3
129.7
130.7
121.2
204.1
130.3
132.2
122.5
206.2
132.3
134.0
122.9
205.9
132.5
134.8
121.6
203.1
132.2
132.5
118.9
203.3
132.6
132.3
119.0
Apparel services ................................................................................
Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 - 100)............
Other apparel services (12/77 - 100) ..................................................
249.9
147.6
133.3
262.0
155.7
138.2
263.2
157.1
137.5
264.6
158.2
137.9
266.4
159.2
139.1
267.6
160.0
139.4
269.4
161.4
139.8
248.7
147.3
132.9
260.0
155.0
137.4
262.1
156.4
138.3
262.3
156.3
138.6
264.4
157.8
139.6
265.5
158.5
139.9
267.2
159.9
140.3
TRANSPORTATION ..........................................................................
270.9
285.2
287.2
289.1
289.8
289.9
288.0
272.1
286.6
288.9
290.8
291.5
291.6
289.6
APPAREL AND UPKEEP
Apparel commodities
Continued
Continued
Private................................................................................................
269.4
281.9
283.9
285.8
286.5
286.6
284.5
271.0
284.1
286.4
288.3
289.0
289.0
286.9
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) ..........................
184.8
234.3
410.8
285.4
139.2
191.3
272.8
411.2
298.7
147.4
192.5
278.2
409.9
301.3
148.7
195.3
281.4
409.5
302.8
149.9
197.0
281.9
408.4
304.1
150.6
197.4
280.5
406,0
305.5
151.5
195.5
279.7
399.1
307.7
153.7
185.0
234.4
412.5
285.4
139.2
191.4
272.8
412.4
299.3
146.1
192.7
278.2
411.3
301.8
147.2
195.2
281.4
410.9
303.4
148.3
196.9
281.9
409.8
304.8
148.9
197.3
280.5
407.5
306.2
149.8
195.3
279.7
400.6
308,4
152.1
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
143.1
138.9
142.6
244.2
212.6
147.7
136.0
189.7
132.8
255.0
262.0
178.0
120.1
147.9
109.6
( 1)
140.9
144.0
140.3
144.0
247.5
212.7
148.0
136.0
189.4
133.4
259.1
264.6
184.4
120.2
147.9
109.9
(’ )
141.2
144.2
140.9
144.9
249.5
213.4
148.5
136.4
189.7
134.1
261.5
265.4
188.7
120.7
149.0
110.4
( 1)
141.3
144.7
141.5
145.6
250.6
214.5
148.7
137.2
191.5
133.9
262.6
266.0
190.5
120.8
149.0
111.9
128.3
141.6
145.7
142.0
146.2
253.3
215.5
148.2
138.1
192.8
134.3
265.8
266.8
190.9
127.6
166.9
117.3
129.2
142.5
146.5
142.7
147.3
253.4
214.8
149.3
137.4
191.3
134.6
266.1
268.1
188.9
128.9
167.1
121.7
129.3
144.8
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
145.5
139.2
141.9
246.9
215.5
145.3
138.4
194.1
133.2
257.7
261.8
176.5
119.8
148.0
109.5
( 1)
145.9
146.5
140.3
143.5
250.6
216.1
144.8
138.9
194.6
134.3
262.2
264.3
183.1
120.0
148.0
109.8
( 1)
146.5
147.3
140.5
144.7
253.0
216.8
146.7
139.2
195.1
134.1
265.1
265.0
187.6
121.1
149.0
110.3
( 1)
148.6
148.5
141.0
145.1
254.2
216.9
147.2
139.2
195.2
133.9
266.6
265.6
189.9
121.4
149.0
111.9
129.0
149.2
149.5
141.5
145.7
256.9
218.0
146.9
140.0
196.5
134.5
269.7
266.6
190.3
128.4
166.2
117.1
130.5
150.4
150.2
142.3
146.8
256.8
217.3
147.8
139.4
195.1
134.9
269.8
268.0
188.3
129.5
166.5
121.7
130.6
152.4
Public...................................................................................................
288.1
329.1
330.8
333.2
333.8
334.9
336.8
280.6
324.5
326.6
328.2
328.6
329.4
331.0
Airline fare.............................................................................................
Intercity bus fare ..................................................................................
Intracity mass transit ............................................................................
Taxi fare ..............................................................................................
Intercity train fa re ..................................................................................
334.1
312.8
248.4
271.4
276.5
372.5
351.4
298.6
288.6
305.0
372.0
361.3
301.7
289.3
315.0
374.5
362.2
304.4
291.3
319.2
374.7
365.2
304.6
294.7
319.2
375.5
367.3
305.9
296.3
318.1
379.3
365.7
306.7
296.7
314.0
332.7
312.2
247.8
277.7
276.9
371.8
351.7
299.2
297.1
305.2
372.9
362.1
301.3
298.1
314.9
373.1
362.9
303.6
300.4
318.9
372.8
366.1
303.9
304.1
318.9
372.7
368.9
305.1
305.6
317.9
376.3
367.4
305.8
306.1
314.5
314.9
MEDICAL CARE ..................................................................................
282.6
301.7
304.8
308.2
310.2
313.4
316.2
284.4
300.9
304.0
307.1
309.1
312.0
Medical care commodities..................................................................
179.2
190.8
192.1
193.1
194.9
195.9
197.7
179.6
191.9
192.9
193.8
195.4
196.4
198.3
Prescription drugs .................................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 = 100)..................................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 - 100) ......................................
Circulatories and diuretics (12/77 - 100)........................................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 - 100) ................................
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 100) ..............................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 - 100)................................................
165.0
129.2
131.9
121.9
176.5
136.5
140.0
127.8
178.6
136.8
141.9
129.5
179.6
136.3
143.6
130.4
181.0
137.8
144.8
131.9
181.9
138.2
145.4
132.2
183.7
138.4
146.8
134.0
165.3
129.5
130.7
122.9
178.0
139.2
139.7
129.0
179.4
139.6
141.3
130.5
180.3
138.9
143.3
131.0
181.9
139.7
144.4
131.8
182.8
140.1
144.9
132.1
184.7
140.4
146.5
134.0
147.4
130.9
160.6
141.7
161.9
144.1
163.3
144.9
164.6
145.9
165.6
147.3
168.4
148.8
146.5
133.3
161.4
143.8
162.8
144.2
164.1
145.4
165.9
147.3
166.9
148.7
169.7
150.3
124.5
134.1
136.8
137.5
138.1
138.8
139.9
125.2
134.6
136.1
136.8
138.0
138 8
139.9
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)........
128.9
123.1
202.7
124.5
136.7
126.9
217.8
131.4
137.0
127.4
217.3
132.7
137.8
127.8
218.6
133.7
139.2
128.4
221.6
134.6
139.9
128.3
222.8
135.9
141.1
128.9
225.1
137.1
129.4
122.3
203.0
126.5
137.4
126.0
218.9
132.6
137.9
126.0
219.5
133.8
138.5
126.7
220.2
134.7
139.7
127.1
222.8
135.2
140.4
127.1
223.9
136.6
141.6
127.6
226.4
137.7
Medical care services ........................................................................
305.2
326.1
329.7
333.7
335.7
339.4
342.4
307.4
324.7
328.3
332.0
334.0
337.5
340.6
290.0
313.0
273.9
140.3
292.0
315.5
275.8
140.3
294.2
318.8
276.8
141.5
271.6
293.9
257.0
128.5
284.5
308.6
268.4
134.3
286.2
310.9
269.5
134.9
288.2
314.1
270.1
136.2
290.3
316.0
272.3
137.2
292.2
318.6
274.1
137.2
294.3
321.7
274.9
138.5
390.9
162.7
519.3
159.6
396.8
165.6
529.4
162.2
400.8
167.1
533.8
163.8
351.3
145,2
455.9
144.4
374.1
154.8
488.5
153.4
380.3
157.9
498.9
156.1
386.2
160.6
509.6
158.3
388.1
161.1
512.6
158.4
393.8
164.0
522.0
161.2
398.0
165.7
527.0
163.0
Professional services ............................................................................
Physicians’ services........................................................................
Dental services..............................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 - 100)......................................
267.2
287.7
252.8
130.0
284.3
304.9
270.8
137.7
286.4
307.9
271.6
138.9
288.4
311.3
272.3
139.5
Other medical care services..................................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 - 100)..........................
Hospital room..........................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 - 100)............
351.1
146.1
458.2
145.5
376.5
156.6
494.6
155.0
382.1
159.0
503.0
157.2
388.4
161.9
515.4
159.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
89
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
1981
1982
1982
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
ENTERTAINMENT................................................................................
216.7
224.0
225.5
226.8
227.3
229.2
231.2
215.0
221.5
223.4
224.3
224.4
226.1
228.1
Entertainment commodities................................................................
219.7
227.9
228.9
230.3
230.6
232.0
234.3
216.2
224.0
224.2
225.5
225.4
226.7
228.9
Reading materials (12/77 = 100)..........................................................
Newspapers ..................................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100)............................
130.9
253.8
132.9
138.1
266.3
141.1
138.7
267.1
141.9
139.8
267.6
143.9
139.6
267.7
143.5
142.9
270.5
149.0
144.1
273.1
149.9
130.7
254.0
132.9
137.8
266.2
141.2
138.3
266.9
141.9
139.3
267.5
143.7
139.1
267.6
143.4
142.1
270.1
148.8
143.3
272.8
149.7
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) ........................
124.7
126.5
115.9
187.2
120.6
127.3
128.4
119.1
193.2
125.0
128.3
129.4
119.2
194.4
126.6
130.2
( 1)
119.6
194.3
126.7
130.0
132.1
119.9
193.9
126.2
129.5
C(1)
120.1
194.8
125.3
131.5
133.9
119.6
197.3
127.0
119.3
118.1
115.3
188.3
119.2
121.3
118.7
117.2
193.9
125.8
121.4
118.6
117.3
195.9
126.2
122.8
(’ )
118.2
196.3
126.9
122.4
120.2
117.9
195.2
126.3
122.4
T )
118.2
196.2
125.2
123.9
121.9
117.7
198.9
127.4
Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 = 100)............................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 100) ........................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100)........................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 = 100) ......................................
126.3
124.7
122.6
132.0
131.0
129.4
126.4
137.2
131.3
129.6
126.0
138.3
131.3
129.7
125.5
138.3
132.0
130.1
125.2
140.2
132.2
130.8
125.2
139.7
133.2
131.7
126.9
140.6
125.8
123.0
124.4
131.9
130.6
127.1
127.7
138.8
130.5
126.2
127.8
139.9
130.8
126.7
127.5
140.1
130.9
126.9
126.3
140.9
131.2
127.7
126.3
140.5
132.3
128.6
127.9
141.6
Entertainment services ......................................................................
213.0
218.9
221.0
222.3
223.0
225.5
227.1
213.9
218.3
223.3
223.4
223.9
226.1
227.8
Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 100)..............................................
Admissions (12/77 = 100)....................................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 - 100)..........................................
129.4
125.3
122.0
134.3
128.0
122.5
136.4
128.3
123.1
137.3
128.9
123.4
137.6
129.7
123.7
139.6
131.2
124.2
140.9
131.6
125.0
129.0
126.2
123.0
134.0
127.3
122.7
138.9
128.2
124.2
139.1
128.3
124.1
139.3
128.7
124.3
141.2
130.1
124.7
142.5
130.6
125.9
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES..........................................................
227.4
243.0
245.2
245.9
246.7
248.4
250.3
225.6
239.3
241.4
242.5
243.5
245.0
247.1
Tobacco products ..............................................................................
212.3
221.7
225.3
226.2
226.8
227.1
230.7
211.9
220.9
224.5
225.4
225.9
226.2
229.8
Cigarettes............................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 100)............
214.8
126.5
224.2
133.1
228.1
134.0
228.9
134.7
229.7
134.4
230.0
134.7
233.6
136.8
214.5
126.4
223.4
134.4
227.2
134.7
228.1
135.0
228.7
134.7
229.1
135.0
232.7
136.9
Personal care ....................................................................................
224.6
236.3
236.9
237.7
239.1
240.9
242.3
223.2
233.6
234.1
235.5
237.1
238.8
240.4
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)
219.5
128.3
132.9
231.2
134.1
140.0
231.6
134.9
139.8
232.5
135.4
140.5
234.7
136.5
141.2
236.4
137.2
144.0
238.5
138.4
145.6
218.5
126.7
131.2
231.1
133.3
138.0
231.4
131.8
138.0
233.1
133.3
139.3
235.4
135.8
139.8
236.9
136.4
142.6
239.2
137.8
144.2
123.2
127.5
130.7
134.2
131.2
133.7
131.8
134.3
133.2
136.0
134.1
135.9
135.0
137.0
122.8
129.0
130.4
137.4
131.6
138.2
132.2
139.1
133.7
139.1
134.5
138.9
135.8
140.2
Personal care services..........................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women....................................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . . .
230.0
231.7
128.5
241.5
243.0
135.3
242.3
243.9
135.6
243.1
244.8
135.9
243.9
245.2
136.8
245.7
246.9
138.0
246.5
247.7
138.4
228.1
229.4
127.6
236.3
236.1
133.9
237.1
236.7
134.5
238.1
237.8
134.9
239.2
238.8
135.7
241.0
240.5
136.8
241.8
241.3
137.2
Personal and educational expenses ..................................................
254.4
281.5
284.6
284.9
285.1
288.1
289.2
255.0
281.8
284.8
285.6
285.9
288.9
290.2
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)..................................................
229.8
260.4
132.7
132.1
134.4
137.1
252.1
288.5
147.4
146.3
151.5
150.0
254.5
291.7
149.0
148.2
151.6
152.3
254.6
292.1
149.1
148.3
152.0
152.8
254.5
292.3
149.1
148.3
152.0
153.4
260.7
294.8
150.5
149.9
152.1
154.3
2629
295.8
150.6
150.1
152.2
156.1
233.6
260.6
132.9
132.1
134.3
136.3
255.9
288.5
147.7
146.1
152.1
148.5
258.3
291.6
149.3
148.1
152.2
150.4
258.3
292.5
149.4
148.1
152.7
152.1
258.5
292.8
149.4
148.1
152.7
152.7
264.8
295.2
150.7
149.6
152.8
153.7
267.1
296.3
150.9
149.8
152.9
155.3
404.8
370.7
262.3
314.6
405.4
417.6
293.3
335.7
404.3
419.0
292.7
335.9
403.9
422.2
292.6
339.6
402.8
423.1
293.9
341.3
400.5
423.9
297.7
343.0
393.9
424.8
299.1
344.0
406.3
370.4
261.0
313.4
406.5
416.4
292.4
335.5
405.4
417.6
291.6
337.3
405.1
420.9
291.5
339.9
404.0
422.1
292.6
341.5
401.8
422.8
296.4
343.3
395.3
423.5
297.7
344.2
Special indexes:
Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other products......................................
Insurance and finance ..........................................................................
Utilities and public transportation............................................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance services ......................................
1Not available.
90 FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
c=corrected.
21. 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)
Category and group
I
Dec.
Feb.
Oct.
Dec.
1981
1981
1981
1981
Oct.
Size class D
(75,000 or less)
Size class C
(75,000-385,000)
Size class B
(385,000-1.250 million)
Oct.
Feb.
Dec.
I
Feb.
Oct.
I
Dec.
Feb.
Northeast
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................
Housing ......................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................
Transportation..............................................................
Medical care................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................
Other goods and services ............................................
143.8
139.7
147.8
118.9
156.3
140.0
131.8
134.6
144.2
139.6
148.0
117.5
157.9
142.0
131.9
135.4
144.2
143.3
146.0
117.0
156.5
145.1
133.3
136.9
152.3
139.9
161.4
124.8
164.0
143.6
129.6
138.0
152.9
139.6
161.9
123.1
165.4
146.6
131.0
138.7
150.7
142.7
155.7
120.5
164.2
147.0
132.4
140.6
156.2
142.6
170.1
124.8
162.0
146.5
129.5
141.5
159.2
142.8
176.3
125.9
162.7
146.3
133.7
142.0
158.1
145.7
172.5
123.1
161.6
148.7
136.1
142.9
149.2
137.4
156.6
126.5
159.7
142.3
133.2
137.5
150.7
137.0
159.3
125.4
161.8
143.0
134.3
138.5
151.4
140.4
159.5
119.9
161.7
144.8
137.6
140.6
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities......................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ........................
Services ..........................................................................
142.1
143.7
146.0
141.8
143.2
147.3
142.1
141.4
146.9
149.6
154.3
156.5
149.6
154.5
158.0
147.9
150.5
155.1
149.8
153.1
166.7
151.1
154.9
172.5
150.1
152.2
171.0
146.4
150.7
153.5
147.2
152.1
156.1
147.6
151.0
157.3
North Central region
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................
Housing ......................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................
Transportation..............................................................
Medical care................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................
Other goods and services ............................................
152.6
139.7
164.4
115.5
161.2
142.8
132.2
136.0
152.6
139.8
163.3
113.7
162.9
144.6
134.1
137.0
153.6
141.6
164.9
112.7
161.1
148.4
137.1
138.8
148.8
139.3
153.6
127.2
159.5
145.6
123.8
142.4
149.2
139.3
153.8
128.0
160.8
146.8
124.4
142.9
151.9
140.8
159.9
121.1
159.7
150.8
126.4
145.1
145.9
140.3
147.5
123.4
161.2
145.3
131.3
135.1
147.4
140.7
150.0
122.4
162.3
147.7
132.6
135.6
149.1
143.1
152.7
121.8
161.0
150.3
136.1
137.3
146.7
143.3
148.3
123.1
158.6
147.7
128.4
140.4
147.6
143.4
149.1
123.6
160.1
151.2
129.2
141.7
151.0
144.7
155.5
119.5
160.3
154.5
132.5
144.6
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities....................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ........................
Services ..........................................................................
145.7
148.5
162.9
145.1
147.6
163.7
145.2
146.9
166.1
142.9
144.4
158.3
142.9
144.4
159.5
145.4
147.3
162.6
141.4
141.9
153.3
142.2.
142.8
156.1
143.5
143,6
158.4
140.7
139.6
156.2
140.7
139.5
158.7
142.1
141.0
165.0
South
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................
Housing ......................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................
Transportation..............................................................
Medical care..............................................................
Entertainment ............................................................
Other goods and services ..........................................
150.9
141.2
158.6
124.4
160.6
141.6
127.1
139.2
152.0
141.4
160.3
123.5
161.9
143.2
127.4
139.7
152.6
144.2
160.2
122.6
161.5
145.9
129.3
141.2
153.4
141.1
162.5
122.6
162.3
145.9
133.4
139.5
155.9
141.3
166.7
123.7
164.1
147.6
137.1
139.5
157.2
144.8
168.3
121.1
162.8
150.5
140.0
140.7
149.2
141.2
154.7
118.3
160.2
148.8
134.8
138.5
152.3
141.9
159.7
118.2
162.3
153.0
136.4
139.9
154.0
144.1
162.7
117.0
160.7
155.4
140.4
142.0
149.4
144.0
153.5
111.8
160.6
156.3
138.8
139.5
150.8
143.4
156.2
110.4
161.6
160.1
138.4
140.5
152.3
146.1
158.8
105.7
159.9
162.5
140.4
147.9
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities....................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ........................
Services ..........................................................................
145.0
146.6
159.3
145.9
147.9
160.5
146.8
148.0
160,7
145.7
147.7
164.9
147.5
150.1
168.6
148.4
149.9
170.4
143.6
144.6
157.9
145.3
146.7
163.1
146.0
146.8
166.3
144.1
144.2
157.4
145.1
145.8
159.5
145.0
144.6
163.3
West
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................
Food and beverages ....................................................
Housing ......................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ....................................................
Transportation..............................................................
Medical care................................................................
Entertainment ..............................................................
Other goods and services ............................................
156.3
140.3
167.1
121.8
161.8
150.5
133.0
140.1
156.1
140.8
165.5
121.9
162.9
155.7
133.6
141.0
157.9
143.9
167.2
121.7
164.2
157.8
135.1
144.5
155.0
144.9
162.6
127.6
163.5
148.1
132.5
141.4
155.1
145.4
161.6
127.1
165.0
151.3
133.9
142.8
157.1
147.9
164.9
126.4
163.6
153.7
135.5
145.3
149.2
141.4
153.5
116.5
162.1
149.4
131.4
136.1
149.4
140.1
153.8
117.1
162.8
151.1
129.4
136.8
150.2
143.4
154.4
118.8
160.9
154.8
130.4
137.1
152.1
145.5
153.9
135.9
162.5
150.4
144.4
145.5
149.1
145.8
146.1
135.6
164.6
152.8
145.6
148.0
153.3
148.1
153.9
131.9
164.5
157.9
147.8
147.6
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities....................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ........................
Services ..........................................................................
145.1
147.1
171.2
144.9
146.6
170.9
146.0
146.9
173.7
147.0
147.8
166.0
147.2
148.0
166.0
148.4
148.6
169.1
144.4
145.6
156.1
143.7
145.1
157.5
145.2
145.9
157.3
146.2
146.5
160.9
145.5
145.4
154.6
147.5
147.3
161.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
91
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
22.
Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average, and selected areas
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
Area1
U.S. city average2
Anchorage, Alaska (10/67=100)
Atlanta, Ga.................................
Baltimore, Md.............................
Boston, Mass..............................
Buffalo, N.Y................................
Chicago, lll.-Northwestern Ind.
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.........
Cleveland, O hio..................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex............
Denver-Boulder, Colo............
Detroit, Mich...........................................
Honolulu, Hawaii ..................................
Houston, Tex..........................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas ......................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif,
Miami, Fla. (11/77=100) ..........
Milwaukee, Wis...........................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis. .
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.
Northeast, Pa. (Scranton)..........
1982
Feb.
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
263.2
279.3
279.9
280.7
281.5
282.5
283.4
263.5
279.8
266.4
250.5
2630
253.7
281.5
279.9
272.8
251.4
259.6
276.1
282.8
292.5
298.9
270.2
243.3
281.5
261.9
261.6
284.2
279.3
255.9
265.5
San Frandsco-Oakland, Calif.
Seattle-Everett, Wash...........
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va. . . .
260.5
268.8
271.5
274.4
281.5
259.3
300.0
272.6
281.3
291.6
268.0
274.7
277.7
275.4
285.7
281.6
295.1
279.6
281.8
267.8
272.2
274.1
278.3
258.3
302.7
273.5
282.3
280.8
285.8
298.7
267.9
274.9
281.8
268.5
272.5
Statistical Area, as defined for the 1970 Census of Population, except that the Standard Consolidated
249.7
258.8
285.9
293.6
273.9
272.9
277.8
262.2
304.1
276.0
285.6
265.5
243.5
277.7
260.1
265.0
280.4
275.7
283.0
306.0
269.0
262.4
252.7
275.5
278.6
258.1
266.4
261.2
275.8
277.1
276.3
280.2
277.3
279.0
282.9
267.8
275.0
274.5
276.4
Area is used for New York and Chicago.
2Average of 85 cities.
275.9
288.4
266.9
275.2
275.2
278.4
276.3
273.0
315.1
284.3
275.7
285.7
279.3
285.0
289.8
277.8
274.8
263.2
300.3
274.1
289.4
156.4
295.3
298.3
266.9
274.1
282.6
288.8
273.0
308.0
275.4
310.5
275.1
259.3
298.8
272.0
286.1
154.7
291.5
291.6
267.0
258.0
281.2
291.0
261.6
295.9
278.0
274.4
302.8
278.2
259.1
295.9
271.3
284.9
282.7
282.3
273.4
262.7
282.3
288.8
151.0
292.1
295.8
284.1
280.9
274.3
304.2
288.4
278.4
323.1
294.0
289.2
275.5
259.9
274.9
155.2
291.3
278.7
273.8
321.3
297.0
Oct
281.6
273.6
305.4
153.6
287.5
291.1
273.4
313.9
288.6
271.8
273.9
297.8
150.2
286.9
260.6
252.7
282.1
274.0
264.3
277.0
276.6
Sept.
253.0
282.2
280.7
274.2
262.5
276.9
275.2
273.5
274.4
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.
Pittsburgh, Pa............
Portland, Oreg.-Wash.
St. Louis, Mo.-lll..........
San Diego, Calif.........
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
267.5
274.5
275.1
305.3
267.8
275.1
280.0
285.5
277.1
317.4
292.7
294.9
291.9
281.8
23.
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing
[1967 = 100]
Annual
average
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Finished goods....................................................................
269.8
266.0
268.5
269.6
270.5
271.8
271.5
271.5
274.3
r 274.7
275.3
277.4
277.4
276.9
Finished consumer goods..............................................
Finished consumer foods............................................
Crude....................................................................
P'ocessed ............................................................
Nondurable goods less foods ....................................
Durable goods ..........................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy-___
Capital equipment ........................................................
271.2
253.5
263.6
250.6
319.4
218.5
208.6
264.3
268.2
252.6
279.7
248.1
316.0
214.0
204.8
258.1
270.6
251.9
279.3
247.4
320.4
216.6
207.3
260.8
271.5
252.8
263.1
249.8
321.0
218.1
207.7
262.5
272.3
253.8
258.9
251.3
322.0
218.2
208.4
263.8
273.5
257.6
262.7
255.0
322.5
218.1
209.5
265.4
273.0
256.3
256.9
254.2
322.1
218.3
210.4
265.8
273.1
256.2
253.5
254.4
324.2
215.8
211.8
265.3
275.1
254.0
253.8
252.0
324.3
224.5
212.6
271.5
r 275.2
252.7
r 260.0
r 249.9
r 325.4
r 224.7
r 213.6
'273.0
275.6
253.0
273.4
249.1
325.9
225.0
213.4
274.1
277.4
256.4
280.1
252.2
328.1
225.8
216.2
276.1
278.1
258.2
282.0
253.9
329.3
223.5
218.8
274.8
277.2
257.1
262.9
254.4
328.0
223.5
219.6
275.7
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components..................
306.0
302.0
305.8
306.7
307.2
308.5
310.1
309.7
309.4
309.0
309.6
311.3
311.3
310.9
Materials and components for manufacturing..................
Materials for food manufacturing ................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing ......................
Materials for durable manufacturing............................
Components for manufacturing ..................................
286.2
260.9
285.9
312.2
259.2
281.6
267.5
279.4
306.9
254.2
284.1
263.1
284.3
310.6
255.4
285.1
259.0
287.0
311.2
256.3
285.8
262.4
287.7
310.7
257.3
287.9
260.5
289.2
314.4
259.5
289.8
261.0
291.0
316.0
261.8
290.2
254.6
291.2
317.1
263.8
290.2
250.9
290.9
316.7
265.1
'289.5
'246.8
'289.4
'314.9
'266.9
289.7
247.3
289.5
314.4
267.7
290.8
252.9
289.4
314.2
269.7
291.3
254.3
289.5
313.5
271.1
290.8
252.0
289.5
311.2
272.0
Materials and components for construction ....................
287.5
282.7
288.0
288.5
289.6
290.4
290.7
290.0
290.1
'290.2
290.8
291.9
292.8
293.3
Processed fuels and lubricants ......................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................
595.0
498.2
680.5
598.3
503.9
681.6
608.5
509.0
696.2
608.7
510.7
695.2
605.7
505.4
694.3
602.0
500.3
692.0
607.8
508.3
695.6
601.4
500.5
690.5
596.9
497.5
684.7
'595.1
'496.4
'682.2
597.7
498.6
685.3
605.7
507.7
692.0
597.1
498.7
683.9
593.5
497.1
678.4
Containers....................................................................
276.2
270.9
274.3
276.4
277.2
278.8
280.3
280.6
280.9
'280.6
280.6
282.2
285.2
286.5
Supplies ......................................................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................
Feeds ....................................................................
Other supplies........................................................
263.9
253.2
269.6
230.4
276.4
258.9
246.8
265.2
231.7
270.6
262.4
250.6
268.7
239.2
272.9
264.0
252.3
270.2
242.9
273.8
264.6
253.4
270.5
235.4
276.3
266.0
255.0
272.0
232.8
278.7
266.1
256.0
271.6
229.1
279.3
266.1
256.8
271.1
221.3
280.7
266.6
258.2
271.2
215.9
282.3
'267.2
'259.2
'271.6
212.0
'283.7
268.7
261.5
272.7
214.7
284.4
269.8
262.5
273.9
215.2
285.8
270.7
263.5
274.8
212.7
287.6
270.9
264.8
274.4
208.8
288.1
Crude materials for further processing ..................................
329.1
334.2
336.3
334.4
335.4
337.3
333.0
327.4
319.9
'313.9
311.6
318.2
321.5
319.9
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs ..............................................
257.4
262.1
263.5
260.6
264.3
267.2
261.8
253.4
245.7
238.3
233.7
242.5
248.3
247.9
Nonfood materials ........................................................
481.6
488.4
492.1
492.4
487.4
487.2
485.3
486.0
479.2
'476.3
479.1
481.1
479.3
475.0
Nonfood materials except fuel ....................................
Manufacturing industries..........................................
Construction ..........................................................
413.9
429.6
262.4
430.9
448.6
259.2
432.5
450.2
261.5
428.3
445.5
261.7
418.1
434.2
262.6
413.1
428.7
262.6
413.9
429.6
263.1
410.2
425.4
263.6
404.1
418.6
264.7
'397.8
'411.7
'264.8
396.4
409.9
267.1
399.7
413.2
269.6
395.1
407.6
272.1
387.4
398.5
275.1
Crude fuel ................................................................
Manufacturing industries..........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries....................................
676.5
865.4
674.3
703.6
805.8
635.0
716.6
821.9
645.8
738.4
850.6
662.2
759.2
877.2
678.5
781.2
902.6
698.1
766.7
883.0
687.8
788.7
911.4
704.8
779.0
898.4
697.8
'792.5
915.8
'708.2
814.7
944.5
725.3
810.0
936.3
723.6
823.5
953.4
734.4
837.7
972.8
744.5
Finished goods excluding foods ............................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods......................
Finished consumer goods less energy............................
273.2
276.3
233.9
268.7
272.5
230.2
272.1
276.1
231.8
273.3
277.0
232.8
274.1
277.7
233.4
274.7
277.9
235.0
274.6
277.7
235.0
274.7
277.9
234.9
279.1
281.6
237.2
'280.0
'282.4
'237.2
280.6
282.8
237.3
282.3
284.4
239.8
281.8
284.1
240.8
281.5
283.3
240.7
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds..........................
Intermediate materials less energy ................................
310.1
285.2
305.4
280.5
309.5
283.7
310.7
284.7
311.2
285.5
312.7
287.2
314.5
288.5
314.6
288.7
314.6
288.8
'314.5
'288.5
315.1
289.0
316.6
290.1
316.6
290.9
316.3
290.7
Intermediate foods and feeds ..............................................
250.7
255.6
254.9
253.1
253.2
251.1
250.2
243.5
239.3
'235.2
236.4
240.4
240.6
237.8
Crude materials less agricultural products ............................
Crude materials less energy..........................................
545.8
254.0
551.8
259.6
556.0
261.1
557.5
257.9
551.3
259.7
550.6
261.8
549.1
258.0
551.4
250.4
543.4
243.2
'540.7
'235.8
544.1
231.6
545.7
239.2
543.9
243.4
538.2
242.8
Commodity grouping
1981
1982
FINISHED GOODS
INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS
CRUDE MATERIALS
SPECIAL GROUPINGS
1Data for November 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r=revised,
93
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
24.
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967= 100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
average
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
All commodities ........................................................................
All commodities (1957-59 - 100)..............................................
293.4
311.3
290.3
308.0
293.4
311.3
294.1
312.0
294.8
312.8
296.2
314.3
296.4
314.5
295.7
313.7
296.1
314.2
295.5
313.5
295.9
313.9
298.2
316.4
298.5
316.7
297.9
316.1
Farm products and processed foods and feeds........................
Industrial commodities..............................................................
251.5
304.1
253.5
299.6
253.8
303.5
252.9
304.7
254.3
305.1
256.8
306.2
254.2
307.2
250.3
307.4
246.0
309.0
r 242.5
r 309.3
241.2
310.1
246.2
311.7
248.5
311.4
247.5
311.0
01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01-4
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 ................................................................
254.9
267.0
248.4
248.0
201.2
242.0
287.4
187.1
274.1
274.3
260.7
292.8
261.8
239.3
213.5
270.1
289.5
180.4
289.5
295.9
263.3
286.1
264.7
246.6
195.4
274.2
287.2
196.2
296.3
295.9
259.6
275.3
257.7
251.8
207.2
258.3
283.6
165.0
299.0
259.7
260.7
263.3
257.1
263.0
210.0
259.6
285.0
174.6
285.3
242.7
263.3
265.6
257.4
266.5
215.3
251.3
284.3
185.1
290.0
250.2
257.9
258.1
242.7
262.0
210.3
232.5
285.0
180.7
284.3
263.9
251.1
252.8
227.0
257.3
196.7
206.5
287.3
193.2
267.2
268.9
243.1
248.8
227.6
244.5
185.7
211.7
294.3
193.8
230.4
263.3
237.4
r 254.0
226.5
231.1
175.0
198.5
288.2
209.7
221.1
'273.1
234.5
279.8
213.6
225.0
171.4
188.4
286.7
195.5
218.8
280.2
242.1
288.3
225.2
236.8
186.8
198.2
287.6
187.0
218.4
280.1
247.1
289.3
223.2
251.2
197.3
193.6
285.8
200.6
217.6
273.7
244.6
256.4
220.9
255.6
197.7
199.7
282.5
204.0
213.7
273.0
02
02-1
02-2
02-3
02-4
02-5
02-6
02-7
02-8
02-9
Processed foods and feeds..........................................................
Cereal and bakery products......................................................
Meats, poultry, and fish ............................................................
Dairy products ...........................................................................
Processed fruits and vegetables................................................
Sugar and confectionery ..........................................................
Beverages and beverage materials............................................
Fats and o ils ............................................................................
Miscellaneous processed foods ................................................
Prepared animal feeds..............................................................
248.7
255.5
246.2
245.7
261.1
276.8
247.5
227.5
250.1
230.3
248.5
252.2
242.0
245.1
255.2
302.0
245.4
229.8
249.2
231.1
247.6
253.9
239.1
245.4
258.0
284.5
246.0
232.4
249.9
237.7
248.2
256.3
245.2
244.6
259.4
262.8
247.6
228.2
251.1
241.0
249.9
256.4
248.6
245.2
262.5
274.8
248.1
227.3
251.5
234.3
252.2
258.3
257.1
. 245.1
265.9
266.0
249.0
234.8
252.2
232.2
251.2
257.7
254.4
245.3
267.3
267.3
249.4
229.5
252.1
228.9
248.9
258.5
253.3
245.5
270.0
246.8
249.1
224.3
253.0
222.9
246.6
256.9
246.6
246.8
271.7
246.7
250.0
223.4
249.9
218.1
'244.3
256.5
240.0
246.9
'270.5
'244.1
'251.4
'221.5
250.1
'214.7
244.0
255.9
236.3
247.2
271.4
250.9
251.5
219.3
250.1
217.2
247.4
256.6
244.2
247.7
272.8
260.8
253.5
217.0
250.5
217.7
248.3
255.3
247.4
248.0
274.7
260.3
254.2
218.1
250.9
215.4
248.1
254.2
249.7
248.0
275.7
255.0
255.7
214.1
249.6
212.0
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 housefurnlshings............................................................
199.6
156.7
137.8
146.7
125.2
185.5
228.2
195.2
148.9
134.6
144.7
123.2
181.4
221.3
197.6
151.5
135.0
146.6
124.9
184.3
222.1
199.2
156.4
138.6
145.8
125.7
185.2
224.0
200.1
157.9
139.3
147.4
125.6
186.2
223.9
201.3
159.7
140.3
148.2
126.0
187.2
227.1
202.4
161.2
142.0
149.0
126.8
187.8
228.8
202.9
161.0
142.3
149.1
126.8
188.0
232,2
204.0
162.7
144.4
148.0
126.7
189.9
233.0
'203.6
'161.6
140.3
'147.4
126.5
'190.8
'233.4
203.1
162.4
139.8
147.7
125.8
189.1
238.1
203.7
163.7
135.3
148.3
126.7
190.1
241.9
204.2
164.1
134.9
147.4
126.9
191.0
245.5
205.0
163.8
140.8
147.1
125.7
191.7
246.2
04
04-2
04-3
04-4
Hides, skins, leather, and related products ....................................
Leather....................................................................................
Footwear .................... a ........................................................
Other leather and related products............................................
261.5
319.5
241.2
243.5
261.2
322.5
240.4
238.4
263.5
337.8
241.1
238.5
263.7
330.0
241.4
244.2
261.6
321.0
241.5
244.3
261.1
319.0
242.4
242.9
261.3
313.7
242.5
245.1
261.7
313.2
242.9
245.0
260.0
313.7
239.6
245.0
'259.8
311.3
'239.8
'245.4
262.7
311.9
241.7
250.5
264.5
320.3
241.4
252.7
263.3
317.8
239.2
253.3
262.7
315.5
240.6
253.3
05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05-7
Fuels and related products and power ..........................................
Coal........................................................................................
Coke ......................................................................................
Gas fuels2 ..............................................................................
Electric power..........................................................................
Crude petroleum3 ........................................ ............................
Petroleum products, refined4 ....................................................
694.4
497.3
456.5
939.8
366.8
803.6
805.8
696.5
481.1
430.1
889.9
351.2
842.8
825.5
707.2
486.1
430.1
907.8
355.5
842.5
840.9
709.0
487.3
467.9
933.9
360.4
839.9
835.3
707.6
491.7
469.7
954.6
366.6
815.9
828.1
704.9
505.5
469.7
969.4
374.6
798.9
816.3
704.3
507.0
469.7
949.3
385.8
796.8
813.4
703.5
510.2
469.7
976.6
383.8
796.8
806.1
698.1
510.8
469.7
965.6
378.4
788.2
802.3
'698.1
'512.7
'469.7
'983.0
'378.3
'785.9
'798.3
702.7
515.6
470.3
1007.7
383.8
787.4
798.3
705.8
526.1
470.3
990.2
392.5
787.4
802.9
697.6
529.1
470.3
987.9
392.6
770.4
789.4
690.1
527.0
468.1
993.8
404.1
745.0
770.5
06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7
Chemicals and allied products......................................................
Industrial chemicals5 ................................................................
Prepared paint..........................................................................
Paint materials ........................................................................
Drugs and pharmaceuticals ......................................................
Fats and oils, inedible ..............................................................
Agricultural chemicals and chemical products ............................
Plastic resins and materials ......................................................
Other%hemicals and allied products..........................................
287.8
363.8
249.9
300.2
193.4
295.6
284.8
289.2
254.4
280.4
354.5
246.6
290.5
189.3
295.7
275.8
279.4
248.3
286.0
362.4
248.1
295.4
191.0
312.7
277.8
285.1
255.3
288.6
368.5
250.0
300.3
192.4
312.1
279.1
287.9
254.8
290.5
369.7
250.0
300.8
193.2
303.1
288.9
290.0
256.3
291.3
370.4
250.7
304.5
195.5
290.9
288.9
295.9
254.8
293.3
371.5
250.7
308.5
195.0
305.6
293.4
297.5
257.3
293.3
371.8
250.7
308.0
197.8
285.6
292.6
296.8
257.4
292.4
367.9
250.7
308.1
198.5
277.7
293.1
299.5
256.9
'292.0
'363.7
'254.5
'308.3
'198.2
282.5
'295.7
'293.2
'259.9
292.7
364.6
256.7
307.9
198.7
280.4
294.5
297.0
260.2
293.4
363.8
259.3
308.7
200.9
272.8
295.8
293.8
262.8
294.5
362.8
259.3
308.6
203.0
274.2
297.9
295.9
265.0
294.6
362.6
259.3
306.8
204.8
290.1
297.0
286.8
267.7
07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2
Rubber and plastic products ........................................................
Rubber and rubber products......................................................
Crude rubber ..........................................................................
Tires arc tubes........................................................................
Miscellaneous rubber products..................................................
Plastic products (6/78 - 100) ..................................................
232.8
256.7
281.7
2509
252.4
128.4
228.4
252.1
281.2
248.6
243.5
126.0
230.8
253.0
279.8
250.7
243.8
128.2
231.8
254.4
283.2
251.2
245.7
128.6
233.4
256.8
285.2
251.2
250.9
129.1
232.1
254.7
284.2
246.8
251.4
128.7
234.1
256.9
284.7
249.9
253.1
129.8
235.7
260.3
283.1
256.5
253.9
129.9
237.3
262.9
279.8
257.1
261.1
130.3
'238.0
'264.4
'279.0
'255.9
'266.7
'130.3
239.0
266.4
280.7
255.9
271.4
130.3
239.5
267.3
281.8
256.6
272.6
130.5
241.0
269.7
282.1
259.6
274.9
130.9
241.8
269.3
282.8
256.3
278.1
132.0
08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4
Lumber and wood products..........................................................
Lumber....................................................................................
Millwork ..................................................................................
Plywood ..................................................................................
Other wood products................................................................
292.8
325.2
273.4
245.7
239.2
294.4
326.2
275.7
248.8
236.9
299.4
333.6
276.5
256.0
238.3
298.4
336.3
274.8
248.3
238.2
298.1
335.8
272.2
251.5
239.8
296.5
332.4
273.6
247.8
240.7
294.5
329.9
272.3
245.6
239.8
289.3
320.2
271.4
240.8
240.5
284.3
31.1.7
271.3
234.3
239.9
'282.1
'306.6
'271.8
'233.5
'239.3
285.2
309.7
273.6
239.2
239.5
285.7
310.6
276.8
236.8
239.4
285.4
308.3
278.4
235.7
239.8
285.4
308.1
276.4
237.1
239.6
Code
Commodity group and subgroup
1982
1981
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES
See footnotes at end of table.
94FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
24.
Continued — Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Commodity group and subgroup
Code
1982
Annual
average
1980
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
273.7
271.0
398.1
175.7
280.0
258.2
259.0
231.3
269.0
266.8
390.2
185.1
273.8
255.1
255.3
227.9
271.4
268.6
394.1
184.2
275.2
255.7
257.3
232.5
272.1
269.9
394.2
182.7
275.9
258.8
258.8
237.3
272.9
271.2
394.2
182.9
278.5
259.2
259.9
237.4
274.9
272.3
394.2
182.1
279.7
259.4
261.2
235.5
275.9
273.7
394.2
182.1
282.1
260.6
262.4
234.2
277.8
274.8
394.2
178.5
285.9
261.6
262.8
234.2
279.2
275.7
402.3
165.1
287.8
261.7
263.2
233.3
'280.4
r 275.8
'413.7
144.5
’ 287.4
261.6
'263.1
'232.1
280.7
276.2
417.0
143.4
287.5
259.3
263.9
227.7
283.9
276.1
412.8
135.2
288.8
259.7
263.9
233.2
285.4
277.0
412.8
128.8
289.5
261.4
264.9
231.1
286.3
277.3
414.1
129.2
289.5
261.1
265.5
237.5
296.4
328.2
328.7
286.5
314.1
258.6
259.5
219.5
289.4
264.7
298.8
331.0
331.8
288.4
314.1
258.5
265.3
219.8
293.1
267.2
299.1
330.4
331.8
287.7
314.1
259.4
266.2
222.3
294.0
269.7
298.4
330.1
332.2
284.5
314.1
259.7
268.9
223.5
295.0
269.4
302.0
338.8
344.9
282.8
315.2
263.8
270.9
226.4
297.9
272.0
304.1
339.9
344.9
287.3
318.7
265.3
271.2
227.9
299.3
272.9
304.9
339.8
345.3
289.4
318.8
267.8
271.6
228.5
300.0
273.7
305.3
341.3
348.7
285.4
318.2
269.5
272.9
229.0
302.6
276.1
'304.2
'340.0
348.6
'281.1
'318.1
'271.5
'273.1
'228.8
'303.2
' 278.0
303.6
339.7
348.9
277.5
318.2
269.4
273.9
229.2
302.71
281 4
305.1
343.1
350.8
275.4
323.4
271.3
274.4
232.2
303.1
284.3
305.0
343.0
350.5
274.2
325.4
272.5
276.1
231.9
303.5
284.0
303.6
342.4
350.5
267.6
326.1
275.7
278.9
233.5
304.5
284.6
1981
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES- 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............................ ..........................................................
10
10-1
10-13
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8
Metals and metal products ..........................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings............................................
Heating equipment....................................................................
Fabricated structural metal products..........................................
Miscellaneous metal products....................................................
300.4
333.8
337.6
286.0
315.9
262.4
267.4
223.9
295.4
270.8
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..........................................................
263.1
287.7
320.8
301.2
288.5
308.0
220.1
252.3
257.5
279.8
312.8
294.9
282.3
301.0
216.0
247.0
259.6
282.5
317.0
298.7
284.4
303.2
217.4
248.5
260.7
285.7
318.4
299.9
285.9
307.2
217.5
248.8
262.1
286.8
320.1
301.3
287.0
308.8
219.2
250.1
264.8
288.1
323.8
302.9
290.6
311.0
221.1
254.0
266.2
290.3
325.0
303.5
292.3
310.3
222.8
256.0
268.1
292.8
326.5
305.3
293.9
312.8
224.2
258.5
269.3
295.5
328.3
306.6
295.1
314.6
225.3
259.0
'270.4
'300.8
329.6
'307.9
'296.2
'315.0
226.0
'259.8
271.6
301.3
332.0
312.2
297.2
316.5
226.9
259.8
273.5
302.2
337.0
313.7
299.6
319.5
228.3
261.3
274.9
303.7
338.1
315.8
300.8
320.3
229.4
263.4
275.7
304.6
337.4
317.0
301.5
320.6
230.5
264.1
12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6
Furniture and household durables ................................................
198.4
219.4
257.6
178.6
186.9
89.1
280.8
195.8
214.5
253.4
174.1
184.2
91.4
278.1
196.4
216.5
254.5
175.3
185.1
90.9
275.3
197.4
216.4
257.7
179.5
185.5
90.8
276.7
197.3
218.6
257.9
180.7
186.1
86.7
276.4
199.5
220.0
258.7
182.8
188.8
87.4
282.1
199.6
220.7
259.1
181.9
189.1
87.6
280.9
201.0
222.2
261.6
181.7
190.1
87.8
285.8
201.3
222.8
262.1
180.9
190.8
88.1
285.8
'202.1
'225.1
'263.3
'182.3
'190.9
88.0
'285.3
202.2
227.0
264.1
180.7
190.2
87.8
285.5
202.7
228.2
266.6
179.6
192.0
87.5
282.8
203.9
228.3
271.6
179.8
193.8
87.5
283.0
204.7
228.5
273.9
179.8
195.9
86.8
284.3
13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13 7
13-8
13-9
Nonmetallic mineral products........................................................
Flat glass ................................................................................
Concrete ingredients ................................................................
Concrete products....................................................................
Structural clay products, excluding refractories ..........................
Other nonmetallic minerals........................................................
309.5
212.9
296.3
291.2
249.7
302.5
407.0
256.2
328.5
463.9
300.9
204.8
292.6
286.9
244.6
296.1
390.5
257.6
311.4
441.7
310.8
210.2
297.4
289.9
246.0
296.4
415.9
256.8
326.7
479.1
312.0.
210.2
297.5
291.2
250.1
304.0
407.4
261.1
335.3
477.6
313.6
210.3
297.5
293.5
250.7
307.1
428.5
260.7
335.3
476.8
314.3
218.3
297.7
293.4
250.9
307.1
421.9
259.7
335.5
476.2
314.1
218.3
298.0
293.4
250.9
307.1
420.9
255.3
335.5
475.3
313.2
218.3
298.5
292.9
255.3
307.1
401.6
252.9
335.5
474.3
313.3
218.5
298.4
293.3
256.2
307.8
402.9
252.4
335.5
473.3
'313.7
218.5
'298.5
'293.4
'256.5
'308.9
'410.2
251.3
'335.5
473.5
313.6
218.5
298.5
293.5
257.1
309.8
404.2
249.7
334.8
475.4
315.1
216.0
305.9
294.8
257.1
315.4
399.7
250.4
334.7
474.9
318.4
216.1
308.1
295.6
257.4
330.9
398.8
255.0
349.6
479.0
319.7
216.2
309.5
296.0
257.4
338.4
392.8
260.7
355.2
480.1
14
14-1
14-4
Transportation equipment (12/68 = 100)......................................
Motor vehicles and equipment ..................................................
Railroad equipment ..................................................................
235.4
237.5
338.2
228.1
229.5
333.9
231.9
233.9
335.7
233.6
236.0
331.2
234.3
236.7
331.4
235.0
237.4
338.1
235.9
238.4
338.7
231.8
232.8
338.7
244.5 '246.3
247.8 '248.9
338.7 '341.3
246.7
249.2
346.3
248.3
250.4
352.4
244.7
246.1
352.4
244.9
246.4
352.8
15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9
Miscellaneous products................................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, ammunition............................
Tobacco products ....................................................................
265.6
212.2
268.3
259.6
210.1
( 6)
346.9
264.0
211.1
256.3
247.3
211.2
155.0
351.3
266.0
211.3
268.7
248.4
212.4
( 6)
349.0
266.9
211.4
268.7
267.8
212.5
(6)
349.4
266.3
211.2
268.7
268.0
212.5
(6)
346.9
263.2
213.2
268.8
267.5
211.4
158.1
333.1
262.6
212.7
268.8
267.7
207.1
158.3
334.6
267.0
213.6
274.5
267.8
208.7
158.7
345.5
268.5
213.0
278.2
269.7
208.9
159.1
348.5
'269.5
'212.7
'278.2
269.7
'209.0
'159.3
'344.8
267.3
213.8
277.9
269.7
209.5
159.0
343.2
268.4
219.3
277.9
270.5
210.3
159.1
341.9
273.7
221.0
306.4
270.7
210.8
159.6
340.9
272.9
221.6
306.4
271.8
212.5
161.6
334.3
Converted paper and paperboard products ................................
Building paper and board..........................................................
Steel mill products....................................................................
Nonferrous metals....................................................................
Household appliances ..............................................................
Home electronic equipment ......................................................
Other household durable goods ................................................
Gypsum products ....................................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ........................................
Mobile homes (12/74 = 100)....................................................
Other miscellaneous products ..................................................
' Data for November 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
2 Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.
3 Includes only domestic production.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4 Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month,
5 Some prices for industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month.
6 Not available.
r=revised.
95
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
25.
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Commodity grouping
Annual
1981
1982
1981*
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
295.7
251.9
252.2
295.0
251.4
250.3
261.8
134.5
134.2
202.1
296.1
250.3
250.5
262.9
135.7
134.6
202.3
296.7
252.2
253.1
263.5
135.9
135.7
203.5
298.0
255.2
256.0
265.0
136.8
135.8
204.7
298.7
253.7
255.0
266.1
137.2
135.3
204.7
298.5
251.7
252.8
266.4
138.1
135.5
204.7
299.5
249.1
250.0
268.7
138.2
136.5
204.7
r 299.4
'247.4
'247.6
'269.0
'138.4
136.5
'205.7
300.0
248.0
246.9
269.4
138.3
136.7
206.6
301.9
252.0
251.0
2709
139.3
137.0
212.4
301.8
253.5
252 2
271 4
140.0
137 0
216.0
301.4
251 5
252 1
271 6
139.0
137 5
216.4
All commodities — less farm products . .
All fo o d s ...............................
Processed foods ...............
Industrial commodities less fuels . . .
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 100)
Hosiery ......................................
Underwear and nightwear ................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and fibers and yarns.............................
Pharmaceutical preparations ........................
Lumber and wood products, excluding m illw o rk.............
Special metals and metal products....................
Fabricated metal products....................
Copper and copper products .................................
Machinery and motive products .............
135.9
134.3
203.5
291.9
253.4
252.3
258.6
132.2
130.5
202.0
278.6
186.8
303.1
279.4
280.0
204.0
256.7
271.0
182.1
304.8
273.5
274.7
204.8
250.2
276.1
184.0
312.3
276.8
277.0
207.7
253.1
279.0
185.7
311.5
277.9
278.5
206.6
254.4
281.2
186.6
312.2
277.9
279.0
203.7
255.6
282.3
189.0
3Q8.7
280.2
281.7
202.5
257.4
284.0
188.4
306.2
281.9
283.1
206.2
258.6
284.4
191.6
298.0
280.1
283.9
205.1
257.7
283.8
192.8
290.1
286.7
286.0
201.9
264.3
' 283.2
'192.5
'286.4
'286.8
'287.0
'198.9
'265.8
284.0
193.0
290.4
286.6
287.9
195.9
266.7
284.9
195.5
290.2
288.0
290.0
195.1
268.5
286.0
198 0
288 3
286 1
290.4
194 1
267.6
285 8
2000
288 6
285 5
291 5
191 0
268.2
Machinery and equipment, except electrical.........
Agricultural machinery, including tractors...............
Metalworking machinery ...........................
Numerically controlled machine tools (Dec. 1971 = 100)
Total tractors ..........................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less p a r ts ...........
Farm and garden tractors less p a rts ....................
Agricultural machinery, excluding tractors less parts . . .
Industrial valves ...........................
Industrial fittings ...........................
Construction m aterials.............................
288.3
296.2
329.4
239.4
324.0
289.0
298.9
294.4
314.8
302.1
2830
281.9
288.3
323.5
235.7
311.8
281.5
287.6
289.1
310.1
298.9
279.0
284.3
289.6
325.9
235.7
316.8
283.2
289.3
290.2
314.0
302.7
283.9
285.9
293.7
327.1
237.3
322.0
286.7
297.7
290.8
314.3
303.0
284.2
287.3
294.8
328.3
241.4
322.5
287.9
298.0
292.5
315.3
303.0
285.0
290.4
295.6
330.1
241.7
325.5
288.6
298.0
293.9
317.5
303.0
285.7
291.7
298.2
331.4
241.8
327.8
291.1
301.4
295.8
319.8
303.0
285.5
293.8
301.6
333.9
241.8
330.7
294.0
305.5
298.7
322.7
304.3
284.4
295.0
305.7
336.7
241.8
338.3
297.6
313.0
299.9
322.4
304.1
284.6
'296.4
'312.5
'338.3
'242.2
'342.2
'303.5
'319.6
'303.5
'323.4
304.1
284.1
297.8
312.4
339.8
242.3
340.4
303.9
316.5
309.3
321.9
304.1
285.1
300.1
313.7
342.1
240.5
346.2
305.3
318.5
310.0
325.2
304.1
286.4
301 6
314.6
343.3
240.1
346.2
306 3
318.5
311.6
326.8
304 1
286.9
302 2
3155
346 4
2403
3464
307 3
3188
307 3
327.1
304 1
287.4
1Data for November 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
26.
r=revised.
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product
[1967=100]
Annual
average
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Total durable goods ...........................
Total nondurable g o o d s .............................
269.8
312.4
264.9
310.9
267.8
314.2
268.6
314.8
269.1
315.7
270.8
316.8
271.9
316.2
271.8
315.0
275.0
312.8
'275.4
'311.4
275.9
311.6
277.4
314.7
277.3
315.3
277 3
314.2
Total manufactures...........................
Durable ........................................
Nondurable......................................
285.9
269.6
303.6
282.3
264.4
301.7
285.3
267.2
304.9
286.2
268.2
305.7
286.9
268.9
306.4
288.0
270.6
306.9
288.6
271.7
306.9
288.3
271.7
306.3
289.8
275.1
305.5
'289.7
'275.8
'304.5
290.0
276.3
304.5
291.8
277.8
306.8
291.9
277.7
307.2
291.9
277.8
305.8
Total raw or slightly processed goods
Durable .................................
Nondurable...................................
330.7
271.4
334.0
331.2
281.7
333.8
334.6
286.0
337.1
334.2
280.4
337.1
335.4
272.4
338.9
337.9
271.2
341.8
335.8
275.9
339.1
332.7
270.4
336.3
326.4
263.7
330.0
'323.3
'253.4
'327.4
323.8
248.4
328.3
329.0
254.4
333.4
330.6
254.4
335.1
329.9
250.7
334.7
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Commodity grouping
1981
1°ata for November 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
27.
1982
r=revised.
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code
Annual
1981
Industry description
1982
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct
167.3
346.0
493.9
898.8
277.3
138.7
168.1
335.4
478.5
901.7
275.2
137.1
168.1
354.1
483.5
908.6
278.0
137.1
168.1
347.9
484.5
919.7
278.4
137.1
168.1
352.0
488.4
713.7
278.4
137.1
168.1
358.3
502.1
911.5
278.4
137.1
168.1
365.4
503.4
900.3
278.2
137.1
168.1
364.5
506.0
913.6
279.2
137.1
168.1
354.1
506.2
900.8
279.7
143.4
'171.3
354.1
'507.8
'907.5
'279.8
143.4
171.3
343.7
510.7
922.6
280.4
143.4
171.3
347.9
521.3
917.6
287.0
147.1
171.3
313.7
524.7
913.5
289 5
149.6
171 3
325 0
521 9
904.7
292 7
149.6
243.1
241.3
192.0
274.8
236.1
230.4
203.9
273.6
237.8
227.5
186.7
273.4
243.6
230.4
196.2
273.4
245.9
238.1
198.3
273.5
252.6
246.0
203.6
273.8
250.9
254.0
201.2
273.7
252.7
253.9
188.8
275.0
244.1
252.2
175.5
279.2
'237.0
'248.9
172.8
'279.5
234.5
246.7
166.7
275.0
236.6
245.7
( 2)
275.0
243 8
250.5
( 2)
276.4
247 0
248 2
(2)
276.8
Nov.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 footnotes at end of table.
Digitized96
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
27.
Continued — Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code
Annual
1981
Industry description
1982
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
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 ..............................................................
215.8
211.9
248.5
177.6
195.9
277.2
124.6
273.5
320.6
309.8
215.7
210.6
241.5
172.9
195.1
298.0
126.6
318.8
370.7
323.1
216.2
211.4
244.0
174.2
201.5
300.9
128.5
275.7
350.5
323.1
216.2
212.4
245.9
175.3
199.4
300.3
129.8
224.8
334.4
303.1
216.1
212.4
248.9
175.0
199.3
300.3
127.5
263.3
339.7
303.1
213.8
212.7
251.6
180.5
196.5
297.4
125.9
272.2
274.1
303.1
214.5
212.7
252.9
178.7
191.0
284.3
124.8
254.6
287.5
303.2
215.0
212.7
254.3
183.4
195.3
268.2
119.6
212.3
270.7
303.2
215.4
212.5
257.0
182.1
191.1
247.3
117.3
219.9
250.3
303.2
215.9
212.5
'256.4
r 181.4
191.5
235.4
116.4
224.3
r 230.4
303.2
217.1
212.8
258.8
182.1
189.3
215.1
116.4
230.8
272.4
303.2
218.6
212.8
259.6
184.0
191.4
205.9
116.6
247.6
292.5
303.3
217.9
212.8
262.2
181.8
187.4
192.2
116.5
245.1
292.6
303.3
216.8
210.9
262.7
181.5
187.3
183.5
114.8
233.0
272.4
303.4
2074
2075
2077
2083
2085
2091
2092
2095
2098
2111
Cottonseed oil m ills......................................................
Soybean oil m ills..........................................................
Animal and marine fats and oils ....................................
M a lt............................................................................
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....................................................................
199.0
245.8
288.1
282.5
134.7
187.8
369.6
238.0
252.0
277.7
204.4
253.2
284.2
286.1
133.9
187.6
385.2
238.3
243.6
264.2
218.4
259.1
301.7
286.1
133.9
187.7
393.5
238.5
243.6
278.3
216.6
258.1
304.3
286.1
134.3
187.3
378.2
238.6
246.6
278.3
212.3
248.4
291.3
286.1
134.6
187.5
375.5
238.6
246.6
278.3
212.0
253.7
288.8
286.1
134.6
187.4
367.6
236.4
259.5
278.3
206.0
245.8
294.1
286.1
135.5
188.4
347.1
235.7
259.5
278.3
182.3
234.2
281.2
275.4
135.5
188.8
353.5
237.3
259.5
284.2
172.0
229.7
274.0
275.4
135.5
188.2
356.9
238.2
259.5
288.4
167.2
r 221.2
272.3
275.4
137.9
188.3
r 360.8
r 239.2
259.5
288.4
182.3
221.5
266.6
275.4
137.9
188.5
371.1
240.4
259.5
288.4
184.9
222.6
260.3
267.1
140.1
187.2
398.3
245.0
259.5
288.4
170.6
219.9
262.6
267.1
137.9
187.0
390.8
247.1
259.5
319.7
158.2
217.8
271.8
267.1
140.2
187.7
420.7
248.7
259.5
319.7
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) ................
169.1
320.9
234.1
136.6
113.5
210.2
110.8
144.9
126.5
167.0
320.7
232.3
133.3
108.9
209.7
109.1
144.6
124.3
168.5
320.8
235.3
134.9
114.1
209.8
110.8
146.9
125.2
168.5
320.8
233.5
135.7
114.2
210.0
110.5
147.0
126.6
168.5
320.8
234.3
137.1
115.6
210.0
110.4
146.2
126.6
169.7
321.0
234.7
138.0
115.5
210.7
111.0
146.3
127.1
169.7
321.3
237.4
139.3
115.0
210.8
112.0
146.2
127.8
174.5
325.3
236.0
139.5
115.0
210.9
111.9
145.4
129.0
174.5
326.1
233.2
139.4
115.2
210.9
112.0
144.9
129.1
r 174.5
r 326.1
r 229.8
' 139.8
'115.1
'212.8
'112.4
'143.5
129.1
171.6
326.0
235.2
139.5
115.3
212.9
111.7
141.4
128.6
171.6
326.0
227.5
139.8
115.6
228.7
111.8
140.5
129.3
'175.6
349.4
226.9
139.8
115.6
234.7
112.3
140.3
129.7
175.6
349.4
226.5
139.9
116.2
235.5
110.6
140.8
128.3
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................................
154.3
221.8
138.6
151.4
134.8
223.9
208.8
230.6
114.6
186.1
150.2
220.7
131.3
148.4
130.9
220.1
207.1
231.0
115.4
185.3
151.5
220.9
131.5
150.8
132.7
220.3
207.6
231.0
115.4
186.0
154.5
224.1
139.1
150.9
134.3
220.4
207.1
231.0
115.4
186.1
155.6
225.8
139.3
151.1
134.3
224.6
207.5
230.7
115.4
186.1
158.3
225.1
142.7
151.1
134.3
225.9
210.5
230.8
113.9
186.4
157.4
225.4
146.8
151.1
134.3
226.2
210.6
230.8
113.9
186.4
157.3
223.8
148.0
154.8
139.3
226.5
211.5
230.8
113.9
186.4
155.7
222.4
154.5
157.0
139.3
227.4
212.4
230.8
113.9
186.8
'157.0
'219.9
'145.6
'157.0
139.3
'228.4
'212.6
'233.0
113.9
'186.9
156.3
217.9
146.0
156.8
140.7
230.7
211.2
233.0
113.9
186.8
155.1
216.0
135.3
156.8
141.0
230.7
190.9
237.6
115.3
187.0
155.3
215.3
135.2
156.8
141.0
232.1
191.7
246.9
117.3
187.0
155.7
215.6
150.8
156.8
141.0
233.9
192.7
247.4
117.3
188.2
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 )......................
248.4
119.8
121.1
169.9
136.8
120.3
289.3
132.1
131.0
228.2
242.3
116.4
118.5
168.8
134.9
119.2
289.1
127.8
131.0
228.6
247.0
118.3
118.4
169.0
135.0
120.7
289.1
129.3
131.0
233.3
248.2
118.4
122.3
169.2
135.0
120.5
292.1
130.0
131.0
234.8
248.3
118.5
122.5
170.5
136.9
120.5
292.1
130.1
131.0
234.8
250.8
121.0
123.0
170.6
138.8
121.6
289.2
130.1
131.0
233.5
251.1
121.2
124.3
170.6
138.8
121.7
289.2
133.1
131.0
231.2
251.2
121.3
123.5
170.6
138.8
121.7
289.2
134.6
131.0
225.2
253.1
126.4
123.4
170.6
138.8
122.0
289.2
137.6
131.0
219.5
'253.2
'126.7
'124.1
'171.6
'138.9
'122.5
289.2
'137.6
131.0
'216.5
252.5
123.9
122.5
172.2
140.5
119.6
289.2
140.3
131.0
218.3
251.9
123.8
122.6
175.3
145.5
122.0
293.8
145.5
131.0
218.5
251.8
123.8
122.9
175.4
149.2
122.0
297.4
145.5
131.0
217.6
252.9
123.9
123.6
175.7
149.2
122.0
295.5
147.8
131.0
217.1
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 = 1 0 0 )..............
Mattresses and bedsprlngs............................................
Wood office furniture....................................................
Pulp mills (12/73 = 100)..............................................
142.0
156.6
152.5
156.8
172.8
197.4
174.9
193.7
254.6
253.2
147.2
157.1
152.7
155.0
172.3
193.3
170.1
189.5
253.5
246.9
152.6
158.3
153.1
155.8
180.9
195.4
171.8
190.5
254.5
251.2
145.7
158.2
153.1
155.9
184.5
196.2
169.7
190.4
255.4
251.3
148.1
158.2
153.0
156.1
182.3
197.5
173.9
190.5
254.6
251.3
143.8
157.6
153.1
158.1
179.6
198.6
175.1
191.3
254.7
251.3
139.6
156.9
152.9
158.3
173.6
199.2
175.1
194.6
254.7
251.3
135.4
156.6
152.8
158.7
170.5
200.1
175.3
195.2
257.1
251.3
129.3
154.8
152.0
159.2
168.0
201.0
175.6
195.2
257.1
255.0
'129.0
'154.2
'150.4
'159.3
' 166.9
'202.0
'179.5
'197.5
'257.0
'262.5
134.1
153.0
150.2
160.1
164.7
201.9
184.9
202.2
258.6
265.5
132.0
153.2
149.8
160.2
171.3
203.3
184.1
207.5
262.9
260.9
131.1
153.2
148.9
160.7
170.2
204.2
182.0
210.0
271.8
260.9
132.3
152.3
148.1
162.7
173.4
204.8
182.0
210.0
271.9
262.9
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, noncelluloslc............................................
Nitrogenous fertilizers (12/75 = 100) ............................
156.3
151.8
343.8
245.3
163.0
305.3
150.8
292.9
155.7
142.7
153.3
150.8
343.0
237.9
160.7
295.6
144.8
283.9
147.4
141.7
153.9
151.0
343.2
239.2
160.8
294.4
148.1
288.1
149.9
147.1
154.3
152.1
344.3
239.2
160.9
302.2
149.7
293.3
156.2
148.5
155.7
152.3
344.4
242.2
160.9
309.3
150.7
296.3
156.8
143.4
157.0
151.7
344.2
246.0
163.2
306.2
155.0
297.3
159.2
143.5
157.4
152.4
344.3
252.9
163.2
310.4
155.6
299.4
160.3
143.9
158.8
153.7
344.3
253.2
163.2
316.0
156.0
299.3
160.6
142.1
159.8
153.6
344.0
253.4
167.6
317.7
156.3
301.0
164.2
142.9
'159.7
'153.5
'344.1
'253.3
'167.6
317.0
'153.7
'301.4
162.5
'144.2
159.8
152.7
345.8
254.7
169.1
323.9
155.7
302.7
161.9
141.3
161.8
152.6
345.6
255.3
175.3
329.3
154.2
304.0
161.0
142.4
162.0
153.6
345.6
258.3
176.5
333.7
156.4
306.2
161.1
142.5
161.9
153.2
345.6
261.4
176.5
335.0
151.7
305.6
162.4
142.2
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) ............................
254.1
270.2
312.0
294.4
194.3
176.7
215.9
253.5
270.0
303.9
299.0
189.1
169.7
213.8
251.6
271.1
324.8
306.0
198.1
180.4
215.5
251.5
273.6
314.5
304.1
198.8
176.3
216.2
250.9
273.1
312.6
302.6
198.4
185.7
216.2
249.4
275.3
315.7
299.1
197.1
182.8
213.1
260.0
273.0
319.8
297.5
196.3
182.3
215.5
259.4
272.0
316.5
295.8
196.0
174.3
220.6
259.4
273.8
318.7
294.6
196.3
174.9
221.0
'258.5
'273.7
'316.5
' 293.3
196.4
'178.1
'220.1
259.0
268.5
318.0
293.2
196.8
175.5
221.5
261.4
269.1
315.6
293;5
197.2
173.5
222.0
265.5
275.5
312.9
288.8
198.4
173.2
224.4
261.7
278.1
316.3
281.9
198.8
170.5
222.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
97
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
27.
Continued— Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
average
1981
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.1
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
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) .....................................
Men’s footwear, except athletic (12/75 - 100)................................
Women’s footwear, except athletic..................................................
Women’s handbags and purses (12/75 - 100) ..............................
Rat glass (12/71 - 100) ..............................................................
Glass containers............................................................................
184.4
193.4
128.8
150.6
169.1
217.8
155.5
175.6
328.4
183.6
187.6
126.3
151.4
167.6
218.7
149.7
168.1
311.4
183.6
187.7
128.7
158.6
168.7
218.7
149.7
174.5
326.6
184.0
187.7
129.1
154.7
168.9
219.3
158.4
174.5
335.2
184.1
187.7
129.6
150.7
169.6
2185
158.4
174.6
335.2
185.0
192.9
129.2
151.3
170.7
218.9
158.4
180.0
335.4
185.4
200.3
130.2
148.5
171.4
217.8
158.4
180.0
335,4
185.3
200.3
130.3
148.3
170.9
218.2
158.4
180.0
335.4
185.0
200.3
130.8
148.2
170.5
212.5
158.4
180.1
335.4
185.0
r 200.3
r 130.8
r 146.8
170.6
r 212.7
158.4
180.1
r 335.4
185.2
198.1
130.8
147.3
171.5
214.6
158.4
180.1
334.8
186.1
198.1
130.9
150.7
172.6
213.8
158.4
177.3
334.7
186.5
198.1
131.3
149.2
171.6
211.3
158.4
177.4
349.5
189.1
204.9
132.5
148.2
173.6
211.6
158.4
177.5
355.1
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............................................................
Rne earthenware food utensils........................................................
Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100)............................................
Concrete block and brick................................................................
328.5
296.9
132.5
310.4
222.7
254.9
335.0
308.9
160.1
270.4
324.4
295.3
127.1
308.1
213.0
249.4
328.0
307.9
158.5
263.2
332.4
296.0
129.6
308.6
212.7
252.0
328.2
308.2
158.6
267.4
332.3
297.4
132.1
311.0
223.9
252.5
336.6
309.6
160.6
271.2
331.0
298.5
132.1
312.2
223.9
255.8
336.6
309.6
160.7
271.2
331.6
298.9
132.1
312.3
223.9
258.7
336.6
309.6
160.7
271.2
331.6
298.9
132.1
312.3
223.9
259.6
336.6
309.6
160.7
274.0
332.0
299.9
140.4
312.5
227.5
259.0
336.8
313.8
161.8
274.2
330.3
299.9
140.4
313.9
231.7
259.0
336.8
313.8
161.8
274.3
' 330.3
r 300.5
r 140.4
r 315.2
'231.7
259.3
344.7
'315.0
'163.7
'274.2
327.2
301.8
137.8
317.1
237.0
260.1
344.7
314.4
163.6
275.3
336.4
291.4
136.8
327.0
196.4
261.1
347.7
314.5
164.2
274.8
338.2
291.8
136.8
346.5
196.7
260.6
347.7
314.5
164.2
276.0
338.3
291.8
136.8
357.5
196.8
260.7
347.3
314.4
164.1
276.3
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)..................................................
298.7
172.5
257.3
232.5
185.3
342.8
121.8
316.2
341.5
299.5
296.0
172.6
257.9
223.1
178.9
334.0
120.0
306.1
326.1
295.6
299.4
298.5
172.4
172.6
261.4
257.1
233.2
232.7
178.9
186.6
336.7 • 337.3
120.8
120.6
308.2
308.2
333.1
334.1
298.4
297.0
301.7
173.0
260.9
234.1
189.7
338.2
120.7
309.5
336.3
298.4
300.7
173.1
261.8
235.0
189.7
350.1
121.2
325.0
348.2
298.8
300.0
173.9
258.9
235.1
189.7
350.0
121.5
325.7
350.6
299.9
299.2
173.7
252.9
237.3
189.7
350.3
121.4
326.2
350.5
302.0
299.5
173.7
251.5
237.6
189.7
353.1
125.4
326.4
362.0
303.3
'299.4
'173.5
252.5
'241.0
190.2
'353.0
125.4
326.4
362.3
'305.2
299.5
174.0
250.6
240.0
190.2
353.2
125.3
326.7
363.1
304.7
301.1
179.1
250.9
239.9
191.1
354.9
125.3
327.0
363.8
308.0
301.4
184.0
253.9
245.0
198.1
354.6
123.4
327.0
364.2
310.4
302.0
186.0
260.5
247.8
200.5
354.5
120.3
327.0
366.0
310.6
3333
3334
3351
3353
3354
3355
3411
3425
3431
3465
Primary zin c ..................................................................................
Primary aluminum...........................................................................
Copper rolling and drawing ............................................................
Aluminum sheet, plate, and foil (12/75 = 100) ................................
Aluminum extruded products (12/75 - 100)....................................
Aluminum rolling, drawing, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100) ..............................
Metal cans....................................................................................
Hand saws and saw blades (12/72 - 100) ....................................
Meta, sanitary ware........................................................................
Automotive stampings (12/75 - 100) ............................................
326.5
333.5
212.4
175.9
180.1
159.1
305.3
201.3
265.0
146.4
299.7
332.2
211.8
172.1
177.3
157.2
304.7
198.0
258.5
144.2
311.9
332.8
213.1
173.8
180.6
157.3
304.7
198.1
262.8
145.0
332.7
334.2
212.6
174.4
180.7
157.4
304.7
200.2
264.8
145.0
335.1
332.5
210.6
176.1
180.8
157.3
304.7
200.2
265.2
145.2
335.4
334.2
209.4
177.3
181.2
157.2
305.5
204.1
269.2
146.2
353.8
334.4
212.9
177.4
181.3
157.2
306.7
204.2
269.7
146.4
355.9
333.6
214.1
178.0
181.2
157.7
306.8
204.6
270.2
146.9
337.0
333.5
212.3
179.9
181.3
163.0
307.0
204.8
270.3
147.4
337.5
332.5
'209.2
'180.2
181.4
166.2
'306.0
'205.0
'271.6
149.7
327.3
332.8
208.6
180.9
181.1
166.1
306.6
205.6
272.0
153.7
308.0
332.4
205.6
181.5
180.7
166.1
310.3
211.0
270.9
154.6
308.9
327.9
204.1
181.6
180.8
166.6
314.4
214.2
271.8
152.5
298.6
320.7
199.6
181.4
180.5
165.9
315.1
214.3
273.8
152.6
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) ..........................
160.5
245.1
248.4
361.4
311.0
157.0
282.3
395.4
253.5
306.4
157.2
239.5
244.8
338.5
302.6
152.6
276.2
378.2
250.3
301.9
157.8
241.2
247.6
358.8
306.0
154.4
279.5
382.2
251.2
303.0
157,8
241.7
247.9
359.9
306.2
155.3
280.0
384.6
251.2
304.5
157.8
241.9
248.5
361.6
307.2
156.9
280.8
390.3
251.2
305.7
157.8
243.7
250.0
364.6
312.0
159.0
282.7
401.3
252.1
307.6
159.9
248.9
251.0
370.0
314.2
159.5
285.3
406.5
252.8
309.5
159.9
252.4
252.7
375.1
322.1
160.1
286.9
411.3
254.6
312.0
159.9
253.9
252.9
377.7
323.2
161.0
288.5
415.6
257.0
311.7
'159.9
'254.1
'253.5
'378.6
'326.4
161.6
'290.8
'418.2
'260.7
312.3
165.3
254.3
253.8
379.4
321.5
162.1
291.8
420.1
261.4
313.0
173.2
256.4
255.8
378.6
327.3
164.8
293.9
427.1
268.0
313.5
173.2
257.2
257.1
377.7
330.0
163.1
297.5
429.1
268.9
316.9
173.2
256.6
257.4
376.5
330.7
163.2
299.6
433.7
269.9
324.5
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)..................................
147.1
243.4
224.5
226.2
177.9
209.7
227.2
141.1
132.3
174.2
145.2
240.0
224.7
224.2
171.5
204.3
222.1
141.1
127.6
170.9
146.4
240.4
225.5
230.2
172.0
206.0
224.3
140.5
129.4
173.5
147.0
241.2
219.1
230.2
172.0
207.8
225.9
140.7
129.5
173.9
147.1
244.4
219.7
230.3
176.5
209.6
227.2
141.0
130.8
173.6
148.2
246.2
224.0
226.6
180.8
210.7
228.3
140.5
135.5
174.1
148.4
245.4
225.4
226.6
181.3
212.8
229.6
141.5
135.5
174.6
148.6
248.2
228.9
226.1
182.1
214.5
231.6
141.6
136.4
177.2
149.5
248.0
228.9
226.2
185.4
217.3
232.5
141.6
137.8
177.0
'149.5
247.9
'229.1
'226.3
'187.2
'222.0
'233.2
'141.9
'137.9
'178.4
149.3
250.0
229.0
226.4
187.1
219.8
234.7
142.6
136.4
178.8
153.3
249.8
229.4
228.2
185.0
220.3
235.9
144.6
138.6
179.8
153.4
250.7
229.2
228.9
189.4
221.9
236.0
146.3
139.6
180.4
153.4
253.4
229.6
229.8
190.2
222.4
231.5
146.9
140.8
186.2
3635
3636
3641
3644
3646
3648
3671
3674
3675
3676
Household vacuum cleaners ..........................................................
Sewing machines (12/75 = 100)....................................................
Electric lamps.................................................................................
Noncurrent-carrying wiring devices (12/72 = 100) ..........................
Commercial lighting fixtures (12/75 - 100) ....................................
Lighting equipment, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ........................................
Electron tubes receiving typ e ..........................................................
Semiconductors and related devices ..............................................
Electronic capacitors (12/75 - 100) ..............................................
Electronic resistors (12/75 - 100)..................................................
156.8
146.6
277.5
250.4
154.4
155.7
309.7
90.4
170.3
141.3
158.5
131.9
272.6
240.6
151.4
152.7
285.0
91.3
173.2
139.9
158.4
131.8
275.5
242.6
156.1
153.2
285.0
91.2
168.7
140.0
158.5
153.8
275.1
242.8
156.2
153.3
285.1
90.6
168.5
140.8
158.6
153.8
276.5
251.5
156.2
153.7
312.5
90.3
171.2
141.2
158.6
153.8
275.2
253.3
154.4
153.8
327.4
89.2
171.4
142.1
158.8
153.8
2800
253.8
155.5
161.3
327.5
89.2
178.8
142.5
158.8
153.8
283.1
258.5
157.6
161.7
327.5
91.4
172.4
142.7
161.3
156.0
285.9
258.7
158.9
162.0
327.5
91.6
171.5
142.7
'161.0
'284.8
'262.1
'159.3
'162.4
327.8
'92.0
'168.1
'143.0
154.0
155.4
282.7
264.6
158.4
162.7
342.3
91.9
168.0
142.5
158.7
155.4
282.0
261.5
159.9
162.7
371.8
90.9
166.4
142.9
158.3
155.2
286.2
261.5
161.1
167.8
374.9
90.8
169.3
143.9
158.8
155.2
283.5
261.5
163.2
168.8
375.1
91.2
168.6
144.0
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)....................................
154.8
182.2
150.2
131.1
220.5
138.6
139.5
151.8
154.5
184.2
144.2
132.4
221.2
136.4
138.0
148.7
154.4
182.6
148.4
132.4
221.2
136.9
138.1
151.5
153.7
181.0
149.6
130.9
221.8
136.9
138.3
151.5
154.3
181.0
150.3
130.9
221.9
140.4
138.3
151.5
155.0
181.6
150.3
130.9
222.0
140.4
138.3
153.3
155.8
182.7
150.1
130.9
222.0
140.6
140.6
153.6
156.5
182.7
143.4
130.9
222.2
140.6
143.4
153.7
156.3
182.7
158.6
130.9
222.2
140.2
143.4
153.7
155.8
182.7
'158.7
'130.9
'222.6
'140.2
143.4
153.7
156.6
182.7
158.9
130.6
221.5
140.7
142.7
153.7
157.2
182.1
159.5
134.9
225.8
140.3
142.7
155.1
156.9
185.0
154.5
136.2
229.9
140.3
143.8
155.2
157.1
191.2
154.7
136.2
231.4
140.3
145.3
156.1
1972
SIC
code
Industry description
3021
3031
3079
3111
3143
3144
3171
3211
3221
' Data for November 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
98
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1982
1981
2 Not available,
r=revised.
J 156.0
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 add from estimates of com
pensation and output supplied by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and the Federal Reserve Board.
Definitions
O utput 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.
U n it labor cost measures the labor compensation cost required to
produce one unit of output and is derived by dividing compensation
by output. U n it 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. U n it profits include corporate profits and invento
ry valuation adjustments per unit of output.
The im plicit 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.
28.
The use of the term “man hours” to identify the labor component
of productivity and costs, in tables 28 through 31, 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.
O utput per all-employee hour is now used to describe labor productiv
ity in nonfinancial corporations where there are no self-employed.
Notes on the data
In the private business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the
basis for the output measure employed in the computation of output
per hour is Gross Domestic Product rather than Gross National
Product. Computation of hours includes estimates of nonfarm and
farm proprietor hours.
Output data are supplied by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce, and the Federal Reserve Board. Quarterly
manufacturing output indexes are adjusted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to annual estimates of output (gross product originating)
from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Compensation and hours data
are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Beginning with the September 1976 issue of the R ev ie w , the produc
tivity tables were revised to reflect changeover to the new series— pri
vate business sector and nonfarm business sector— which differ from
the previously published total private economy and nonfarm sector in
that output imputed for owner-occupied dwellings and the household
and institutions sectors, as well as the statistical discrepancy, are
omitted. For a detailed explanation, see J. R. Norsworthy and L. J.
Fulco, “New sector definitions for productivity series,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R ev ie w , October 1976, pages 40-42.
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1950-81
[1977=100]
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 c o st................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ....................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hour............................
Unit labor c o s t................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ..................................
Real compensation per hou r............................
Unit labor c o st................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
1981
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
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
92.7
78.0
95.9
84.2
78.9
82.4
94.8
85.5
96.3
90.2
90.7
90.4
97.9
92.9
98.8
94.8
94.4
94.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.8
108.4
100.7
108.6
105.1
107.4
99.5
119.3
99.6
119.9
110.9
116.9
99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6
100.4
144.6
96.4
144.0
130.5
139.4
56.2
21.8
55.0
38.8
42.8
40.2
62.7
28.3
63.9
45.1
47.9
46.0
68.2
35.6
73.0
52.3
50.5
51.7
80.4
42.8
82.2
53.2
58.2
54.9
86.7
58.6
91.5
67.6
64.0
66.4
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
99.1
119.0
99.3
120.0
108.5
116.2
98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4
99.7
143.9
95.9
144.3
130.3
139.6
( 1)
( 1)
( 1)
( 1)
(’ )
( 1)
( 1)
(’ )
n
( 1)
<’ )
n
66.3
36.3
74.2
54.7
54.6
54.7
79.9
43.0
82.6
53.8
60.8
56.2
85.4
58.3
91.0
68.3
63.1
66,5
91.3
77.6
95.4
85.1
75.7
81.8
94.4
85.5
96.3
90.6
90.9
90.7
97.4
92.5
98.5
95.0
95.0
95.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.4
108.2
100.5
107.8
103.8
106.4
100.4
118.7
99.1
118.2
108.3
114.8
101.0
130.7
96.2
129.4
117.3
125.2
103.5
143.9
95.9
139.1
132.3
136.7
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
90.9
76.4
93.9
84.1
70.4
80.1
93.5
85.5
96.3
91.4
88.5
90.6
97.7
92.4
98.3
94.6
95.1
94.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.9
108.2
100.5
107.3
104.7
106.5
102.0
118,8
99.2
116.5
105.7
113.4
101.7
131.6
96.8
129.4
108.7
123.4
104.5
146.2
97.4
140.0
(’ )
( ')
1Not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
99
M ONTHLY LABOR REVIEW May 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
29.
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1971-81
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 ..........................................
Nonflnancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees........................
Compensation per ho u r......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ............................
Compensation per ho u r......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price deflator ..........................................
Annual rate
of change
Year
Item
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
3.6
6.6
2.2
2.9
7.6
4.4
3.5
6.5
3.1
2.9
4.5
3.4
2.7
8.0
1.7
5.2
5.9
5.4
-2.3
9.4
-1.4
11.9
4.4
9.4
2.3
9.6
0.4
7.2
15.0
9.7
3.3
8.6
2.7
5.1
4.1
4.7
2.1
7.7
1.2
5.5
5.9
5.6
-0.2
8.4
0.7
8.6
5.1
7.4
-0.3
10.1
-1.1
10.4
5.5
8.8
-0.2
10.2
-2.9
10.4
6.6
9.2
1.1
10.0
-0.3
8.8
10.3
9.3
2.4
6.2
2.3
3.6
3.3
3.5
2.1
7.2
1.7
5.0
4.5
4.9
3.3
6.6
2.2
3.1
7.4
4.5
3.7
6.7
3.3
2.8
3.2
3.0
2.5
7.6
1.3
4.9
1.3
3.7
-2.4
9.4
-1.4
12.1
5.9
10.1
2.1
9.6
0.4
7.4
16.7
10.3
3.2
8.1
2.2
4.7
5.7
5.1
2.0
7.6
1.0
5.5
6.4
5.8
-0.2
8.5
0.7
8.7
3.6
7.0
-0.7
9.7
-1.4
10.4
4.8
8.6
-0.3
9.9
-3.2
10.3
8.4
9.7
0.9
10.1
-0.3
9.0
10.8
9.6
2.1
5.9
2.0
3.7
3.3
3.6
1.8
7.0
1.5
5.0
4.4
4.8
4.8
6.5
2.1
1.6
7.4
3.5
3.0
5.8
2.5
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.6
7.7
1.4
4.9
1.5
3.8
-3.4
9.7
-1.1
13.6
7.1
11.4
3.4
10.1
0.9
6.5
20.1
10.9
3.2
8.2
2.3
4.9
4.6
4.8
2.7
8.1
1.5
5.3
5.2
5.2
0.4
8.2
0.5
7.8
3.8
6.4
0.0
9.7
-1.4
9.7
4.4
7.9
0.6
10.1
-3.0
9.5
8.3
9.1
2.5
10.1
-0.3
7.4
12.8
9.2
(’ )
( 1)
(’ )
( ')
6.1
6.1
1.8
5.0
5.4
2.0
0.3
0.8
0.5
5.3
7.2
0.9
1.7
-3.3
0.3
-2.4
10.6
-0.3
13.3
-1.8
9.0
2.9
11.9
2.5
8.8
25.9
13.1
4.4
8.0
2.1
3.4
7.4
4.6
2.4
8.3
1.7
5.7
5.2
5.6
0.9
8.2
0.5
7.3
4.7
6.5
1.1
9.8
-1.3
8.6
0.9
6.4
-0.3
10.7
-2.5
11.0
2.9
8.8
2.7
11.1
0.7
8.2
(’ )
( ')
2.6
5.8
2.0
3.1
(’ )
(’ )
2.6
6.9
1.4
4.1
( ')
n
0.0
11.2
3.1
1950-81
n
(')
1960-81
2.0
6.9
1.4
4.8
4.0
4.5
1Not available.
30.
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 emoloyees........................
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 ho u r......................................
Real compensation per hour................................
Unit labor cost....................................................
1Not available.
100
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Quarterly indexes
Annual
average
1979
1980
1981
1980
1981
II
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6
100.4
144.6
96.4
144.0
130.5
139.4
99.7
118.1
100.3
118.5
110.4
115.8
99.4
120.7
99.2
121.4
111.5
118.1
99.1
123.2
98.0
124.3
112.2
120.2
99.5
126.4
96.7
127.0
115.2
123.0
99.1
130.1
96.6
131.3
116.0
126.1
99.4
133.1
96.9
133.9
119.7
129.1
99.1
135.9
96.0
137.1
122.7
132.2
100.3
139.8
96.1
139.4
127.6
135.4
101.2
143.3
96.9
141.6
129.3
137.5
100.9
146.5
96.3
145.2
132.4
140.9
99.2
148.5
95.8
149.7
132.5
143.9
98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4
99.7
143.9
95.9
144.3
130.3
139.6
99.1
117.7
100.0
118.7
107.7
115.1
98.9
120.2
98.8
121.5
109.2
117.4
98.8
123.0
97.8
124.4
110.1
119.7
98.9
126.0
96.4
127.4
113.9
122.9
98.2
129.4
96.0
131.8
115.1
126.3
99.0
132.3
96.3
133.6
119.2
128.8
99.0
135.4
95.7
136.8
122.0
131.9
100.0
139.2
95.7
139.1
127.8
135.3
100.4
142.4
96.3
141.9
128.7
137.5
99.9
145.7
95.8
145.8
132.2
141.2
98.2
147.9
95.4
150.6
132.7
144.6
101.0
130.7
96.2
129.7
129.4
130.2
90.2
125.2
103.5
143.9
95.9
140.9
139.1
146.1
103.4
136.7
100.7
117.6
99.9
115.3
116.8
111.2
100.7
113.7
100.5
120.1
98.7
118.2
119.5
114.6
97.5
115.9
99.9
122.7
97.5
121.3
122.8
117.2
92.2
118.1
100.2
125.7
96.2
124.2
125.4
120.9
95.5
121.0
100.1
129.3
95.9
129.2
129.1
129.3
83.4
124.1
101.8
132.5
96.5
131.1
130.2
133.8
89.1
126.4
101.8
135.5
95.7
134.1
133.1
136.9
92.4
129.5
103.3
139.2
95.7
136.0
134.7
139.5
106.8
132.7
103.9
142.3
96.2
138.7
137.0
143.6
102.8
134.7
103.8
145.5
95.6
142.2
140.2
147.7
106.7
138.2
( )
( 1)
( ')
( ')
(’ )
(’ )
n
( )
101.7
131.6
96.8
129.4
104.5
146.2
97.4
140.0
102.3
118.6
100.7
115.9
102.0
119.8
98.5
117.5
102.1
122.3
97.2
119.8
102.0
125.4
96.0
122.9
100.7
130.0
96.5
129.0
100.7
133.9
97.5
133.0
103.2
137.3
97.0
133.0
104.2
141.1
97.1
135.5
105.2
144.8
97.9
137.6
105.5
148.0
97.3
140.3
102.5
150.7
97.2
147.0
1
1
31. 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 costs ....................
Unit nonlabor payments................
implicit price deflator ........................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ..................
Compensation per hour ........................
Real compensation per hour......................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..............................
Implicit price deflator ......................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ..........
Compensation per hour ..............
Real compensation per hour....................
Total unit costs ............................
Unit labor costs ..........................
Unit nonlabor costs..........................
Unit profits....................................
Implicit price deflator ................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ................
Compensation per hour ....................
Real compensation per hour............
Unit labor costs ............................
II 1980
to
III 1980
III 1980
to
IV 1980
IV 1980
to
I 1981
1.3
9.5
1.6
8.1
13.7
9.8
-1.1
8.6
-3.8
9.8
10.2
9.9
4.7
11.9
0.5
6.9
17.1
10.0
3.6
9.0
1.2
5.3
15.0
8.2
-0.2
9.8
-2.7
10.1
9.9
10.0
6.7
10.2
2.2
6.2
3.2
14.7
30.3
7.9
0.0
9.4
-3.1
9.4
9.4
9.5
15.7
9.9
-0.1
12.7
4.6
12.8
10.3
10.5
-2.2
0.1
1 1981
to
II 1981
Percent change from same quarter a year ago
II 1981
to
III 1981
III 1981
to
IV 1981
3.5
10.4
3.2
6.6
5.3
6.2
-1.1
9.3
-2.3
10.6
10.1
10.4
-6.5
5.5
-2.1
12.9
4.4
11.7
0.3
7.0
20.2
11.0
1.4
9.6
2.5
8.1
3.0
6.5
-1.7
9.5
-2.2
11.5
11.3
11.4
6.3
11.4
5.6
4.8
7.9
77.9
10.4
2.2
9.3
2.1
8.4
7.0
12.3
-13.9
6.2
-0.5
9.2
-2.5
10.3
9.7
11.8
15.7
10.7
3.8
11.6
-0.2
7.5
4.0
10.8
3.5
6.5
1.2
9.3
-2.4
8.0
0.0
III 1979
to
III 1980
IV 1979
to
IV 1980
1 1980
to
I 1981
II 1980
to
II 1981
III 1980
to
III 1981
0.0
8.7
10.3
-2.3
10.3
7.4
9.4
0.0
10.3
-2.0
10.3
9.3
10.0
0.8
10.6
-0.6
9.7
10.8
10.1
21
101
0.3
7.8
11.5
90
15
101
0.6
85
106
91
-6.8
6.2
-1.5
14.0
-1.6
10.0
0.2
10.1
-2.5
9.9
9.1
9.6
0.2
10.1
-2.2
9.9
10.8
10.2
1.2
10.5
-0.7
9.2
12.2
101
23
10.0
0.3
7.6
11.8
89
102
06
92
10.9
97
92
02
10 1
88
( 1)
( ')
1.9
10.4
-1.9
10.5
8.4
16.8
0.3
9.6
31
10.8
-0.5
9.5
7.4
15.4
11.8
97
38
10.1
0.3
7.4
61
nu
23.3
86
98
09
84
77
104
197
( 1)
( 1)
( 1)
(')
1.3
10.3
-2.2
11.0
8.9
16.8
-8.6
9.1
( 1)
( 1)
-11.0
7.4
-0.4
20.7
-1.2
11.8
-1.0
13.2
1.1
12.3
-0.2
11.0
21
12.5
1.1
10.2
45
11.4
1.5
6.6
48
105
0.2
5.5
98
02
10.5
0.0
(')
(')
(’ )
( 1)
(’ )
IV 1980
to
IV 1981
93
02
92
80
1Not available.
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101
LABOR-MANAGEMENT DATA
M
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 re n t W age D e velo p m en 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.
a jo r
c o l l e c t iv e
b a r g a in in g
d a t a
the agreement. Changes over the life of the agreement refer to total
agreed-upon settlements (exclusive of potential cost-of-living escalator
adjustments) expressed at an average annual rate. Wage-rate changes
are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earnings, while wage
and benefit changes are expressed as a percent of total compensation.
Effective wage-rate adjustments in major bargaining units measure
actual changes during the reference period, whether the result of a
newly negotiated increase, a deferred increase negotiated in an earlier
year, or a cost-of-living 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
1,000 workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data cover
all workers idle one shift or more in establishments directly involved
in a stoppage. They do not measure the indirect or secondary effect
on other establishments whose employees are idle owing to material
or service shortages.
Data on wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry agree
ments covering 1,000 workers or more. Data on wage and benefit
changes c o m b in e d apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage settlements refer to pay changes go
ing into effect within the first 12 months after the effective date of
32. Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1977 to date
[In percent]
Quarterly average
Annual average
Measures and industry
1979
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1980
1981
IV
1
II
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
Wage and benefit settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ..................................
Annual rate over Me of contract....................
9.6
6.2
8.3
6.3
9.0
6.6
10.4
7.1
10.2
8.3
8.5
6.0
8.8
6.7
10.2
7.4
11.4
7.2
8.5
6.1
7.7
7.2
11.6
10.8
10.5
8.1
11.0
5.8
Wage rate settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ..................................
Annual rate over life of contract....................
7.8
5.8
7.6
6.4
7.4
6.0
9.5
7.1
9.8
7.9
6.3
5.3
8,2
6.5
9.1
7.3
10.5
7.4
8.3
6.5
7.1
6.2
11.8
9.7
10.8
8.7
9.0
5.7
Manufacturing:
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............
8.4
5.5
8.3
6.6
6.9
5.4
7.4
5.4
7.2
6.1
5.6
4.2
7.2
5.7
6.7
5.1
8.4
5.6
7.8
5.8
6.4
5.5
8.2
6.7
9.0
7.5
6.6
5.4
Nonmanufacturing (excluding construction):
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............
8.0
5.9
8.0
6.5
7.6
6.2
9.5
6.6
9.8
7.3
7.8
7.4
9.4
7.6
10.3
8.5
9.5
5.9
8.2
6.8
8.0
7.3
11.8
9.1
8.6
7.2
9.6
5.6
Construction:
First-year settlements..............................
Annual rate over life of contract ..............
6.3
6.3
6.5
6.2
8.8
8.3
13.6
11.5
13.5
11.3
7.5
7.6
10.8
9.1
12.2
10.4
15.4
13.0
14.3
12.0
11.4
10.3
12.9
11.1
16.4
12.4
11.4
11.7
33.
Effective wage adjustments in major collective bargaining units, 1977 to date
[In percent]
Average annual changes
Average quarterly changes
Measures and Industry
1979
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1980
1981
IV
I
II
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
Total effective wage rate adjustment, all industries ..............
Change resulting from —
Current settlement................................................
Prior settlement....................................................
Cost-of-living adjustment clause............................
8.0
8.2
9.1
9.9
9.5
1.6
1.6
3.3
3.5
1.3
1.7
3.2
3.3
1.5
3.0
3.2
1.7
2.0
3.7
2.4
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.6
3.5
2.8
2.5
3.8
3.2
.5
.4
.7
.4
.5
.7
1.0
1.4
.8
1.7
1.2
.7
.5
.3
.6
.4
.5
.7
1.1
1.4
.7
.5
1.5
1.2
.4
.4
.6
Manufacturing ............................................................
Nonmanufacturing ......................................................
8.4
7.6
8.6
7.9
9.6
8.8
10.2
9.7
9.4
9.5
2.4
1.0
2.0
1.3
3.4
3.2
2.9
4.0
1.7
1.1
2.3
1.2
2.4
3.8
3.1
3.4
1.9
1.1
N ote :
Because of rounding and compounding, the sums of individual items may not equal totals.
Digitized for102
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34.
Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more, 1947 to date
Number of stoppages
Workers involved
In effect
during month
or year
Month and year
Beginning in
month or year
(thousands)
In effect during
month or year
(thousands)
Days idle
Number
(thousands)
Percent of
estimated
working time
1947
1948
1949
1950
270
245
262
424
1,629
1,435
2,537
1,698
25,720
26,127
43,420
30,390
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
415
470
437
265
363
1,462
2,746
1,623
1,075
2,055
15,070
48,820
18,130
16,630
21,180
.38
.14
.13
.16
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
287
279
332
245
222
1,370
887
1,587
1,381
896
26,840
10,340
17,900
60,850
13,260
.07
.13
.43
.09
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
195
211
181
246
268
1,031
793
512
1,183
999
10.140
11,760
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
321
381
392
412
381
1,300
2,192
1,855
1,576
2,468
16,000
31,320
35,567
29,397
52,761
.10
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
298
250
317
424
235
2,516
975
1,400
1,796
965
35,538
16,764
16,260
31,809
17,563
.19
.09
.08
.16
.09
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
231
298
219
235
187
1,519
1,212
1,006
1,021
795
23,962
21,258
23,774
20,409
20,844
.12
.10
.11
.09
.09
1981
145
10,020
16,220
15.140
729
.22
.38
:26
.12
.20
.07
.08
.07
.11
.10
.18
.20
.16
.29
16,908
.07
March .
6
7
16
12
10
20
12.0
10.7
201.6
29.6
20.9
207.8
257.9
118.5
861.8
.01
.01
.04
1982 p: January
February
March .
2
2
2
4
6
7
6.1
2.5
7.1
11.4
13.9
20.1
199.9
236.9
330.6
.01
1981:
January
February
N o te :
.01
.02
This table now includes only work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more.
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