Full text of Monthly Labor Review : October 1984, Volume 107, Number 10

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

BU R EAU O F LABO R S TA TISTIC S
Janet L. N orw ood, C om m issioner
T h e M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w is p u b lis h e d b y th e
B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s o f th e U .S . D e p a rtm e n t
o f L a b o r. C o m m u n ic a tio n s on e d ito ria l m a tte rs
s h o u ld be a d d re s s e d to th e E d ito r-in -C h ie f,
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s ,
W a s h in g to n . D .C . 2 0 2 1 2 .
P h o n e : (2 0 2 ) 5 2 3 - 1 3 2 7 .
S u b s c rip tio n p ric e p e r y e a r — $ 2 4 d o m e s tic ; $ 3 0 fo re ig n .
S in g le c o p y $ 4 , d o m e s tic ; $5 fo re ig n .
S u b s c rip tio n p ric e s a n d d is trib u tio n p o lic ie s fo r th e
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w (IS S N 0 0 9 8 -1 8 1 8 ) a n d o th e r G o v e rn m e n t
p u b lic a tio n s a re s e t b y th e G o v e rn m e n t P rin tin g O ffic e ,
an a g e n c y o f th e U .S . C o n g re s s . S e n d c o rre s p o n d e n c e
o n c irc u la tio n a n d s u b s c rip tio n m a tte rs (in c lu d in g
a d d re s s c h a n g e s ) to:
S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts ,
G o v e rn m e n t P rin tin g O ffic e ,
W a s h in g to n , D .C . 2 0 4 0 2
M a k e c h e c k s p a y a b le to S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts .
T h e S e c re ta ry o f L a b o r h a s d e te rm in e d th a t the
p u b lic a tio n o f th is p e rio d ic a l is n e c e s s a ry in th e
tra n s a c tio n o f th e p u b lic b u s in e s s re q u ire d by
la w o f th is D e p a rtm e n t. U s e o f fu n d s fo r p rin tin g
th is p e rio d ic a l h a s b e e n a p p ro v e d b y th e D ire c to r
o f th e O ffic e o f M a n a g e m e n t a n d B u d g e t
th ro u g h A p ril 3 0 . 198 7 . S e c o n d -c la s s
p o s ta g e p a id a t W a s h in g to n , D .C . a n d at
a d d itio n a l m a ilin g a d d re s s e s .

Regional C om m issioners
for Bureau of Labor S tatistics
R e g io n I— B o s to n : A n th o n y J. F e rra ra
1 603 J o h n F. K e n n e d y F e d e ra l B u ild in g , G o v e rn m e n t C e n te r
B o s to n , M a ss . 0 2 2 0 3
P h o n e : (6 1 7 ) 2 2 3 - 6 7 6 1
C o n n e c tic u t
M a in e
M a s s a c h u s e tts
N e w H a m p s h ire
R h o d e Isla n d
V e rm o n t
R e g io n II— N e w Y o rk : S a m u e l M . E h re n h a lt
1 5 1 5 B ro a d w a y . S u ite 3 4 0 0 . N e w Y o rk . N .Y . 1 0 0 3 6
P h o n e : (2 1 2 ) 9 4 4 - 3 1 2 1
N e w J e rs e y
N e w Y o rk
P u e rto R ico
V irg in Is la n d s
R e g io n III— P h ila d e lp h ia : A lv in I. M a rg u lis
3 5 3 5 M a rk e t S tre e t
P .O . B o x 1 3 3 0 9 , P h ila d e lp h ia , P a. 19101
P h o n e : (2 1 5 ) 5 9 6 - 1 1 5 4
D e la w a re
D is tric t o f C o lu m b ia
M a ry la n d
P e n n s y lv a n ia
V irg in ia
W e s t V irg in ia
R e g io n IV — A tla n ta : D o n a ld M . C ru s e
1371 P e a c h tre e S tre e t, N .E ., A tla n ta , G a . 3 0 3 6 7
P h o n e : (4 0 4 ) 8 8 1 - 4 4 1 8
A la b a m a
F lo rid a
G e o rg ia
K e n tu c k y
M is s is s ip p i
N o rth C a ro lin a
S o u th C a ro lin a
Tennessee
R e g io n V — C h ic a g o : W illia m E. R ic e
9 th F lo o r. F e d e ra l O ffic e B u ild in g , 2 3 0 S. D e a rb o rn S tre e t.
C h ic a g o , III. 6 0 6 0 4
P h o n e : (3 1 2 ) 3 5 3 - 1 8 8 0
Illin o is
In d ia n a
M ic h ig a n
M in n e s o ta
O h io
W is c o n s in
R e g io n V I— D a lla s : B ry a n R ic h e y
S e c o n d F lo o r, 5 5 5 G riffin S q u a re B u ild in g , D a lla s , T e x . 7 5 2 0 2
A rk a n s a s
L o u is ia n a
N e w M e x ic o
O k la h o m a
Texas
R e g io n s V II a n d V III— K a n s a s C ity : E llio tt A. B ro w a r
911 W a ln u t S tre e t, K a n s a s C ity , M o. 6 4 1 0 6
P h o n e : (8 1 6 ) 3 7 4 - 2 4 8 1
VII
Io w a
Kansas
M is s o u ri
N e b ra s k a
V III
C o lo ra d o
M o n ta n a
N o rth D a k o ta
S o u th D a k o ta
U tah
W y o m in g

O c to b e r cover:

Detail from “ People in the Sun,"
an oil painting by Edward Hopper,
photograph courtesy National Museum of
American Art, Washington, D.C.
Cover design by Melvin B. Moxley.


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R e g io n s IX a n d X — S a n F ra n c is c o : S a m M . H ira b a y a s h l
4 5 0 G o ld e n G a te A v e n u e . B o x 3 6 0 1 7 ,
S a n F ra n c is c o . C a lif. 9 4 1 0 2
P h o n e : (4 1 5 ) 5 5 6 - 4 6 7 8
IX
A m e ric a n S a m o a
A riz o n a
C a lifo rn ia
G uam
H a w a ii
N evada
T ru s t T e rrito ry o f th e P a c ific Is la n d s
X
A la s k a
Id a h o
O re g o n
W a s h in g to n

M O N TH LY LABO R REVIEW
O C TO B ER 1984
VO LUM E 107, NUM BER 10
Henry Low enstern, Editor-in-C hief
R obert W. Fisher, Executive Editor

M ark Johnson, Patricia Szarek


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3

First-half im port and export prices reflect strong dollar, recovery
Sm all p rice rises fo r im ports co n tin u e d to help curb d o m e stic inflation, but exporters
enco u nte re d som e d iffic u ltie s as the p o w erful d o lla r d rove up p rice s fo r th e ir goods

Ellen Sehgal

18

O ccupational m obility and job tenure in 1983
In 1983, m ore than 1 w orker in 3 a ged 35 to 44 had been with the sam e em ployer
10 years or longer; alm ost the sam e ratio 45 and o lder had 20 years' tenure or more

Robert Evans, Jr.

24

Pay differentials: the case of Japan
In Japan, as in the United States, em ployees' investm ent in hum an capital
cannot fully explain the te n d e n cy of larger co m p a n ie s to pay hig h e r w ages

Allan Borow ski

30

A com parison of youth unem p loym ent in A ustralia and the U.S.
O nce rem arkably low, youth joblessness has risen steadily with recession and the end
of postw ar labor scarcity; recent jobless rates rival the high rates of U.S, youth

Brian Friedm an

37

Apparel stores display above-average productivity
Between 1967 and 1983, the retail apparel store industry registered
an annual increase of 2.9 percent in the o utput per hour of all persons

REPO RTS
Carl Prieser

43

O ccupational salary levels of w h ite-collar w orkers, 1984
D E PAR TM EN TS

2
43
46
47
50
53

Labor m onth in review
Research sum m aries
M ajor agreem ents expiring next m onth
D evelopm ents in industrial relations
Book reviews
Current labor statistics

Labor M onth
In Review

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. What
effect does changing technology have on
employment? At an August 21 seminar
in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico, Associate
Commissioner Jerome A. Mark of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics offered some
observations on this and related ques­
tions , based on BLS research. Excerpts:
Pace quickens. The pace of introduction
of new technology appears to be increas­
ing as U.S. industries modernize to
reduce costs to compete more effectively
in domestic and overseas markets. Ad­
vanced electronic computers, robots,
flexible m anufacturing systems,
computer-aided design and computerassisted manufacturing ( c a d / c a m ) , and
technologies to increase productivity in
office tasks are being introduced exten­
sively in such industries as steel, print­
ing, motor vehicle manufacturing,
metalworking, and banking.
However, the pace of change varies by
industry and by firm within an in­
dustry—not all of which have the funds
nor the volume of business that support
adoption of the latest, advanced
technologies. Although robots, com­
puters, and other technologies receive
the most media coverage, conventional
changes such as materials handling
mechanization, larger capacity equip­
ment, and machines with faster speeds
often are major developments with im­
plications for productivity, employ­
ment, and job skills.
Displacement. Following technological
changes, dislocation takes place more
frequently than displacement. The in­
troduction of new technology can be
consistent with higher levels of employ­
ment and minimal displacement when
the economy is strong. In addition, in­
vestment in new technology generally
takes place during periods of economic
expansion, when there is also growth in
employment. To minimize adverse ef­
fects on workers, firms report using ad­

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vance notice, retraining, and reassigning
displaced employees to other jobs.
Productivity increases. Industries that
lead in the adoption of new technology
generally have above-average rates of
productivity growth. Although the
specific contribution of an innovation to
productivity growth cannot be isolated
from other factors and measured
precisely, technology is widely regarded
as a major source of productivity gains,
with a reduction in unit labor re­
quirements frequently associated with
the introduction of robots, c a d / c a m ,
and other technological advances.
Occupations affected. The structure of
occupations is undergoing change and
the technologies being introduced in
plants and offices are major factors in
these shifts. Professional and technical
workers, computer systems analysts, and
programmers are examples of occupa­
tional groups growing in importance. In
contrast, the growth rate in the number
of operatives and laborers is slowing, as
advanced machine tools, robots, com­
puter process control, and advanced
materials handling systems increase out­
put per employee in key tasks. In of­
fices, new and improved technologies to
process and transmit data also are slow­
ing the growth rate in the number of
clerical workers—a group comprising
about 19 million workers.
Moreover, the content of jobs is being
modified by technological change.
Although job titles frequently remain
the same as innovation occurs, there is a
general trend towards less demand for
manual dexterity, physical strength for
materials handling, and traditional
craftsmanship. In the printing industry,
for example, electronic composition
methods have replaced longstanding
craft skills, and the employment of com­
positors and typesetters has declined
sharply.
On the factory floor, manual tasks are

being eliminated by computer process
control, advanced materials handling
equipment, and other innovations, with
workers increasingly becoming monitors
of highly mechanized production lines.
The reduction in menial, repetitive tasks
is welcomed, but the isolation and con­
stant monitoring associated with ad­
vanced technology in some instances can
create new stresses.
Easing transition. Measures can be
undertaken to facilitate the orderly in­
troduction of new technology. Advance
notice to affected employees and train­
ing programs to provide employees with
the skills required for new and modified
jobs have cushioned the impact of
change. The extent to which these
measures are successful varies, of
course, and depends upon the nature
and extent of change, the industry in­
volved, and the climate of labormanagement relations.
Three measures emerge as important:
• Provide advance notice to workers
affected by new technology. Advance
notice is essential to assist orderly
changeover to new methods. It provides
time for individuals and unions, if the
facility is organized, to formulate plans
and to weigh carefully alternative jobs or
layoff arrangements.
• Coordinate labor adjustment with
technical planning. This technique in­
creases the likelihood that attrition can
be used to reduce the labor force,
thereby avoiding the hardship of sudden
layoffs and the loss of skilled and pro­
ductive employees.
• Undertake training to provide
employees with new skills associated
with modern technology and retrain
those displaced for other work. With the
computer and similar complex equip­
ment, training is becoming more formal,
continuous, and costly but is essential to
keep the work force up-to-date and flex­
ible.
□

Effects of strong dollar, economic recovery
apparent in first-half import and export prices
Small price rises fo r imports continued to help
dampen domestic inflation during the first half
but exporters encountered some difficulties
as the powerful dollar drove up the prices of
their goods in world markets and other nations
failed to keep pace with the U.S. recovery
Mark Johnson and Patricia Szarek

U.S. import prices rose 1.0 percent in the first half of 1984,
after falling 2.5 percent during all of 1983. (See table 1.)
The increase in import prices was led by prices for food
and miscellaneous manufactures, which were partially offset
by stable crude oil prices. The vigorous U.S. economic
recovery boosted demand for imported products— the Na­
tion imported a record $160.2 billion of merchandise during
the first half1— while the strong dollar served to moderate
price increases. The small rise in import prices was an
important factor in the continued slowdown of domestic
inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the
Producer Price Index.
U.S. export prices rose 2.0 percent in the firs-t half. (See
table 2.) This price index was published for the first time
with the release of fourth-quarter 1983 data, and has risen
1.5 percent since that period. Higher prices for crude ma­
terials and fats and oils led the first-half increase in export
prices. For raw materials, price increases were generally
larger in the second quarter than in the first, reflecting rising
prices for soybeans and fats and oils. Price increases for
manufactured articles were smaller in the second quarter
than in the first and rose only slightly during the entire first
Mark Johnson is an economist formerly with the Division of International
Prices, Bureau o f Labor Statistics. Patricia Szarek is an economist in the
same division.


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half, a development that dampened the upward movement
in U.S. export prices. The strong dollar and reduced demand
for U.S. products by developing nations with heavy inter­
national debt loads placed downward pressure on export
prices for these articles, which include machinery and trans­
port equipment, chemicals, intermediate manufactures, and
miscellaneous manufactures.
The price indexes discussed in this article are not sea­
sonally adjusted and are based on transaction price infor­
mation provided by a sample of U.S. importers and exporters.
They represent 100 percent of the value of all imported and
exported products. Indexes are published for detailed and
aggregate categories of imports and exports.2

General trends in trade
Because energy prices account for approximately onethird of the weight of the all-import price index, their 0.5percent rise during the first half was a major factor mod­
erating increases in import prices. When energy products
are excluded, U.S. import prices rose 1.3 percent in the
first half. (See table 1.) In all of 1983, U.S. import prices
excluding energy rose 2.1 percent.
The dollar’s appreciation against the currencies of our
major trading partners in recent years has had a major impact
on U.S. export and import prices. From its low in July 1980
3

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
to June 1984, the dollar’s trade-weighted exchange rate rose
36.0 percent.3 (See chart 1.) Over the same 4-year period
the dollar rose 748.3 percent against the Mexican peso,
107.5 percent against the French franc, 56.8 percent against
the Deutschemark, and 13.1 percent against the Canadian
dollar.4 Also by mid-1984, the dollar stood at record highs
against the British pound. This appreciation made imports
less expensive while driving up the price of U.S. exports
in foreign markets.
Furthermore, the strong U.S. economic expansion of 1983
broadened and continued in 1984, boosting demand for im­
ports. The recovery, fueled in 1983 by consumer spending,
spread to the capital goods markets in 1984, while consumer
spending continued to grow. Concurrently, capacity utili­
zation in the Nation’s mines, factories, and utilities rose to
82.0 percent in June from 74.9 percent a year earlier.5 U.S.
auto production also continued to recover from depressed
1982 levels; during the first half of 1984, domestic manu­
facturers produced 29 percent more autos than in the first
half of 1983, and 60 percent more than in the first half of
1982. Moreover, first-half housing starts were up 14 percent
from the same period in 1983 and 102 percent from the first
half of 1982.6
This increased economic activity sharply stimulated de­
mand for a host of related consumer and capital goods, many
of them imports. (See chart 2.) For example, expanding
auto production spurred demand for such imported items as
steel, aluminum, rubber, and engines, while the increase in
business investment boosted sales for foreign suppliers of
machine tools, building materials, and electrical equipment.
In contrast, activity in many major U.S. export markets
Tab le 1.

remained at reduced levels in the first half, and merchandise
exports totaled only $108.3 billion.7 (Although this repre­
sents a 10.5-percent increase over the first half of 1983, it
was less than the $112 billion exported in first-half 1982
and was substantially below the $122 billion exported in
first-half 1981.) Economic growth in Western Europe was
much slower than in the United States: Industrial production
growth for o e c d Europe was less than 4 percent between
first-quarter 1983 and first-quarter 1984, compared with in­
creases for North America (Canada and the United States)
and Japan of 15 and 11 percent, respectively. (See table 3.)
Many developing nations, including several in Latin
America, experienced debt problems that forced them to cut
back on imports. (See chart 3.) For example, Mexico, our
third largest trading partner, purchased only $5.7 billion of
U.S. goods in the first half. Although this was up from the
$4.4 billion exported in the first half of 1983, it was still
well below the $7.2 billion recorded for the same period in
1982.8 Other important U.S. trading partners with debt prob­
lems are Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Several o p e c nations,
in particular Nigeria, also curbed imports, as oil revenues
fell. The low level of U.S. merchandise exports was a key
factor in the record $51.9 billion merchandise trade deficit
for the first half of this year.9
Along with the strong dollar, the growth in U.S. demand
for imports widened the merchandise trade gap as the Nation
led the recovery from the worldwide economic slump of
1980-83. First-half merchandise imports were $160.2 bil­
lion, 31 percent more than in the first 6 months of 1983.
Petroleum imports rose to $28.7 billion from $23.6 billion
in first-half 1983, and nonoil imports rose sharply, by 33.4

C hange in selected im port price indexes in the first half o f 1984, and share o f total 1980 trad e value
Commodity

All commodities1

Share
of total
1980
trade
value

Percent change in—
First
half

First Second
quarter quarter

100.000

1.0

0.7

0.3

67.223

1.3

0.8

0.5

32.776
25.799

0.5
0.0

0.8
-0 .4

-0 .3
0.4

Food........................................................
Fruits and vegetables.........................
Vegetables, fresh chilled or frozen.
Fruits and nuts, fresh or dried . . .
Coffee, tea, and cocoa.......................
Coffee..............................................
Tea...................................................
Fish.....................................................
Fresh fish.........................................
S hellfish.................................

6.554
0.838
0.183
0.347
2.241
1.644
0.054
1.088
0.477
0.459

3.1
8.6
18.4
-0 .8
4.7
3.9
9.2
-1 .3
-0 .9
-2 .1

2.1
8.9
20.0
2.2
3.0
2.9
9.1
-2 .4
0.0
-4 .8

1.0
-0 .2
-1 .3
-2 .9
1.6
1.0
0.1
1.1
-0 .9
2.8

Crude materials.............
Pulp and waste paper
Sulphate wood pulp
Crude natural rubber .
W ood.........................
Crude minerals..........

4.275
4.1
0.708 18.8
0.563 19.9
0.344 -5 .0
0.865 -3 .7
0.303 -3 .8

4.7
8.3
9.0
3.1
7.1

-0 .6
9.7
10.0
-7 .9
-10.1
-3 .8

All commodities, except fuels and related
products1 ..............................................
Fuels and related products,
Crude petroleum.............

0.0

—wucyuiy muuues inucABb in duuiuun to inose snown nere. t-or an ot the indexes
available in each category, see U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, usdl- 84-336 (Bureau

4

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Commodity

Share
of total
1980
trade
value

Percent change in—
First
half

Intermediate manufactured products.....................
Iron and steel......................................................
Nonferrous metals..............................................
Silver and metals of the platinum group . . .
Copper ...........................................................
Z in c ................................................................
Cork and wood manufactures..........................
Plywood and veneers....................................
Wood manufactures, not elsewhere specified
Paper and paper products.................................

13.520
3.127
3.123
1.037
0.581
0.135
0.486
0.267
0.207
1.475

1.7
3.6
1.6
-1 .2
-0 .1
14.6
-2 .7
-1 .9
-3 .7
2.3

Machinery and transport equipment.....................
Road vehicles and parts....................................
Passenger automobiles.................................
Metalworking machinery....................................
Machine tools.................................................
Electric machinery and equipm ent..................

25.442
10.887
7.201
0.755
0.540
3.396

Miscellaneous manufactured g o o ds.....................
Clothing ..............................................................
Footwear..............................................................
Photographic apparatus and supplies, optical
goods, watches, and clocks.....................
Photographic apparatus and equipment . . .
Optical elements, lenses, prisms..................
Watches, watch movements, and cases. . .
of Labor Statistics), Aug. 2, 1984.

First Second
quarter quarter

0.2
-0 .8
0.2
1.4
-3 .1
6.5
-3 .4
-1 .1
-6 .0
0.7

1.5
4.4
1.4
-2 .6
3.1
7.6
0.7
-0 .8
2.4
1.6

0.0

0.0

0.8
1.1
-1 .9
-1 .8
-4 .9

-0 .5
-0 .9
-1 .5
-1 .1
-1 .8

0.1
1.3
2.0
-0 .4
-0 .7
-3 .2

9.794
2.660
1.232

1.5
3.1
3.5

0.6
1.3
0.6

0.9
1.8
2.9

1.162
0.258
0.125
0.310

2.4
3.4
6.4
10.3

-1 .1
0.3
-1 .5
0.8

3.6
3.1
8.1
9.4

T ab le 2.

C hange in selected export price indexes in the first half of 1984, and share of total 1980 trad e valu e

Commodity

Share
of total
1980
trade
value

Percent change in—
First
half

First Second
quarter quarter

All commodities1 .............................................. 100.000

2.0

0.6

1.4

8.341
2.943
3.956
0.094
0.522
0.498

1.7
2.6
1.9
2.8
(2)
1.0

-2 .7
-2 .1
-3 .3
-5 .9
(2)
-4 .8

4.6
4.8
5.4
9.2
(2)
6.0

Grain and grain preparations.........................................
Wheat...........................................................................
Yellow c o rn ................................................................
Barley...........................................................................
Grain, other................................................................
Yellow so rg h u m ...................................................

1.332 -1 5 .8

-8 .9

-7 .6

Crude materials..............................................................
Raw hides and sk in s.................................................
Hides .....................................................................
Furskins...................................................................
Oilseeds......................................................................
Soybeans................................................................
Pulp and waste p a p e r..............................................
Sulphate wood p u lp ..............................................
Textile fib e rs ..............................................................
Cotton.....................................................................

10.948
0.482
0.320
0.162
3.024
2.716
0.954
0.497
1.813
1.341

5.4
14.4
15.0
11.7
7.7
5.6
15.2
25.1
2.0
4.9

0.3
7.7
7.8
7.3
-3 .0
-3 .8
6.1
7.9
-2 .1
-0 .3

5.2
6.3
6.7
4.1
11.1
9.8
8.5
15.9
4.2
5.2

Fats and o ils ...................................................................
Animal fats and oils...................................................
Vegetable oils..............................................................
Soybean o i l ...........................................................

0.911
0.356
0.506
0.307

34.8
35.0
36.4
32.3

6.4
12.3
3.0
4.4

26.7
20.2
32.4
26.7

Chemicals........................................................................

9.578

1.1

2.8

-1 .7

Intermediate manufactured products............................
Paper and paperboard products...............................
Printing and writing paper....................................
Kraft paper and paperboard.................................

10.544
1.300
0.122
0.442

1.3
6.3
5.6
15.6

1.0
3.2
1.9
7.6

0.3
3.0
3.6
7.4

Animal feeds, excluding unmilled cereals....................

1This category includes indexes in addition to those shown here. For all of the indexes
available in each category, seeU.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, usdl-84-336 (Bureau
of Labor Statistics), Aug. 2, 1984.

percent, to $131.5 billion.10 Moreover, the U.S. current
account, which incorporates the balances on both merchan­
dise trade and services (including payments and receipts of
interest and dividends on international investments) set a
record deficit of $44.1 billion in the first half, compared with
a deficit of $12.5 billion for the same period a year earlier.11
In recent years, the nations of the Far East have carried
on an increasing volume of trade with the United States.
Several of these nations, such as Japan, South Korea, and
Taiwan, have posted high economic growth rates, in part
attributable to the strength of U.S. demand for imports. In
1983, the nations of the Far East enjoyed greater combined
gross trade (merchandise imports and exports in dollars)
with the United States than did those of Western Europe.12
During that year, 28.5 percent of U.S. gross foreign trade
was carried on with the nations of the Far East, compared
with 20.8 percent in 1976.13
Gross trade as a percentage of U.S. final goods production
is a measure of the importance of foreign trade to the goods
sector of the economy.14 Since 1970, this measure has in­
creased substantially from 15.9 percent to 28.1 percent by
1983.15

Import price developments
Fuels and related products. Import prices for fuels and
related products rose 0.5 percent in the first half, after falling
11.8 percent during 1983. The first-half price increase was
the result of rising prices for petroleum products, unchanged

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Commodity

Intermediate manufactured products— Continued:
Nonferrous metals......................................................
Silver and platinum metals....................................
Copper ...................................................................
Alum inum ..............................................................

Share
of total
1980
trade
value

Percent change in—
First
half

First
Second
quarter quarter

2.280
0.772
0.204
0.919

-1 .0
3.7
2.3
-4 .4

0.4
1.6
0.2
0.0

-1 .4
2.1
2.1
-4 .4

Machinery and transport equipment............................ 35.261
Road vehicles and parts............................................ 6.726
Passenger automobiles......................................... 1.861
Parts for motor vehicles....................................... 3.499
Other transport equipment, excluding military
and commercial aircraft.................................... 2.718
General aviation aircraft......................................... 0.479
Parts for aircraft and spacecraft.......................... 1.641

1.8
1.9
-0 .3
2.7

1.1
1.1
0.2
1.6

0.6
0.8
-0 .5
1.2

4.7
4.1
5.9

2.1
3.8
2.0

2.5
0.3
3.8

4.939
1.087
0.685
0.281
0.478

2.1
0.1
-0 .7
3.1
0.8

1.9
0.7
0.1
3.0
0.3

0.3
-0 .6
-0 .7
0.1
0.5

0.783
0.382
0.170
0.414

9.2
2.5
-0 .4
2.4

8.6
1.8
-0 .6
1.8

0.6
0.7
0.2
0.6

3.943
5.784
4.738

1.6
1.1
2.6

2.6
0.8
0.4

-0 .9
0.3
2.2

3.990

-1 .0

-1 .1

0.1

General industrial machinery, parts not elsewhere
specified..............................................................
Heating and cooling equipment............................
Cooling equipment............................................
Heating equipment............................................
Pumps for liquids and parts.................................
Pumps, compressors, blowers, centrifuges,
filtering apparatus and parts............................
Taps, cocks, and valves.......................................
Ball, roller, and needle roller bearings...............
Packaging and weighing machinery and parts . .
Power generating machinery and equipment..........
Machinery specialized for particular industries. . . .
Electrical machinery and equipm ent.......................
Office machines and automatic data processing
equipment...........................................................
2Data are not available,

crude oil prices, and a 2.0-percent decline in natural gas
prices. The drop in petroleum prices in recent years reflects
sluggish world economic growth, increased substitution of
other forms of energy for crude oil, and stepped-up con­
servation in the major industrialized nations. During the first
half, spot prices for many crudes were below the official
o p e c prices, as several o p e c members attempted to maintain
revenues by discounting prices and making sales in excess
of their quotas.
Contrary to expectations, the Iran-Iraq conflict seems to
have helped depress world oil prices. It appears that attacks
by those two nations on oil-bearing traffic in the Persian
Gulf induced other o p e c members to boost their output,
which more than compensated for the curtailments in ship­
ments resulting from the attacks.16 In addition, plentiful oil
stockpiles in the United States, Japan, and Western Europe
acted as insurance against disruption of supplies and helped
to ease speculation.
Even so, the U.S. economic recovery stimulated demand
for petroleum products, reversing a 5-year decline. The
Nation’s consumption of oil products was up about 7 percent
from the first half of 1983, while domestic production, spurred
by decontrol, had risen 0.4 percent. The resulting shortfall
in oil supplies was met by imports, which were up 21 percent
over first-half 1983 levels.17
Early in 1984, heating oil demand and prices rose sharply
as a result of the unusually cold weather in the northeastern
United States. By June 1984, the U.S. average price for
5

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
heating oil was $1.13 per gallon, compared with $1.06 in
June 1983.18 Imports of heating oil surged to meet the in­
creased demand, and domestic refiners increased production
of distillate fuel. As a result of the latter development,
gasoline supplies expanded sharply, because refineries pro­
duce gasoline and heating oil simultaneously, regardless of
the season. U.S. consumers reaped a windfall from the
unexpected increase in gasoline supplies; in June 1984, the
average U.S. gasoline price (all types) was $1.21 per gallon,
down slightly from $1.26 per gallon in June 1983.19 When
the improved fuel efficiency of the Nation’s auto fleet is
taken into account, gasoline costs per mile driven for U.S.
consumers have declined substantially since 1980.
The strong dollar also had a major effect on world crude
oil prices in the first half. Specifically, the dollar’s appre­
ciation against the currencies of our major trading partners
meant that those nations did not reap the full benefit of the
cuts in posted dollar prices for oil. In fact, buyers in several
nations found that oil prices in their own currencies actually
rose in the first half, because of the depreciation of those
currencies against the dollar. This phenomenon further de­
pressed world oil demand.
U.S. oil imports continued to be predominately from nono p e c sources, as more oil was imported from sources in the

6


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Americas, such as Mexico and Canada, and from other nonsuppliers— primarily the United Kingdom, Norway,
and Egypt— which have brought increasingly large amounts
of crude to world markets in recent years. During the first
half, the United States purchased 38 percent of its imported
crude oil and petroleum products from o p e c sources, com­
pared with 37 percent in 1983, 42 percent in 1982, and 70
percent in 1977— the year of the greatest volume of oil
imports.20 Leading suppliers in first-half 1984 were Mexico,
at 730 thousand barrels per day (bpd), Canada (647 thousand
bpd), Venezuela (526 thousand bpd), Saudi Arabia (359
thousand bpd), and the United Kingdom (357 thousand bpd).21
The decrease in natural gas prices reflects lower prices
for imports from Canada, which supplies approximately 90
percent of total U.S. imports of natural gas. Prices for Mex­
ican pipeline gas and liquified natural gas shipments from
Algeria were unchanged during the first half.
opec

Food. The food index represents 6.6 percent of the all­
import price index. Imported food prices increased 3.1 per­
cent in the first half, with almost 70 percent of the gain
occurring in the first quarter. The food index is one of the
most volatile components of the all-import price index be­
cause of uncertainties in production and climatic conditions,

and difficulties involved in shipping perishable products.
However, the first half of 1984 saw a continuation of an
upward trend which began in mid-1982; the food index
climbed 13.1 percent from June 1982 through June 1984,
with a rise of 1.24 percent during the first 6 months of 1983.
An important factor in the strong gain in first-half 1984 was
the harshness of the past winter, which reduced domestic
supplies and greatly stimulated import demand. Import prices
for the fruits and vegetables food group jumped 8.6 percent
during the first 6 months of 1984. Rises in import prices
for coffee, tea, and cocoa also contributed to the upward
movement in the food index, which was only partially damp­
ened by lower prices for fish.
The 8.6-percent increase in prices of fruits and vegetables
contributed significantly to the food index’s upward move­
ment in the first 6 months of 1984. This jump resulted from
a 20-percent rise in fresh vegetable prices in the first quarter,
partially attributable to low U.S. supplies during the winter
months. Moreover, killing frosts in Florida and Texas in
December 1983 and continued cold weather in early 1984
damaged U.S. crops, especially citrus fruits, and resulted
in extremely strong import demand. Tight supplies and
growing world demand for citrus fruits and juices continued
throughout the first half of 1984, while U.S. supplies of
tomatoes and green vegetables made a relatively quick come­
back from winter damage. Although the vegetable group’s
price index increased 20 percent in the first quarter, it showed
a 1.3-percent decrease in the second quarter. Price declines
are typical during the spring months, during which domestic
supplies are abundant. World vegetable production was also
up in the second quarter. Lime prices fell this spring as
normal Mexican export flow resumed, following the lifting
of a February 1984 temporary ban by the United States on
imports of Veracrus citrus because of citrus canker.22
Prices for coffee, tea, and cocoa rose 4.7 percent during
the first half. Imported coffee prices increased 3.9 percent
in the first 6 months of 1984, following a 7.9-percent gain
in all of 1983. World coffee prices in the first half of 1984
moved above the established range preferred by members
of the International Coffee Organization (ico). (The ico is
an organization of 73 coffee producing and consuming na­
T ab le 3. Q uarterly indexes of industrial production for
selected group s of oecd m em ber nations, 1983 and 1984
Area

Percent
of
1980
total

1984

1983
1

II

III

IV

I

II

Percent
change,
11983
to 1 1984

total . .

100.0

96.3

98.0

100.6

102.7

105.0

(1)

9.0

North
America2 . .
oecd Europe . .
Japan .............

36.0
47.0
15.4

93.9
96.6
101.4

97.8
96.8
102.9

102.7
97.4
106.1

105.3
98.3
109.0

108.0
100.4
112.6

110.1
(1)
(1)

15.0
3.9
11.0

oecd

1Data not available.
2The United States and Canada.
S ource : Main Economic Indicators (Organization for Economic Cooperation and De­
velopment, Department of Economics and Statistics), February, June, and August 1984,
p. 11.


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tions which uses export quotas to stabilize global prices.)
World coffee demand was strong in the first 6 months of
the year, with the result that imports were about 38.4 million
bags for the period from October 1983 through May 1984,
compared with 36.5 million bags for the same period in the
previous year.23 Quota increases by the ico during the first
half failed to dampen the price climb until a price peak was
reached on June 1, 1984. Conditions that spurred prices
despite the larger export quotas included: a fear of frost in
Brazil; a West African crop that was less than anticipated;
reductions in export shipments from Brazil and Columbia
early in the half; and the poor quality of last year’s Brazilian
and West African crops.24 Additionally, a U.S. crackdown
on coffee smugglers which began in 1983 continued into
the new year, further shifting demand to legal sources.25
Reduced production and increased speculation continued
to boost cocoa prices in 1984. Production of cocoa in West
African countries was down substantially during the first
half because of a severe, prolonged drought in the first
quarter. The size of Brazil’s crop was also reduced by dry
weather. A new international cocoa agreement aimed at
stabilizing prices was discussed by the International Cocoa
Council but not concluded during the first half of the year.
The continued upsurge in tea prices was due in large part
to tight supplies of raw teas. Prices of tea imported by the
United States jumped 9.2 percent in the first 6 months of
1984, for a gain since June 1982 of 63 percent. Shortages
of raw tea reflect stagnant production over the last 5 years,
even while tea consumption rose steadily, particularly in
India, the Soviet Union, and West Asia.26 Another supplylimiting factor during the first half of 1984 was the Indian
Government’s December 1983 ban on exports of certain
types of teas to ensure adequate domestic supplies. In Sri
Lanka, favorable weather conditions tempered the effects
of a strike by plantation workers and tea output was not
affected to any substantial degree.27
Fish prices declined by 1.3 percent, moderating the up­
ward movement of the food index during the first half. A
2.4-percent price decrease occurred in the first quarter, al­
though the index subsequently moved up by 1.1 percent in
the second quarter. Abundant supplies of fresh fish resulted
in a 0.9-percent decrease in price for that commodity in the
second quarter. The 4.8-percent first-quarter drop in shell­
fish prices reflected increased shrimp supplies from Equador
and Panama. Rock lobster tails also fell in price early in
1984.
Crude materials. The crude materials index comprises
product groups such as wood, crude rubber, and metal scrap
that are used extensively as raw materials in manufacturing
or construction. The product principally responsible for the
4.1-percent increase in crude materials import prices for the
first half of 1984 was sulphate wood pulp, the most com­
monly used pulp in the world market, for which import
prices rose 20 percent in the first 6 months of the year.
Sulphate wood pulp is primarily used to produce packaging
7

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
materials, which are in great demand as the result of robust
growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Imports were im­
portant in meeting the surging demand for sulphate wood
pulp, as U.S. pulp and paper industries approached full
capacity utilization toward the end of the first half. Some
shortages occurred as sulphate pulp supplies from Canada
were reduced because of labor disputes. Furthermore, U.S.
supplies were disrupted during the first quarter when severe
weather conditions hampered production and transportation.
Declining prices for other product groups, including crude
rubber, wood, and crude minerals, partially offset the price
gain for sulphate wood pulp in the crude materials index.
Intermediate manufactures. Prices for intermediate man­
ufactures rose 1.7 percent in the first half, after rising 3.7
percent during all of 1983. These products include nonferrous metals, wood and cork manufactures, textiles, iron and
steel, glassware, paperboard, and many other basic inputs
to manufacturing processes. The United States imported
$22.3 billion of these products in the first half, up from
$16.2 billion in first-half 1983, as the U.S. economic re­
covery spurred demand.28 Rising prices for iron and steel,
nonferrous metals, and paper and paperboard were major
contributors to the increase in import prices for intermediate
manufactures.
The 3.6-percent hike in imported iron and steel prices led
the rise in the intermediate manufactures index. Although
the major U.S. integrated steel firms began to recover in
the first half from recordbreaking losses during 1982-83,
their gains were slowed by an unprecedented surge of im­
ported steel. U.S. demand for sheet steel was buoyed by
increased sales of autos and appliances, but production of
heavier items such as plate, structural, and bar steels con­
tinued at low levels. Fully integrated U.S. steelmakers, who
generally have higher production costs than foreign pro­
ducers, continued to heavily discount posted prices to gain
orders.29
While domestic production was up 28 percent from the
first half of 1983, import penetration of the U.S. steel market
in first-half 1984 was 25 percent, up from 20 percent in the
year-earlier period. A significant portion of the increase in
steel imports came from Third World nations.30 Many Third
World suppliers can deliver steel at prices well below the
discounted prices offered by U.S. firms. During the first
half, steel supplies from Japan and the European Community
( e c ) continued to be limited by trade agreements negotiated
in 1982.
The debt situation of several nations which are steel pro­
ducers has been a major factor in the increased shipments
of Third World steel in recent years. In particular, Mexico,
Argentina, and Brazil— all major steel suppliers— have ag­
gressively sought U.S. sales to obtain foreign exchange for
servicing their international debts.
To reduce the volume of imports, the U.S. steel industry
petitioned the U.S. International Trade Commission ( i t c )
for relief during the first half of the year. In June, the i t c

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ruled that the domestic industry was being injured by imports
in five product groups accounting for approximately 70 per­
cent of the value of all steel imports.31 The Commission
recommended 5 years of import quotas and additional tariffs
to aid the domestic steel industry, conditional on cost-cutting
and modernization steps by U.S. producers.32 Some foreign
steelmakers stepped up shipments during the first 6 months
of the year in anticipation of quotas or tariffs. Others, fearing
that they would be charged with selling steel below cost,
raised their prices to the United States.
The major U.S. steelmakers are also losing market share
to domestic minimills. Using modern equipment, minimills
convert steel scrap and semifinished slabs into products such
as bars, rods, and light structurais. Their production costs,
including labor and materials, are approximately one-third
less than those of integrated plants. Minimills now supply
about 20 percent of all domestic steel shipments, and their
share is rising. Most minimills are located in Southern or
Border States.33
Other factors have curbed demand for steel in this coun­
try. Significantly higher spending on foreign-made capital

goods continues to erode domestic steel consumption, while
other metals, such as aluminum, have taken over many of
steel’s traditional markets.
To compete more effectively with imports, the major U.S.
steel firms have increasingly sought mergers with domestic
partners. In March, the Justice Department gave approval
to the proposed merger of Republic Steel and ltv Corpo­
ration. The company formed by the merger, ltv Steel Com­
pany, will be the Nation’s second largest steel producer. It
plans to achieve production economies by consolidating the
best parts of the two firms and discarding less-efficient di­
visions. It should be noted, however, that when U.S. Steel
and National Steel announced a planned merger in the first
half, the Justice Department vetoed this action for antitrust
reasons.34
Import prices for nonferrous metals increased 1.6 percent
in the first half of 1984, led by rising prices for zinc and
cobalt. Imports of these metals (in dollar value) were up 16
percent in the first half from the same period in 1983.35
Falling silver and copper prices partially offset these in­

creases. Because nonferrous metals, which also include nickel,
lead, and molybdenum, are used extensively as basic inputs
in many major manufacturing processes, their prices are
heavily affected by the level of general economic activity.
The buoyant U.S. economic recovery also had a positive
effect on prices of those metals, such as zinc, which are
used principally in the production of such consumer products
as housing and autos. However, metals for which demand
is dependent on the level of capital spending (such as copper)
or speculation (silver) did not fare as well. Prices for nonferrous metals also were affected by the strong dollar and
user resistance to higher prices. Dollar-denominated metal
prices have been eroded by the rise of the dollar, while
metal users, instead of passing along higher raw material
costs in the form of higher prices, are increasingly reacting
to price increases by cutting consumption or switching to
substitute materials.
Zinc prices rose 14.6 percent in the first half. In March,
prices on world markets reached near-record levels of more
than 50 cents per pound before declining slightly.36 As in-

C h art 3. A nnual U.S. exports to Latin A m erica, by cou ntry of d e s tin atio n ,
1979-1983
Billions of dollars


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1979
NOTE:

1980

D ata are on a free-alongside-ship

1981
(f a s )

1982

1983

value basis.

SOURCE: H ig h lig h ts o f E x p o rt a n d Im p o rt Trade, FT-990 (Bureau of th e C ensus), ta b le E-3.

9

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
dicated earlier, zinc demand was boosted by increased ac­
tivity in the auto and housing industries. Import prices for
cobalt rose 49 percent in the first half of 1984 due to a new
marketing strategy by which Zaire and Zambia joined to
restrict supplies of cobalt for export. Together, these two
countries supply two-thirds of U.S. cobalt imports. This
action, in combination with growing U.S. demand for co­
balt, caused the run-up in prices.
The domestic copper industry had a particularly difficult
time dealing with a flood of low-cost copper imports from
Chile, Zaire, and Zambia. With this industrial metal in
abundant supply on world markets, prices remained de­
pressed: U.S. producer prices fell to an average of 65 cents
per pound by June, down 15 cents from a year earlier.
Production costs for some U.S. producers ranged between
75 and 85 cents per pound, while production costs in Chile,
the world’s largest copper producer, were around 46 cents
per pound.37 Domestic producers also use a lower grade of
ore than that available in other major producing nations,
yielding one-third or less copper. During the first half, the
i t c ruled favorably on the U.S. copper producers’ petition
for import relief, recommending either the imposition of
quotas or higher tariffs on imported unwrought copper.38
A 2.7-percent decline in import prices for cork and wood
manufactures moderated the increase in prices for the in­
termediate manufactures group. The decrease in cork and
wood manufactures prices resulted from a 3.7-percent drop
in prices for miscellaneous wood manufactures and a 1.9percent decline in prices for plywood and veneers. Products
from Southeast Asia account for most of the weight in the
index for plywood and veneers. Formerly, Indonesia had
been a major supplier of logs to mills in Korea, Taiwan,
and the Phillipines, which in turn exported finished products
such as plywood to the United States. However, Indonesia
has constructed additional mills in recent years, and now is
exporting the finished products. The resulting price com­
petition between Indonesia and the other nations of South­
east Asia boosted supplies and contributed to lower prices
in 1984.
Machinery and transport equipment. This index, which
accounts for 25.4 percent of the weight of the all-import
price index, was unchanged during the first half, after rising
2.4 percent in 1983. Some $58.5 billion of this merchandise
was imported during the first half, up 44 percent from $40.5
billion in the first half of last year, as the economic recovery
fueled demand.39 This substantial increase was a major fac­
tor in widening the first-half U.S. merchandise trade deficit.
Approximately half of the dollar value in this index con­
sists of consumer products such as autos, videocassette re­
corders, and household appliances. As consumer spending
grew, purchases of these types of items rose. The index
also includes many important components of manufacturing
processes, such as electric motors, air pumps, compressors,
valves, and roller bearings, for which demand grew with
U.S. manufacturing output. However, the continued appre­

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ciation of the dollar served to moderate price increases.
Import prices for automobiles rose 1.1 percent in the first
half, after rising 4.8 percent for all of 1983. Surging firsthalf 1984 U.S. auto sales and the Japanese Government’s
voluntary quotas on auto exports to the United States were
factors affecting import prices. Buoyant consumer confi­
dence, higher levels of employment, stable gasoline prices,
and the improving economy boosted first-half retail auto
sales to 5.5 million from 4.6 million in the 1983 first half.40
Import penetration of the U.S. market was 22.5 percent (in
units), down from 26.7 percent from the same period a year
earlier.41 Retail sales were restrained by short supplies of
both imported and domestic autos: Supplies of imported
Japanese cars were held down by the quotas, while dealer
inventories of domestic autos stood at 48 days of sales on
June 15, the lowest level in 10 years.42 Sales of larger cars
were especially brisk and shortages developed for many
domestic car models.
In April, the quotas on Japanese auto shipments to the
United States were raised to 1.85 million units per year from
1.68 million. The quotas, scheduled to expire in April 1985,
have been a source of upward pressure on prices of Japanese
cars. In the first half, Japanese autos accounted for 17 per­
cent of all U.S. new car sales, down from 22 percent in
first-half 1983.43 Because of the quotas, Japanese automak­
ers were unable to maintain or increase their market share
and fully exploit a cost advantage estimated at $1,500 to
$2,000 per car. Instead of competing on price, Japan’s carmakers concentrated on selling higher-valued, option-laden
cars in the United States— in effect providing a pricing floor
for the domestic industry.44 As a result of this change in
the mix of imported automobiles, the unit value index for
automobiles increased at a much sharper rate than did the
price index. (See chart 4.) The price index adjusts for quality
changes and maintains a constant mix of goods; price is the
only fluctuating variable. The unit value index reflects the
shift to higher valued top-of-the-line models, as well as
‘pure’ price changes. With supply restricted by the quotas,
inventories of Japanese cars dropped to 16 days of sales on
June 30, 1984, compared with 27 days of sales on the same
date in 1981, the first year of the quotas.45
After 4 years of cost cutting which lowered their break­
even point substantially, U.S. automakers posted record
combined profits in the first half of 1984. U.S. firms also
benefitted from an increase in demand for midsize and large
cars. Sales of subcompact models were down slightly from
first-half 1983 levels, due to shortages of Japanese models
and consumer preference for larger cars.46 Several European
carmakers, selling higher-valued models, set sales records
during the first half.
The trend toward internationalization of automobile pro­
duction persists. In particular, some Japanese auto firms
further developed production facilities in North America to
ensure continued access to the prosperous U.S. auto market.
U.S. firms also continued to make plans for joint production
of subcompact cars with Japanese and South Korean part-

ners.47 Most notably, General Motors and Toyota received
permission from the Federal Trade Commission to proceed
with their joint venture to produce small cars in California.
Ford and Mazda also announced their intention to build an
assembly plant in Mexico to manufacture cars for the U.S.
market.
The price index for metalworking machinery was heavily
affected by large supplies of imports, falling 1.9 percent in
the first half. The bulk of the value in this index consists
of machine tools— power-driven devices used to cut, shape,
or form metal in the production of durable goods.
The 1983 U.S. trade deficit in machine tools was $540
million. While this compared favorably with the $638 mil­
lion deficit in 1982, it was quite large in historical terms
and occurred despite sluggish domestic demand.48 In recent
years, U.S. machine tool makers have had an increasingly
difficult time matching the prices offered by competitors in
Japan, West Germany, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and
Switzerland. During the first half, U.S. producers began to
recover from the worst downturn many had endured since
the 1930’s. Because of recession and foreign competition,
shipments of U.S.-made machine tools dropped almost twothirds between 1981 and 1983.49
Japanese imports accounted for nearly half of the 36percent share of the U.S. market taken by imports last year,
up from 28 percent in 1982, and their penetration in ad­
vanced machine tools is much greater. For example, during
the first half of 1983, some 78 percent of the machining
centers sold in the United States were Japanese-made.50
The intense foreign competition continued to force major
changes in the structure of the U.S. machine tool industry
throughout the first half of 1984, as firms withdrew, merged,
entered joint ventures with foreign producers, or moved
operations offshore to cut costs. Domestic firms continued
to seek relief from lower-priced imports, and as the first
half ended, the National Machine Tool Builders’ Associa­
tion petition for import relief on the basis of national security
under Section 232 of the 1972 Trade Expansion Act was
still pending.
Import prices for electric machinery and equipment fell
4.9 percent, despite brisk demand for new appliances for
residential housing and electronic components for military
equipment. In 1980, the United States posted a trade surplus
of $2.2 billion for electric machinery and equipment, but
in 1983, it registered an $892.4 million trade deficit.51 The
decline in this index was keyed by falling prices for elec­
tronic components and electric circuit switching equipment.
The price decrease in electric circuit switching equipment
imported from Europe is partially attributable to the dollar’s
appreciation against such currencies as the franc, the Deutschemark, and the pound sterling. At the same time, Japan,
Taiwan, and Korea have increased production of electronic
components such as integrated circuits, transistors, and diodes.
This increased production resulted in economies of scale
and production efficiencies which tended to lower prices.
Finally, component prices were further depressed because

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technological advances have made metal oxide transistors
competetive with bipolar transistors. Although prices of metal
oxide transistors have fallen, they still remain approximately
40 percent above the cost of bipolar transistors. However,
the higher quality of metal oxide transistors and their new,
lower prices make them increasingly attractive to engi­
neering designers.
Miscellaneous manufactured goods. The import price in­
dex for miscellaneous manufactured products increased 1.5
percent in the first half of 1984. This category comprises
almost 10 percent of the all-import price index, and includes
a wide variety of consumer goods such as clothing, foot­
wear, clocks, watches, and photographic equipment. Higher
prices for these products were the main force behind the
upward movement in the index for miscellaneous manufac­
tures. U.S. demand for these products was strong as high
consumer spending levels during 1983 continued into the
first half of 1984. This demand was increasingly met by
imports, which surged from $15.6 billion during the first 6
months of 1983 to $21 billion in the same period this year.52
This represented a 34.6-percent increase, compared to a
first-half 1982-83 gain of only 11.4 percent.
During the first 6 months of 1984, imported clothing and
footwear prices experienced similar increases of 3.1 percent
and 3.5 percent, respectively. Clothing and shoes experi­
enced high retail sales growth in the United States through­
out 1983 and into 1984. During the first half of this year,
consumer outlays for clothing and shoes averaged over $ 139
billion (seasonally adjusted annual rate), compared with
$127.0 billion for all of 1983 and $118.8 billion in 1982.53
Limited supplies of some apparel items contributed to
higher price levels, in part because of Federal tightening of
import controls and quotas and a crackdown on illegal and
counterfeit imports of apparel.54 (For footwear, the possi­
bility of additional controls was lessened when the Inter­
national Trade Commission determined in June 1984 that
imports of nonrubber footwear were not causing serious
injury to the domestic industry.55) Higher raw material costs
experienced by foreign clothing and shoe manufacturers also
were reflected in increasing prices during the half. These
included steep hikes in the price of leathers over the past
year, and moderate gains in the prices of cotton and man­
made fabrics.
The index for photographic apparatus and supplies, op­
tical goods, and watches and clocks moved up by 2.4 percent
in the first half. Prices for photographic apparatus and equip­
ment advanced 3.4 percent as strong consumer demand re­
versed a downward trend that began early in 1982 in response
to product innovations. Optical lenses and watches also
contributed to the increase in the index, with gains of 6.4
percent and 10.3 percent, respectively. Prices of these prod­
ucts had declined during 1981, 1982, and 1983 because of
steep competition among suppliers and reduced production
costs. The higher quality watch market showed particular
strength this year.
11

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices

Export trends
Grain. Export prices for grain rose 1.7 percent in the first
6 months of 1984 after a 16.8-percent advance in 1983. The
price movement for the first half resulted when substantial
price increases for wheat and feed grains in the second
quarter dominated the more moderate price declines regis­
tered in the first quarter. Increases in market prices in May
and June reflected unfavorable weather conditions in the
United States and the Soviet Union. U.S. grain exports
represent over 7 percent of the value of all U.S. merchandise
exports, and consist primarily of wheat, com, and sorghum.
Grain exports totaled $7.8 billion in the first 6 months of
1984, compared with $7.4 billion for the same period in
1983.56
Prices for exported wheat edged upward by 2.6 percent
in the first half of 1984. Severe flooding in the Midwest
this spring resulted in erosion, planting, and transportation
difficulties, and placed upward pressure on wheat prices
despite huge U.S. stockpiles. Additionally, speculation in
the grain market centered around a possible reduction in
Soviet grain production as the result of a spate of bad weather
in that country. Demand for U.S. wheat increased during
the first half, in part because of severe drought in West
African countries, but export price rises were moderated by
increased production in other countries such as Canada,
European Community countries, Australia, and India. Trade
agreements concluded with the Soviet Union and the Peo­
ple’s Republic of China in 1983 helped stabilize U.S. ex­
ports to these countries in 1984.57
The U.S. Payment-in-Kind ( p i k ) program, initiated in
January 1983 to reduce surplus grain supplies and stabilize
U.S. commodity prices, affected 1983 and 1984 soybean
and corn prices much more than those for wheat. Huge
wheat stockpiles were not greatly reduced by the program,
partially because increases in yields per acre in 1983 kept
output levels high, p i k benefits were reduced in 1984 and
fewer farmers elected to enroll, with the result that 60 per­
cent of grain acreage was included in surplus reduction
programs, compared with 86 percent in 198 3.58 In a separate
effort to draw down large wheat supplies, the U.S. De­
partment of Agriculture announced a new program that pro­
vides wheat stocks on a competitive basis to private exporters
for resale to drought-stricken African nations.
Com prices moved up 1.9 percent during the first half of
1984, following a substantial 34.5-percent price gain in
1983. Surpluses of com were reduced by the p i k program
and the 1983 drought, and this year’s spring floods in the
Midwest disrupted the planting of new crops. Growing de­
mand for high fructose com syrup contributed to the upward
trend in com prices, as the U.S. beverage industry increas­
ingly chose this com product as a substitute for sugar.
Prices for other feed grains, including sorghum and bar­
ley, and for soybeans, also rose during the first 6 months
of 1984. These commodities are substitutes for com, and
usually demonstrate similar price movements. Sorghum was
12


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up slightly by 1 percent, barley prices rose 2.8 percent, and
prices for exported soybeans (soybeans are included in the
crude materials index) advanced 5.6 percent. The substantial
gain in soybean prices in the first half reflected tight do­
mestic supplies following the summer drought of 1983, and
dry weather in Brazil in 1984. Even though soybean prices
had risen more than 35 percent in 1983, strong demand for
soybean oil in response to shortages of other vegetable oils
pushed up prices even further during the first 6 months of
this year.
Demand for soybean meal decreased over the same pe­
riod, following a substantial price jump in the fall of 1983.
The decline in prices of animal feeds, which are included
in the food index, tended to moderate the first-half advance
in that index.
Crude materials. The 5.4-percent price rise for crude ma­
terials contributed significantly to the increase in the all­
export price index this half, as such materials represent
almost 11 percent of the all-export index. Demand for these
products, which are used in the early stages of production,
increased sharply as worldwide industrial production began
to pick up in the first half of 1984. U.S. exports of crude
materials during that period were $11 billion, an 18.2-percent increase over the $9.3 billion exported during the same
period in 1983.59 A 14.4-percent jump in prices of raw hides
and skins, a 15.2-percent surge for pulp and waste paper,
and a 7.7-percent gain in oilseeds led the first-half increase
in the crude materials index.
U.S. export prices for raw hides and skins have soared
52 percent since the beginning of 1983, following declines
in 1981 and 1982. Droughts in 1982 and 1983 led to smaller
herds and lower slaughter rates in New Zealand, Australia,
and Argentina, which in turn created a strong world demand
for U.S. hides during 1983 and the first half of 1984. In
recent years, trends away from beef consumption in the
industrial nations have also reduced available world supplies
of cattlehides. It is estimated that worldwide cattleherds
declined 2.5 percent in 1983, and will shrink by another 1
percent in 1984.60
Demand for U.S. hides by the major buyers in the Far
East grew significantly as those countries’ sales of finished
leather goods to this country flourished with the economic
upturn. Total U.S. exports of hides and furskins in the first
6 months of 1984 were 59 percent above those for the same
period in 1983.61 U.S. furskin sellers took advantage of a
demand resurgence in Europe by raising prices on some
grades. Exported furskin prices edged upward by 5.5 percent
in the second half of 1983, and then jumped 11.7 percent
during the first half of 1984 after dropping more than 30
percent from December 1980 to June 1983.
Export prices for pulp and waste paper advanced more
than 15 percent this half, driven by a 25-percent leap in
prices for sulphate wood pulp and moderated by declines
in waste paper prices. The combination of strong domestic
demand and additional purchases in the first half by China,

Japan, and some European nations caused the rapid price
increases for sulphate wood pulp. The strong demand stemmed
from increased manufacturing activity, because the primary
use for sulphate pulp is for packaging items. U.S. exports
of paper base stocks, including wood pulp, were 14 percent
higher in the first 6 months of 1984 than in the same period
in 1983.62
A 5-percent gain in cotton prices was the reason for the
2.0-percent rise in the textile fibers index, which continued
an upward trend begun in early 1983. (U.S. export prices
for cotton had already risen more than 30 percent from
December 1982 through December 1983.) The advance in
cotton prices reflects rapidly rising world consumption lev­
els in the 1983-84 marketing year (season beginning in
August) in the face of world production levels that have
been declining since the 1981-82 marketing year. Con­
sumption is up as the result of increased use of cotton in
apparel, and because of sharp rises in the use of cotton
products in China, India, Turkey, and Egypt.
Although cotton production had declined in the United
States, surplus stocks were used in 1984 in order to help
meet the strong world demand. U.S. exports were up 38
percent in the 1983-84 marketing year over those for the


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same (August through April) period in the previous year.63
The major buyers of U.S. cotton in the first half were Japan
and the Republic of Korea. While almost all countries im­
porting cotton from the United States increased their pur­
chases in 1983 and 1984, some Asian nations, such as Hong
Kong and Taiwan, did so at higher rates as their manufacture
and export of clothing increased sharply in response to the
economic upturn in this country and some European nations.
Cotton price hikes were moderated by sharp production
increases in Mainland China, and by smaller rises in Soviet
and Mexican cotton output.
Fats and oils. Although the fats and oils export price index
represents just under 1 percent of total U.S. exports, its
34.8-percent surge during the first half was responsible for
15 percent of the 2-percent rise in the all-export price index.
The prices of soybean oil and animal fats and oils showed
substantial gains in the second quarter of 1984. Prices were
driven up when unfavorable weather conditions in the Mid­
west this spring caused shortages of U.S. soybean oil. Ad­
ditionally, tight supplies of palm, coconut, and sunflower
seed oil in the Far East and Malaysia placed upward pressure
on prices, because soybean and animal oils are close sub­
stitutes for these other vegetable oils. Prices for animal oils
were further pushed up by growing demand for soaps and
cosmetics, two products in which these oils are used.
Chemicals. Export prices for chemicals rose 1.1 percent
during the first 6 months of the year, reflecting higher prices
for agricultural chemicals and medicinal and pharmaceutical
products. U.S. exports of chemicals in the first half were
above year-earlier levels, and the major U.S. chemical firms
recorded much-improved profits for the same period, with
several posting record second-quarter profits.
In domestic and overseas markets, first-half sales of ag­
ricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides were
up sharply from year-earlier levels. Such factors as the con­
tinuing farm recovery in the United States, the curtailment
of last year’s pik program that reduced acreage plantings,
and good weather in major agricultural areas around the
world were responsible for increased sales of pesticides.
Exports to Europe were improved, as were sales in Pacific
Rim nations such as China, New Zealand, and Indonesia.
In recent years, U.S. firms have made significant advances
in pesticides which have resulted in more effective, less
toxic, and easier-to-apply products.64
The Nation has historically posted large surpluses in in­
ternational trade of chemicals. In recent years, however,
the surpluses have begun to shrink, falling from $10.4 bil­
lion in 1982 to $9.0 billion in 1983 and to $4.2 billion in
the first half of 1984.65 This trend is attributable to the strong
dollar and to increasing world chemical production capacity.
Several Third World nations, especially those that are major
oil exporters, have invested heavily in plants and equipment
for chemical production. Oil producing nations have a com­
parative advantage in the production of petrochemicals, re13

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
suiting from the ready availability of low-cost petroleum
feedstocks. In addition, many developing countries are ex­
porting chemicals to the United States on a duty-free basis
under the Generalized System of Preferences of the U.S.
Trade Act of 1974. Such duty-free imports accounted for
more than half of the Nation’s total 1983 imports in the
benzenoid intermediate category (in tons) and for 96 percent
of imports of phthalic anhydride.66
Intermediate manufactures. Export prices for intermediate
manufactured products rose 1.3 percent in the first half,
after rising 1.8 percent in 1983. The first-half increase was
paced by a 6.3-percent rise in export prices for paper and
paperboard products, which was partially offset by a 1.0percent decline in prices for nonferrous metals. In recent
years, U.S. exports of intermediate manufactured goods
have declined steadily. In 1983, the nation exported $14.9
billion of these goods, down from $16.7 billion in 1982 and
$22.3 billion in 1980.67 The drop in export value is largely
due to declining exports of iron, steel, and nonferrous met­
als.
The export price index for paper and paperboard products
index often displays volatile movements, because demand
for these products is closely tied to conditions in the pack­
aging industry. As increased demand for packaging mate­
rials drove the capacity utilization rate in the U.S. packaging
industry to 97 percent in the first half, prices for paper and
paperboard products quickly rose.
The advance in export prices for paperboard and paperboard products was led by a 15.6-percent increase in the
index for kraft paper and paperboard. World demand for
these products was strong, and several U.S. producers posted
record sales. Kraft is a heavy-duty paper which, in un­
bleached form, is used for shopping bags and many other
applications. Price increases were recorded for all bleached
and unbleached types during the first half.
Kraft paper and paperboard products are made from kraft
pulp. During the first half, foreign demand for this type of
pulp increased sharply. This, combined with a strike in the
major producing region of Canada which reduced output
and tightened supplies, served to drive up world prices.
Because production of both kraft pulp and paper is highly
capital intensive and is only efficient on a large scale, ad­
ditional capacity cannot be brought on-line easily over a
short period. Higher prices for kraft pulp raised input costs
for U.S. producers of kraft products such as linerboard,
packaging cartons, and shipping sacks.
Prices for printing and writing paper advanced 5.6 percent
in the first half. Price rises were recorded for both coated
and uncoated papers. Demand for printing papers was buoyed
by advertising expenditures, particularly increases in mag­
azine advertising, while the growing use of office and home
automation products in the major industrialized nations boosted
demand for both printing and writing papers.
The 1.0-percent drop in nonferrous metals prices in the

14

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first half followed a 1.0-percent rise in this index for all of
1983. In recent years, exports of many of these metals have
fallen in response to the availability of lower-cost foreign
supplies, substitution of alternative materials, and decreased
demand from basic industries. The decline in the index was
led by a 4.4-percent drop in the aluminum index, which
was partially offset by a 3.7-percent rise in silver export
prices and a 2.3-percent increase in copper prices.
Aluminum prices fell as a result of a worldwide glut of
ingots. Much of the world’s aluminum supply is marketed
in the form of basic ingots. At the start of 1984, the major
U.S. producers were operating at near full capacity, but by
midyear three of these firms cut production because of lower
prices.68 In recent years, aluminum has increasingly been
used as an instrument of speculation. In Europe, aluminum
is traded on the London Metals Exchange ( lme), and be­
ginning in December 1983, the Commodities Exchange in
New York began to trade aluminum. Prices for the light­
weight metal fell to 53 cents per pound by mid-1984, down
from a September 1983 high of 73 cents. On the U.S. spot
market, prices slipped to 61 cents per pound, down 11 cents
from levels reached earlier in the year.69 Growing world
aluminum inventories fueled the ingot price decline, al­
though prices for more expensive aluminum products fab­
ricated from ingots remained firm. In May, U.S. producer
inventories were 11 percent higher than in December 1983.
U.S. aluminum exports, including mill products, ingots,
and scrap, in the first 6 months of 1984 were 8.4 percent
(measured in tonnage) below those recorded for the same
period in 1983, while imports were up 41.4 percent.70 The
strong dollar was an important factor in both the drop in
exports and the rise in imports.
Silver prices, normally very volatile, were relatively sta­
ble during the first half. Prices were heavily affected by the
strong dollar and rising interest rates, which tended to shift
speculative activity from silver to dollar-denominated in­
vestments. The other determinant of silver pricing, indus­
trial usage, failed to increase appreciably during the first
half. U.S. exports of the white metal during the first 5
months of 1984 were far below the 1983 pace, while imports
continued to exceed exports by large amounts.
Lead prices and output continued at reduced levels during
the first half. Lead exports for the period were less than
half of first-half 1983 levels, while domestic production had
fallen slightly. In recent years, world demand for lead has
been curbed by the substitution of plastics, while use of the
metal in storage batteries, solders, and gasoline has de­
creased significantly.
M achinery and transport equipment. Machinery and
transportation equipment accounts for 35.3 percent of the
value of all U.S. exports. Export prices for these products
advanced 1.8 percent in the first 6 months of 1984, after
rising 2.2 percent for all of 1983. Most major product groups
within the machinery and transportation equipment index

showed moderate price gains and sales increases for the first
half. The value of U.S. exports of machinery and trans­
portation equipment was 6.6 percent greater than in the same
period in 1983.71 Some product groups, such as computers,
electronic components, and telecommunications equipment,
require a high degree of technical sophistication, and U.S.
firms have a comparative advantage in their manufacture.
However, in other product groups, such as metalworking,
textile, and leather machinery, export sales and prices con­
tinued to be depressed by the strength of the dollar.
The export price index for road vehicles and parts is the
largest component of the machinery and transportation
equipment index. A 2.7-percent rise in prices for parts for
motor vehicles was largely responsible for the index’s 1.9percent advance this half. A slight 0.3-percent decrease in
the price of passenger motor vehicles partially offset this
gain. The value of U.S. exports of road vehicles and parts
surged from $7.29 billion in the first 6 months of 1983 to
$9.15 billion for the same period in 1984.72
High levels of Canadian demand for vehicles and vehicle
parts, combined with strong domestic demand, resulted in
high capacity utilization in the U.S. automobile industry,
thus influencing the price movement for the half. To stay
competitive in the world market, the industry implemented
various cost controls which moderated the price advance.
Export demand for automobile parts was strengthened by
the recent trend toward internationalization of automobile
production, as additional parts were shipped to U.S. sub­
sidiaries in Mexico and Canada during 1983 and 1984.
The “ other transport” index, which excludes military and
commercial aircraft, moved forward by 4.7 percent in the
first half. The general aviation aircraft component rose 4.1
percent and prices of parts for aircraft and spacecraft were
up 5.9 percent. The price increases in spacecraft parts reflect
the highly sophisticated nature of these products, which
limits the number of firms capable of supplying an expand­
ing world market. The United States maintains technological
superiority in the production of high quality aviation parts,
and U.S. manufacturers, even while operating at near-ca­
pacity, were unable to fully meet the growing first-half
export demand.
Price hikes in this index, in both the domestic and export
markets, average 1 to 2 percent per quarter. U.S. parts
manufacturers are able to pass on production cost increases
because of the inelasticity of demand for aircraft and aero­
space replacement parts. World demand continued to be
depressed for general aviation aircraft, but a pick-up in
domestic demand in 1984 and vitality in the export demand
for turbojet aircraft led to higher prices.
General industrial machinery accounts for 14 percent of
the machinery and transport equipment index. Prices for this
product group increased 2.1 percent in the first half of 1984
after advancing 1.7 percent in 1983. The items primarily
responsible for the upward movement included pumps and


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compressors, for which prices jumped 9.2 percent, and
packaging and weighing equipment, up 2.4 percent. Mild
price declines occurred in cooling equipment, centrifuges,
powered industrial trucks, and ball and roller bearings. Total
exports of general industrial machinery were basically stable
for the year, with first-half sales of nearly $4.1 billion,
compared with slightly more than $4.05 billion for the same
period in 1983.73
The economic upturn reached some areas of the capital
goods sector in Canada, Europe, and the Far East, boosting
demand for general industrial products. Expanded residen­
tial and commercial construction, especially in Japan and
South Korea, increased demand for U.S.-made air compressers, pumps for liquids, valves and cocks, and heating
and cooling equipment. All of these products had some price
hikes during the half except for cooling equipment, for
which a 0.7-percent decrease was recorded because of in­
tense competition from Japan, West Germany, and Italy.
Expansion of food processing facilities in Singapore, Ma­
laysia, Thailand, and Indonesia stimulated demand for U.S.
packaging and weighing equipment.
Nonetheless, U.S. manufacturers of general industrial
machinery and parts continued to face strong competition
from Japan and the Far East, and were adversely affected
by the continued strength of the dollar. For example, export
prices for ball and roller bearings edged downward by 0.4
percent in the half. Debt problems of purchasers Mexico
and Brazil also acted to depress demand and prices for U.S.
general industrial machinery. Moreover, slack demand for
general industrial equipment in the European chemical and
steel industries exerted downward pressure on U.S. export
prices this half.
First-half price increases in other major product groups
included a 1.6-percent gain in power generating machinery
and equipment; a 1.1-percent rise for machinery specialized
for particular industries; and a 2.6-percent advance for elec­
trical machinery and equipment.
Office machines and data processing equipment were the
only major product group in the machinery and transport
equipment index to experience a price decline in the first
half of 1984. Export prices fell 1.0 percent in the half,
continuing a slide that began in mid-1981. Steadily declining
prices for these products are due in part to the rapid tech­
nological advancement and resulting lower production costs
for such items as typewriters, calculators, and computer
terminals. Price cuts also reflect the fierce competition among
domestic and foreign suppliers (particularly Japan) in these
expanding markets. The introduction of new products placed
further downward pressure on the prices of some competing
older models.
While prices of office machinery and computers were
declining, export sales boomed during the first half, rising
24 percent above the level recorded in the first 6 months of
1983.74
□

15

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • First-H alf Im port and Export Prices
FO O TN O TE S

Acknowledgment: The following economists in the Bureau’s Division
o f International Prices assisted in the analysis of the various indexes dis­
cussed in this article: Brian Costello, Todd Darr, Mohamed Elitreby, David
Friedman, Gerry Gribbons, Hans Jorgensen, Nicholas Peters, Mildred
Tweedy, Paul Washburn, David Wawro, Loren Yager, and Peter Zaleski.
Carol Burger and Peter Zaleski of the Division prepared the graphics.
'Amount indicated is on Balance of Payments basis. See U .S . D e p a rt­
m ent o f C om m erce N e w s , BEA 84-41 (Bureau of Economic Analysis), Aug.
6, 1984.

23F oreign A griculture C irc u la r-C o ffee , FCOF 2 -8 4 (U .S. Department
of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service), July 1984, p. 2.
2AI b id ., p. 5.

s Kathleen H. Hughes, “ U .S. Crackdown on Coffee Smuggling Helps
Bean Prices to High for 1983,” The W all Street Journal, Nov. 14, 1983,
p. 46; and “ Group May Consider Ending Restrictions on Export o f Cof­
fe e ,” The W all S treet Journal, May 29, 1984, p. 47.
26 W orld Coffee a n d Tea, Vol. 25, No. 2 (McKeand Publications), June

1984, p. 30.
21 I b id ., p. 32.

2 Import price indexes are weighted by 1980 import values and are
published on an f.o.b. (free-on-board) foreign port or c.i.f. (cost, insur­
ance, and freight) U .S. port basis. Export price indexes are weighted by
1980 U .S. merchandise trade values and are published on an f.o.b. factory
or f.a .s. (free-alongside-ship) U .S. port basis. See “ International Price
Program” (Bureau o f Labor Statistics).
3 W orld F in an cial M a rk ets (New York, Morgan Guaranty Trust Com­
pany, International Economics Department), January 1984, pp. 12-13,
and July 1984, p. 12.
4For details o f the value of the dollar against individual currencies, see
F ed e ra l R eserve B ulletin, July 1984, p. A64.
5 “ Capacity Utilization” (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, Division o f Research and Statistics), July 16, 1984.
6 U .S . D ep a rtm en t o f C om m erce N ew s, CB 8 4 -1 3 4 (Bureau of the Cen­

sus), July 18, 1984.
1 U .S . D ep a rtm en t o f C om m erce N ew s, bea 84-41 (Bureau of Economic

Analysis), Aug. 6, 1984.

28H igh lights o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, FT-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment of Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1983, p. A -9 , table 4.
29Thomas F. O ’Boyle, “ Steel Firms’ 2nd Period Profits Said to be Best
since 81; Recovery May Fizzle S oon ,” The W all S treet Journal, July 5,
1984, p. 4.
30“ Even if Steel Gets Import Relief, Its Anxieties Won’t Go A w ay,”
B usiness W eek, June 25, 1984, p. 29.

31 Eduardo Lachica and Thomas F. O ’Boyle, “ it c Proposes Quotas,
Tariffs on Steel Imports,” The W all S treet Journal, July 12, 1984, p. 3.
32Ibid.
33See “ The Steelworkers Dig in Against a Cleveland M inimill,” B usi­
ness W eek, Jan. 23, 1984, p. 37; and “ Steelworkers Keep on Tilting at
M inim ills,” B usiness W eek, Feb. 20, 1984, p. 33.
34 “ Steel Forges a Japanese Connection,” B usiness W eek, May 7, 1984,
p. 30.
35H igh lights o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, p. C -6 , table 2.

8H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, ft-990 (U .S. Department
o f Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1984 and June 1983, table E 3.
9For information on imports, exports, and trade deficits, see U .S. D e ­
p a rtm e n t o f C om m erce N ew s, bea 84-41 (Bureau of Economic Analysis),
Aug. 6, 1984.

36 “ Raw Materials; A Case for Pessimism on Prices,” B usiness Week,
Mar. 12, 1984, p. 25.
37 Allanna Sullivan, “ Agency Decision on Copper-Import Curbs Could
Recast Shape of a Sagging Industry,” The W all S treet Journal, June 11,
1984, p. 36.
38Eduardo Lachica, “ ITC is Divided on How to Aid Copper Industry,”
The W all S treet Journal, June 28, 1984, p. 16.

101bid .

11Sum m ary o f U .S . Intern ational Transactions (U .S. Department of
Commerce, Bureau o f Economic Analysis), September 1984.
l2H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xp o rt a n d Im port T rade, FT-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment o f Commerce, Bureau of the Census), various issues, tables E -3 and
1-6. The countries included as Far Eastern nations are: Japan, China
(Mainland), Burma, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, Macao, Southern Asia (n .e.c.), Republic
o f Korea, Hong Kong, and China (Taiwan).
13Ibid .

14The share o f final good production that is accounted for by gross trade
(merchandise imports plus merchandise exports) is calculated as:
Merchandise imports

-I-

Merchandise exports

Sales o f final goods

+

Merchandise imports

.

X 1u u

It is computed using data from Survey o f C urrent B usiness, various is­
sues.
15Ibid.
16Youssef M. Ibrahim, “ Persian Gulf War Helps Depress Oil Prices on
Spot Market Instead o f Raising Them ,” The W all S treet Journal, June
20, 1984, p. 3.
17M onthly E nergy R eview (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Infor­
mation Administration), May 1984, pp. 7, 43, and 52.
18 See C onsum er P rice Indexes f o r F uel O il, C onsum er P rice Index f o r
A ll U rban C on su m ers, usdl-318 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), July 24
1984, table 1.
19Ib id , table 3.
20M onthly E n erg y R eview , doe/ ei— 0035 (U.S. Department of Energy,

39H igh lights o f U .S . E xport a n d Im port T rade, p. A - 8 , table 4.

40 W ard’s A u tom otive R eports, July 9, 1984, p. 217.
41 Ibid.
42Ibid.
43 Ibid.
^A m al Nag, “ High New Car Prices Keep Many Lookers Looking, Not
Buying,” The W all S treet Journal, Aug. 3, 1983, p. 8.
45 W ard’s A u tom otive R eports, July 16, 1984, p. 225, and July 20, 1981,
p. 225.
46“ Subcompacts: The Soft Spot in Auto Sales,” B usiness W eek, June
11, 1984, p. 43.
47 “ How Carmakers Are Trimming an Import Surplus,” B usiness Week,
Jan. 30, 1984, p. 36.
48Statistical R eport: U .S. Foreign Trade in M achine Tools 1983 (McLean,
V a., National Machine Tool Builders’ Association), Mar. 30, 1984.
49Ralph E. Winter, “ Acme Cleveland Is Making Risky Changes to
Survive In New Machine Tool Industry,” The W all S treet Journal, May
17, 1984, p. 33.
50“ A U .S. Toolmaker Cozies Up To Its Former F oes,” B usiness W eek,
Apr. 16, 1984, p. 66.
51 H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport a n d Im port T ra d e , December 1983, pp. 2 6 27, table E -2 , and pp. 6 2 -6 3 , table 1-3.
52H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport a n d Im port T rade, June 1984, table 1-3.
53 U S - D ep a rtm en t o f C om m erce N e w s— P e rso n a l Incom e a n d O utlays
(Bureau of Economic Analysis), July 20, 1984.

21P etro leu m Su pply M onthly (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy In­
formation Administration), August 1984.

54Mark Hosenball, “ ‘Operation Tripware’ lights up scoreboard with
new seizures,” W om en’s W ear D a ily , Feb. 8, 1984, p. 25; and “ U.S.
Tightens Rules on Apparel Imports due to Quota A buse,” The W all S treet
Jou rn al, Aug. 6, 1984, p. 20.

22F oreign A g ricu ltu re C irc u la r-H o rtic u ltu ra l P ro d u cts, fas 7 -8 4 (U.S.
Department o f Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service), July 1984, p. 14.

55N onrubber F ootw ear, usrrc Publication 1545 (U.S. International Trade
Commission), July 1984, p. 1.

Energy Information Adminstration), May 1984, pp. 4 2 -4 3 .

16FRASER
Digitized for
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56H igh lights o f U .S . E xport a n d Im port T rade, ft-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment o f Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1983 and June 1984,
table E -2 .

57 “ U .S. Offers Soviets 10 Million More Tons of Grain This Year,”
The W all S treet J ournal, Jan. 26, 1984, p. 48.
58O utlook a n d Situation R e p o r t-W h e a t (U .S. Department of Agricul­
ture, Economic Research Service), June 1984, p. 2.
59H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport a n d Im p o rt T rade, ft-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment o f Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1983 and June 1984,
table E -2 .
60C o u n cil N e w s, Issue # 8 4 - 2 2 (Washington, Tanners Council of Amer­
ica), June 1, 1984, p. 3.

61 H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, FT-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment of Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1983 and June 1984,
table E -2 .
62 Ibid.

65H igh ligh ts o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, June 1984, p. A -8 , table
4, and p. A - 4 , table 2.
“ Homer Starr, “ A Big Trade Setback for U .S. Producers,” C hem ical
W eek, Feb. 29, 1984, p. 25.
67H igh lights o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, December 1983, table
2, pp. 10-11.
68 “ Alcoa and Kaiser To Cut Production, Price Drop Cited,” The W all
S tre et Jou rn al, June 21, 1984, p. 16.
69J. Ernest Beazley, “ Reynolds Metals to Cut Output of Aluminum,”
The W all S treet Journal, July 25, 1984, p. 7.
10The Alum inum Situation (Washington, The Aluminum Association),
August 1984.
71 H igh lights o f U .S . E xport an d Im port T rade, ft-990 (U.S. Depart­
ment of Commerce, Bureau of the Census), June 1983 and June 1984,
table E -2 .

72Ibid.

63F oreign A g ricu ltu ra l C ircu la r — C otton , FC 7 -8 4 (U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service), June 1984, p. 16.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

64A1 W yss, “ Agricultural Rebound Enriches Chemical Earnings,” The
Journal o f C om m erce, Aug. 3, 1984, p. 1.

™Ibid.
14 Ibid.

Rents that mean eviction
At a neighborhood housing counseling center in Paris, walk-in clients
include a bedraggled fellow wearing dark glasses, an elderly woman clad
in a well-worn black dress, and a foreign woman with two children in
tow. As they talk softly, often nervously, with their volunteer lawyers,
their faces register anger mixed with resignation and fear. Their landlords
have raised their rents, and they are here to learn about their rights. For
them and for many of the others in the large meeting room, the question
is whether they can afford to stay in their apartments— and if they cannot,
then where they can afford to move. Around the room placards proclaim,
“ You fight for your salaries, fight for your housing too.” “ Easier said
than done,” sniffs a young man whose lease is up for renewal. “ You must
take what you can find.”
— S andy Solomon

“ Urban Renovation:
Rebuilding the Cities for Whom?“
Transatlantic Perspectives,
January 1981, p. 34.

17

Occupational mobility
and job tenure in 1983
In 1983, more than 1 worker in 3 aged 35 to 44
had been with the same employer 10 years or longer
and almost the same ratio o f workers 45 and older
had worked fo r the same employer 20 years or more
E llen S ehgal

Intergenerational and intragenerational upward occupational
mobility is an accepted part of American life. Also com­
monly accepted is a picture of the U.S. labor market in
which workers are highly mobile in general. Numerous books
and articles describe Americans’ extensive “job hopping”
and geographic mobility. American workers are seen as
changing occupations and employers in far higher propor­
tions than their counterparts in other industrial nations.1
This view of widespread job mobility is supported by a
number of developments which tend to hold down the meas­
ures of average tenure in the United States, particularly in
comparison with Japan and other industrial nations. These
developments primarily are related to rapid increases in the
U.S. population and labor force. For example, over the past
decade, millions of American women have entered the labor
force each year. Moreover, the American work force has
been boosted by high rates of migration (both legal and
illegal) into the United States. As a result, employment has
grown by 20 million since the early 1970’s. And with all
of these new workers in the labor force, it is not too sur­
prising that the overall measure of job tenure for the United
States is relatively low.
Yet, a detailed look at the data on tenure shows that a
large proportion of American workers apparently spend most
of their “ mature” worklife with the same employer and in

Ellen Sehgal is an economist in the Division of Data Development and
Users’ Services. Office o f Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Bu­
reau o f Labor Statistics.

18

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the same type of work.2 Jobs held by middle-aged workers
appear highly stable. New data from the Current Population
Survey seem to support the contention that mature American
workers, on average, show substantial job stability, thus
making them not too unlike the workers of Japan.3
Of course, there is significant job movement among young
workers, both in terms of employers and types of work.
Still, once they settle into a career path, employees become
considerably more stable in terms of their work than is
generally thought. This is the picture which emerges from
the most recent information on workers’ tenure with their
employer and in their current occupation. The information
was gathered through special questions in the Current Pop­
ulation Survey on the work persons were doing in January
1983, whether it was the kind of work they did a year earlier,
how long they had done that kind of work, and how long
they had been working continuously for their current em­
ployer.
Among the principal findings:
• One worker in 6 has been with his or her employer for
at least 15 years.
• Among workers aged 45 and over, nearly one-third have
been with their current employer for 20 years or more.
• Tenure with one’s employer is closely linked to occu­
pational stability.
• The rate at which women change occupations has in­
creased substantially over the past two decades, but for
men there has been no trend.

Tenure with employer
As expected, the length of tenure with one’s employer is
strongly related to the age of workers. For example, the
vast majority of teenagers working in January 1983 had held
their jobs for 1 year or less. Workers aged 20 to 24 also
had short tenure. Again this is not surprising, because most
of these young adults are recent entrants into the labor force,
their jobs being largely temporary in nature while they are
in the process of searching for and establishing careers. In
contrast, many older workers have become attached to a
particular employer and a given occupation, and thus are
far less mobile. Their longer attachment to a job usually
provides wage increases and greater employment security
as well as pension rights.
Among workers aged 35 to 44 in January 1983, more
than one-third had been with the same employer for 10 years
or more, and among workers 45 and over, nearly one-third
had been at their jobs for at least 20 years. (See table 1.)
This indicates a substantial employment stability among a
large portion of American workers. While tenure among
younger workers is obviously shorter, the observed pattern
by age, if continued into the future, would indicate that
about half of all workers aged 30 to 34 who have been with
an employer for 10 to 14 years are likely to remain with
that employer for a least another 10 years.4 And for workers
aged 25 to 29 the proportion would be almost 40 percent.

T ab le 1.

On average, men have longer job tenure than women.
This is primarily because uninterrupted labor force partic­
ipation has been common for men but is a more recent
practice for women. As shown in table 1, among all workers
16 years of age and over, the proportion that had been with
their employer 15 years or more was about 20 percent for
men and 10 percent for women. Job tenure was longer for
men than for women in part-time as well as full-time em­
ployment. Black women (who have had a high rate of labor
force participation for many years) exceeded both white and
Hispanic women in tenure with their 1983 employer.5
Young men and women have similar median years of job
tenure. Tenure for men, however, becomes significantly
longer than for women at ages 35 and older. As the following
tabulation shows, in the 55-to-64 age group in January 1983,
median tenure for men was 16.9 years, in contrast to 10.3
years for women.
Median years
Total

Men

Women

T o ta l, 16 y e a rs an d
o v e r .........................

4 .4

5.1

3 .7

16 to 2 4 y e a rs ....................
25 to 34 y e a rs ....................
35 to 4 4 y e a rs .....................

1.5
3 .5
5 .8

1.5
3 .8
7 .7

1.5
3 .2
4 .6

4 5 to 5 4 y e a rs ....................
55 to 6 4 y e a rs .....................
65 y e a rs an d o v e r ..............

10.2
13.6
13.2

13.2
16.9
14.9

6 .9
10.3
1 1.9

Age

D istribu tion of w orkers by age, sex, and years of tenure w ith current em ployer, Jan u ary 1983

[Numbers in thousands]
Years with current employer (percent distribution)
Age and sex

Number
employed

Total

97,273
18,732
78,541
27,805
21,169
29,567
15,549
11,224
2,794

20 years
or more

1 year
or less

2 to 5
years

6 to 9
years

10 to 14
years

15 to 19
years

100,0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

27.3
56.4
20.3
30.0

33.1
40.2
31.3
43.0
31.2
20.5

12.4
3.1
14.6
16.8
15.1

6.4

9.9

7.9
.9
11.7

12.3

22.8

13.1
10.8
10.6

10.9
.3
13.5
9.2
16.8
15.1
15.6
14.9
13.7

54,415
9,641
44,775
15,575
11,924
17,276
9,003
6,590
1,683

100.0

24.7
56.1
18.0
27.6
16.8

42,858
9,092
33,766
12,229
9,245
12,291
6,546
4,634

Total
16 years and over.......................................
16 to 24 years ....................................
25 years and over ............................
25 to 34 years...............................
35 to 44 years...............................
45 years and over..........................
45 to 54 y e a rs ..........................
55 to 64 years ..........................
65 years and over .....................

20.0

11.5
13.0
9.7
10.2

17.9
18.8

12.0

.1

8.6

5.0
29.1
23.4
34.8
38.1

7.5

13.7

9.1

7.5

16.7
.1
6.9
38.3
32.8
44.7
42.4

5.0

5.2

6.4
.7
7.1
11.4

6.7

11.8

12.3
11.9

Men
16 years and over.......................................
16 to 24 years....................................
25 years and over ............................
25 to 34 years ...............................
35 to 44 years...............................
45 years and over..........................
45 to 54 years ..........................
55 to 64 years ..........................
65 years and over .....................

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0

100.0

10.2
11.1

100.0

8.9

100.0

10.1

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

30.5
56.7
23.4
33.1
24.3
13.2
15.5

100.0
100.0

10.8

30.2
39.6
28.2
43.0
26.2
16.3
17.3
14.5
18.3

12.2

36.7
40.9
35.5
43.2
37.7
26.5
30.3
22.8
19.6

12.5
2.3
15.3
15.4
15.6
14.9
16.1
14.4

3.9
14.0
17.9
14.8
9.9
10.9
8.4
10.5

11.7
.4
14.1
10.4
20.0
13.2
14.3
12.3
11.3

1.0

15.4
12.0
13.5
11.2

Women
16 years and over.......................................
16 to 24 years....................................
25 years and over ............................
25 to 34 years .......................
35 to 44 years...............................
45 years and over.........................
45 to 54 years .........................
55 to 64 years .......................
65 years and over ..................


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1,111

10.3

10.8

10.0
.2

12.7
7.6
12.7
17.8
17.3
18.6
17.3

10.6
12.8

10.3

2.7
16.1
10.3
20.7
31.6

19

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Occupational Mobility
The average length of tenure of workers with their em­
ployers does not vary greatly by major occupational group,
particularly if one excludes “ farming, forestry, and fish­
ing.” The workers in this occupational group have an un­
usually high median tenure because many are permanently
self-employed and also because these are declining occu­
pations which attract few newcomers. In all other occupa­
tional groups, the median years of tenure with employers
do not show a wide dispersion from the overall averages
for men and women. For example, median tenure for all
men 25 and over is 6.9 years. When ranged by major oc­
cupational groups, the medians for these men varied from
a high of 8.1 years for those in “ executive, administrative,
and managerial” jobs and “ administrative support, includ­
ing clerical” jobs, to a low of 4.1 years for those in service
occupations other than private household and protective ser­
vices. (See table 2.) For women 25 and over, the range of
employer tenure is even smaller, with the medians for most
occupational groups being closely clustered around 4.8 years
for all women in this age group.
It should be noted that, historically, most research on
tenure has been limited to male workers. Thus, the finding
that many Americans spend much of their mature worklife
with the same employer usually refers only to men. Yet,
when observations on women are included, this remains
true. There also is substantial job stability among older
female workers; for example, almost half of women 45 and
over in January 1983 had been with their current employer
10 years or more. Moreover, because increasing proportions
of women are now permanent members of the work force,
the gap in tenure between men and women should begin to
narrow.6
T ab le 2. M edian years of tenure w ith current e m ployer for
em p lo yed civilians age 25 and over, by occupation and
sex, Jan u ary 1983
[Numbers in thousands]
Men
Median
years of
tenure

Total
employed

Median
years of
tenure

Total, age 25 and over.............

44,775

6.9

33,766

4.8

Executive, administrative, and
managerial.........................................
Professional specialty.......................
Technicians and related support..........
Sales occupations.................................
Administrative support, including
cle rica l......................................

7,040
6,193
1,256
4,845

8.1

7.0
5.2
5.8

3,084
5,493
1,196
3,576

2.506

8.1

10,140

5.0

25
1 ,2 2 0

(1)
7.0

613
159

3Ì5
4.0

2,242

4.1

4,989

4.0

9,251

6.9

701

5.8

3,334
3,084

7.8
6.5

2,740
295

5.8
5.3

1,667

5.6

2 ,1 1 2

1 0 .8

449
329

5.5
7.4

Private household.................................
Protective service.................................
Service, except private household and
protective se rv ic e ............................
Precision production, craft, and
repair............................................
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors.........................................
Transportation and material moving . .
Handlers, equipment cleaners,
helpers, and laborers.......................
Farming, forestry, and fishing.............

5.3

'Rate not computed where base is less than 75,000.

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Occupational tenure and shifts
For certain purposes— such as the analysis of earnings
differences between groups— it may be more appropriate to
focus on the workers’ length of experience in their occu­
pation rather than on their length of service with their em­
ployer. Data on time spent in a given occupation—
occupational tenure— also were gathered as part of the Jan­
uary 1983 survey. (See table 3.)
As with employer tenure, occupational tenure is closely
associated with age. On average, men are also more likely
to have spent a longer period of time in the same occupation
than are women. White, black, and Hispanic men all had
longer occupational tenure than their female counterparts.
The longer the attachment with an employer, the less
likely the worker is to change occupations. Of the 26 million
men and women 25 years and over who had been working
for their 1983 employer for 10 years or more, only 658,000
or 2.5 percent, had changed occupations in the preceding
year. In contrast, as shown in the following tabulation,
nearly 1 of 3 persons working for their 1983 employer for
1 year or less had changed occupations in 1982.

Women

Total
employed

Occupation

Has tenure been increasing or declining over time? Un­
fortunately, the question cannot be answered, as the meas­
urements taken in 1983 are not fully comparable with pre­
vious ones. Median tenure did turn out to be considerably
higher in 1983 than when last measured in 1981— 4.4 versus
3.2 years for workers 16 years and over. Some of the in­
crease may have reflected the reluctance of workers to change
employers during a period of economic downturn, such as
that which preceded the January 1983 survey. This reluc­
tance was shown by the lower proportion of “job leavers”
among the unemployed. The sharpening of the 1983 ques­
tions, as compared with those used in 1981 and previous
surveys, also was probably responsible for much of the
increase in tenure measurements.7

5.3
4.5
3.5

T e n u re w ith c u rre n t
e m p lo y e r

E m p lo y e d in
J a n u a ry 1982
and
J a n u a ry 1983

N um ber

T o ta l e m p lo y e e s , 25
y e a rs a n d o v e r . . . . .
I y e a r o r less .........
2 to 4 y e a rs ................
5 to 9 y e a rs ................
10 o r m o re y e a rs ..

7 2 ,8 9 7
11,141
1 9,085
16,465
2 6 ,2 0 6

5 ,4 5 7
3 ,6 0 2
647
550
658

C h a n g e d o c c u p a tio n
d u rin g p e r io d
P ercent
7 .5
3 2 .3
3 .4
3 .3
2 .5

As shown above, about 8 percent of all workers 25 years
and over in January 1983 were in occupations different from
those held in 1982. Although the proportions of men and
women moving into an occupation are similar for most
occupations, their actual numbers vary widely.
The occupations “ executive, administrative, and man­
agement” and “ protective service” are two occupations
which had a substantially higher proportionate entry by women
than by men. The occupational mobility rate— which meas-

T ab le 3. O ccupatio nal ten u re of em ployed civilians age
25 and over, w ho w ere em ployed in both January 1982 and
Jan u ary 1983, by sex, race, and H ispanic origin
[Numbers in thousands]

Men

Women

Men

Women

Black

Hispanic
origin1

Men Women Men Women

Total, age 25
and over . . . 42,349 30,548 37,875 26,320 3,407

3,419

2,031

1,287

303
2,785
7,058
878
6,949
796
9,529 1,431

298
935
923
1,264

215
507
554
754

135
397
391
365

year or less . . .
2 to 4 years . . . .
5 to 9 years . . . .
10 or more years.

1

White

Total

Occupational

3,487 3,157 3,086
8.564 8,241 7.388
9,464 8 ,1 2 0 8,424
20,833 11,030 18,978

1lt should be noted that the "Hispanic origin" category is not a racial classification.
Persons In this group may appear in the white or black or other racial categories.

ures the proportion of workers who were employed both in
1983 and 1982, but in a different occupation8— was 10.9
percent for women versus 6.9 percent for men entering
management, and 13.1 percent for women versus 6.4 per­
cent for men entering protective service. (See table 4.) The
high mobility rate for women into management is evidence
of continued expanding employment opportunities for women
in that occupation. While the absolute numbers are low,
entry into protective service for women indicates movement
into an occupation that is nontraditional for female workers.
Of those persons employed in both January 1982 and
1983 who changed occupations during that period, most
moved within the same major occupational group, that is,
the move was among very closely related occupations. Such
mobility was high, for example, for both men and women
in the professions.
Women were somewhat more likely than men to make a
shift from one major occupational group to another. For
example, more than 40 percent of men in executive, ad­
ministrative, and managerial employment who had changed
occupations during 1982-83 had made a shift within the
management field, while a relatively high proportion of
women who were managers in 1983 had been clerical work­

ers the previous year. Similarly, a somewhat larger per­
centage of women in sales in 1983 had been in clerical jobs
in 1982. However, more men had made an intraoccupational
move within sales during that period than any other type of
occupational change. (See table 5.) These differences, how­
ever, may stem in part from errors made in reporting, re­
cording, or classifying the data.
The rate at which women change occupations has in­
creased substantially over the past two decades, unlike the
situation for men. In 1966, the occupational mobility rate
was markedly higher for men than for women. By 1978,
and continuing to 1983, the situation was reversed. Over
the 1966-83 period, the occupational mobility rate for women
18 and older and not in school increased from 6.8 to 9.9
percent, peaking at 11.7 percent in 1978. Over the same
period, the rate for men did not show any definite trend; it
rose during the 1970’s but dropped off considerably in the
early 1980’s. The largest change over this 18-year period
occurred for men and women 20 to 24. (See table 6.)
As measured in January 1983, the occupational mobililty
rate was slightly higher for Hispanic men than for white
men, but considerably higher than for blacks. Black men
had the lowest rate in almost every age group. The occu­
pational mobility rate for black women was lower than those
for both Hispanic and white women, and this difference
appeared in almost all age groups.
A number of “ push” and “ pull” factors are involved in
occupational mobility.9 Among the pull factors, for ex­
ample, are better pay and more appealing work. Push factors
would include a forced change because of declining demand
in one’s preferred occupation. Much of women’s recent
occupational mobility may be attributed to pull factors. These
are consistent with women’s strong growth in the labor
force, increased educational attainment, some slight im­
provements in earnings relative to m en,10 and broadened
occupational opportunities. In contrast, because male work-

T ab le 4. Men and w om en age 25 years and over, em ployed in January 1983, by c urrent o ccupation and em p lo ym en t status
in Jan u ary 1982
______________ _____________________________ _____________________________________

Occupation

Men
employed in
January
1983

Total

Changed
occupations
Number

Percent

Women
employed in
January
1983

Women employed in January
1982 and 1983
Total

Changed
occupations
Number

Percent

44,775

42,349

3,054

7.2

33,766

30,548

2,403

7.9

7,040
6,193
1,256
4,845
2,506

6,901
6,018
1,198
4,649
2,392

477
304
79
441
219

6.9
5.1
6 .6

2,908
5,112
1,106
3,064
9.358

316
286
77
308
786

10.9
5.6
6.9

9.5
9.2

3,084
5,493
1,196
3,576
10,140

25

18
1,149
2,024
8,573

(1)
74
184
544

(1)
6.4
9.1
6.3

613
159
4,989
701

491
144
4,300
629

30
19
286
46

3,112
2,816
1,492
2,008

289
192
178
73

9.3

2,740
295
449
329

2,489
263
386
299

170

6 .8

21

7.9
11.3
4.7

1 ,2 2 0

2,242
9,251
3,334
3,084
1,667
Farming, forestry, and fishing..........................................................................

Men employed in January
1982 and 1983

2 ,1 1 2

6 .8

11.9
3.6

44
14

1 0 .0

8.4
6 .2

13.1
6 .6

7.4

'Data not available.


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21

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Occupational Mobility

T a b le 5. O ccupatio nal distribution of em ployed civilians age 25 and over, w ho changed occupations betw een Januarv 1982
and Jan u ary 1983, by sex
[Percent distribution]
Different
occupation
in January
1982

Executive,
Admin­
admin­ Profes­ Tech­
istrative
nicians
istrative, sional
support,
and
special­ and Sales inclu­
related
Number
mana­
ding
ty
support
(in thou­ Percent gerial
clerical
sands)

Occupation

Handlers,
Precision Machine
Farm­
operators, Transpor­ equip­
Protec­
produc­
ing,
Other
assem­ tation and ment
tive
tion,
cleaners,
forestry,
blers,
material
service service craft, and
helpers,
and
and
moving
repair
and
fishing
inspectors
laborers

Men
Total, 25 years and over1 .............
Executive, administrative, and managerial
Professional specialty...............................
Technicians and related support...............
Sales occupations.......................................
Administrative support, including clerical

3,054
477
304
79
441
219

1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 00 .0
1 00 .0

2,403
316
286
77
308
786

1 0 0 .0

10.1

1 2 .6

1 0 0 .0
1 00 .0
1 00 .0
1 0 0 .0
1 0 0 .0

25.4
8.4
7.8
10.4
9.0

15.1
48.0

14.2
41.4
13.3

1 0 0 .0

3.2
5.0
7.9
11.9
2.4
3.7

10.1

12.5
44.0
15.9
6.9
8.3

1 1 .6
2 0 .0
1 1 .8

1 1 .0

7.9

1 .8

12.3
5.1

6 .6

.6

30.6
7.3

4.3
19.1
9.2
25.0

2.4
.3

12.5
14.1
8.5
4.8
24.3
9.3

34.6
30.3
15.0
40.0
29.5
59.1

2.1

.4
1 .6

5.9
4.6
6.5
7.7
2.3
5.0

18.7
9.7
10.7
17.9

10.3
3.1
.9

1 1 .6

4.0
5.6

17.4

6.1

8.3
27
31
2.9
39
6.7

5.6
1 0
1 8

32
44
7.6

3.0
5
2 J)
2J3
1.1

Women
Total, 25 years and over1..............
Executive, administrative, and managerial
Professional specialty...............................
Technicians and related support...............
Sales occupations.......................................
Administrative support, including clerical

8 .6

2.4
2.5
5.5
9.9

9.3
6.3

2 .0
1 .6

.3
.7
___
—

.7
.2

12.9
4.1
9.8
25.3
12.5
7.6

1.7
1.9
.1
1 .8

.7

8 .2

1.5
17

1 .0

1 .8
1 1
1
2 6

4.9
3.2

14

7

2 .6

.2

3.0
3.0

.4
1

7

includes other occupations, not shown separately.

ers predominated in industries sharply affected by the 198182 recession, some of them may have been pushed, at least
temporarily, into occupations with lower earnings and lower
status.
The factors associated with high occupational mobility
generally parallel those given for low job tenure. The con­
verse is also true. Thus, many mature workers reported both
high job tenure and low occupational mobility. The occu­
pational mobility rate for workers aged 45 and over in 1983
was only 4.0 percent.
T ab le 6. O ccupatio nal m obility rates fo r em ployed
civilians, by sex and age, 1 9 6 5 -8 3 , selected years
[In percent]
Occupational mobility rates1
1965-66 1972-73 1977-78 1980-81 1982-83
Men
Total, 18 years and o v e r ..................
18 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 over ....................

9.9
31.7
28.5
13.8
7.4
5.2
3.8
2.7

9.2
35.0
25.0
12.4

Total, 18 years and over not in
school.........................................

6 .2

8.1

3.5
2 .6

4.5
3.4

31.6
23.8
12.4
7.4
4.4
3.5

1.7

2 .0

1 .6

9.3
29.0
21.3
11.5
6.7
4.8
3.1
1.9

9.8

9.0

11.5

9.9

9.0

6.9
29.0
14.9
8.5
5.3
4.7
2.4

1 2 .0

39.5
22.9
14.4
9.3
5.1
3.6
2.5

11.7
35.8

26.0

2 2 .8

20.1

13.9
8.9
5.8
2.7

1 .8

8.4
32.6
18.9
9.9
6.3
3.3
2.4
2.5

1 .8

11.9
7.8
4.9
3.8
1.4

6 .8

8 .2

11.7

11.4

9.9

1 1 .6

10.1

40.5
27.3
15.5

Women
Total, 18 years and o v e r ..................
18 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 over .....................
Total, 18 years and over not in
school.........................................

10.1

1Number of persons employed in a different occupation in the prior year as a proportion
of the total employed in both years.

22

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Differences in occupational mobility by age are much
larger than differences by sex or race or ethnic group. For
example, the 22-percent mobility rate for workers 16 to 24
was 15 percentage points higher than the rate for those 35
to 44.
Single workers, being generally younger, are more likely
to change occupations than their married counterparts. But
age has a strong effect on mobility even within the single­
worker group. More than twice as many single workers
between the ages of 18 and 24 had changed occupations
during 1982 than those 25 and over (2,050 versus 803).
This relationship between age and occupational mobility
is similar to that between age and employer change: Youth
are far more likely to be occupationally mobile and to shift
employers than are adult workers.11 The extensive mobility
attributed to American workers applies for the most part to
young, not older, workers.
---------- F O O T N O TE S ---------1See Masanori Hashimoto and John Raisian, "Employment Tenure and
On-the-Job Training: Firm Size Differences in Japan and the United States,”
January 1984; and The N ew York T im es , June 17. 1984, "America’s
Astounding Job M achine.” quoting Orley C . Ashenfelter on the high
mobility of American versus British workers. For a discussion on occu­
pational mobility in Britain also see David Metcalf. L ow P ax, O ccu pation al
M ob ility, a n d M inim um -W age P o licy in B ritain (American Enterprise In­
stitute for Public Policy Research, 1981).
2 More detailed data on job tenure and occupational mobility are available
from the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
?Robert E. Hall, "The Importance of Lifetime Jobs in the U.S. Econ­
o m y ,” A m erican E con om ic R eview , September 1982. Hall also cites his
earlier work based on data for older men from the National Longitudinal
Survey of Work Experience, as well as related work, for example, George
A. Akerlof and Brian Main (A m erican E conom ic R eview , December 1981)
and Kazuo Koike (Japan ese E conom ic Stu dies. Fall 1978). The Koike

article (as cited by Hall) concludes that tenure of 15 years or longer is
more common in the United States than in Japan. For occupational mobility
in Japan, see Herman Kahn, The E m ergin g Japan ese Su perstate, C hallenge
a n d R esp o n se (Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1970). Examining employment prac­
tices o f large companies, such as the “ lifetime contract” made by the
employee with the firm, Kahn also notes the high mobility of workers
within firms and between firms of a conglomerate, and observes that in
terms o f worker mobility the U .S. economy in many ways is much more
rigid than the Japanese.
4The retention rate is computed by dividing the percent of workers aged
40 to 44 years with 20 to 24 years of tenure by the percent aged 30 to 34
with 10 to 14 years’ tenure. (It assumes that job tenure at older ages in
January 1983 can represent tenure of younger groups as they age over
time.) Using similar procedures, Hall (see footnote 3) found that more
than half o f all male workers over age 30 are holding jobs which will last
more than 20 years. Harvey R. Hamel (M onthly L a b o r R e v ie w , January
1967) also used such procedures but, in addition, his computation allowed
for the loss o f workers due to mortality. Hamel found, for example, that
46.9 percent o f men aged 35 to 39 with over 10 years’ service with their
1966 employer could be expected to remain with that employer an addi­
tional 10 years.
5It should be noted that the “ Hispanic origin” category is not a racial
classification. Persons in this group may appear in the white or black or
other racial categories.
6 Hall (see footnote 3) observes that while women on average have much
shorter job tenure than men, the typical number of jobs held over a lifetime
is almost the same.
7The 1983 questions relate specifically to tenure with the worker’s “ em­
ployer,” whereas the 1981 questions relate to one’s “ jo b .” Because work­
ers may change jobs without changing employers, the measures are not
exactly equivalent. (The relevant question in the 1983 survey was “ How
long has . . . been working continuously for the present employer (or as
self-employed)?” In previous surveys, the comparable question was “ When
did . . . start working at his present job or business?” )


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8 Occupational mobility is defined as a change in employment in a “ 3digit” census occupation in January 1983 from the one reported for January
1982. The mobility rate measures the proportion of workers who held the
January 1983 occupation, not the proportion leaving the 1982 occupation.
Thus, it reflects the percentage of workers in an occupation who come
from a different one, not the probability of workers leaving a given oc­
cupation.
The data on occupational mobility (as well as on occupational and job
tenure) are subject to certain limitations, such as those stemming from
differences in the way respondents report occupations from one year to
another, and limitations resulting from retrospective bias. These may result
in serious inconsistencies in response, and may lead to overstatements of
mobility. Note, too, that because the survey asks for workers’ occupation
only in January 1983 and January 1982, any intermediate changes during
the year are not included.
9This has been described as such in James J. Byrne, “ Occupational
mobility of workers,” M onthly L a b o r R eview , February 1975, pp. 5 3 -5 9 ,
reprinted as Special Labor Force Report No. 176. Other reports on oc­
cupational mobility appeared in the M onthly L ab o r R eview of June 1967,
December 1979, and September 1982. The last also included a section on
job tenure. Other reports on job tenure were published in the M onthly
L a b o r R eview of January 1967, September 1969, January 1973, and De­
cember 1979. These articles were reprinted as Special Labor Force Report
No. 84, No. 231. Bulletin 2162, Special Labor Force Report No. 77, No.
112, No. 172, and No. 235.
10See Earl F. Mellor, “ Investigating the differences in weekly earnings
of women and m en,” M onthly L a b o r R ev ie w , June 1984, p. 27.
" A study of labor mobility during 1940-50 found that job shifts of
younger workers were more “ com plex” than those of older workers. A
smaller proportion of older than younger workers changed employer, oc­
cupation, and industry at the same time; and employment shifts o f older
workers were more likely to involve only a change of employer. (Gladys
L. Palmer, L a b o r M ob ilitv in Six C ities (Social Science Research Council,
1954), p. 63.)

A note on communications
The Monthly Labor Review welcomes communications that supplement,
challenge, or expand on research published in its pages. To be considered
for publication, communications should be factual and analytical, not po­
lemical in tone. Communications should be addressed to the Editor-inChief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department
of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.

Pay differentials:
the case of Japan
In Japan, as in the United States, employees investment
in human capital cannot fully explain the tendency
o f larger firm s to pay higher wages; idiosyncrasies
o f the labor market, such as the extensive payment
o f bonuses and practices related to lifetime employment,
may account fo r much o f the remaining gap
Robert E vans , Jr .

In a review of industrial relations research conducted during
the 1970’s, James G. Scoville writes that, in both Japan
and the United States, size-of-firm wage differentials are
explained by differences in employees’ human capital.1
However, two recent studies suggest that human capital
differences do not completely explain the differentials in this
country. Using data for 1979, Wesley Mellow found that
wages in firms of 1,000 or more workers were 8 percent
greater than those in firms with fewer than 25 workers when
a number of factors, including education and experience,
were held constant.2 Martin E. Personick and Carl B. Barsky, who studied pay at various experience and responsi­
bility levels of professional, technical, and clerical
occupations, reported size-of-firm differentials for all but 1
of 25 job levels. Typically, these were only for the largest
corporations (more than 10,000 employees), where differ­
entials were 10 to 15 percent for professionals and 20 percent
for clerical and technical occupations over pay in firms with
500 or fewer employees.3
If elements of human capital do not completely explain
size-of-firm differentials in the United States, is Japan a
similar case? This article explores that issue, and suggests

Robert Evans, Jr. is Atran Professor of Labor Economics at Brandéis
University, Waltham, Mass.

24

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an answer based on data from the Chingin Kozo Kihon Tokei
Chosa [Wage Structure Survey].4

The employment decision in Japan
The model employment relationship in Japan is that of
Shushin Koyd [lifetime employment!.5 Under this system,
workers are initially employed upon graduation from school.
Once a worker is hired, the firm goes to great lengths to
provide continuous employment until the individual retires,
sometime between the ages of 50 and 60. In return for the
understood employer commitment to long tenure, the em­
ployee is expected to devote himself fully to the firm and
to allow management considerable flexibility as to the type
and geographical location of work assignments.
Remuneration consists of a basic wage, various allow­
ances, a semiannual bonus, and a number of fringe benefits.
The basic wage depends upon the employee’s education,
age, and job abilities. It is increased annually based upon
decisions made in collective bargaining. The annual increase
consists of two parts, one of which recognizes an additional
year of service to the firm, new job abilities, and merit, and
another that is a general increase in the base wage.
Given the employment opportunities and wage patterns
faced by the graduating student, what pecuniary variable
should be used in making the employment decision? Clearly,
it is some subjective assessment of the present value of

underlying the estimates relate to individuals whose tenure
suggests that they have been continuously employed by the
same firm since graduation. Thus, only a few of all possible
matched age-tenure pairs are shown, but these represent core
groups in the economy. Two distributions are presented,
one for monthly wages and one for monthly wages plus
one-twelfth of annual bonus payments. Again, the inclusion
of bonuses tends to increase the income differences among
the three size-of-firm classes, and the benefits of working
for the larger firms increase with age and tenure.
The pay relatives suggest little in the way of systematic
variation by industry, although those for transportation and
communications tend to be quite high in smaller firms while
those in finance and insurance are comparatively low. The
indices of each industry’s differentials were ranked and com­
pared to rankings by union penetration and proportion of
total employment in large firms by industry. Neither com­
parison indicated any systematic relationship with size-offirm differentials.
Except for occupations that require substantial training—
airline pilots, construction crafts, and so forth— occupa­
tional distinctions are weakly, if at all, correlated with wages
in Japan. Hence, while table 3 shows significant occupa­
tional wage differentials by size of firm, these results may
be less meaningful than estimates based on other variables.
The data in table 2 do suggest that experience with the
firm is seen as a specific human capital investment with its
own rewards. Yet the greater opportunity to achieve long
tenure which characterizes employment in large firms should
also be seen as an additional benefit to such employment,
unless the individual worker has a positive taste for risk.7
New graduates are quite aware that their prospects for long
tenure with a large firm are more promising than with a
smaller firm. For example, in 1981, 79.4 percent of all
college educated men age 45 to 49 who were employed in
firms with 1,000 workers or more had worked 20 or more
years for their current employer. The figure for those in
firms with 100 to 999 workers was 54.5 percent, and for
firms with 10 to 99 workers, it was 31.7 percent. Earnings

future earnings with the various firms. Such a present value
calculation would incorporate expected growth of the firm
relative to the economy, the pattern of wages associated
with long tenure, the pattern of wages if tenure is short
because of voluntary mobility or the firm’s economic dif­
ficulties, and so forth. For the observer trying to approximate
such individual calculations, the most desirable data would
be those on wages and bonuses by worker age, education,
and length of service, and, for the question at hand, the
size of the employing firm. Fortunately, these data are avail­
able in the annual Wage Structure Survey. It is thus possible
to account for the principal elements of human capital that
economists believe are important for wage determination,
and to differentiate these among three size-of-firm catego­
ries. (Of course, the individual graduate also considers other,
unquantifiable factors, such as his preference for risk, the
prestige of the firm, and subjective probabilities of advance­
ment, in making the final decision.)

Differentials by size of firm
Table 1 presents monthly wage and wage-plus-bonus6
relationships by size of firm and by workers’ age and ed­
ucational attainment for Japanese men who have been con­
tinuously employed by the same firm. (In 1980, about onefourth of the regular private-sector labor force were em­
ployed by firms of 1,000 workers or more, and another onefourth were in firms with 100 to 999 employees.) According
to the table, compensation is generally less in the smaller
companies, regardless of worker age or education. Monthly
wages are about the same in the two smaller size classes
until workers are in their forties, when those in the mediumsize firms begin to receive more. When bonus payments are
included as compensation, the differences between the larg­
est and smallest firms become more dramatic. In general,
the higher the level of education, the larger is the wage gap
by size of firm.
To more fully illuminate these relationships, table 2 pre­
sents compensation relatives by industry for broad age cat­
egories of high school and college educated men. Data

T ab le 1.

M on thly pay relatives for Japanese m en, by firm size and w o rk e r’s age and educatio nal attainm ent, 1981

[Firms with 1,000+ workers = 100]

_______________________________________________________________
College graduates
High school graduates

Junior high school graduates
Worker's age

18— 19
20— 24
25— 29
30— 34
35— 39
40— 44
45— 49
50— 54

10-99
workers

100-999
workers

97
98
106

97
90
96

100

100

94
95
85
77

94
95
85
77

10-99
workers

100-999
workers

Note: Data refer to men who have been continuously employed by the same firm,


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Wage + bonus

Wage

Wage + bonus

Wage
100-999
workers

10-99
workers

Source:

100-999
workers

10-99
workers

Wage
100-999
workers

10-99
workers

Wage + bonus
100-999
workers

10-99
workers

1981 Wage Structure Survey, vol. Ill, pp. 139-41.

25

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Japanese Pay Differentials
data for 50- to 54-year-old high school educated men suggest
that workers do not have to pay a compensation premium
for the greater probability of long tenure: Among those with
30 or more years of tenure, wages plus bonuses in large
firms are 17 percent higher than in middle-size firms and
31 percent higher than in small firms, while the comparable
figures for similarly aged workers at all levels of tenure are
25 percent and 40 percent.
Employment opportunities for women, especially at highlevel jobs and with the major employers, are markedly dif­
ferent from those for men, although there have been changes
toward equality during the postwar years. In particular, men’s
wages increase more with age: In 1981, the 50- to 54-yearold high school educated male with 1 to 2 years of firm
tenure had a monthly wage that was 56 percent higher than
that of a similarly educated 18- to 19-year-old. Among
women, the worker ag e-50 to 54 received only 17 percent
more than her younger counterpart. Yet, firm-specific tenure
appears to be relatively more valuable for older women than
for older men. This is probably because women with brief
tenure are likely to have been in the labor market for only
a short time, which is not typically the case for men. Yet,
when the compensation of high school educated workers
with at least 30 years’ tenure was compared by size of firm,
the patterns for men and women were quite similar. Wom­
en’s wages plus bonus in firms with 1,000 workers or more
were 18 percent higher than in firms with 100 to 999 work­
ers, and 26 percent higher than in small firms. Again, there
is no compensation premium paid by workers for the prob­
ability of long tenure in larger firms: At ages 50 to 54 for
all levels of tenure, wages plus bonus for women in the
largest firms were 36 percent higher than in middle-size
firms and 44 percent higher than in the smallest firms.

Tab le 2.

The puzzle
It seems clear in Japan, as in the United States, that the
standard human capital variables of education and experi­
ence do not completely explain, if ever they did, size-offirm differentials. In addition, it is evident that the Japanese
differential is much larger after age 40 or when bonus income
is included. Any explanation, therefore, must be consistent
with the age pattern demonstrated and the concentration of
the differential in the bonus portion of compensation.
It is possible that a more exhaustive test of worker char­
acteristics would reduce the size of the differential. We
know, for example, that the most able students enroll in the
very best schools, from which the larger, more successful
corporations seek employees.8 Yet it seems unlikely that
such difficult-to-measure characteristics of employees could
explain wage differentials of the magnitude shown in the
tables.
Widening differential with age. Some recent studies of
compensation by age include variables for implicit con­
tracts, experience, risk, incentives, and so forth, that may
explain the Japanese pattern. One approach incorporating a
variety of these concepts was presented in a 1982 article by
Milton Harris and Bengt Holmstrom.9
According to the authors, there are four possible reasons
why compensation increases with age: a) firms learn about
individual abilities and are better able to match workers to
jobs; b) workers begin to pay employers lower implicit
premiums to guarantee their ability to do acceptable work;
c) employees learn productivity-enhancing skills; and d) pay
levels are a particularly important means to motivate em­
ployees in a world of lifetime employment security. The
first two of these, while consistent with a general widening

M onthly pay relatives by industry and size of firm for selected age and ten u re group s of J a p an ese m en, 1981

[Firms with 1,000+ workers = 100]
Age 18 to 191
Industry

Wage

Age 30 to 342

Wage + bonus

Wage

Age 35 to 393

Wage + bonus

Wage

Age 50 to 544

Wage + bonus

Wage

Wage + bonus
100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99 100-999 10-99
workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers workers

All p riva te ..........

93

89

91

88

91

91

88

84

88

79

84

71

86

79

79

60

M ining.....................
Construction..........
Manufacturing . . . .
Trade.......................
Finance and
insurance.............

75

83

77

81

112

90
95

100
86

93

85
82
82
94

70
82
82
114

82
77
78

62

87
95

92
97
93
92

88

102

91
83

90
96

93
92
95

90

111

89
90
93
89

110

94

106

95

74

105

116
93

100

111

99

Real e sta te .............
Services..................
Transportation
and communication..........
Utilities.....................

101

124

126

116

102

100

101

91
85

83

95
85
89
87

83

84
90
83
83

90
69

72

67

80

79

76

75

87

76

80

63

85
90

84
91

78
84

92
94

79
93

87
90

70
84

91
88

98
85

80
81

86

92

91
92

116
96

125
92

130
90

110

110

102

102

91

89

85

99
90

94

94

95
80

93
64

87
81

83
63

88

’ Data for 18- to 19-year-olds are for those withless than 1year of firm tenure, or
approximately 59 percent of the total age cohort.
2Data for 30- to 34-year-olds are for those with 10to 14 years oftenure,or about 26
percent of the total cohort.

26

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88

84
86

86

88

68
68
101

73

3Data for 35- to 39-year-olds are for those with 10 to 14 years of tenure, or about 50
percent of the total cohort.
4Data for 50- to 54-year-olds are for those with 25 to 29 years of tenure, or about 38
percent of the total cohort.

Tab le 3. M on thly pay relatives by o ccupation and size of
th e em p lo yin g firm fo r Japanese m en age 35 to 39 w ith 10
to 14 years of tenure, 1981
[Firms with 1,000+ workers = 100]
Occupation
Department head..................
Section head..........................
Systems engineer...............
Programmer..........................
Chauffeur...............................
Truck d rive r..........................
Guard....................................
Chemical reaction worker . .
Metal press operator..........
Crane operator.....................
Lathe o p e ra tor.....................
Machine assem bler.............
Mechanical draftsman..........
Auto assembler.....................
Retail sales (except
department stores)..........

10--99 workers

100--999 workers
Wage
92
79

Wage + bonus

Wage

Wage + bonus

86

_

_

—

—
82

86
101

74
84
97

87

86

90
73
97

89
66

86

95
77

88

87
67
92
80
95

84
64
90
76
89

73

106

96
85
104

93
92
94
93

91
91
91
92

88
100

95
82

85
85
89
78

87

80

87

78

86

of the wage differentials over time, do not imply a rapid
shift after the age of 40. The second two appear to be more
relevant.
In the larger firms, there is more physical capital per
worker, which could yield greater productivity, and thus
justify higher wages. It also is probable that the interaction
of higher quality employees with similar employees and with
higher levels of physical capital generates greater increases
in human capital in the larger firms. The development of
productivity enhancing skills with additional tenure may
well be an important element in the ability of large firms
to pay high wages. Indeed, in the context of a technologyspecific skills model, Hong Tan has argued that such gains
over a working life are key determinants of Japanese wage
patterns.10 A somewhat similar argument was made by Kazuo Koike, who hypothesized that the more developed sys­
tem of internal training in large firms provides a greater
range of technologically related positions than is true in
smaller firms, which in turn contributes to wage differentials
by size of firm." However, even if enhanced skills are an
important factor, there remains the problem of timing. Why
should so much of the differential be concentrated in the
years after age 40?
The last element, motivational allowances, may best ex­
plain the time pattern.12 As is well known by the organizers
of games of chance, large prizes and prizes that are ever in
the future seem to have disproportionate power to motivate
participants when compared to their discounted value. Many
of the new employees in major Japanese firms will not be
there to collect their “ prize” at older ages, but the promise
of greater compensation is a constant motivating factor.
Thus, the firm saves money compared to paying an annual
motivational allowance to each employee. In a sense, the
firm also has received an interest-free loan from the em­
ployee, who has tacitly agreed to defer a portion of com­
pensation to later worklife. In a rapidly growing economy,


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such an arrangement is highly advantageous to the firm, but
even in less dynamic times an interest-free loan has value.
Japanese institutions. There are two institutional factors
unique to Japan which also have significantly affected the
time pattern of the differential and its size. The concept of
a living wage based upon family needs has long been im­
portant in Japan.13 It is rooted in the nation’s history, but
has become more prominent since World War I, and par­
ticularly since the economic difficulties of the post-World
War II years. The concept provides that wages should in­
crease over a worker’s life to accommodate marriage, the
birth of children, the high costs of private college, and
savings for early retirement from the primary employer. The
latter two factors would suggest significant wage increases
after the age of 40.
The second institutional consideration is that the nature
of the large corporation in postwar Japan is quite different
than in prewar years. Formerly, corporations were uniquely
capitalistic, owned and controlled by wealthy individuals.
However, share ownership in postwar Japan has tended to
be diluted into the hands of other firms and banks. There
is a high proportion of capital in the form of loans and
internally generated funds, and an almost complete absence
of outside directors. These changes, in conjunction with
Japanese historical patterns and moral visions, have per­
suaded many scholars that today’s large firms are essentially
collectives of employees who hire high risk-high gain capital
from shareholders and low risk-fixed gain capital from banks.
If the assumption that the Japanese corporation is a collective
of employees which hires capital rather than a collective of
owners of capital which hires workers (including senior
managers) is valid, it is hardly surprising that economic
rents are shared among the members of the collective— the
employees.14
The extensive use of bonus payments as the mechanism
to pay out significant portions of the higher income received
by employees in large firms is more complicated to explain.
The payment of a semiannual bonus is a very old Japanese
practice which was intended to provide ^employees with
sufficient funds to meet the extra needs associated with cer­
tain cultural and religious practices. The bonus also served
to provide a measure of equity and motivation in the form
of profit sharing. However, with the democratization of
employment in the postwar years, a significant bonus, which
to an extent had been reserved for white-collar and man­
agement employees, was extended to all workers.15
While extensively used by all Japanese employers, the
bonus tends to be relatively larger in the larger firms, while
smaller firms compete for labor on the basis of regular
monthly wages. The emphasis small firms give to wages as
opposed to bonuses seems to be attributable to two factors:
First, the firm wants to provide a monthly wage to cover
the necessities of life, and second, a somewhat less rosy
employment future gives any “ promised” bonus made by
27

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Japanese Pay Differentials
a smaller employer less value than an equivalent promise
by a large employer. Consequently, one would expect that
smaller firms would first meet competitive levels in monthly
wages, and only later meet those of the bonus.

Tab le 5. M edian and in terqu artile range of current-dollar
m o n th ly w ages in m anufacturing for m ale production
w o rkers age 35 to 39, by size of firm , selected years
[In thou sands of yen]

1,000 + workers

Patterns over time

Year

There is no simple measure of the degree of wage dif­
ference by size of firm because the wage ratios between
alternative matched pairs do not all move together. To de­
scribe movements over time, I chose to examine wages for
35- to 39-year-old male high school graduates with 15 to
19 years of tenure who worked as production workers in
manufacturing (table 4). In addition, data on wage disper­
sion are provided for selected years (table 5). According to
table 4, size-of-firm differentials that were quite wide in
1955 closed somewhat, reaching near equality in 1964. The
1960’s were a period of generally tightening differentials as
the labor market became much more competitive, and the
productivity levels of small firms approached those of large
firms.16 After 1967, the differential gradually widened until
a second period of near equality occurred during the oilshock years 1973-74. This second narrowing was undoubt­
edly related to inflation,17 for employment growth in man­
ufacturing had leveled off, turning negative by 1972.
The estimates in table 4, which have been standardized
for industry, general type of work, age, sex, education, and
firm tenure, suggest that size-of-firm wage differentials have
remained relatively constant since 1975. However, the fig­
ures in table 5, which exclude bonuses and include data for
Tab le 4.

T rends in pay re la tiv e s 1 by size of firm , 1 9 5 5 -8 1

[Firm s w ith 1 ,0 0 0 + em ployees = 100 ]

Wage

Wage + bonus

Year

100-999
workers

10-99
workers

100-999
workers

1981............................
1980............................
1979............................
1978............................
1977............................
1976............................
1975............................

94
92
95
96
96
95
96

91

92
91
93
93
94
93
95

1974 ............................
1973............................
1972............................
1971............................
1970............................
1969............................
1968............................

100

1967............................
1966............................
1965............................
1964............................
1961............................
I9602 ..........................
19553 ..........................

97
97
95
99
93
96

105
98
93
92
91
92

86

88

91
91
90
90
89
90
94

10-99
workers
86

81
84
84
84
82
83

100

86

83

104
96
93
93

86

88

82

89

90
82
80
79
79
75

95
95
94
93
80
80

95
93
92

87
85
83

88
86

66

101

—

—

'-

_
_

_
_

1Data are for male production workers in manufacturing who had at least a high school
education, and who were age 35 to 39 with 15 to 19 years of tenure in the reference
year.
2Data are for all 35- to 39-year-old male blue-collar high school graduates, regardless
of tenure.
3Data are for all high school educated men with 15 to 19 years of tenure, regardless
of age. In 1955, data were available for five employment size categories. The differentials
shown here were estimated from the differentials of component size categories weighted
by the number of employees in each.

28


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1954
1960
1967
1974
1981

Median
2 2 .6

31.6
54.0
131.3
214.8

Interquar­
tile range
.40
.44
.32
.22
.20

100- 999 workers

10-99 workers

Median

Interquar­
tile range

Median

Interquar­
tile fange

18.6
25.3
45.6
121.7
197.9

.51
.49
.63
.30
.25

13.7
19.4
40.0
109.9
190.7

.57
.71
.48
.37
.30

N o t e : The interquartile range, a common measure of dispersion, is the difference
between the highest wage observation for the bottom 25 percent of the workers and the
lowest observation for the top 25 percent.

workers at all levels of education and years of firm tenure,
show a continuing narrowing of the dispersion of wages
within the three size classes. Both tables imply that there
has been a greater narrowing of differences between firms
of 10 to 99 employees and those with 100 to 999 employees
than between the latter and firms of 1,000 and more em­
ployees.

A comparison with the United States
Recent estimates of size-of-firm differentials in the United
States, cited earlier, permit some limited comparisons. Wes­
ley Mellow’s estimate of an 8-percent pay advantage in firms
of 1,000 workers or more over firms with fewer than 25
employees appears relatively modest compared to most of
the differentials for Japanese men shown in tables 1 and 2.
In the United States, as in Japan, the large-firm differential
was greater when specific firm tenure was not considered,
and the differential existed across all major industries, al­
though the U.S. differential appeared to be greater in man­
ufacturing than in nonmanufacturing.
Personick and Barsky’s study of professional, technical,
and clerical occupations revealed as typical 10-to 15-percent
differentials for professionals and a 20-percent gap for cler­
ical and technical occupations between firms of 10,000 or
more employees and those with 500 or fewer employees.
Although these estimates are for quite different firm-size
classes, they do approximate the differentials reported in
table 1 for younger Japanese high school and college grad­
uates, but they are smaller than those for older college
educated males. Interestingly, the U.S. size-of-firm differ­
ential seemed to be larger for workers with less than a
college education. Also, the U.S. differentials were larger
for entry-level positions than for higher levels of experience.
Again, this is the opposite of the Japanese case, in which
differentials widen at older ages. These differences between
the two countries are consistent with a situation in which
large firms pay above-market prices in order to pick and
choose among applicants whose employment potential has
not yet been established, but in which one economy em­
braces the norm of continuous tenure from graduation while
the other anticipates considerable interfirm mobility at young­
er ages.
□

F O O T N O TE S

‘ James G. Scoville, “ A Review of International and Comparative Re­
search in the 1970’s , ” in Thomas A. Kochan, Daniel J. B. Mitchel, and
Lee Dyer, ed s., In d u stria l R ela tio n s R esea rch in the 1 9 7 0 ’s: R eview an d
A p p ra isa l (Madison, W is., Industrial Relations Research Association, 1982),
p. 25.
2 W esley M ellow, “ Employer Size and W ages,” R eview o f E con om ics

are bargained and expressed in monthly-wage equivalents, the average
number o f months of bonus for a given sex, age, education level, and size
of firm times the monthly wage at the relevant tenure level divided by 12
has been added to the average monthly wage to obtain estimates o f the
monthly wage plus bonus.

3 Martin E. Personick and Carl B. Barsky, “ White-collar pay levels
linked to corporate work force siz e,” M onthly L a b o r R e v ie w , May 1982,
pp. 2 4 -2 6 .

7
No doubt there are today some combinations o f equity participation
and employee compensation in small firms which will ultimately provide
more income than a slow but steady progression in a large firm. The key
would be to know which small firm in 1981 is the Sony or Honda o f the
future.

4 Published since 1954 and annually since 1964 by the Japanese Ministry
o f Labor.

“Shigemi Wakamatsu, “ Foreign Firms Compete for Local Talent in
Japan,” The A sian W all S treet Journal, Apr. 27, 1983, p. 8.

a n d S ta tistic s , August 1982, pp. 49 5 -5 0 1 .

5 Ever since James Abbeglen coined the phrase “ lifetime commitment”
(translated into Japanese as shushin koyd and then retranslated as lifetime
employment), there has been a lively debate over the nature and extent of
this system. Recently, the tendency has been to downplay the significance
o f lifetime employment for the Japanese economy; given the early ages of
mandatory retirement (currently 55 to 60 years), the higher levels of mo­
bility among those who work for smaller firms, and so forth, few individuals
literally spend their entire working lives with a single employer. However,
the impact o f shushin k o yd should not be measured by the proportion of
workers who do spend their entire lives in the employ of one firm. Perhaps
the most important role of the system is to promote a concept of mutual
commitment between employers and their workers that dominates the Jap­
anese labor market and shapes practices even for those workers (including
most women) who are not beneficiaries of the benefits which the system
provides to workers more directly involved.
6 In Japan, wages (including any overtime payments) are paid on a
monthly basis, and that is the wage concept used in this study. In a world
o f continuous employment, hours of work for full-time workers are a
condition o f employment and not a variable which should be divided into
wages. Use o f average hourly rates would only expand the differences
reported here: In 1981, average monthly hours worked by male employees
were 197 in firms o f 1,000 workers or more, 200 in firms of 100 to 999
workers, and 210 in firms of 10 to 99 workers. Middle school graduates
worked more hours than did high school graduates, who worked more
hours than college graduates, and for each educational level, the larger the
firm, the fewer the hours.
The bonus data (technically special payments, of which bonuses are the
principal part) for table 2 are available by sex, age, educational attainment,
and size o f employing firm, but not by length of tenure. Because bonuses


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^Milton Harris and Bengt Holmstrom, “ A Theory of Wage Dynam ics,”
R eview o f E con om ics a n d S ta tistics, July 1982, pp. 315 -3 3 .

l0Hon W. Tan, “ Wage Determination in Japanese Manufacturing: A
Review of Recent Literature,” E con om ic R eco rd , March 1982, pp. 5 6 57.
"K uzuo Koike, “ Workers in Small Firms and Women in Industry,”
in Taishiro Shirai, ed ., C on tem porary Industrial R elation s in Japan (Mad­
ison, University o f Wisconsin Press, 1983), pp. 99-1 0 0 .
I2Edward P. Lazear makes a similar point in “ Agency, Earnings Pro­
files, Productivity and Hours Restrictions,” A m erican E conom ic R eview ,
September 1981, p. 618.
l3Naornichi Funahashi, “ The Industrial Reward System ,” in Kazuo
Okochi and others, eds. W orkers a n d E m ployers in Japan (Tokyo, Uni­
versity of Tokyo Press, 1974), p. 362.
l4Kenichi Ohmae, The M in d o f the S tra teg ist (New York, McGrawHill, 1982), p. 219; Naoto Sasaki, M anagem en t a n d Industrial Structure
in Japan (London, Oxford-Pergamon Press, 1981), p. 63; and Gene Gre­
gory, “ The Logic of Japanese Enterprise,” a paper presented at the In­
ternational Productivity Symposium, Tokyo, May 1983, p. 38.
15

For a history of the development of the bonus system, see Koji Taira,

E con om ic D evelo p m en t a n d the L abor M arket in Japan (New York, Co­

lumbia University Press, 1971).
l6Taishiro Shirai and Haruo Shimada, “ Japan,” in John T. Dunlop and
Walter Galenson, eds., L a b o r in the Tw entieth C entury (New York, Ac­
ademic Press, 1978), p. 307.
l7The impact of inflation on differentials is discussed in Robert Evans,
Jr., “ Wage Differentials, Excess Demand for Labor and Inflation: A Note,”
R eview o f E con om ics a n d S ta tistics, February 1963, pp. 9 5 -9 8 .

29

A comparison of youth unemployment
in Australia and the United States
Once remarkably low, youth joblessness in Australia
has risen steadily with recession
and the end o f the long postwar period o f labor scarcity;
recent unemployment rates
rival the high rates among U.S. youth
A llan B orowski

Neither Australia nor the United States has escaped the
international “ unemployment plague.” In common with the
other industrialized countries in the Organization for Eco­
nomic Cooperation and Development area (the most notable
exception being Japan), Australia and the United States are
experiencing high rates of overall and youth unemployment.
This article examines the comparative labor market situation
of youth in both countries. It also reviews the most frequent
explanations of the causes of youth unemployment, which
relate to high labor costs, demography, and the general
economic situation.
Youth unemployment rates are affected by the overall job
market. Thus, the emergence of youth unemployment as a
major problem in Australia and its growing seriousness in
the United States cannot be understood independently of the
general growth in unemployment.

Overall unemployment
The beginning of the world economic recession in 1974,
precipitated by steep price rises for Middle East oil in late
1973, marked the collapse of full employment in Australia
and a deterioration in labor market conditions in the United
States. Indeed, the world recession adversely affected the
labor markets of virtually all of the industrialized nations.

Allan Borowski is a lecturer, Department of Social Work, La Trobe Uni­
versity, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

30

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By the end of 1981, the unemployment rate in the United
Kingdom had reached 10.6 percent, the highest in the West­
ern world. At the same time, the unemployment rate was
8.5 percent in Italy, 7.6 percent in the United States and
Canada, 7.3 percent in France, 4.8 percent in Germany,
and 2.2 percent in Japan.1
The Australian unemployment rate stood at 6.3 per­
cent2— a relatively moderate rate compared with the Amer­
ican rate and prevailing international rates. With rare
exceptions, these rates represented the highest incidence of
unemployment in each country since World War II and the
highest absolute number of unemployed workers since the
Great Depression of the 1930’s.
Recently, the progressive economic decline that began in
1974 accelerated quite sharply in Australia. Domestic de­
mand flattened out in the fourth quarter of 1981 and began
to deteriorate in the first half of 1982. The 3 previous years
had seen some economic growth spurred on by investment
in the mining and basic metal industries. The recent decline
in the Australian economy has been such that in the first
quarter of 1983 real gross nonfarm product— the measure
of the industrial sector of the economy— represented the
poorest economic performance in 8 years.
The recent accelerated decline of the Australian economy
and the 1981-82 U.S. economic recession have led to siz­
able increases in the unemployment rate over a very brief
period. The seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment rate
reached a 42-year peak of 10.7 percent in December 1982,3

while the Australian unemployment rate peaked at 10.3
percent in March 1983.4 These unemployment rates rep­
resented 12,036,000 unemployed Americans out of a total
labor force of 112,794,000 and 714,000 unemployed Aus­
tralians out of a labor force of 6,950,000.
There was modest improvement in Australia toward the
end of 1983, but in January 1984 unemployment again stood
at 10.3 percent. By May 1984, however, the overall un­
employment rate (the most recent figure) was approximately
9 percent. By contrast, the U.S. unemployment rate has
been slowly declining since January 1983 and by May 1984
had reached 7.5 percent.
Although Australia’s 1983 unemployment rate was only
marginally higher than that of the United States, the Aus­
tralian rate represents a relatively more serious problem to
that country. Even prior to the world economic recession,
U.S. unemployment rates were high compared with Aus­
tralia’s. Rates in excess of 5 percent were experienced in
1949-50, 1954, 1958-64, 1971-72 and in each year since
1974.5 In contrast, Australia’s past employment perfor­
mance has been impressive. At the end of 1950, the un­
employment rate stood at 0.2 percent— the all-time low.
Between 1945 and 1973, it exceeded 2 percent only in the
recession years of 1952-53, 1960-62, and 1972. During
most of this period, the labor force grew rapidly and the
unemployment rate averaged between 1 and 1.5 percent.6
Indeed, for more than 25 years following World War II,
Australia’s manpower problems were defined as labor short­
ages and the solution was massive immigration. For two
decades, immigration contributed 40 percent of the annual
growth in the Australian labor force.7
In view of Australia’s postwar experience of nearly un­
interrupted full employment, the labor market situation since
1974 represents a much more severe and rapid deterioration
than that of comparable Western economies. Bettina Cass
wrote in 1981 that Australian figures show a steeper decline
in the rate of growth of employment and a higher rate of
growth in unemployment in comparison with, for example,
the United States and West Germany.8

Labor force surveys
Australian and U.S. labor force survey data can be com­
pared because the survey methods are similar: they are a
central component of monthly population surveys involving
interviews with members of a sample of representative
households. The Australian population survey covers more
than 33,000 households, while the U.S. sample survey cov­
ers approximately 60,000 households.
The definition of the labor force is fundamental to any
labor force survey. Comparison between the labor force data
of the two countries is facilitated by the similarity in the
definitions of employed and unemployed persons, defini­
tions which conform to the international standard definitions
specified by the International Labor Organization. Revisions
of the ilo definitions in 1982 specified that student job­


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seekers should be classified as unemployed. However, even
prior to 1982, the labor force survey data of Australia and
the United States were comparable. This is because both
countries departed from the practice of most others by in­
cluding in their unemployment figures unemployed teen­
agers in full-time education who sought jobs during the
school year.9
However, there are some differences between the defi­
nitions used in the labor force surveys. Although nominally
covering all teenagers from age 15 to 19, the Australian
data effectively cover 15- to 17-year-olds only. This is be­
cause the definition of students relates only to those enrolled
full time at regular secondary schools, which few 18- or
19-year-olds attend. Excluded from the student work force
figures are persons enrolled at colleges, universities, and
trade and business schools. Because of these exclusions, as
well as the exclusion of part-time students, the Australian
proportion of the teenage student labor force is understated,
compared with the U.S. measure.
Also, there is a difference between the two countries with
regard to the lower limit of the youth segment of the labor
force captured by the labor force surveys. The lower age
limit is generally considered to be the age at which com­
pulsory schooling ends and the age at which teenagers may
enter the labor market on a full-time basis. This lower age
limit is 15 in Australia and 16 in the United States. However,
both countries define the upper age limit of the youth labor
force as 24 years of age.

Composition of the youth labor force
The labor force activity of students features prominently
in American analyses of the dimensions of youth unem­
p lo y m e n t. A r e c e n t in te rn a tio n a l s tu d y o f u n e m p lo y m e n t

observed that the working student is very much an American
phenomenon, whereas young workers or jobseekers in other
countries are mainly out-of-school youth.10 In 1979, nearly
45 percent of U.S. teenage students held a job and, between
1967 and 1977, student labor force participation rates in­
creased by about 5 percentage points for male teens and 13
percentage points for female teens.11
Yet the observation made by the international study is
less true of Australia today than it was a decade ago. Aus­
tralia experienced considerable growth in part-time youth
employment during the 1970’s and a substantial part was
accounted for by the rising proportion of full-time students
who were in the labor force— from 5 percent in 1971 to 27
percent in 1981.12
Students manifest a particular proclivity to frequently en­
ter and exit the labor force because, as noted, they are
typically employed in part-time (often casual) jobs. Con­
sequently, student unemployment tends to magnify overall
youth unemployment rates. Thus, while there appears to be
a gradual confluence in Australian and American trends with
regard to student labor activity, the higher U.S. student
participation rate exerts a stronger upward pressure on youth
31

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Youth Unemployment in Australia
unemployment rates than does the comparatively lower Aus­
tralian student participation rate.
Most countries have certain groups within the labor force
that are more prone to unemployment than others. In the
United States, blacks and Hispanics have fared far worse
in the labor market than whites. Consequently, racial-ethnic
distinctions characterize American labor force surveys. In
contrast, the composition of the Australian labor force is
primarily differentiated in terms of socioeconomic status.
Thus, given the differences in the composition of the Aus­
tralian and U.S. labor forces, youth unemployment is de­
scribed only in terms of the common dimensions of sex and
age.

Youth unemployment rates by age and sex
Australian youth unemployment rates have steadily in­
creased over the last decade or so. While youth unemploy­
ment rates hovered around 3 percent between the mid-1960’s
and early 1970’s, 1974 marked a turning point. In that year,
the youth unemployment rate reached 4.9 percent and grew
steadily in succeeding years— 9.7 percent in 1975, 10 per­
cent in 1976, 12 percent in 1977, 12.6 percent in 1978, and
13 percent in 1979. U.S. youth unemployment rates also
rose with the onset of the world economic recession, in­
creasing by 4.3 points between 1974 and 1975 alone to 16.1
percent. The balance of the 1970’s witnessed a slow decline
in U.S. unemployment rates, but the 1979 rate of 11.7
percent was still as high as the 1974 rate.13
The turn of the decade saw the continued growth in Aus­
tralian youth unemployment and a reversal of the slow de­
cline in U.S. youth unemployment rates to the high levels
reached in both countries by March 1983. (See table 1.)
The absolute numbers of unemployed Australian youth
translate into youth unemployment rates of 24.3 percent for
teenagers, 15.4 percent for young adults, and 19.1 percent
for the youth segment of the labor force as a whole. The
corresponding unemployment rates for the United States are
23.5 percent, 15.4 percent, and 18.1 percent. Clearly, teen­
agers in both countries are experiencing unemployment lev­
els well in excess of young adult levels.
The male youth unemployment rate is higher than the
female rate in both Australia (19.8 percent compared with
T ab le 1. Youth unem ploym ent rates in A ustralia and the
U nited S tates by age and sex, M arch 1983, seasonally
adjusted
[In percent]
Australia
Age

All y o u th .......................
Teenagers1 ...............
Young adults2 ..........

United States

Men

Women

Both
sexes

Men

Women

Both
sexes

19.8
23.2
17.6

18.3
25.6
12.5

19.1
24.3
15.4

19.5
25.2
16.6

16.6
21.5
14.1

18.1
23.5
15.4

11ncludes persons who are 15 to 19 years old in Australia and those who are 16 to
19 years old in the United States,
includes persons 20 to 24 years old for both countries.

32

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18.3 percent) and the United States (19.5 percent compared
with 16.6 percent). However, when the male and female
youth unemployment rates are further disaggregated by age
(teenagers versus young adults), the Australian data indicate
that the apparent labor market advantage of female youth
is confined to the 20- to 24-year-old age group. Thus, for
15- to 19-year-olds the male unemployment rate was 23.2
percent while the female rate was 25.6 percent. This pattern
is reversed in the 20- to 24-year-old age group where the
male unemployment rate is 17.6 percent and the female rate
is 12.5 percent. In the United States, female teenagers and
female young adults fared better in the labor market than
their male counterparts. Thus, the male teenage unemploy­
ment rate was 25.3 percent and the female rate was 21.5
percent while those for young adults were 16.6 percent
(male) and 14.1 percent (female).
The figures on the incidence of youth unemployment in
Australia and the United States underscore the gravity of
the problem in both countries. Indeed, both are experiencing
youth unemployment rates that are 2 to 3 times higher than
adult unemployment rates. Part of this differential is because
of the higher job mobility of students and of youth in gen­
eral. Further, youth account for an acutely disproportionate
share of the unemployed labor force— 50.4 percent in Aus­
tralia and 37 percent in the United States in March 1983.14
As in 1980, Australia still probably shares with Britain and
Italy the dubious distinction of having the highest propor­
tions of youth among the unemployed in the Western in­
dustrialized countries.15

Discouraged workers
The unemployment figures cited so far in this article ac­
tually understate the extent of the unemployment problem.
This is because they exclude the individuals of working age
who have been discouraged from seeking work because they
believe there is none to be found.
Data on discouraged workers are gathered by Australia
and the United States. Questions dealing with these workers
were first included in the Australian labor force surveys in
1975 and data are collected twice a year— in March and
September. U.S. data on discouraged workers, gathered on
a quarterly basis, were first published in 1969.
Both labor force surveys use similar definitions of the
discouraged worker, namely, unemployed persons who want
a job but are not actively seeking work because they believe
there is none to be found for any of the following rea­
sons: (1) no jobs in their locality or line of work; (2) lack
the necessary training, skill, or experience; (3) considered
by employers to be either too young or too old; and (4)
have personal or social handicaps such as language or racial
difficulties.
In both countries, changes in the number of discouraged
workers have generally paralleled cyclical changes in the
overall unemployment rate.16 In March 1983, there were
113,200 discouraged workers in Australia who represented

15.5 percent of all unemployed persons.17 At the same time,
there were 1,871,000 discouraged U.S. workers.18 The pro­
portion of discouraged workers among America’s unem­
ployed was the same as Australia’s.
American labor force surveys have shown large numbers
of discouraged teenagers and young adults.19 This contrasts
markedly with the Australian situation. Thus, in March 1983,
there were slightly more than a half million discouraged
youthful workers in the United States, and they represented
11.6 percent of the approximately 4.5 million out-of-work
American youth. Discouraged youthful Australian workers
totaled a modest 15,800 or 4.4 percent of Australia’s outof-work youth.

Labor costs
The cost of youthful labor has been advanced as an ex­
planation of rising youth unemployment in the two coun­
tries. Although the theoretical foundations and posited effects
are similar, American analysts have focused upon the price
of youthful (mainly teenage) labor relative to the market­
clearing wage, while Australian analysts have focused upon
youths’ wages in direct relation to adults’ wages. The rea­
sons for this difference are twofold: first, the institutional
mechanisms for the determination of youth’s wages differ
in the two countries and, second, the trend in the ratio of
youth wages relative to adult wages in Australia is opposite
to that of the U.S. trend.
The United States and Australia, among other countries,
have minimum wage laws. The United States passed its
minimum-wage legislation in 1938 as part of the Fair Labor
Standards Act. With the exception of an exemption intro­
duced in 1961 permitting full-time students to be hired at a
s u b m i n i m u m w a g e of 85 p e r c e n t of th e b a s i c m i n i m u m w a g e
(the Student Certification Program), a uniform minimum
wage prevails. In contrast, the institutional mechanism for
establishing wage levels (and some other working condi­
tions) in Australia is the industrial tribunal. There are many
Federal and State tribunals in that country covering a di­
versity of occupations and industries. The tribunals pre­
scribe minimum, or “ award,” wages for “ juniors” (that is,
teenagers). Award wages for juniors are based on vague
notions of need in relation to the cost of living and the work
value of juniors in comparison with adults. However, in the
main, they tend to vary according to changes in adult award
wages. There are currently several thousand awards in ex­
istence.20
United States. The issue of the minimum wage has as­
sumed considerable importance in discussions of youth un­
employment in the United States because of the supposed
negative correlation that exists between the level of the
minimum wage and the level of employment of young peo­
ple in minimum-wage jobs where they are disproportion­
ately represented— 44.2 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds in
1980.21 In the standard competitive model, a minimum wage,


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if it is to be effective in achieving any of its goals, must be
established above the market-clearing wage leading firms
to reduce the quantity of (demand for) labor. In view of
their disproportionate representation among minimum-wage
employees, teenagers are thought to be particularly vulner­
able to minimum-wage hikes.
The minimum wage, however, can also affect the supply
of labor: an increase in the going price of labor consequent
to an increase in the minimum wage may produce a positive
response on the supply side if the supply of labor is posi­
tively sloped,22 that is, low-wage workers may be attracted
to reenter the labor market in search of the higher remu­
neration represented by the improved minimum-wage level.
In accounting for youth unemployment, analysts assume that
the unemployment effects of a hike in the minimum wage
(a decrease in the demand for youthful labor) will be stronger
than the employment effect (an increase in the supply of
labor) leading to an overall net reduction in employment.
Based on available studies of the effect of the minimum
wage,23 it would appear that while the minimum wage has
been argued as a primary cause of youth unemployment in
the United States, empirical evidence suggests that its con­
tribution to youth unemployment is small. Clearly, the min­
imum wage is unable to account for the bulk of U.S. youth
unemployment.
Australia. In Australia, the relationship of youth wages to
adult wages has been seen as an important cause of youth
unemployment. During the 1970’s, Australia experienced
tremendous upward pressure on wages and salaries in gen­
eral. Many analysts have asserted that this produced a sit­
uation referred to in Australia as “ wage overhang,” which
arises when earnings increases outpace productivity gains.
This results in a rise in the cost of labor relative to the cost
of capital, which serves as a disincentive to the use of labor
as a factor of production. The high cost of labor is viewed
by many Australians as a major cause of their country’s
high overall unemployment and inflation rates.
While young and older workers alike benefited from the
improved wage levels in Australia, analysts have argued
that the young worker benefited more. The progressive in­
crease in youth unemployment since 1974 has been directly
attributed to the higher price of young labor. Thus, em­
ployers tended to hire adult workers in preference to youth
who could command similar wages.
By contrast, between 1967 and 1977, American youth
experienced a decrease in their wages relative to adult wages
despite upward adjustments in the minimum wage. Drawing
on traditional supply-and-demand analysis, Richard B.
Freeman and David A. Wise argue that the downward trend
in youth wages relative to adult wages was the product of
the increasing proportion of youth in the population.24
Just as the evidence provided by American studies on the
impact of the minimum wage on youth unemployment is
mixed, so is the evidence provided by Australian studies.
33

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Youth Unemployment in Australia
With regard to the trend in youth-adult w^ge relationships,
one study found that youths’ wages relative to adults’ wages
remained virtually static between 1966 and 197625 while
another, focusing upon individual industries, found that wages
in some jobs in a small number of industries had risen.26
Perhaps the most comprehensive study of the relationship
between youth wages and employment was recently released
by the Australian Bureau of Labor Market Research.27 The
Australian Bureau’s study, which drew on the most current
data available, found that a sudden compression in the wage
spread between youth (juniors) and adults occurred during
1972 and 1975. Indeed, the compression in wages largely
occurred before the onset of the recession in 1974. Junior
award wages rose by 8 percent relative to those of adults
between early 1972 and mid-1974, and both sexes experi­
enced similar compressions in junior-adult wages. The
compression was greatest for the youngest juniors (for ex­
ample, a 13.6-percent compression for 17-year-olds), and
declined with increasing age so that 20-year-olds experi­
enced the least compression (5.2 percent). Market forces
played some role in the compression in junior and adult
wages between 1972 and 1974. While the economic forces
of demand and supply have led to a downward trend in the
wages of American youth relative to adult wages, these
forces have failed to reverse the wage compression in Aus­
tralia in the period since 1974.
What has been the impact of changes in youth-adult wages
on the demand for and supply of youth labor? When the
sudden compression in wage spreads between juniors and
adults occurred, the youth labor force participation rate re­
mained high while the youth unemployment rate steadily
grew. But the Australian evidence on the precise influence
of wages on youth labor demand and supply is sparse.
In reviewing the few earlier studies, the Australian Bureau
of Labor Market Research found analytical deficiencies. The
Bureau then undertook further research of its own and found
that increases in youth wages relative to those of adults
decreased employment and increased labor supply, thereby
adding to unemployment. While youth unemployment levels
rose, the Australian Bureau was unable to precisely quantify
the magnitude of the effect.28

Demography
A popular explanation for youth unemployment is the
post-World War II baby boom experienced in both Australia
and the United States. Analysts have asserted that the baby
boom led to a bulge in the size of the youth population from
the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s, and continuing into the
1970’s. The surge in the youthful population, together with
increased labor force participation by the young, resulted
in supply exceeding demand and, other things being equal,
higher youth unemployment rates.
In Australia, the youth population grew rapidly. During
1966-82, the teenage population grew by approximately 22
percent and the young adult population grew by about 52
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percent, while the civilian population age 15 years or more
grew by 39 percent.29 However, Australian analysts have
shown that the growth in the number of young people of
working age arising from the baby boom had largely ceased
well before the commencement of the recession in 1974.30
Between 1976 and 1982, the male teenage population grew
by only 3.7 percent and the female teenage population, by
1.3 percent,31 suggesting that the labor market difficulties
of teenagers in recent years have been less than they oth­
erwise would have experienced had their population num­
bers continued to grow at earlier rates.
The United States also experienced a steady increase in
the proportion of youth in the working-age population—
from about 20 percent in the late 1950’s to about 27 percent
by the mid-1970’s. The Congressional Budget Office esti­
mated that the youth population bulge added perhaps 4 per­
centage points to the teenage unemployment rate and 1
percentage point to the unemployment rate for 20- to 24year-olds. However, by the mid-1970’s, the decline in the
proportion of teenagers in the American population had
already begun and in 1980, the decrease in 20- to 24-yearolds began.32
A surge in the size of the youth population of working
age does not completely translate into an equivalent increase
in the size of the youth labor force because not all workingage youth are either working or seeking employment. Over
the last two decades, a higher proportion of Australian youth
has entered the labor market than that of American youth;
indeed, the only country with consistently higher youth par­
ticipation rates than Australia is Great Britain. Relative to
the United States, Australian youth participation rates have
been historically high and have fluctuated by only a few
percentage points. In contrast, U.S. teenagers and young
adults have had progressively increasing rates over most of
the past two decades. Thus, between 1960 and 1980, Amer­
ican youth participation rates rose by almost 12 percent from
56 to 68 percent. Over a slightly briefer period (1964 to
1980), Australian youth participation rates increased by only
2 percent— from 69 to 71 percent.33
The figures on labor force participation for all youth mask
some pronounced differences in participation trends between
teenagers and young adults. However, in Australia only the
young adult participation rate rose; the teenage population
manifested a long-run trend of falling activity. This down­
ward trend has reversed itself though during the course of
the recession. In the United States, participation rates for
both groups steadily increased from 1960 to 1980.
The early 1980’s have witnessed slow declines in teenage
activity rates and increases in the number of young people
in full-time education. Deteriorating labor market conditions
have led youth to stay on at school longer. However, only
about 35 percent of Australian students complete secondary
school (compared with 70 to 90 percent in the United States).
Data for the United States, then, indicate that the workingage children of the baby boom and the steady increase in

their labor force participation may have contributed to high
unemployment rates of youth. However, the effects of the
baby boom in both countries had largely dissipated by the
late 1970’s. In Australia, it appears that the reversal (until
recently) in the long-run trend of falling participation over
a period when the economy had been in a state of protracted
downturn played a more significant role in rising youth
unemployment than the continuing, but decelerated, growth
in youth population levels.

Effects of recession
The business cycle has a major impact on unemployment
in general and youth unemployment in particular. The ar­
gument that has received the widest acceptance (certainly
in Australia) is that the dramatic increase in youth unem­
ployment in Australia since 1974 is because of the malaise
of the country’s economy and this has dampened the demand
for young workers more than it has for older workers. (This
same view applies to the United States as well.)
A number of reasons have been advanced for the greater
dampening in the demand for youthful labor during the
recession. These include: a preference on the part of em­
ployers to hire mature, adult workers rather than the young
during a period of excess labor supply because of the for­
mer’s presumed greater productivity and the latter’s job­
changing proclivities; changes in industry structure; and de­
ficiencies in the stock of youthful human capital. With re­
gard to the last two reasons, many youth find their first
employment in unskilled jobs. Yet many unskilled jobs are
disappearing in both Australia and the United States and
entry-level jobs are increasingly requiring some skills. Thus,
the production of manufactured goods that may have for­
merly required a sizable, unskilled work force has either
been curtailed in the face of both slackened demand and
competition from imported products or now involves more
sophisticated, capital-intensive processes than previously,
in order to maintain a competitive edge. This situation has
lead to a mismatch between the skills demanded by em­
ployers and those available in the youth labor force.

Conclusion
Each of the reasons advanced to explain why youth have
borne a disproportionate share of the increase in unem­
ployment during the recession certainly has merit. However,

high youth unemployment in Australia and the United States
is by no means a recent development. On the contrary, youth
unemployment rates in excess of adult rates and the high
representation of youth among the unemployed are factors
which emerged before the 1970’s.
In Australia, above-average unemployment rates for youth
appeared well before the watershed year of 1974. In 1969,
for example, the adult male unemployment rate was 0.7
percent, and the female rate was 0.9 percent. The corre­
sponding male and female rates for persons under 21 years
of age were 1.7 percent and 2.3 percent— approximately
2Vi times higher than the adult rates.34 With regard to the
share of unemployment borne by Australian youth, this be­
gan to rise for teenagers during 1953-54 and 1965-66 when
their proportion increased from 13.5 to 38.2 percent. For
young adults (20- to 24-year-olds), their share of unem­
ployment rose most rapidly during 1965-66 and 1970-71 —
from 16 to 21 percent.35
As in Australia, the United States’ youth unemployment
rates have also been historically higher than those for adults,
but the disparity between youth and adult rates appears to
have been greater. Indeed, between 1966 and 1969, for
example, the unemployment rate for both sexes combined
for persons between age 16 and 19 was more than five times
higher than the male unemployment rate, age 20 and over.36
The foregoing analysis of the causes of youth unemploy­
ment most frequently advanced by analysts in Australia and
the United States bears testimony to the elusiveness of a
consensus on the causes of youth unemployment and the
futility of seeking a single-factor explanation. Logic would
suggest that youth unemployment in its current dimensions
is the product of the interplay of a number of factors with
differing saliency. The analysis indicates that the labor mar­
ket has long been adverse for youth, a situation that has
been exacerbated by an economic recession accompanied
by movements in youth labor costs and a changed demo­
graphic profile.
Perhaps the major distinguishing feature of youth un­
employment today is the magnitude of the numbers of un­
employed youth. Certainly within the Australian context,
youth unemployment as a problem only began to receive
the attention it had long deserved when the incidence of
youth unemployment and the numbers of unemployed youth
began a steady upward climb in 1974.

FO O TN O TE S

' OECD E con om ic O utlook 32 (Paris, Organization for Economic Co­
operation and Development, December 1982), p. 35.

(P relim in ary E stim ates) (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer,
Catalogue No. 6202.0, August 1983), table 2, p. 5.

2 Australian Bureau of Statistics, The L abou r F orce, A u stra lia, D e ce m ­
b e r 1981 (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer, Catalogue No.

table A - l , p. 18.

6203.0, January 1982), p. 9.
3E m ploym en t a n d E arnings (Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 1983),

table A - l , p. 18.
4 Australian Bureau o f Statistics, The L a b o u r F orce, A ustralia, July 1983


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5E m ploym en t an d E arnings (Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 1983),
6 U nderstanding U nem ploym ent (Melbourne, Australian Industries De­
velopment Association, 1978), p. 2.

7Bettina Cass, “ The Numbers G am es,” A ustralian S ociety, August
1983, p. 21.

35

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Youth Unemployment in Australia
8Bettina Cass, “ Employment: Causes, Consequences and Policy Impli­
cations,” R ep o rts an d P ro ceed in g s (Sydney, Social Welfare Research
Centre, No. 11, 1981), p. 2.
’ Beatrice G. Reubens, “ Foreign Experience,” The Teenage U nem ­
p lo y m e n t P ro b lem : W hat A re the O ptions' ? (Washington, Congressional
Budget Office, 1976), p. 54.
10Intern a tio n a l C om parison s on U nem ploym ent, Bulletin 1979 (Bureau

o f Labor Statistics, 1978), p. 63.
11 Youth U nem ploym ent: A n Intern ational P e rsp e c tiv e, Bulletin 2098
(Bureau o f Labor Statistics, September 1981), p. 19.
12 Bureau o f Labor Market Research, Youth W ages, E m ploym en t an d
the L a b o u r F o rce (Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service,
Research Report No. 3, 1983), p. 8.
13 Youth U nem ploym ent: An Intern ational P e rsp e c tiv e, Bulletin 2098
(Bureau o f Labor Statistics, September 1981), table 1, p. 5.
14All Australian data for March 1983 are drawn from the following
source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, The Labour Force, A ustralia, M arch
1983 (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer, Catalogue No. 6203.0,
March 1983).
15Keith Windschuttle, U nem ploym ent: A S o cia l a n d P o litic a l A nalysis
o f the E con om ic C risis in A u stralia (Ringwood, Victoria, Penguin Books,
1980), p. 44.
16 For example, see Paul O. Flaim, “ Discouraged workers and changes
in unemployment,” M onthly L a b o r R eview , March 1973, pp. 8-1 6 ; and
Carol M. Ondeck, “ Discouraged workers’ link to jobless rate reaffirmed,”
M onthly L a b o r R ev ie w , October 1978, pp. 4 0 -4 2 .
17The Australian data on discouraged workers are drawn from Australian
Bureau o f Statistics, P erso n s N o t in the L a b o r F orce, A u stralia, M arch
1983 (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer, Catalogue No. 6220.0,
August 1983).
18The U .S. data on discouraged workers are drawn from E m ploym ent
an d E arn ings (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, April 1983), tables A -52-A 55, pp. 6 3 -6 6 .
’’ Constance Sorrentino, “ Youth unemployment: an international per­
spective,” M onthly L a b o r R eview , July 1981, p. 9.
20Bureau o f Labor Market Research, Youth W ages, E m ploym en t and
the L a b o u r F o rce (Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service,
Research Report No. 3, 1983), pp. 3 5 -3 7 .
21 R ep o rt o f the M inim um W age Study C om m ission (Washington, 1981),
Vol. 1, table 1 -1 , p. 9.
22Robert Swidinsky, “ Minimum Wages and Teenage Unemployment,”
C an adian Journal o f E con om ics, February 1980, p. 158.

23E.G. West and M. McKee, M inim um W ages: The N ew Issues in
Theory, E viden ce, P o licy a n d P o litic s. A Study P re p a re d f o r the E conom ic
C ou n cil o f C an a d a an d the Institute f o r R esearch on Pu blic P o licy (Quebec,
Canadian Government Printing Centre, 1980). Cited in “ The Impact of
Minimum Wages on Youth Employment,” The o e c d O b server, July 1982,
p. 15.
The salience o f the issue of the impact of minimum wages on youth

36

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unemployment is reflected in the numerous empirical studies that have
emerged in recent years. Virtually the entire literature is confined to anal­
yses of experience in the United States and Canada. The evidence is mixed.
Thus, of the 13 studies completed since 1970 and reviewed by E.G. West
and M. McKee, nine reported reductions in employment, one found no
significant effects, while the remaining three showed varying results for
different labor force groups. The U.S. Minimum Wage Study Commission,
established in 1977, sought to improve past studies through using more
recent data and more sophisticated analytical techniques. The commission
found lower minimum-wage effects than those previously obtained, and
estimated that a 10-percent increase in the minimum wage lowers teenage
employment by between 0.5 and 1.5 percent.
24Richard B. Freeman and David A. Wise, “ The Youth Labor Market
Problem: Its Nature, Causes and Consequences,” in Richard B. Freeman
and David A. W ise, eds., The Youth L abor M arket P roblem : Its N ature,
C au ses a n d C on sequ en ces (Chicago, 111., The University o f Chicago Press,
1982), pp. 10-11.
25Peter Sheehan, “ Economic Aspects of Youth Unemployment,” in
Ronald F. Henderson, ed., Youth U nem ploym ent: P roceedin gs o f the S ec­
on d A ca d em y Sym posium (Canberra, Academy of the Social Sciences in
Australia, 1977), pp. H 14-H 15.
26 National Institute of Labour Studies, A ustralian B ulletin o f L abou r,
September 1977.
27Bureau of Labour Market Research, Youth W ages, E m ploym en t and
the L abou r F orce (Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service,
Research Report No. 3, 1983).
28 Youth W ages, E m ploym en t an d the L abou r F o rc e , p. 96.
29 Australian Bureau of Statistics, The L abou r F orce, A ustralia, A ugust
1982 (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer, Catalogue No. 6203.0,
September 1982); Australian Bureau of Statistics, The L abou r F orce, A us­
tralia, 1978 (Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer, Catalogue
No. 5204.0, 1979).
30 Peter Strieker and Peter Sheehan, “ Youth Unemployment in Australia:
A Survey,” A ustralian E conom ic R eview , First Quarter 1978, pp. 16-18.
31 See footnote 29.
32 Youth U nem ploym ent: The O utlook a n d Som e P o licy S trategies (Wash­
ington, Congressional Budget Office, April 1978), pp. 5 -6 .
33Constance Sorrentino, “ International comparisons of labor force par­
ticipation, 1 9 6 0 -8 1 ,” M onthly L abor R eview , February 1983, table 3,
p. 29.
34 Department of Labour and National Service, An A nalysis o f F ull E m ­
plo y m e n t (Melbourne, Labour Market Studies No. 2, 1970), p. 29. Cited
by Adam Jamrozik and Marilyn Hoey, “ Workforce in Transition: Impli­
cations for W elfare,” R eports an d P roceedin gs (Sydney, Social Welfare
Research Centre, No. 8, 1981), p. 18.
35 Peter Strieker and Peter Sheehan, “ Youth Unemployment in Australia:
A Survey,” A ustralian E con om ic R e v ie w , First Quarter 1978, pp. 16-18.
36E con om ic R ep o rt o f the P residen t (Washington, U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1982), table B -3 1 , p. 269.

Apparel stores display
above-average productivity
Output p er hour o f all persons rose
an average o f 2 .9 percent annually
in the retail apparel store industry
between 1967 and 1983, with growth
accelerating between 1977 and 1983
B rian F riedman

Output per hour of all persons' in the retail apparel store
industry increased at an average annual rate of 2.9 percent
between 1967 and 1983, compared with an average annual
rate of 1.2 percent for the total nonfarm business sector of
the economy during the same period. This gain in produc­
tivity over the 16-year period reflects average annual in­
creases of 4.5 percent in output and 1.5 percent in hours of
all persons in the apparel store industry. (See table 1.)
Productivity trends can be divided into two periods, 1967—
77 and 1977-83. During the first period, productivity rose
at an average annual rate of 2.8 percent, and in the latter
period, it accelerated to 3.6 percent, reflecting average growth
in output and little increase in hours.
During the 1967-77 period, productivity advances were
not steady; in 1972 and 1973, there were relatively large
increases. In 1972, productivity rose 8.2 percent as output
increased 6.3 percent and hours declined 1.8 percent. In
1973, output advanced 11.3 percent, while hours increased
only 1.7 percent, resulting in a productivity increase of 9.5
percent. However, there were moderate productivity de­
clines in 1967, 1970, 1974, 1976, and 1977. Output ex­
perienced only two declines during the period, falling in the
recession years of 1970 and 1974. In 1969, 1976, and 1977,
increases in hours exceeded increases in output, resulting
in the productivity falloffs.
Brian Friedman is an economist in the Division of Industry Productivity
and Technology Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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During the 1977-83 period, there were no productivity
declines, and only one small output decline in 1982. In
1978, output per hour rose 10.0 percent based on very strong
growth in output of 13.4 percent and moderate gains in
hours of 3.1 percent. Output recorded moderate growth in
1980 and above-average growth in 1981 (6.1 percent), while
industry hours declined in 1980 and 1982. Productivity had
above-average gains in 1980 and 1981.

Trends in four subindustries
The retail apparel store industry2 consists of several sub­
industries. In addition to productivity measures for the total
industry, separate measures are presented for men’s and
boys’ clothing and furnishing stores, women’s ready-towear stores, family clothing stores, and shoe stores. (See
table 2.)
Men s and boys’ apparel stores. Productivity grew mod­
erately in the men’s and boys’ apparel store industry, ac­
counting for 15 percent of total sales and 11 percent of total
employment in 1983. Output per hour grew at an annual
average rate of 2.5 percent between 1967 and 1983, reflect­
ing average annual growth in output of 1.8 percent and an
average annual decline of 0.6 percent in hours.
Productivity grew at an annual rate of 3.8 percent between
1977 and 1983 compared with a 2.2-percent increase in
1967-77. This gain reflected a slowing of the increase in
output from a rate of 2.9 percent between 1967 and 1977
37

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Productivity in Apparel Stores
to an average decline of 0.4 percent between 1977 and 1983.
Hours declined at a rate of 4.1 percent from 1977 to 1983
compared with a small average gain of 0.7 percent in the
preceding period. Among apparel stores, this subindustry
alone showed a definite trend toward fewer number of stores.
Among the retail apparel subindustries, men’s and boys’
apparel stores had the slowest output growth between 1967
and 1983. This subindustry was also the most cyclical,
experiencing output declines in 1970, 1974, and 1980-83.
Women’s ready-to-wear-stores. This subindustry, the
largest, accounting for 36 percent of sales and 33 percent
of employment in 1983, experienced the highest gain in
productivity among those measured. Output per hour rose
at an average annual rate of 4.4 percent from 1967 to 1983
as output increased 5.5 percent and all person hours grew
1.1 percent annually.
Between 1967 and 1977, productivity increased at an
average annual rate of 4.3 percent, while output grew 5.6
percent and hours 1.3 percent. In the 1977-83 period, pro­
ductivity growth increased to 6.3 percent annually reflecting
average annual output gains of 5.5 percent and an average
hours decline of 0.7 percent.
Productivity showed declines in only 1976 and 1977.
Output declined only in 1977 and showed no growth in
1980. Hours of all persons, however, declined in 1968,
1970, 1974, 1975, and 1980-82.
Family clothing stores. In 1983, family clothing stores
accounted for 22 percent of retail apparel store sales and
18 percent of employment. Despite a strong overall increase
in output, long-term productivity growth was moderate, re­
flecting above-average growth in employment. Output per
hour grew at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent from
T ab le 1. Total retail apparel (sic 56) indexes of output per
hour of all persons and related data, 1 9 6 7 -8 3
[1977 = 100]
Year

Output per
hour of all
persons

Output

Hours of
all
persons

All
persons

1967.............
1968.............
1969.............

82.1
84.2
83.4

70.2
73.0
74.3

85.5
86.7
89.1

80.0
83.0
85.5

1970.............
1971.............
1972.............
1973.............
1974.............
1975.............
1976.............
1977.............
1978.............
1979.............

82.2
84.6
91.5

74.0
78.3
83.2
92.6
90.9
95.0
99.3

90.0
92.6
90.9
92.4
91.4
90.2
96.1

86.1
88 9

1980.............
1981.............
1982.............
1983.............

100.2
99.5
105.3
103.3

100.0
110.0
112.0
116.4

122.0
123.8
125.2

100.0

89.3
90.9
90.4
89.5
95.4

113.4
118.6

100.0

103.1
105.9

100,0

122.3
129.8
129.6
133.5

105.1
106.4
104.7
106.6

108.1
109.6
108.1
110.7

103.9
107.8

Average annual rates of change (in percent)
1967-83 . . .
1967-77 . . .
1977-83 . . .

2.9

2.8
3.6

38

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4.5
4.0
4.5

1.5

1.2
0.8

2.1
1.8
1.4

T a b le 2. O utput per hour of all persons for the total retail
apparel in dustry and subindustries, 1 9 6 7 -8 3
Year

Total
apparel
stores

Men's and boy's
clothing
stores

Women’s
ready-to-wear
stores

Family
clothing
stores

Shoe
stores

1967.. . .
1968.. . .
1969____

82.1
84.2
83.4

84.5
85.4

86.8

72.2
74.4
74.6

75.7
78.7
75.9

96.4
99.1
105.7

1970.. . .
1971____
1972____
1973____
1974____
1975____
1976____
1977. . . .
1978. . . .
1979____

82.2
84.6
91.5

83.8
87.2
97.8
104.2
98.2
102.7
97.6

77.5
83.8
87.2
94.9
96.9
107.0
104.9

76.0
85.8
95.1
109.6
107.7
109.7
107.4

96.5
87.7
95.6
101.4

105.4
110.5

111.3
115.0

96.4
99.6

110.0

116.2
125.5
139.0
147.8

1980____
1981. . . .
1982____
1983.. . .

100.2
99.5
105.3
103.3

100.0
110.0
112.0

116.4

122.0

123.8
125.2

100.0

120.9
121.3
125.2

100.0

100.0

109.6
113.3
116.2
118.1

88.8
95.5
97.6

100.0
108.7
111.2
107.7

110.8
106.0
104.6

Average annual rates of change (in percent)
1967-83
1967-77
1977-83

2.9

2.8
3.6

2.5

2.2
3.8

4.4
4.3
6.3

2.7
4.3
3.6

0.8

-0 .2
0.3

N ote: Indexes for all apparel stores are based on data for women’s accessory and
specialty stores, children's and infants’ wear stores, furriers and fur shops, and mis­
cellaneous apparel and accessory stores as well as the four clothing store subindustries
discussed in this article.

1967-83 as output rose 5.2 percent and hours increased at
a rate of 2.4 percent.
Productivity showed periods of both growth and decline.
Between 1967 and 1973, productivity grew at an average
annual rate of 5.9 percent with very strong growth in pro­
ductivity and output in 1971, 1972, and 1973. During 1967—
73, hours increased at an annual rate of only 0.1 percent.
Between 1973 and 1978, productivity declined at an average
annual rate of 2.5 percent as output grew 3.8 percent and
hours soared to an average annual growth of 6.5 percent.
In response to a strong demand for casual clothing, espe­
cially jeans, the number of family clothing stores increased
during this period. Productivity declines were recorded in
1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978. Between 1978 and 1983,
productivity rebounded with an average annual growth of
4.4 percent as output rose 4.6 percent and hours showed
very little growth— 0.1 percent. As the number of stores
began to decrease, hours declined in 1979, 1980, and 1983.
Shoe stores. Shoe stores, which accounted for 17 percent
of sales and 21 percent of all persons in the apparel store
industry, posted the smallest productivity gain from 1967
to 1983 among the subindustries studied. Productivity grew
at an average annual rate of only 0.8 percent between 1967
and 1983, reflecting output increases of 3.0 percent and
hours increases of 2.2 percent.
During the 1967-77 period, output per hour declined at
an average annual rate of 0.2 percent. There were strong
productivity declines in 1970, 1971, and 1974. During this
period, both output and hours had average annual gains of
1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

During the 1977-83 period, productivity increased at an
average annual rate of 0.3 percent,as output increased 3.3
percent per year and hours grew 3.0 percent annually. Much
of this increase was due to the demand for athletic footwear.
Output showed very strong gains in 1978 and 1979 and a
large decline in 1982. Productivity declined in 1980, 1982,
and 1983.

Factors affecting productivity
Growth in apparel store productivity has been influenced
by broad trends in general retailing. These trends include
the growth of chain stores3 within the industry, movement
to better locations in shopping centers, more efficiently;de­
signed stores geared toward consumer self-selection, and
the use of computers for store operations.4
Changes in industry structure. Most retail apparel stores
are independents, not affiliated with chains. The number of
chain stores and the proportion of chain stores within the
retail apparel store industry increased between 1967 and
1983.
In 1967, 80.6 percent of all apparel stores were inde­
pendents, accounting for 62.1 percent of sales. Chains ac­
counted for 19.4 percent of establishments and 37.9 percent
of sales. By 1977, the proportion of independent apparel
stores had declined to 73.2 percent. The 26.8 percent of
stores associated with chains had captured 50.2 percent of
sales.
There is every indication that chain stores continued a
strong growth pattern in the retail apparel store industry
after 1977. These companies have grown by acquiring smaller
chains and independents. Also, larger nonapparel retailing
corporations have purchased apparel chain stores in their
efforts to diversify.5 In 1981, the leading 25 apparel chains
alone increased their number of establishments by 12.1 per­
cent, accounting for 8,771 stores.6
On average, stores associated with chains tended to be
larger in terms of sales. In 1967, the average independent
apparel store had annual sales of a little under $117,000 per
establishment, while the average chain store had sales of
over $295,000 per establishment. By 1977, the gap between
independents and chains had widened with average sales
per establishment of $167,300 and $476,400, respectively.
Chain stores also had higher sales per all persons than
did the independents, although in 1967, the difference was
not very large. However, by 1977, the sales per all persons
of chains was not only higher than that for independents,
but the gap in sales per person between chain and indepen­
dents had widened markedly.7
Independents have always been a sizable portion of all
apparel stores. These stores are generally more labor-inten­
sive and emphasize personal service to generate regular
clientele.8 Through careful choice of location and catering
to the needs of their customers, independents are able to
compete with chains. The change in industry structure to­


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ward more chain stores, however, has been a factor in pro­
moting industry output-per-hour gains.
An important trend in apparel store industry structure has
been the rapid growth of discount apparel stores. “ Offprice” apparel stores sell moderate to higher price brand
name clothing at a lower price than conventional stores.
They are able to buy clothing at discount prices later in the
selling season than conventional stores. They locate in small
shopping centers, away from other types of apparel and
department stores, which are the apparel manufacturers’
main accounts. The middle 1970’s through the 1980’s saw
a decline in the percentage of disposable income allotted
for clothing.9 It is believed that the average middle income
consumer became much more cost-conscious. Consumers
became more willing to delay their clothing purchases until
sales were held in conventional stores, or they would shop
at off-price stores.10 The number of off-price apparel stores
is estimated to have increased sharply, and their number is
expected to continue to grow."
The growth of “ off-price” apparel stores has likely pro­
vided a boost to industry productivity gains in recent years.
Stores are mostly affiliated with large major chains, although
there are also small chains and some independents. Store
layout is generally geared toward self-selection and central
checkout.12 Employees stock the shelves and racks and run
the cash registers and provide little personalized service.13
Factory outlet apparel stores are quite similar to the “ offprice” stores and also grew rapidly in recent years, probably
aiding productivity in the industry. These stores are supplied
with clothing from parent manufacturing companies at large
discounts. They are often anchor stores in small shopping
centers, and more recently, several different factory outlet
stores have combined to form malls located away from
conventional malls and shopping centers, where the parent
manufacturers have their primary department store and con­
ventional apparel store accounts.14
Store location. Store location is important. Accessibility
and exposure to shopper traffic is a prime determinant of
how well store capacity is utilized.
The strong growth in the number of malls and shopping
centers in suburban locations between 1967 and 1983 has
probably had a positive influence on productivity. Although
there are no data pinpointing the type of apparel store by
location, industry experts believe that mostly major chains
and larger independents moved into the large shopping malls,
which draw their customers from a wide area. Smaller chains
and independents, however, moved into the many smaller
shopping centers. This movement of independents into
shopping centers probably helped their competitive position
in an industry shifting toward corporate chain structure.15
Competition and seasonality. It is difficult for retailers to
forecast product demand because fashion trends are highly
seasonal and consumer tastes are somewhat unpredictable.
39

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Productivity in Apparel Stores
Also, competition among the different types of apparel stores,
as well as department stores, is very strong. During the
1970’s, a substantial market share was lost to national de­
partment store chains.16 In the late 1970’s, discount de­
partment stores began to compete more vigorously with
apparel stores.17 The industries that sell retail apparel are
“ in a constant state of ferment, and competition is recog­
nized as being more virulent in retailing than in any other
branch of American industry.” 18
The strongly competitive nature of apparel retailing has
led to periods of overexpansion followed by “ shake-outs,”
when large numbers of marginal stores went out of busi­
ness.19 The lower level of capacity utilization which ac­
companies overexpansion probably caused downward pressure
on productivity growth. The elimination of marginal stores
probably boosted productivity.
Output per hour of all persons in apparel stores grew
rather unsteadily, especially between 1967 and 1977. It is
probable that the variability of productivity growth was caused,
in part, by overexpansion and “ shake-outs.”
Technology. The major technological change within the
apparel store industry has been the increased use of com­
puters for retail operations. Electronic data processing is
used in conjunction with point-of-sale technology. Through
coding of merchandise, marketing information can be gath­
ered as a by-product of merchandise sales. Point-of-sale
technology can be used for inventory control, sales audits,
automatic computer-generated stock purchasing, employ­
ment planning, sales forecasts, interstore transfers, accounts
receivable, and credit verification.20 This technology pro­
vides accurate, useful, and readily available information for
use in both the operational and merchandising aspects of
the industry. Surveys have shown that retailers who use
point-of-sale technology report that it allows their stores to
operate with reduced inventory while preventing out-ofstock situations. Product mix can be better targeted to cus­
tomer needs with better marketing information. It saves
employee hours in taking inventory and lowering prices
because of overstocked or slow moving inventory.21
The amount of information that is gathered using pointof-sale technology and how much this information is used
varies greatly throughout the industry. The use of some form
of point-of-sale technology in the apparel store industry is
fairly widespread. For example, electronic cash registers
that can be used to gather some inventory information have
been available for some time.
“ Automated accounts receivable,” is another technolog­
ical innovation that is used in the industry. The riskiest
delinquent accounts are flagged and computer-typed collec­
tion notices are sent automatically. This system reduces
employee hours in the accounts collection department.22
Other technological advances include marking systems and
security surveillance systems that aid in the prevention of
shoplifting.
40

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Large electronic data processing systems and other forms
of advanced technology are used primarily by large chains.
The much larger operation of a major chain makes the use
of electronic data processing almost a necessity. Indepen­
dents and even small chains “ are usually unable to afford
such equipment, nor make cost-effective use of it.” 23 Higher
levels of sales per person recorded by chains, however, are
probably caused to some extent by electronic data process­
ing.
Advertising. Advertising has been important in increasing
shopper traffic and sales in apparel stores. Recent trends
indicate strong customer response to special sales and highly
advertised products.24 Retail apparel stores generally ad­
vertise in newspapers and on radio. Radio programing al­
lows the apparel store industry to reach a target audience.25
Also, some stores have sponsored sporting events to aid
sales of their activewear.26
Some analysts believe that the growth in retail advertising
has been designed in part as a substitute for personnel,
especially skilled salesworkers, in retail industries.27 Active
selling is accomplished by educating the consumer through
advertising, leading to more self-selection and, therefore,
lower unit labor requirments in the stores.

Employment changes.
The number of persons working in the apparel store in­
dustry has increased 38 percent from 786,600 in 1967 to
1,088,400 in 1983. This represents an average annual in­
crease of 2.1 percent. Hours of all persons, however, have
increased at a slower rate of 1.5 percent per year because
of a steady decline in average weekly hours. This is espe­
cially true of nonsupervisory workers, whose average weekly
hours declined from 32.5 in 1967 to 28.1 in 1983.
The apparel store industry is composed of partners and
proprietors, nonsupervisory workers, and supervisory work­
ers. Nonsupervisory workers make up the largest group,
which includes salespersons, cashiers, stock workers, and
nonsupervisory office workers. Nonsupervisory workers
represented 79 percent of all persons in 1967 and 74 percent
in 1983. The decrease in average weekly hours indicates an
increase in part-time salespersons, often of school age, who
work during weekends and evenings.
Self-employed partners and proprietors accounted for 10.5
percent of all persons in the industry in 1967 and 10.6
percent in 1982. The actual number of self-employed grew
slowly, from 82,000 in 1967 to 129,000 in 1982. The num­
ber of self-employed typically declined in times of recession
as the smaller, privately owned stores had more difficulty
staying in business, although 1982 was an exception.
The number of self-employed as a proportion of all per­
sons is lower for the four apparel subindustries than for the
overall industry. The percentage of self-employed in the
overall industry is influenced by the remainder of the apparel
store industry, for which separate measures are not avail-

In terms of the number of stores and sales, the apparel
store industry expanded during the 1960’s and 1970’s but
may now begin to slow. The number of prime locations for

conventional apparel stores is decreasing, as the construc­
tion of shopping centers slows.29 Competition is also in­
creasing from national department store chains as well as
discount department stores with both marketing some brand
name clothing.
Because of new building and acquisition, chains will
probably continue to grow in terms of the number of stores
and as a proportion of total stores, but at a slower rate than
in the 1970’s.30 Independents will probably remain a sizable
portion of all stores because of the targeting of specific
customers. “ Off-price” stores will also probably continue
to grow rapidly.
Management strategies to improve productivity within
chains can be expected to continue, including increased use
of computers, a fine tuning of product mix, and additional
training of sales personnel.31 Most efforts among chains to
increase productivity, however, revolve around increasing
sales per square foot in stores. In the near future, greater
emphasis may be placed on customer service, including
additional sales personnel and more convenient shopping
hours.32 This trend could have a dampening effect on future
output per hour growth. However, personal computers, with
software geared toward the small retailer, are becoming
available as well as affordable and may have some effect
on productivity in the independent segment of the
industry.
□

1All average rates of change are based on the linear least squares trends
o f the logarithms o f the index numbers.

R etail R evolu tion (Boston,

able. This portion of the industry has a higher than average
proportion of self-employed because it includes many small
independent specialty stores.
The number of supervisory workers— office supervisors,
store managers, and assistant managers— has doubled from
1967 to 1983 in the total retail apparel store industry. The
growth in supervisory workers goes hand in hand with the
growth in chains, both corporate and privately owned.
Retaining experienced personnel is a major problem for
all retail stores. Some studies show that retail employee
turnover is as high as 60 percent per year.28 The high turn­
over rate among nonsupervisory workers hinders gains in
industry output per hour because new employees must un­
dergo training and are not as productive during this period.
One factor contributing to a high incidence of employee
turnover is the industry’s low hourly earnings. For example,
in 1980, average hourly earnings of nonsupervisory em­
ployees were 12 percent below the total retailing average
and 41 percent below average hourly earnings of production
workers in manufacturing industries.

Productivity outlook uncertain

2The retail apparel industry is designated as Standard Industrial Clas­
sification (sic) 56, which includes the following component industries: sic
5611, men’s and boys’ clothing and furnishing stores; sic 5621, women’s
ready-to-wear stores; sic 5631, wom en’s accessory and specialty stores;
SIC 5641, childrens’ and infant’s wear stores; sic 5651, family clothing
stores; sic 5661, shoe stores; SIC 5681, furriers and fur shops; and sic
5691, miscellaneous apparel and accessory stores. Although included in
the total apparel stores measure, productivity for sic 5631, 5641, 5681,
and 5691 cannot be measured separately.
3 A chain consists o f four or more retail stores in a firm and an inde­
pendent, three or fewer stores. Most chains are owned by corporations and
most independents by partnerships or proprietorships.
4 It is difficult to document exact cause and effect relationships between
factors influencing productivity and individual productivity changes in this
industry. There is not a great deal of data available on a national basis for
the apparel store industry. In addition, much of the data and information
available relates to overall apparel retailing which also includes other
industries, especially department stores. However, retail industry experts
have indicated that the impact of technological and structural changes on
productivity in overall apparel retailing had a similar effect on productivity
in apparel stores.
5 “ Retailing,” S ta n d a rd a n d P o o r ’s Industry S u r v e v ,\o \. 151, No. 12,
Sec. 2, Nov. 25, 1982, pp. R112 and R124.
6Ibid. p. R112.

7 Based on single-unit or multiunit sales and paid employee data pub­
lished by the Bureau of the Census in the C ensus o f R eta il Trade. In the
analysis, data for the number of self-employed and unpaid family workers
(available from the S ta tistics o f Incom e published by the Internal Revenue
Service and Current Population Survey data) were also used.


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8Barry Bluestone, Patricia Hanna, Sarah Kuhn, and Laura Moore, The
m a , Auburn House Publishing Co., 1981),
p. 28.

9 “ Apparel Including Footwear: Basic A nalysis,” Stan dard an d P o o r ’s
Industry Survey, Vol. 151, No. 16, Sec. 2, Dec. 23, 1982.
10“ Editorial,” S tores, March 1981, p. 8; “ Off-Price,” S tores, March
1981, pp. 9 -1 2 .
11 “ Retailing,” p. R125.
12 “ Off-price,” S tores, March 1981, pp. 9 -1 2 .
13Some measured productivity gains may be overstated because o f shifts
to self-selection. The quality of service can be considered to change as
consumer hours, which are unmeasured, replace industry employee hours
included in the measure. (See appendix.)
14“ Retailing,” p. R125.
15 Based on discussion with industry experts.
l6“ National chains” include Sears, Roebuck and Co., J. C. Penney,
and Montgomery Ward.
17“ Apparel including footwear.”
18 Bluestone and others, The R eta il R evolu tion, p. 29.
i9Ibid.

20“ Making it Work— Retail Technology,” S tores, Nov. 1980, p. 36;
“ Retail Office,” S tores, July 1980, pp. 4 9 -5 4 .
21 Randy L. Allen,
C o., 1982).

pos

Trends in the 8 0 ’s (New York, Touche Ross and

22“ Managing Receivables,” S tores, April 1982, p. 42.
23Bluestone and others, The R etail R evolu tion, p. 66.
24“ Apparel including footwear.”
25 “ Ad Dollars,” S tores, September 1980, p. 37.
26“ Action Fever,” S tores, July 1980, pp. 4 3 -4 8 .
27 Bluestone and others, The R eta il R evolu tion, pp. 115-16.

41

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Productivity in Apparel Stores
28 “ People Business,” S to res, March 1981, p. 42.

31 “ Slower Growth into the 1980’s ,” S tores, August 1980, p. 20.

29“ Retailing,” p. R134.
30I b id ., p. R125.

^ R e ta il Industry T rend A n alysis, Morgan Stanley and Co

1983, p. 6.

APPENDIX:


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’

Measurement techniques and limitations

Indexes of output per hour of all persons measure changes
in the relationship between the output of an industry and
hours expended on that output. An index of output per hour
is derived by dividing an index of output by an index of
industry hours.
The preferred output index for retail trade industries would
be obtained from data on quantities of the various goods
sold by the industry, each weighted (that is, multiplied) by
the employee-hours required to sell one unit of each good
in some specified base period. This concept also embodies
the services associated with moving the goods from the retail
establishment to the consumer. Thus, those goods which
require more retail labor are given more importance in the
index.
Data on the quantities of goods sold usually are not avail­
able for trade industries, including retail apparel stores.
Therefore, real output was estimated by removing the effects
of changing price levels from the current dollar value of
sales. Because an adjustment for changing price levels usu­
ally lowers the dollar value, such a series is usually referred
to as a deflated value measure. Output measures based on
deflated value have two major characteristics. First, shifts
in sales can occur among products of different value which
have the same unit labor requirements. (For example, if
customers begin to purchase more store brands instead of
“ nationally advertised” brands, dollar sales will decrease
if the store brand is priced lower.) Such a phenomenon can
occur in times of economic recession, and the reverse may
be true in times of economic prosperity. Thus, a change
can occur in the output per hour index even if the labor
required to sell the merchandise does not change.
Second, the sales level, both in current and constant dol­
lars, reflects differences in unit values for identical products
sold in different types of establishments. For example, the
unit values associated with a product sold in a self-service
“ off-price” store may be lower than the unit value asso­
ciated with the same product sold in a store that provides
a number of sales clerks as well as delivery service. The
output measure, therefore, reflects changes in the level of
service provided to customers, insofar as differences in unit
values reflect the difference in service among the various
types of establishments.

42

Jan 24
”

In addition to the deflated value technique, the output
measure for the total of the major group of retail apparel
stores was compiled by combining output from the various
component apparel industries using weights relating to labor
importance (that is, all person hours). This procedure results
in a total apparel store output index that is closer, concep­
tually, to the preferred output measure.
The index of hours for the retail apparel store industries
is for all persons— that is, hours for paid employees, part­
ners and proprietors, and unpaid family workers. As in all
of the output per hour measures published by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, hours and employment in apparel stores
are each considered homogeneous and additive. Adequate
data are not available to weight the various types of labor
separately.
The indexes of output per hour relate total output to one
input— labor time. The indexes do not measure the specific
contribution of labor, capital, or any other single factor.
Rather, they reflect the joint effect of many factors such as
changes in technology, capital investment, capacity utili­
zation, store design and layout, skill and effort of the work
force, managerial ability, and labor-management relations.
No explicit adjustments were made to the measures for
apparel stores to take into account increases or decreases in
some services provided to the consumer. With the growth
of larger stores in the 1970’s, there was a trend toward more
self-service operations. This shifted some of the hours in
retailing from employee to consumer. However, data are
not available to measure the effect of this change. Adjust­
ments for changes in product quality are made to the extent
that changes in quality have been accounted for in the price
indexes used to deflate the current dollar value of sales.
The basic sources for the output series for this measure
consist of the total sales data and sales by merchandise line
reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The defla­
tors were developed using Consumer Price Indexes pub­
lished by b l s .
The basic sources for the all-person-hour series consists
of data on employment and hours published by b l s , sup­
plemented by data reported by the Internal Revenue Service
and special tabulations compiled for b l s by the Bureau of
the Census.

Research
Summaries

Occupational salary levels
for white-collar workers, 1984

a

na oí
a

o o

Tab le I. P ercent increases in o ccupational pay levels,
nation al survey of professio nal, ad m inistrative, technical,
and clerical pay, M arch 1970 to M arch 1984
Average annual percent increases

Carl Prieser

Average salaries increased at the lowest rates in more than
10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March
1984 survey of pay for professional, administrative, tech­
nical, and clerical occupations in medium and large firms.
Salary levels rose between 3 and 6 percent for most of the
25 occupations compared with the March 1983 survey. In
contrast, occupational salary increases averaged about 7
percent yearly during the 1970’s and rose to more than 9
percent in 1981 and 1982. (See table 1.) The annual survey
is used in the pay comparability process for Federal whitecollar employees.1
Although the survey focuses on individual occupations
and work levels, it also permits a look at salary trends by
skill level. In this connection, occupational work levels were
grouped into three broad categories of skill levels compa­
rable to grades 1 to 4, 5 to 9, and 11 to 15, respectively,of
the Federal Government’s General Schedule ( g s ). (See table 2
for identification of the survey job classifications by GS
grade.) Cumulative percentage increases over the past 10
years have been largest for the higher levels (120.1 percent),
and 8 to 9 percentage points more than for lower (111.1)
and middle groups (112.1). In 1983-84, pay increases for
the highest skill group also set the pace, averaging 5.3
percent, compared with 5.0 percent for the middle group
and 3.6 percent for the lowest group.
A closer look at some individual job classifications reveals
that the pay differential between many entry-level profes­
sionals and their experienced coworkers widened during the
decade, as the latter generally recorded substantially larger
salary increases. The following tabulation illustrates this
point for 3 of 4 professional occupations. It shows average
salaries for journeyman classifications (gs- 11 equivalents)
as a percent of the average paid to their corresponding entry
levels (gs- 5 ) . 2
Carl Prieser is a labor economist in the Division of Occupational Pay and
Employee Benefit Levels, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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1970 1980
to
to
19801 1981

Occupation

Accountants ........................................................
Chief accountants.................................................
Auditors ................................................................
Public accountants ..............................................
Job analysts ........................................................
Directors of personnel.........................................

7.3
7.9

Attorneys ..............................................................
B u y e rs...................................................................
Chemists ..............................................................
Engineers ..............................................................
Engineering technicians ......................................
Drafters ................................................................
Computer operators ............................................

7.0
7.0
7.2
7.0
7.2
7.3
(1)

Photographers......................................................
Programmers/programmer analysts ..................
Systems analysts .................................................
Accounting c le rk s .................................................
File c le rk s ..............................................................
Key entry operators..............................................

(!)
(')

Messengers...........................................................
Personnel clerks/assistants.................................
Purchasing assistants .........................................
Secretaries ...........................................................
Stenographers ......................................................
T y p ists...................................................................

6 .6

(1)
7.0
7.8

—

6.7
6.9
7.3
6.7
(!)
0

(1)
8.4
7.1

1 0 .0

9.5
10.3
7.9
7.6
11.4

1981
to
1982

1982
to
1983

1983
to
1984

9.6
11.4
9.4

6.9
4.2

4.7
5.7

6.1

8 .0

6 .6

7.1
6.7
8.3

2.3
5.3
5.3

7.6

4.8
5.3
5.3
5.2
4.9
3.6
—
6.9
—
—
3.8

9.2
9.6

9.8
9.8
9.4
10.9

11.4
9.4
10.4

1 0 .2

9.4
8.4
8.9

10.9
—
—
—
—
9.6
8 .0
8 .2

9.7
—
—
—

12.1
10.2

1 0 .2

9.7
—
—
8.9
7.2
9.4
6.4
10.2
—

9.2
13.8
10.1

6 .2

5.8
7.1
5.9
7.6
6 .8
8.1

6.5
—
8.1

6.4
7.3

2.1

9.2
9.7
9.3
7.1

2.9
5.4

3.4

6 .8

5.0
5.5

8 .6
6 .8

2 .0

1A v e ra g e w a s n o t c o m p u te d w h e n da ta w e re a v a ila b le fo r fe w e r th a n 8 y e a rs.
N o t e : D a s h e s In d ica te th a t da ta w e re n o t a v a ila b le fo r on e o r m o re y e a rs be ca u s e
th e s u rv e y o c c u p a tio n w a s n e w ly a d d ed o r th e d e fin itio n w a s rev is ed .

A ccou n tan t
...........................
A uditor
..................................
C h em ist
..................................
E n gin eer
................................

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

1974

1984

165
169
162
151

180
190
174
149

It is noteworthy, however, that the pay relationship for
engineers was essentially unchanged since 1974 because the
strong demand for engineers had bolstered their starting
salaries. This practice becomes evident when engineering
salaries are compared with those of another technical profes­
sion— chemist. In 1984, the average salary for entry-level
engineers was 21 percent higher than that for starting chem­
ists, while at the journeyman level the difference was 4
percent (table 2). Ten years earlier, engineers I held a 12percent pay advantage over chemists I, while the differential
was 4 percent at the journeyman level.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Research Summaries

T a b le 2. A verage salaries for selected o ccupations, national su rvey of professio nal, a dm inistrative, technical, and clerical
pay, M arch 1984
Occupational level and Federal
GS grade equivalent

Number
of
employees1

Average
annual
salaries2

Accountants and auditors
Accountants
Accountants
Accountants
Accountants
Accountants
Accountants
Chief
Chief
Chief
Chief

I (G S -5 )..............................................................
II (GS-7) ...........................................................
III (GS-9) ...........................................................
IV (GS-11) ........................................................
V (G S-12)...........................................................
VI (GS-13) ........................................................

13,183
23,559
38,763
22,717
8,114
1,836

$19,843
24,325
28,721
35,715
44,466
55,618

I (GS-11) .................................................
II (GS-12) .................................................
III (GS-13).................................................
IV (GS-14).................................................

650
1,383
899
176

35,199
44,128
56,816
69,838

I (GS-5) ...................................................................
II (GS-7) ...................................................................
III (G S-9)...................................................................
IV (G S-11)................................................................

1,362
3,625
4,607
2,421

19,671
25,391
30,209
37,378

9,264
9,335
7,067
4,345

19,142
21,164
24,702
29,663

1,186
2,965
3,938
3,340
1,827
541

28,918
35,238
44,743
55,462
70,478
87,568

6,234
17,840
18,285
5,941

20,225
24,675
30,610
37,843

I (G S-5).......................
II (GS-7) ....................
III (G S -9)....................
IV (GS-11) ..................
V (GS-12) ..................

13,339
33,626
42,777
16,546
7,296

19,801
22,815
27,158
31,929
38,868

I (G S-9)......................................................
II (GS-10) .................................................
III (G S -12).................................................
IV (G S-13).................................................
V (GS-14) .................................................

16,127
34,702
28,321
10,375
2,140

27,084
32,324
38,057
44,748
53,917

474
832
610

22,845
27,987
34,880

1,674
2,288
1,231
452

35,444
42,620
55,717
65,874

2,395
5,891
9,777
9,996
7,815

21,609
25,481
30,441
37,643
45,614

accountants
accountants
accountants
accountants

Auditors
Auditors
Auditors
Auditors
Public
Public
Public
Public

accountants
accountants
accountants
accountants

I (G S-7)...................................................
II (GS-9) .................................................
III (G S -11)..............................................
IV (G S -12)..............................................
Attorneys

Attorneys
Attorneys
Attorneys
Attorneys
Attorneys
Attorneys

I (G S -9)...................................................................
II (GS-11) ..............................................................
III (GS-12) ..............................................................
IV (GS-13) ..............................................................
V (GS-14) .............................................................
VI (GS-15) .............................................................
Buyers

Buyers
Buyers
Buyers
Buyers

I (GS-5) .....................................................................
II (G S -7 ).....................................................................
III (GS-9) ...................................................................
IV (G S-11)...................................................................
Programmers and systems analysts

Programmers/Programmer
Programmers/Programmer
Programmers/Programmer
Programmers/Programmer
Programmers/Programmer
Systems
Systems
Systems
Systems
Systems

analysts
analysts
analysts
analysts
analysts

analysts
analysts
analysts
analysts
analysts

Personnel management
Job analysts II (GS-7) ...........................................................
Job analysts III (G S -9 )...........................................................
Job analysts IV (GS-11) ........................................................
Directors
Directors
Directors
Directors

of
of
of
of

personnel
personnel
personnel
personnel

I (GS-11) .........................................
II (GS-12) .........................................
III (GS-13).........................................
IV (GS-14).........................................

Chemists
Chemists
Chemists
Chemists
Chemists

I (G S -5 )..................................................................
II (GS-7) ................................................................
III (GS-9) ................................................................
IV (GS-11) .............................................................
V (GS-12)................................................................

Chemists and engineers

'Occupational employment estimates relate to the total in all establishments within scope
of the survey and not to the number actually surveyed.
Salaries reported relate to the standard salaries that were paid for standard work sched­
ules, that is, the straight-time salary corresponding to employee’s normal work schedule
excluding overtime hours. Nonproduction bonuses are excluded, but cost-of-living ad­

44

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Occupational level and Federal
GS grade equivalent
Chemists VI (G S -13)...............................
Chemists VII (GS-14) ............................

Number
of
employees1

Average
annual
salaries2

3,290

1,122

$54,163
63,072

27,872
67,872
135,792
145,728
100,411
49,013
13,435
2,590

26,163
28,899
32,761
39,005
46,349
53,749
61,166
70,788

I (GS-3) ..........
II (G S -4 )..........
III (GS-5)
IV (GS-7)
V (G S -9 )..........

4,626
19,229
31,920
39,016
22,702

16,169
18,733
22,351
26,362
30,084

I (GS-2) ....................................
II (GS-3) ....................................
III (G S-4)....................................
IV (G S-5)....................................
V (GS-7) ....................................

1,961
10,126
19,886
22,584
17,358

12,596
16,120
19,098
23,067
29,057

I (G S-4)..................
II (GS-5) ...............
III (GS-6 ) ...............
IV (G S -7)...............
V (GS-8 ) ...............

8,955
30,855
24,370
8,816
1,479

13,068
16,337
19,743
23,107
27,223

I (GS-4) ..........................
II (G S-5)..........................
III (GS-7) .......................
IV (GS-9) .......................

144
720
724
364

17,348
21,738
25,974
28,749

I (GS-2) .....................
II (G S-3)....................
III (GS-4) ..................
IV (GS-5) ..................

27,873
79,368
58,863
17,286

11,704
14,060
16,527
20,244

File clerks I (GS-1) .................................
File clerks II (G S-2).................................
File clerks III (GS-3) ...............................

16,026
9,102
2,746

9,869
11,331
13,576

Key entry operators I (G S -2)..................
Key entry operators II (GS-3) ...............

50,685
32,473

12,811
15,898

Messengers (G S -1 ).................................

10,647

11,230

.
.
.
.

2,024
3,388
2,896

13,379
16,160
18,268
21,830

Purchasing assistants I (GS-4) .............
Purchasing assistants II (GS-5) .............
Purchasing assistants III (GS-6 ) .............

4,426
4,162
1,080

20,001

I (GS-4) ...............................
II (GS-5) ...............................
III (GS-6 ) ...............................
IV (G S-7)...............................
V (GS-8 ) ...............................

58,242
55,132
114,459
47,241
18,627

15,296
16,920
19,053
21,525
24,700

Stenographers I (GS-3) ..........................
Stenographers II (G S -4)..........................

10,012
6,831

17,241
20,376

Typists I (GS-2) .......................................
Typists II (GS-3).......................................

24,405
13,951

11,793
15,150

Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers
Engineers

I (GS-5) .................................
II (G S -7 ).................................
III (GS-9) ...............................
IV (GS-11)...............................
V (GS-12) ...............................
VI (GS-13)...............................
VII (GS-14) ............................
VIII (GS-15)............................
Technical support

Engineering
Engineering
Engineering
Engineering
Engineering
Drafters
Drafters
Drafters
Drafters
Drafters

Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer

technicians
technicians
technicians
technicians
technicians

operators
operators
operators
operators
operators

Photographers
Photographers
Photographers
Photographers

Clerical
Accounting
Accounting
Accounting
Accounting

Personnel
Personnel
Personnel
Personnel

clerks
clerks
clerks
clerks

clerks/Assistants
clerks/Assistants
clerks/Assistants
clerks/Assistants

Secretaries
Secretaries
Secretaries
Secretaries
Secretaries

I (GS-3) .
II (GS-4)
III (GS-5)
IV (GS-6 )

.
.
.
.

1,222

15,629
26,916

justments and incentive earnings are included.
Note: The following occupational levels were surveyed but insufficient data were ob­
tained to warrant publication: chief accountants V, directors of personnel V, job analysts
I, chemists VIII, computer operators VI, systems analysts VI, personnel clerks/assistants
V, and photographers V.

In 1984, the survey’s highest salary average was for toplevel (VI) corporate attorneys at $87,568 a year; this was
more than four times the average for most entry-level profes­
sional classifications studied. These extremes reflect the wide
range of duties and responsibilities represented by all profes­
sional categories covered by the survey. In the clerical area,
differing functions and skill levels also produce wide pay
variations, although not as wide as for professionals. For
example, annual pay averages for top-level secretaries (V)
($24,700) and purchasing assistants (III) ($26,916) were
2.5 times the average of clerks ($9,869) doing routine filing.
In contrast, the typical spread among job categories with
equivalent levels of work, for example, accountants I and
accounting clerks IV, was relatively narrow. (See table 2.)
The Bureau recently added two computer science occu­
pations to the survey— programmers in 1982 and systems
analysts in 1984. Programmer/programmer analyst trainees
(level I) averaged $19,801 a year; this was approximately
half the average of level V workers who plan and direct
large computer programming projects or solve unusually
complex programming problems. Computer systems ana­
lysts I averaged $27,084 a year. This level includes workers
who are familiar with systems analysis procedures and are
working independently on routine problems. Systems ana­
lysts V, the highest level for which data could be presented,
averaged $53,917 a year. At this level, analysts work as
top technical specialists on extremely complex systems or
are senior managers responsible for the development and
maintenance of large and complex systems.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of white-collar salaries and complete
results of this year’s survey are contained in the National
Survey o f Professional, Administrative, Technical, and
Clerical Pay, March 1984, b l s Bulletin 2208, September
1984. It includes salary distributions by occupational work
level, and relative employment and salary levels by industry
division for the 25 occupations studied.

---------- F O O T N O T E S ---------‘The National Survey of Professional, Administrative, Technical, and
Clerical Pay ( p a t c ) is conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but
survey occupations and coverage such as establishment size and the private
sector industries to be included are determined by the President’s Pay
Agent— the Secretary of Labor and the Directors of the Office of Man­
agement and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management. The Agent
has designated the industrial coverage and minimum size establishment as
follows: manufacturing, 100 or 250 employees; mining and construction,
250 employees; wholesale trade, 100 employees; retail trade, 250 em­
ployees; finance, insurance, and real estate, 100 employees; and selected
services, 50 or 100 employees. The pay-setting role of the p a t c survey is
described in George L. Stelluto’s “ Federal pay comparability: facts to
temper the debate,” M onthly L abor R eview , June 1979, pp. 18-28.
2A similar pattern was found for the 1974-84 period in the salary
relationship of recent law school graduates with bar membership (attorneys
I, g s - 9 equivalents) and attorneys with experience handling legal work
with few precedents (attorneys III, g s - 12 equivalents). The salary relatives
were 148 in 1974 and 155 in 1984.
In the survey coding structure, the level designations among various
occupations are not synonymous: For example, the first level of attorneys
equates to the third levels of accountants, chemists, and most other profes­
sional and administrative occupations. Classification of employees in the
occupations and work levels surveyed is based on factors detailed in def­
initions which are available upon request.

45

M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth

This list of selected collective bargaining agreements expiring in November is based on information
from the Bureau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering
1,000 workers or more.

Employer and location

Industry

Greater New York Milk Dealers Association (Interstate)
Keebler Co. (Interstate)..................................................

Food products
Food products

Pineapple Companies, factory and plantation production and maintenance
(Hawaii)2
Rockingham Poultry Marketing Cooperative, Inc. (Virginia and
West Virginia)

Food products

Labor organization1

Teamsters (Ind.) ....................
Bakery, Confectionery and
Tobacco Workers
Longshoremen and

Number of
workers
1,900
4.500
5.500

W arehousem en

Food products

Food and Commercial Workers

1,000

Midtec Paper Corp. (Kimberly, wi) ................................................................
National Sample Card Association, Inc. (New York, ny ) ................................
Martin Marietta Aerospace Co. (Florida and Maryland) ................................
Gates Learjet Corp. (Wichita, ks) ..................................................................
General Dynamics Corp., Ft. Worth Division, two agreements (Texas) . . . .

Paper .............................
Printing and publishing . .
Fabricated metal products
Transportation equipment
Transportation equipment

1,100

2,000

Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. (Norfolk,

Transportation equipment

Paper Mill Workers ...........
Graphic Communications . .
Auto Workers .....................
Machinists...........................
Office and Professional
Employees; and Machinists
Boilermakers.........................

4,500
1.900
3.100
1,150

va )

Bic Pen Corp. (Milford, ct) ..................................................
Western Airlines, clerical/office (Interstate)3 .........................
Western Airlines, ground service (Interstate)3 .......................
Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Co. (Tarboro, nc) .........
General Telephone Company of Ohio (O hio).........................
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. and two others (Interstate)

Miscellaneous manufacturing
Air transportation................
Air transportation................
Communication ..................
Communication ..................
U tilities................................

Rubber W orkers.......................
Air Transport Employees (Ind.)
Teamsters (Ind.) .....................
Communications Workers
Electrical Workers ( ibew) ..........
Oil, Chemical and Atomic
Workers

New York City private sanitation contract (New York)2 .............................
New York area laundry operators (Interstate)2 .............................................
Industrial launderers, cleaners association and linen companies (Michigan)2

Sanitary services
Services .........
Services .........

Apartment Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (Illinois)
Chicago Real Estate Owners Council (Illinois) .............................................

Services
Services

Teamsters (Ind.) .......................
Clothing and Textile Workers . .
Textile Processors (affiliated
with Teamsters-Ind.)
Service Employees....................
Service Employees.....................

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore,

md)

Hospitals

Youngstown Hospital Association (Ohio)

Hospitals

3.500
1,100

1,000

2,000
6,000

1,300
3.000
4.000
1,400
1,500
Number of
workers

U tilities...........
Transportation .

Electrical Workers (ibew) .........
Transit Union ...........................

1,900
11,000

Police Department

Police protection

3,300

Fire Department .

Fire protection .

International Brotherhood of
Police (Ind.)
Fire Fighters ..............................

Phoenix Salt River Project . . .
Chicago Transit Authority . . .

District of Columbia:

8,600

Labor organization1

Government activity
Arizona:
Illinois:

Retail, Wholesale and
Department Store
Service Employees . .

1,300
3.500

'Affiliated with afl- cio except where noted as independent (Ind ).
industry area (group of companies signing same contract),
information is from newspaper reports.

46

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

l ,200

Developments in
Industrial Relations

Retirement Equity Act of 1984 amends erisa
President Ronald Reagan signed the Retirement Equity
Act of 1984, which broadens the conditions under which
spouses receive retirement benefits. Under the act, spouses
of employees who die after attaining eligibility for pensions
are guaranteed a benefit beginning at age 55; a prospective
survivor must agree in a signed, notarized statement before
a pension plan member can waive the option of providing
a survivorship benefit (previously, the plan member had the
sole right to decide); and the divorced spouse of a plan
member is entitled to part of a pension, if stipulated in the
separation papers or ordered by a judge.
Also, the new act:
• Requires employers to count all service from age 18 in
calculating when an employee becomes vested (legally
entitled to a pension, which usually requires 10 years of
service). In computing the amount of benefits, all em­
ployee earnings from age 21 must be considered. (Pre­
viously, service accrual toward vesting began at age 22
and benefits were based on earnings from age 25.)
• Permits pension plan members to leave the work force
for up to 5 consecutive years without losing pension cred­
its.
• Allows plan members to take maternity or paternity leave
of up to 1 year without loss of service credit for the period.
• Permits employees of companies that have thrift (savings)
plans to join as early as age 21. These plans generally
provide for employers to match some of the money the
employee invests.
• Requires employers to explain to employees the tax con­
sequences of taking lump-sum amounts from pension or
profit-sharing plans.
Supporters praised the act, saying it “ alters certain rules
that in some cases allowed pension plans to ignore the changing
needs of women and others in the work force.”
The new provisions, which amend the Employee Retire­
ment Income Security Act of 1974, are effective December
31, 1984. For pension plans established through collective
bargaining, provisions take effect when the contract per-

“ Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben of
the Division o f Developments in Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and is largely based on information from secondary sources.


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taining to the pension plan expires, or January 1, 1987,
whichever comes first.
upi

workers accept pay-cutting contract

United Press International and the Wire Service Guild
negotiated a 15-month “ austerity program” designed to end
a 2 0 -year history of unprofitable operation exacerbated by
an accelerating cash-flow problem in recent months. Luis
G. Nogales, u p i ' s executive vice president and general man­
ager, said the “ stringent measures” would result in savings
of $ 1 2 million and enable the company “ to build a foun­
dation for sustained growth.” William Morrissey, president
of the Wire Service Guild, called the agreement the “ worst
. . . I have ever recommended to the membership” but said
there was no choice “ under the circumstances.” Those cir­
cumstances included an estimated $7 million deficit for 1984
and $9 million owed to other companies providing service
to U P I .
Under the accord, salaries of the 900 union members were
cut 25 percent effective September 15, but the cut will be
restored in steps and at the end of the agreement salaries
will exceed the levels prior to the cut. The cut will be
reduced to 15 percent on December 15, 1984, to 10 percent
on April 12, 1985, and to 5 percent on July 1, 1985. On
October 1, 1985, salaries will be restored to the precut
levels, followed by a 3-percent increase on December 15,
1985, and a 2-percent increase on January 1, 1986. Prior
to the cut, the “ top minimum” (payable after 5 years’
service) was $29,026 for reporters and some other employ­
ees.
The company also was permitted to postpone its payment
to the pension plan for 1 year. When payment is made, it
will be retroactive to the normal date.
In return for these changes, 6.5 percent of the parent
Media News Corp.’s stock will be distributed to the em­
ployees in proportion to the amount each lost as a result of
the pay cut. The Wire Service Guild, which is part of the
Newspaper Guild, also gained a seat on u p i ’ s board of
directors.
u p i ’ s 1 , 1 0 0 nonunion employees voted to accept wage
and benefit changes similar to those for the union-repre­
sented workers. Many of u p i ’ s financial difficulties have
been attributed to the fact that the market for wire news
47

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Developments in Industrial Relations
services is dominated by the nonprofit Associated Press,
which serves 1,286 newspapers and 5,666 broadcast sta­
tions, compared with u p i ’ s 802 newspapers and 3,298
broadcast stations. Also, several major newspapers have
established wire news services in recent years.

West Coast pulp and paper workers settle
Employees of three West Coast paper companies agreed
to a 32-month contract containing terms the companies had
unilaterally put into effect a month earlier, after a rejection
by the workers. About 4,600 workers are covered by the
settlement between the Association of Western Pulp and
Paper Workers and the Pulp and Paper Bargaining Council,
comprising Georgia-Pacific Corp., Boise Cascade Corp.,
and Weyerhaeuser Co. Based on past practice, the settle­
ment was expected to influence the bargaining outcome for
9,500 employees of other West Coast firms where 40 con­
tracts had expired. The union also represents 4,000 workers
in the area whose contracts expire in 1985.
Wage terms included a $1,000 immediate lump-sum pay­
ment to each worker, a 4-percent wage increase in the sec­
ond year, and a 4.5-percent increase in the last year.
There were provisions for improvements in pension and
life insurance benefits, as well as changes designed to hold
down cost increases in the medical insurance plan. Also,
workers will now pay part of their medical costs. Beginning
January 1, 1985, they will pay an annual deductible of $75
per person up to $150 per family, with the respective figures
rising to $150 and $300 in 1986. They will be subject to
coinsurance payments of 20 percent of medical costs, up to
$750 per person and $1,500 per family in 1985, rising to
$1,000 and $2,000, respectively, in 1986.
The union also agreed to an employer proposal to elim­
inate mandatory shutdowns of operations on Christmas and
Independence Day. This gives the company more operating
flexibility and eliminates the expense of restarting produc­
tion.

Electrical contract bans movement of operations
In the electrical equipment industry, Allen-Bradley Co.
and the United Electrical Workers agreed on a 3-year con­
tract that included a ban on moving any operations out of
Milwaukee through 1987. Another provision designed to
protect the earnings of workers allows laid-off workers with
recall rights to be reimbursed for 75 percent of tuition ex­
penses for retraining, up to $500 per year. About 1,000
workers are currently eligible for this benefit.
Instead of wage increases, the active employees will re­
ceive four lump-sum payments over the term. The first was
$200 payable immediately. The other three, payable in De­
cember of each year, will equal 3 percent of each worker’s
wage rate multiplied by the hours worked in the previous
12 months. According to the union, the average wage rate
is $10.55. The automatic cost-of-living pay adjustment for­
48

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mula was revised by providing that in both the first and
second years the formula will operate only if the Consumer
Price Index rises 4 percent. If it does, adjustments will be
calculated at the existing rate of 1 cent an hour for each
additional 0.2-percent rise in the index. There is no “ cor­
ridor” in the third year.
In a move to open jobs to laid-off workers, the accord
provides that employees age 58 or older retiring during the
balance of 1984 will receive an extra $450 a month until
age 62. Those 6 U/2 years or older will be guaranteed 6
months of payments.
To minimize premium cost increases for Blue Cross med­
ical coverage, employees will now pay deductible and coin­
surance costs. Employees also will be permitted to select
from among five other types of health insurance which, the
union claimed, offer superior coverage and built-in cost
controls.

Utility Workers end strike at Detroit Edison
Members of the Utility Workers union employed by De­
troit Edison Co. approved a 3-year contract after rejecting
two earlier proposals, ending a 6 -week strike, the longest
in the history of the bargaining relationship. The new con­
tract provides for specified wage increases, retention of the
automatic cost-of-living pay adjustment formula, and higher
employee costs for health insurance.
Hourly pay, which reportedly averaged $13.23 under the
old contract, was raised by average amounts of 39 cents an
hour effective immediately; 34 cents on the first anniversary;
and 39.5 cents on the second.
Under the new health care plan, employees will pay half
the cost of any premium increase, up to 6 cents per hour
each year, or a maximum of 18 cents per hour over the
contract term. Deductibles were raised to $125 for individ­
uals and $300 for families in the first year and to $150 and
$350 in the second, from $100 and $250. The deductible
for prescriptions also was raised to $3, from $2.
In a change in the savings plan, the limit on employee
investment was raised to 6 percent of earnings, from 5
percent, with the utility company continuing to contribute
50 cents for each $1. Other terms of the contract included
early retirement at unreduced pension rates at age 61 (for­
merly 62); and a 13th paid holiday, beginning in 1986.

Dockworkers settle
More than 9,000 dockworkers in California, Washington,
and Oregon were covered by a 3-year accord between the
Pacific Maritime Association and the International Long­
shoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union. The agreement
increased the basic straight-time hourly rate for longshore­
men by 80 cents on June 30, 1984, and 85 cents on June
29, 1985, and June 28, 1986, bringing it to $17.27. Al­
though the three increases total $2.50, the total is actually

$2.81 per hour worked because most West Coast long­
shoremen are paid 6 hours a day at the straight-time rate
plus 2 hours overtime at time-and-a-half rates. Comparable
pay increases were negotiated for longshoremen paid ac­
cording to other systems, as well as for clerks and other
occupations.
Maximum creditable pension service was increased to 33
years, from 30, for employees retiring on or after July 1,
1984, and their benefit calculation rate for each year was
raised to $27 (from $26) on July 1, 1984, $28 on July 1,
1985, and $29 on July 1, 1986. Resulting maximum monthly
pensions were $891, $924, and $957 on the three dates,
compared with $780 under the prior contract. Pensions for
employees who retired prior to July 1, 1984, also were
increased by $1 a month for each year of service on each
of the three dates, but there was no change in their maximum
creditable service.
The employer obligation to the pay guarantee plan was
increased to $59.7 million over the contract term, from
$41.8 million under the previous contract. Maximum guar­
antees under the plan were increased to 38 hours’ pay each
week at the basic rate for regular employees and 28 hours’
pay for others.

Acme increases its pension fund contribution
Improving the financial condition of the pension fund was
a feature of the settlement between 66 Acme Markets in the
Philadelphia area and Local 1357 of the United Food and
Commercial Workers. In return for a wage freeze during
the first 5 months of the 3-year contract, Acme agreed to
raise its payment to the pension fund to $188 a month per
full-time employee over the contract term, from $109.38.
For part-time workers, Acme’s obligation was raised to $47
a month, from $33.45. A union official said that the financial
health of the Tri-State Multiemployer Pension Fund would
be assured if other food store chains agreed to similar in­
creases in their obligation, noting that Acme had earlier
agreed to a contract for 4,000 workers in New Jersey, Del­
aware, and Pennsylvania that provided for the same increase
in pension fund payment in return for a first contract-year
wage freeze.
Other terms of the Acme accord for the Philadelphia area
included a $57.53-a-month increase in the company’s health
and welfare obligation over the term, bringing it to $306.74
on May 1, 1986, and for part-time workers, a $32.44 in­
crease, to $122.49; 40-cent-an-hour wage increases (20 cents


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for baggers and other customer service employees) on Jan­
uary 27, 1985, and January 26, 1986; an additional 70-cent
increase over the term to 700 ‘’between grades” workers
who were moved to the next higher grade; time and onehalf for Sunday work, instead of double time; and termi­
nation of Easter Monday as a holiday.
The contract, which covers 4,700 workers, expires on
January 15, 1987.

Kroger settles, reopens stores
The Kroger Co. agreed to reopen more than 40 of the 70
Eastern Michigan supermarkets it had closed a month ear­
lier. About 2,800 of the 5,000 workers who had lost their
jobs as a result of the store closings were expected to be
rehired. Kroger said the shutdowns were necessary because
compensation levels for store clerks and for meat cutters
were not competitive with those at nonunion supermarkets
in the area.
The approved settlement between the company and sev­
eral United Food and Commercial Workers locals called for
5- to 13-percent pay cuts as well as cuts in paid vacation
and sick leave days.
So far this year, Kroger had closed about 90 stores in
Louisiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and compen­
sation reduction negotiations were underway in Central In­
diana. Kroger’s 1983 profit fell 12 percent, to $126 million,
and the company dropped to number 2 in sales, behind
Safeway Stores, even though its sales rose to $15 billion,
from $12 billion.

Pay adljusted in ‘traditionally female’ jobs
The State of California and the California State Employ­
ees’ Association negotiated a contract that provided for spe­
cial pay adjustments for employees in jobs “ traditionally”
held by women. Despite this, the union said it would con­
tinue its U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
case in which it asserted that jobs traditionally held by
women paid less relative to jobs traditionally held by men.
Under the 1-year contract, most employees received an
immediate 8-percent wage increase. In addition, a majority
of clerical workers received an immediate 2-percent increase
and a 3-percent increase on January 1, 1985. Employees in
four other classifications, including registered nurses, li­
brarians, licensed vocational nurses, and dental technicians,
received the 8-percent general increase and an additional 3
percent on January 1, 1985.

49

Book Reviews

Making the work ethic work
The New Achievers. By Perry Pascarella. New York, The
Free Press, 1984. 210 pp. $17.95.
Over the past 100 years, there have been a number of
important innovations and theories concerning the manage­
ment of people at work. These have ranged from the man­
agement concepts of Frederick Taylor to a variety of
sociopsychological theories of human development and mo­
tivation. Some theories, although born with great promise,
have faded away. Others have remained an integral part of
motivation theory and serve as the foundation for much of
the current personnel management theory and practice.
In recent years, great concern has been expressed re­
garding the demise of America’s work ethic. Researchers
have explored the basis for this change, particularly as worker
productivity declined beginning in 1969 and has continued
to remain at very low levels. The author compares U.S.
productivity with that of Japan and other countries, which
have become increasingly more competitive in producing
less expensive, high quality products, many of which had
been almost totally within the trading domain of the United
States.
This book explores the basis for the decline in the U.S.
work ethic and its effect on productivity and product quality.
It traces the evolution of work and workers from the early
days of Christianity to the present. Religious, social, and
economic institutions are examined to determine their effect
on the work ethic and on worker attitudes in general. The
author concludes that the church, family, schools, govern­
ment, and business are all responsible in one way or other.
Each has failed to consider or understand workers’ needs,
particularly as life at work and at home has become more
complex. These changes and difficulties sometimes over­
whelm individuals as they seek tranquility and satisfaction
along with the need to gain some measure of control over
their worklives.
The author places great emphasis on the need for more
humanistic management. He says, “ A great revolution is
taking place.” Workers are demanding to be heard and to
be involved in decisionmaking. He envisions more freedom
at work, more management concern as to the nurturing of
people, and more employee participation as individuals seek
to work independently as well as interdependently with oth­
50

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ers. Involvement, participation, and freedom, says the au­
thor, will lead to more effective tools to deal with problems
at home as well as at work.
The key words are “ participative management.” There
is growing belief that worker participation in organization
decisionmaking can help create healthy, productive work
environments with trust and mutual respect. The author
believes that the major deterrent to this change is the resis­
tance of middle managers who fear the loss of authority and
are not willing to share power. They see an erosion of their
status as “ boss.”
Organized labor is another negative force. While there
are a number of well-documented efforts of labor-manage­
ment ventures towards participative management, these are
relatively few in number. Labor leaders, particularly at the
local level, are concerned that too much free and open
cooperation between union members and management might
weaken workers’ perception of their need for union mem­
bership. Some labor leaders see a management effort to
subvert unionism.
The author views American business as the key to true
humanistic, participative management in the United States.
He believes management is “ headed towards a new state
of mind” where autocratic management styles will cease
and cooperation and sharing will help “ unleash people
power. ’' Business will need to create an atmosphere of trust,
honesty, and mutual respect. As work requirements change,
business needs to initiate training programs. Job redesign,
quality of worklife programs, quality circles, and a common
value system must be installed cooperatively, with full and
free worker participation. In this new relationship, man­
agement can become teacher, trainer, and developer of hu­
man potential.
Although this reviewer has observed workers and students
over a long period of time, he has not noted any sparkling
behavioral changes among either experienced or prospective
workers, or among managers. Research in worker partici­
pation or quality of worklife programs is growing but is
insignificant in comparison with the total picture. While a
few of the more successful American firms have long dem­
onstrated a concern for the individual worker and his need
to be more involved in workplace decisionmaking, there are
no apparent surges to replicate their management style. Nor
is there evidence that students are becoming less interested

in a “ good jo b ,” with adequate income and promotional
opportunities.
It would be nice if the move towards true participative
management would accelerate and expand throughout the
workplaces of the United States. Although the author be­
lieves this is happening, more conclusive evidence is needed.
It will be interesting to study worker participation schemes
to determine if they are systemic in nature or if they are
fads, passing in the night.
The New Achievers is an interesting and stimulating book,
easy to read and comprehend. While nothing new is re­
ported, this book will become an important part of the grow­
ing literature on the values and benefits of worker participation.
— B en B urdetsky
P ro fe s s o r o f P e rso n n e l
and L a b o r R e la tio n s
G e o rg e W a s h in g to n U n iv e rsity

Evaluating Your Firm’s Injury
and Illness Record, 1982: Services Industries. P re p a re d by

U .S . B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tistic s ,

lim a R o ss k o p f. W a s h in g to n , 1984, 12 pp . (R e p o rt 7 0 9 .)
-------- Injuries in the Logging Industry. P re p a re d by L y n P e a rso n .
W a s h in g to n , 1984, 23 p p . (B u lle tin 2 2 0 3 .) S to c k N o . 0 2 9 0 0 1 - 0 2 8 1 5 - 6 . $ 1 .7 5 , S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts ,
W a s h in g to n 2 0 4 0 2 .
-------- Injuries Resulting From Falls From Elevations. P re p a re d
by M a ry ro se C lin e -B u s o . W a s h in g to n , 1984, 2 0 pp. (B u lle tin
2 1 9 5 .) S to c k N o . 0 2 9 - 0 0 1 - 0 2 8 1 3 - 0 . $ 1 .7 5 , S u p e rin te n d e n t
o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n 2 0 4 0 2 .

Industrial relations
F a rle y , L a rry D . an d Jo s e p h J. A llo tta ,
“ S ta n d a rd s o f P ro o f in
D isc h a rg e A rb itra tio n : A P ra c titio n e r’s V ie w ,” Labor Law
Journal, Ju ly 1984, p p . 4 2 4 - 3 4 .

The Question of Arbitrability: Challenges
to the Arbitrator's Jurisdiction and Authority'. Ith ac a, ny ,

G ro s s m a n , M a rk M .,

C o rn e ll U n iv e rs ity , N ew Y o rk S tate S c h o o l o f In d u strial and
L a b o r R e la tio n s , 1984, 122 p p . $ 9 .9 5 , p a p e r, ilr P ress.
K ro ts e n g , R ic h a rd V an M .,
“ Ju d ic ia l an d A rb itra l R e so lu tio n
o f C o n tra c tu a l P la n t C lo sin g I s s u e s ,” Labor Law Journal,
Ju ly 1984, pp . 3 9 3 - 4 0 6 .

Publications received
Agriculture and natural resources
D u n c a n . M a rv in a n d M a rla B o ro w s k i,
“ A g ric u ltu ra l P o licy : O b ­
je c tiv e s fo r a N e w E n v ir o n m e n t,” Economic Review, F ed eral
R e se rv e B a n k o f K a n sa s C ity , Ju n e 1984, p p . 2 0 - 3 6 .
F e d e r, G e rs h o n a n d R o g e r S la d e ,
“ T h e A c q u isitio n o f In fo r­
m a tio n a n d th e A d o p tio n o f N ew T e c h n o lo g y ,” American
Journal of Agricultural Economics, A u g u s t 1984, pp. 3 1 2 -

20 .

M o n k s , R o b e rt A . G .,
“ F a c ilita tin g P e n sio n F u n d In v e stm e n ts
in R e sid e n tia l M o r tg a g e s ,” Labor Law Journal, Ju ly 1984,
pp . 3 8 7 - 9 2 .
P e rritt, H e n ry H ., J r .,
“ E m p lo y e e D ism issa ls: A n O p p o rtu n ity
fo r L eg a l S im p lif ic a tio n ,” Labor Law Journal, Ju ly 1984,
pp. 4 0 7 -1 4 .
S m ith , R a lp h R .,
“ F ro m Bowen to Devine: T h e Q u a n d a ry F acin g
F e d e ra l U n io n s ,” Labor Law Journal, Ju ly 1984, p p. 4 3 5 39.

Economic and social statistics
Cyclical Un­
employment: Sectoral Shifts or Aggregate Disturbances?

A b ra h a m , K a th a rin e G . an d L a w re n c e F. K a tz ,

C a m b rid g e , ma , N atio n al B ureau o f E co n o m ic R esearch , In c .,
1 9 8 4 , 45 p p . (nber W o rk in g P a p e r S e rie s , 14 1 0 .) $ 1 .5 0 ,

S u s s e r, P e te r A .,
“ nlrb R e stric ts M a n d a to ry B a rg a in in g O v e r
M an ag erial C h a n g e s ,” Labor Law Journal, July 1984, pp. 4 1 5 23 .

International economics
A rtis , M . J. an d o th e rs ,

“ T h e E ffects o f E co n o m ic P o lic y , 1979—
M ay 1984, pp. 5 4 -

S I,” National Institute Economic Review,

p a p e r.
G rilic h e s , Z v i, Data Problems in Econometrics. C a m b rid g e , ma ,
N a tio n a l B u re au o f E c o n o m ic R e s e a rc h , I n c ., 1984, 88 pp.
(nber T e c h n ic a l W o rk in g P a p e r, 3 9 .) $ 1 .5 0 , p a p er.

67.

Demograph­

H a k k io , C ra ig S .,
“ E x c h a n g e R ate V o la tility an d F e d e ral R e ­
se rv e P o lic y ,” Economic Review, F ed eral R e se rv e B an k of
K a n sa s C ity , J u ly - A u g u s t 1984, pp . 1 8 - 3 1 .

S p a in , D a p h n e an d S te v e n N o c k ,
“ T w o C a re e r C o u p le s , a P o r­
t r a i t , ” American Demographics, A u g u s t 1984, b e g in n in g on

M a s k u s , K e ith E .,
“ R isin g P ro te c tio n is m an d U .S . In tern a tio n a l
T ra d e P o l i c y ,” Economic Review, F e d e ral R e se rv e B an k o f
K a n sa s C ity , J u ly - A u g u s t 1984, p p . 3 - 1 7 .

K a in , E d w a rd L .,
“ S u rp risin g S in g le s ,” American
ics, A u g u s t 1 9 84, b e g in n in g on p. 16.

p. 25.
T r ip le tt, Ja c k E ., A Conceptual Model for Labor Market Data.
R e p rin te d fro m the Review of Public Data Use, V ol. 12, 1984,
p p . 1 - 1 6 . W a s h in g to n , U .S . B u re au o f L a b o r S ta tistic s , O f­
fice o f R e se a rc h an d E v a lu a tio n .

1980 Census of Population, Vol. 2,
Subject Reports: Earnings by Occupation and Education; Oc­
cupation by Industry. W a s h in g to n , U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f C o m ­

U .S . B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s ,

m e rc e , B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s , 1984, 5 3 5 a n d 7 0 6 pp . (R e p o rts
pc 8 0 - 2 - 7 C a n d pc 8 0 - 2 - 8 B . ) $ 1 4 a n d $ 1 3 , re sp e c tiv e ly .

Health and safety
A m e s , R ic h a rd G . an d R o g e r B. T re n t,
“ R e sp ira to ry Im p airm en t
an d S y m p to m s as P re d ic to rs o f E arly R e tire m e n t w ith D is­
a b ility in U .S . U n d e rg ro u n d C o al M in e r s ,” American Journal
of Public Health, A u g u s t 1984, p p . 8 3 7 - 3 8 .


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S ta rk , O d e d ,
“ D is c o n tin u ity an d the T h e o ry o f In tern a tio n a l M i­
g r a ti o n ,” Kvklos, V o l. 3 7 , F a sc . 2, 1984, pp . 2 0 6 - 2 2 .

The Effectiveness of
Trade-Related Worker Adjustment Policies in the United States.

U .S . B u re au o f In te rn a tio n a l L a b o r A ffa irs,

B y R o b e rt W . B e d n arz ik an d Ja m e s A . O rr. W a s h in g to n ,
U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r, B u reau o f In tern a tio n a l L ab o r
A ffa irs, 1984, 4 0 pp . (E c o n o m ic D isc u ssio n P a p e r, 15.)

Management and organization theory
Intuitive Management: Integrating Left and
Right Brain Management Skills. E n g le w o o d C liffs, n j , P re n ­

A g o r, W e s to n H .,

tic e -H a ll, I n c ., 1984, 143 p p ., b ib lio g ra p h y . $ 1 5 .9 5 , c lo th ;
$ 7 .9 5 , p a p e r.
C h ris tie , L in d a G a i l , Human Resources: A Hidden Profit Center.
E n g le w o o d C liffs, nj , P ren tice-H all, In c ., 1 9 8 3 ,1 5 4 p p . $ 1 4 .9 5 ,
c lo th ; $ 7 .9 5 , p a p er.

51

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Book Reviews
D o n n e lly , L a u ra F. a n d D a v id A . B o w n a s,
“ P o licy C a p tu rin g :
A n A p p ro a c h to U n d e rsta n d in g P e rso n n e l D e c is io n -M a k in g
P r o c e s s e s ,” P u b lic P e r s o n n e l M a n a g e m e n t, S u m m e r 1984,
pp. 8 1 -8 9 .
H ill, N o rm a n C ., H o w to In c r e a s e E m p lo y e e C o m p e te n c e . N e w
Y o rk , M c G ra w -H ill B o o k C o ., 1984, 156 p p . $ 9 .9 5 , p a p e r.
M c C a b e , D o u g la s M .,
“ L a b o r R e la tio n s , C o lle c tiv e B a rg a in in g ,
a n d P e rfo rm a n c e A p p ra isa l in the F e d e ra l G o v e rn m e n t U n d e r
th e C iv il S e rv ic e R e fo rm A c t o f 1 9 7 8 ,” P u b lic P e r s o n n e l
M a n a g e m e n t, S u m m e r 1984, pp . 1 3 3 - 4 6 .
P e lis s e ro , Jo h n P .,
“ P e rso n n e l E v a lu a tio n an d th e M ilita ry M a n ­
ag er: C o n tra s ts in P e rfo rm a n c e A p p ra isa l S y s te m s ,” P u b lic
P e r s o n n e l M a n a g e m e n t, S u m m e r 1984, p p . 1 2 1 - 3 2 .
P its v a d a , B e rn a rd T . a n d F ra n k D . D ra p e r,
“ G o v e rn m e n t R e ­
o rg a n iz a tio n : A n Im m o d e st P r o p o s a l,” P u b lic P e r s o n n e l
M a n a g e m e n t, S u m m e r 1984, p p . 9 1 - 1 0 0 .

Monetary and fiscal policy
P e a rc e , D o u g la s K .,
“ R e c e n t D e v e lo p m e n ts in the C re d it U n io n
I n d u s tr y ,” E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , F e d e ral R e se rv e B an k o f K a n ­
sa s C ity , J u n e 1 984, p p . 3 - 1 9 .
“ T h e P eril in F in a n c ia l S e r v ic e s ,”
19 8 4 , pp. 5 2 - 5 7 .

B u s in e s s W eek, A u g . 2 0 ,

Prices and living conditions
N a ro d , S u s a n ,
“ C u ttin g th e C o st o f K e e p in g P a p e r ,” D u n ’s
B u s in e s s M o n th , A u g u s t 1984, p. 64.
U .S . B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , R e la tiv e Im p o r ta n c e o f C o m ­
p o n e n ts in th e C o n s u m e r P r ic e In d e x e s , 1 9 8 3 . W a s h in g to n ,
1 9 8 4 , 3 6 p p . (B u lle tin 2 2 1 0 .) S to c k N o. 0 2 9 - 0 0 1 - 0 2 8 1 4 8. $ 2 .2 5 , S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n 2 0 4 0 2 .

Productivity and technological change
B e rg e r, P h il,
T h e S ta te -o f-th e -A r t R o b o t C a ta lo g . N e w Y o rk ,
D o d d , M e a d & C o ., I n c ., 148 pp . $ 1 2 .9 5 , p a p er.
G ra y , W a y n e B ., T h e I m p a c t o f osha a n d epa R e g u la tio n on
P r o d u c tiv ity . C a m b rid g e , ma , N a tio n a l B u re au of E co n o m ic
R e s e a rc h , I n c ., 1984, 5 6 p p . (nber W o rk in g P a p e r S e rie s ,
1 4 0 5 .) $ 1 .5 0 , p a p er.
W re n -L e w is , S im o n ,
“ T h e R o les o f O u tp u t E x p e c ta tio n s and
L iq u id ity in E x p la in in g R e ce n t P ro d u c tiv ity M o v e m e n ts ,”
N a tio n a l I n s titu te E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , M ay 1984, p p . 4 2 - 5 3 .

Wages and compensation
H a m e rm e s h , D a n iel S ., In c e n tiv e s f o r th e H o m o g e n iz a tio n o f
T im e U se. C a m b rid g e , ma , N a tio n a l B u reau of E co n o m ic
R e s e a rc h , I n c ., 1984, 18 p p . ( nber W o rk in g P a p e r S e rie s ,
1 3 9 7 .) $ 1 .5 0 , p a p er.
L y n c h , M a ry J o , M a rg a re t M y e rs, Je n ie c e G u y ,
a la S u rv e y o f
L ib r a r ia n S a la r ie s , 19 8 4 . C h ic a g o , il , A m e ric a n L ib ra ry A s ­
so c ia tio n , O ffice fo r R e se a rc h an d O ffice fo r L ib ra ry P e rs o n ­
nel R e s o u rc e s , 1984, 106 pp . $ 4 0 , p a p e r.

52

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

U .S . B u re au o f L a b o r S ta tistic s , A r e a W a g e S u rv e y s: N o r f o l k V ir g in ia B e a c h - P o r ts m o u t h , V ir g in ia — N o r th C a r o lin a ,
M e tr o p o lita n A r e a , M a y 1984 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 1 4 , 28 p p .,
$ 3 .2 5 ); S a n J o s e , C a lifo rn ia , M e tr o p o lita n A re a , M a rc h
1 9 8 4 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 1 5 , 4 9 p p . $4); S a n F r a n c is c o - O a k la n d , C a lifo rn ia , M e tr o p o lita n A re a , M a rc h 1984 (B u lle tin
3 0 2 5 - 1 6 , 52 p p ., $ 4 ); H o u s to n , T exa s, M e tr o p o lita n A re a ,
M a y 19 8 4 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 1 7 , 4 2 p p ., $ 3 .7 5 ); A tla n ta ,
G e o rg ia , M e tr o p o lita n A r e a , M a y 1984 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 1 8 .
52 p p ., $ 4 ); G r e e n v ille - S p a r ta n b u r g , S o u th C a ro lin a , M e t­
ro p o lita n A re a , J u n e 1984 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 1 9 , 28 p p .,
$ 3 .2 5 ); S a n A n to n io , T e x a s, M e tr o p o lita n A re a , M a y 1984
(B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 2 0 , 29 p p ., $ 3 .5 0 ); M ilw a u k e e , W isc o n sin ,
M e tr o p o lita n A r e a , M a y 1984 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 2 1 , 5 4 p p .,
$ 4 ); R ic h m o n d , V irg in ia , M e tr o p o lita n A r e a , J u n e 1984
(B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 2 2 , 29 p p ., $ 3 .5 0 ); T o le d o , O h io —M ic h ig a n ,
M e tr o p o lita n A r e a , J u n e 1984 (B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 2 3 , 4 2 p p .,
$ 3 .7 5 ); C o rp u s C hristi, Texas, M e tro p o lita n A re a , J u ly 1984
(B u lle tin 3 0 2 5 - 2 4 , 27 p p ., $ 3 .2 5 ). A v a ila b le fro m th e S u ­
p e rin te n d e n t o f D o c u m e n ts , W a s h in g to n 2 0 4 0 2 , gpo B o o k ­
s to re s , o r bls re g io n a l o lfic es.

Welfare programs and social insurance
F in n ish M in istry o f S o c ial A ffa irs a n d H e a lth , T h e F u tu r e D e ­
v e lo p m e n t o f F in n is h S o c ia l P o lic y . H e lsin k i, F in n ish M in ­
istry o f S o c ia l A ffairs an d H e a lth , 1984, 36 pp.
G u s tm a n , A la n L . a n d T h o m a s S te in m e ie r, P a r tia l R e tir e m e n t
a n d th e A n a ly s is o f R e tir e m e n t B e h a v io r . R e p rin te d fro m
In d u s tr ia l a n d L a b o r R e la tio n s R e v ie w , A pril 1984, p p . 4 0 3 15. C a m b rid g e , ma , N a tio n a l B u re au o f E c o n o m ic R e se a rc h ,
I n c ., 1984. (nber R e p rin t, 4 8 5 .) $ 1 .5 0 , p a p er.

Worker training and development
B e rn ic k , M ic h a e l,
T h e D r e a m o f J o b s : T h e J o b T r a in in g a n d
A n tip o v e r ty P r o g r a m s o f th e P a s t T w o D e c a d e s . . . a n d T h e ir
R e s u lts . S a lt L ak e C ity , ut , O ly m p u s P u b lish in g C o ., 1984,
2 0 2 p p . $ 1 0 .9 5 , p a p er.
G re a t B rita in , D e p a rtm e n t o f E m p lo y m e n t,
“ T h e Y o u th O p ­
p o rtu n itie s P ro g ra m m e in C o n tra s tin g L o ca l A r e a s ,” by K a th ­
leen G re a v e s , E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte , Ju n e 1984, p p . 2 5 5 - 5 9 .
H o lle n b e c k , K e v in , F ra n k C . P ra tz n e r, H o w a rd R o se n , e d s .. D is ­
p la c e d W o rk ers: Im p lic a tio n s f o r E d u c a tio n a l a n d T ra in in g
I n s titu tio n s . C o lu m b u s , T h e O h io S tate U n iv e rsity , T h e N a ­
tio n a l C e n te r fo r R e se a rc h in V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n , 1984,
3 3 0 pp.
P h illip s , S u s a n D ., N ic h o la s J. P a z ie n z a , D o n n a J. W a lsh , “ D e ­
c is io n M a k in g S ty le s an d P ro g re ss in O c c u p a tio n a l D e cisio n
M a k in g ,” J o u r n a l o f V o c a tio n a l B e h a v io r , A u g u st 1984,
pp. 9 6 -1 0 5 .
R o b s o n , R . T h a y n e , e d .. E m p lo y m e n t a n d T r a in in g r&d : L e ss o n s
L e a r n e d a n d F u tu r e D ir e c tio n s . (C o n fe re n c e P ro c e e d in g s o f
th e N a tio n a l C o u n c il on E m p lo y m e n t P o lic y , Ja n . 2 6 - 2 7 ,
1 9 8 4 .) K a la m a z o o , m i . T h e W . E. U p jo h n In stitu te fo r E m ­
p lo y m e n t R e s e a rc h , 1984, 133 p p . $ 1 6 .9 5 , c lo th ; $ 1 1 .9 5 ,
p a p e r.

Current
Labor Statistics
Notes on Current Labor Statistics ............................................................. ........................................................................................

54

Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series ...........................................................................................

54

Employment data from household survey. Definitions and notes .........................................................................

55
55
56
57
58
58
59
59
59

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-83 ................................
Employment status of the population, including Armed Forces in the United States, by sex, seasonally adjusted . . . .
Employment status of the civilian population, by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, seasonally adjusted ..................
Selected employment indicators, seasonally ad ju sted ......................................................................................................................
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally ad ju sted .................................................................................................................
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted ...........................................................................................................
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally ad ju sted ..................................................................................
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted...............................................................................................................................

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

Employment, by industry, selected years, 1950-83 ........................................................................................................................
Employment, by State ............................................................................................................................................................................
Employment, by industry, seasonally adjusted .................................................................................................................................
Average hours and earnings, by industry, 1968-83 ........................................................................................................................
Average weekly hours, by industry, seasonally a d ju sted ...............................................................................................................
Average hourly earnings, by industry .................................................................................................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index, by industry.....................................................................................................................................................
Average weekly earnings, by industry.................................................................................................................................................
Indexes of diffusion: industries in which employment increased, seasonally a d ju sted ...........................................................

Unemployment insurance data. Definitions...............................................................................................................................

60
61
61
62
63
64
65
65
66
66

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

67
67

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

68

18. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.

Consumer Price Index, 1967-83 ..........................................................................................................................................................
Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, general summary and selected it e m s .....................................................................
Consumer Price Index, cross-classification of region and population size c l a s s .......................................................................
Consumer Price Index, selected areas .................................................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by stage o f processing ...............................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings ...........................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by 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.
32.

......................................................................................................................................
Annual indexes of multifactor productivity and related measures, selected years, 1948-82 .................................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs,and prices, selected years, 1950-83 ...........................
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1973-83 ....................................................
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 p r ic e s..............

Wage and compensation data. Definitions and notes

69
69
75
76
77
78
80
80
81
82
83
83
84
84
85

......................................................................................................
Employment Cost Index, by occupation and industry group .........................................................................................................
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group ..................................................................
Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers, by bargaining status, region, and area size .......................................
Wage and compensation change, major collective bargaining settlements, 1978 to d a te .......................................................
Effective wage adjustments in collective bargaining units covering 1,000 workers or more, 1978 to date .....................

86
87
88
89
90
90

Work stoppage data. Definition ........................................................................................................

91

38. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more, 1947 to date ...............................................................................................

91

33.
34.
35.
36.
37.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

53

NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

T h is s e c tio n o f th e

Review

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.

p re se n ts th e p rin c ip a l sta tistic a l series

c o lle c te d a n d c a lc u la te d by th e B u re au o f L a b o r S ta tistic s . A b rie f
in tro d u c tio n to e a c h g ro u p o f ta b le s p ro v id e s d e fin itio n s , n o te s on
th e d a ta , s o u rc e s , an d o th e r m a te ria l u su a lly fo u n d in fo o tn o te s.
R e a d e rs w h o n e e d a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n are in v ite d to c o n su lt

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.

th e B L S re g io n a l o ffices lis te d o n th e in sid e fro n t c o v e r o f th is
issu e o f th e

Review.

S o m e g e n e ra l n o te s a p p lic a b le to se v e ra l se ries

are g iv e n b e lo w .

Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted to
eliminate the effect o f such factors as climatic conditions, industry pro­
duction schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday buying periods,
and vacation practices, which might otherwise mask short-term movements
o f the statistical series. Tables containing these data are identified as “ sea­
sonally adjusted.” Seasonal effects are estimated on the basis of past
experience. When new seasonal factors are computed each year, revisions
may affect seasonally adjusted data for several preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 3 - 8 were revised in the
February 1984 issue o f the R eview, to reflect experience through 1983.
Beginning in January 1980, the BLS introduced two major modifications
in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data. First, the
data are being seasonally adjusted with a new procedure called X -11/
ARIMA, 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-1I ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method by Estela Bee Dagum
(Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 12-564E, February 1980). The second
change is that seasonal factors are now being calculated for use during the
first 6 months o f 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 o f the seasonally adjusted payroll data shown in tables
11, 13, and 15 were made in July 1984 using the X -l 1 ARIMA seasonal
adjustment methodology. New seasonal factors for productivity data in
tables 29 and 30 are usually introduced in the September issue. Seasonally
adjusted indexes and percent changes from month to month and from

Availability of information. Data that supplement the tables in this section
are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a variety of sources.
Press releases provide the latest statistical information published by the
Bureau; the major recurring releases are published according to the schedule
given below. More information from household and establishment surveys
is provided in Employment and Earnings, a monthly publication o f the
Bureau. Comparable household information is published in a two-volume
data book-L a b o r Force Statistics Derived From the Current Population
Survey, Bulletin 2096. Comparable establishment information appears in
two data books-Em ploym ent 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 Developments. More
detailed price information is published each month in the periodicals, the
CPI D etailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes.

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

S ch ed u le of release dates fo r BLS statistical series
S e r ie s

R e le a s e

P e r io d

R e le a s e

P e r io d

R e le a s e

P e r io d

M L R t a b le

d a te

co v e re d

d a te

c o v e re d

d a te

c o v e re d

num ber

Employment situation .................................

October 5

September

November 2

October

December 7

November

1-11

Producer Price Index .................................

October 12

September

November 9

October

December 14

November

23-27

Consumer Price Index.................................

October 24

September

November 21

October

December 20

November

19-22

Real earnings..............................................

October 24

September

November 21

October

December 20

November

12-16
36-37

Productivity and costs:
3rd quarter

29-32
3rd quarter

3rd quarter

33-35
1983

54

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

29-32

EMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

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

Definitions
Employed persons include (1) all civilians 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 tem porarily absent from their regular jobs because of
illness, vacation, industrial dispute, or similar reasons. Members o f the
Arm ed Forces stationed in the United States are also included in the em ­
ployed total. A person working at more than one job is counted only in
the job at which he or she worked the greatest num ber 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 overall
unemployment rate represents the num ber unemployed as a percent of
the labor force, including the resident Armed Forces. The unemployment

1.

rate for all civilian workers represents the num ber unemployed as a percent
o f the civilian labor force.
The labor force consists of all employed or unemployed civilians plus
m em bers of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States. Persons not
in the labor force are those not classified as employed or unemployed;
this group includes persons who are 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, sani­
tarium s, or hom es for the aged, infirm, or needy, and members of the
Armed Forces stationed in the United States. The labor force participation
rate is the proportion o f the noninstitutional population that is in the labor
force. The employment-population ratio is total employm ent (including
the resident Armed Forces) as a percent of the noninstitutional population.

Notes on the data
From time to tim e, and especially after a decennial census, adjustments
are m ade in the Current Population Survey figures to correct for estimating
errors during the preceding years. These adjustm ents affect the compara­
bility of historical data presented in table 1. A description of these ad­
justments and their effect on the various data series appear in the Explanatory
Notes o f Employment and Earnings.
Data in tables 2 - 8 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal ex­
perience through Decem ber 1983.

E m ploym ent status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1 9 5 0 -8 3

[N u m b ers in thousands]
L a b o r to rc e
E m p lo y e d

U n e m p lo y e d

N o n in s t iYear

t u t io n a i
p o p u la tio n

N um ber

P e r c e n t ot
p o p u la tio n

N o t in

C i v ilia n
T o ta l

P e rc e n t of
p o p u la tio n

R e s id e n t

P erc e n t of
N o n a g r i-

A rm e d
F o rc e s

T o ta l

A g r ic u lt u r e

Num ber

c u ltu r a l

la b o r f o r c e

la b o r
fo rc e

i n d u s tr ie s

1950 ..............
1955 ..............
1960 ..............

106,164
111,747
119,106

63,377
67,087
71,489

59.7
60.0
60.0

1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

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

128,459
130,180
132,092
134,281
136,573

76,401
77,892
79,565
80,990
82,972

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974

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

139,203
142,189
145,939
148,870
151,841

1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

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

1980
1981
1982
1983

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

154,831
157,818
160,689
153,541
166,460
169,349
171,775
173,939
175,891


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

56.6
57.5
56.8

1,169
2,064
1,861

58,918
62,170
65,778

7,160
6,450
5,458

51,758
55,722
60,318

3,288
2,852
3,852

5.2
4.3
5.4

42,787
44,660
46,617

59.5
59.8
60.2
60.3
60.8

60,087
64,234
67,639
73,034
75,017
76,590
78,173
80,140

56.9
57.6
58.0
58.2
58.7

1,946
2,122
2,218
2,253
2,238

71,088
72,895
74,372
75,920
77,902

4,361
3,979
3,844
3,817
3,606

66,726
68,915
70,527
72,103
74,296

3,366
2,875
2,975
2,817
2,832

4.4
3.7
3.7
3.5
3.4

52,058
52,288
52,527
53,291
53,602

84,889
86,355
88,847
91,203
93,670

61.0
60.7
60.9
61.3
61.7

80,796
81,340
83,966
86,838
88,515

58.0
57.2
57.5
58.3
58.3

2,118
1,973
1,813
1,774
1,721

78,678
79,367
82,153
85,064
86,794

3,463
3,394
3,484
3,470
3,515

75,215
75,972
78,669
81,594
83,279

4,093
5,016
4,882
4,355
5,156

4.8
5.8
5.5
4.8
5.5

54,315
55,834
57,091
57,667
58,171

95,453
97,826
100,665
103,882
106,559
108,544
110,315
111,872
113,226

61.6
62.0
62.6
63.5
64.0
64.1
65.2
64.3
64.4

87,524
90,420
93,673
97,679
100,421

56.5
57.3
58 3
59.7
60.3

1,678
1,668
1,656
1,631
1,597

85,845
88,752
92.017
96,048
98,824

3,408
3,331
3,283
3,387
3,347

82,438
85,421
88,734
92,661
95,477

7,929
7,406
6,991
6,202
6,137

8.3
7.6
6.9
6.0
5.8

59,377
59,991
60,025
59,659
59,900

100,907
102,042
101,194
102,510

59.6
59 4
58.2
58.3

1,604
1,645
1,668
1,676

99,303
100,397
99,526
100,834

3,364
3,368
3,401
3,383

95,938
97,030
96,125
97,450

7,637
8,273
10,578
10,717

7.0
7.5
9.5
9.5

60,806
61,460
62,067
62,665

55

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.

E m p lo ym en t status of the popu lation , including A rm ed Forces in the U nited S tates, by sex, seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
A n n u al ave ra g e

1983

1984

E m p lo y m e n t s t a tu s a n d s e x
1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

TO TAL

Noninstitutional population1 2 ......................
Labor force2 ............................................
Participation rate3 .........................
Total employed2
Employment-population rate4 . . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ...................
Civilian employed..............................
Agriculture ....................................
Nonagricultural industries..............
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate5 ......................
Not in labor force ....................................

173.939
111,872
64.3
101,194
58.2
1,668
99,526
3,401
96,125
10,678
9.5
62,067

175,465
112,646
64.2
101,277
57.7
1,671
99,606
3,392
96,214
11,369
10.1
62,819

176,122
113,799
64.6
103,166
58.6
1,682
101,484
3,449
98,035
10,633
9.3
62,323

176,297
113,924
64.6
103,571
58.7
1,695
101,876
3,308
98,568
10,353
9.1
62,373

176,474
113,561
64.3
103,665
58.7
1,695
101,970
3,240
98,730
9,896
8.7
62,913

176,636
113,720
64.4
104,291
59.0
1,685
102,606
3,257
99,349
9,429
8.3
62,916

176,809
113,824
64.4
104,629
59.2
1,688
102,941
3,356
99,585
9,195
8.1
62,985

177,219
113,901
64.3
104,876
59.2
1,686
103,190
3,271
99,918
9,026
7.9
63,318

177,363
114,377
64.5
105,576
59.5
1,684
103,892
3,395
100,496
8,801
7.7
62,986

177,510
114,598
64.6
105,826
59.6
1,686
104,140
3,281
100,859
8,772
7.7
62,912

177,662
114,938
64.7
106,095
59.7
1.693
104,402
3,393
101,009
8,843
7.7
62,724

83,052
63,979
77.0
57,800
69.6
1,527
56,271
6,179
9.7

84,064
64,580
76.8
58,320
69.4
1,533
56,787
6,260
9.7

84,173
64,807
77.0
58,607
69.6
1,538
57,069
6,200
9.6

84,261
64,877
77.0
58,828
69.8
1,549
57,279
6,049
9.3

84,344
64,709
76.7
58,950
69.9
1,543
57,407
5,759
8.9

84,423
64,846
76.8
59,389
70.3
1,534
57,855
5,457
8.4

84,506
64,838
76.7
59,580
70.5
1,537
58,043
5,258
8.1

84,745
64,930
76.6
59,781
70.5
1,542
58,239
5,149
7.9

84,811
65,093
76.8
60,147
70.9
1,540
58,607
4,946
7.6

84,880
65,156
76.8
60,290
71.0
1,542
58,748
4,867
7.5

84,953
65,212
76.8
60,293
71.0
1,548
58,745
4,919
7.5

85,024
65,307
76.8
60,629
71.3
1,545
59,084
4,678
7.2

85,101
65,452
76.9
60,923
71.6
1,545
59,378
4,529
6.9

85,179
65,362
76.7
60,607
71.2
1,551
59,056
4,756
7.3

85,257
65,244
76.5
60,661
71.2
1,563
59,098
4,583
7.0

90,887
47,894
52.7
43,395
47.7
139
43,256
4,499
9.4

91,827
48,646
53.0
44,190
48.1
143
44,047
4,457
9.2

91,949
48,992
53.3
44,559
48.5
144
44,415
4,433
9.0

92,036
49,047
53.3
44,743
48.6
146
44,597
4,304
8.8

92,129
48,852
53.0
44,715
48.5
152
44,563
4,137
8.5

92,214
48,874
53.0
44,902
48.7
151
44,751
3,972
8.1

92,302
48,986
53.1
45,049
48.8
151
44,898
3,937
8.0

92,474
48,971
53.0
45,094
48.8
144
44,950
3,876
7.9

92,552
49,283
53.2
45,429
49.1
144
45,285
3,855
7.8

92,630
49,442
53.4
45,536
49.2
144
45,392
3.905
7.9

92,709
49,725
53.6
45,802
49.4
145
45,657
3,924
7.9

92,789
50,186
54.1
46,350
50.0
145
46,205
3,836
7.6

92,873
50,115
54.0
46,515
50.1
145
46,370
3,600
7.2

92,958
50,273
54.1
46,486
50.0
147
46,339
3,787
7.5

93,039
49,963
53.7
46,020
49.5
149
45,871
3,943
7.9

177,813 177,974
115,493 115,567
65.0
64.9
106,978 107,438
60.2
60.4
1,690
1,690
105,288 105,748
3,389
3,403
101,899 102,344
8,514
8,130
7.4
7.0
62,320 62,407

178,138 178,295
115,636 115,206
64.9
64.6
107,093 106,681
59 8
60.1
1,698
1,712
105,395 104,969
3,224
3,345
102,050 101,744
8,543
8,526
7.4
7.4
62,503 63,089

M e n , 1 6 y e a rs an d o ver

Noninstitutional population1'2 ......................
Labor force2 ............................................
Participation rate3 .........................
Total employed2 ....................................
Employment-population rate4 . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ...................
Civilian employed..............................
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate5 ......................
W o m e n , 16 y e a rs and o ver

Noninstitutional population1'2 ......................
Labor force2 ............................................
Participation rate3 .........................
Total employed2 ....................................
Employment-population rate4 . . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ...................
Civilian employed..............................
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate5 ......................

1The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted tor seasonal variation.
includes members of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States.
3Labor force as a percent of the noninstitutional population.

56

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

4Total employed as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
Unemployment as a percent of the labor force (including the resident Armed Forces).

3.

E m p lo ym en t status of th e civilian population by sex, age, race, and H ispanic origin, seaso n ally adjusted

[N u m b ers in thousands]
1983

A n n u al av e ra g e

1984

E m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s
1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

TO TAL

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
Not in labor force ....................................

172,271
110,204
64.0
99,526
57.8
10,678
9.7
62,067

174,215
111,550
64.0
100,834
57.9
10,717
9.6
62,665

174,440
112,117
64.3
101,484
58.2
10,633
9.5
62,323

174,602
112,229
64.3
101,876
58.3
10,353
9.2
62,373

174,779
111,866
64.0
101,970
58.3
9,896
8.8
62,913

174,951
112,035
64.0
102,606
58.6
9,429
8.4
62,916

175,121
112,136
64.0
102,941
58.8
9,195
8.2
62,985

175,533
112,215
63.9
103,190
58.8
9,026
8.0
63,318

175,679
112,693
64.1
103,892
59.1
8,801
7.8
62,986

175,824
112,912
64.2
104,140
59.2
8,772
7.8
62,912

175,969
113,245
64.4
104,402
59.3
8,843
7.8
62,724

176,123
113,803
64.6
105,288
59.8
8,514
7.5
62,320

176,284
113,877
64.6
105,748
60.0
8,130
7.1
62,407

176,440
113,938
64.6
105,395
59.7
8,543
7.5
62,502

176,583
113,494
64.3
104,969
59.4
8,526
7.5
63,089

73,644
57,980
78.7
52,891
71.8
2,422
50,469
5,089
8.8

74,872
58,744
78.5
53,4897
71.4
2,429
51,058
5,257
8.9

75,012
58,954
78.6
53,804
71.7
2,475
51,329
5,150
8.7

75,115
59,012
78.6
53,947
71.8
2,431
51,516
5,065
8.6

75,216
58,949
78.4
54,140
72.0
2,376
51,764
4,809
8.2

75,327
59,053
78.4
54,457
72.3
2,336
52,121
4,596
7.8

75,433
59,050
78.3
54,658
72.5
2,374
52,284
4,392
7.4

75,692
59,299
78.3
54,999
72.7
2,356
52,643
4,300
7.3

75,786
59,394
78.4
55,266
72.9
2,409
52,857
4,128
7.0

75,880
59,388
78.3
55,368
73.0
2,364
53,004
4,020
6.8

75,973
59,480
78.3
55,385
72.9
2,453
52,932
4,095
6.9

76,073
59,546
78.3
55,685
73.2
2,451
53,234
3,861
6.5

76,176
59,726
78.4
55,970
73.5
2,469
53,501
3,755
6.3

76,269
59,694
78.3
55,789
73.1
2,455
53,334
3,906
6.5

76,350
59,752
78.3
55,899
73.2
2,392
53,507
3,853
6.4

82,864
43,699
52.7
40,086
48.4
601
39,485
3,613
8.3

84,069
44,636
53.1
41,004
48.8
620
40,384
3,632
8.1

84,224
44,896
53.3
41,298
49.0
627
40,671
3,598
8.0

84,333
45,062
53.4
41,550
49.3
581
40,969
3,512
7.8

84,443
44,936
53.2
41,570
49.2
597
40,973
3,366
7.5

84,553
44,953
53.2
41,738
49.4
638
41,100
3,215
7.2

84,666
45,024
53.2
41,843
49.4
653
41,190
3,181
7.1

84,860
44,981
53.0
41,798
49.3
625
41,174
3,182
7.1

84,962
45,258
53.3
42,138
49.6
640
41,498
3,120
6.9

85,064
45,459
53.4
42,315
49.7
574
41,741
3,144
6.9

85,168
45,703
53.7
42,517
49 9
619
41,898
3,186
7.0

85,272
46,222
54.2
43,098
50.5
610
42,487
3,124
6.8

85,380
46,101
54.0
43,146
50.5
623
42,523
2,955
6.4

85,488
46,261
54.1
43,088
50.4
573
42,515
3,173
6.9

85,581
46,082
53.8
42,819
50.0
563
42,255
3,264
7.1

15,763
8,526
54.1
6,549
41.5
378
6,171
1,977
23.2

15,274
8,171
53.5
6,342
41.5
334
6,008
1,829
22.4

15,204
8,267
54.4
6,382
42.0
347
6,035
1,885
22.8

15,154
8,155
53.8
6,379
42.1
296
6,083
1,776
21.8

15,120
7,981
52 8
6,260
41.4
267
5,993
1,721
21.6

15,072
8,029
53.3
6,411
42.5
283
6,128
1,618
20.2

15,022
8,062
53.7
6,440
42.9
329
6,111
1,622
20.1

14,981
7,935
53.0
6,392
42.7
290
6,102
1,543
19.4

14,931
8,041
53.9
6,488
43.5
346
6,142
1,553
19.3

14,880
8,065
54.2
6,457
43.4
343
6,114
1,608
19.9

14,828
8,062
54.4
6,500
43 8
321
6,179
1,562
19.4

14,778
8,034
54.4
6,505
44.0
327
6,178
1,529
19.0

14,728
8,050
54.7
6,631
45.0
311
6,320
1,419
17.6

14,683
7,982
54.4
6,518
44.4
317
6,201
1,464
18.3

14,653
7,660
52.3
6,251
42.7
269
5,982
1,409
18.4

149,441
96,143
64.3
87,903
58.8
8,241
8.6

150,805
97,021
64.3
88,893
58.9
8,128
8.4

151,003
97,498
64.6
89,503
59.3
7,995
8.2

151,021
97,507
64.6
89,693
59.4
7,814
8.0

151,175
97,339
64.4
89,851
59.4
7,488
7.7

151,324
97,559
64.5
90,430
59.8
7,129
7.3

151,484
97,724
64.5
90,779
59.9
6,945
7.1

151,939
97,813
64.4
91,044
59.9
6,768
6.9

152,079
98,167
64.6
91,544
60.2
6,623
6.7

152,285
98,424
64.6
91,845
60.3
6,580
6.7

152,178
98,495
64.7
91,933
60.4
6,562
6.7

152,229
98,853
64.9
92,505
60.8
6,348
6.4

152,295
98,770
64.9
92,697
60.9
6,072
6.1

152,286
98,710
64.8
92,430
60.7
6,280
6.4

152,402
98,156
64.4
91,850
60 3
6,306
6.4

18,584
11,331
61.0
9,189
49.4
2,142
18.9

18,925
11,647
61.5
9,375
49.5
2,272
19.5

18,966
11,724
61.8
9,408
49.6
2,316
19.8

18,994
11,720
61.7
9,504
50.0
2,216
18.9

19,026
11,565
60.8
9,449
49.7
2,116
18.3

19,057
11,623
61.0
9,563
50.2
2,060
17.7

19,086
11,650
61.0
9,582
50.2
2,068
17.8

19,196
11,660
60.7
9,707
50.6
1,953
16.7

19,222
11,881
61.8
9,958
51.8
1,923
16.2

19,248
11,867
61.7
9,896
51.4
1,972
16.6

19,274
11,934
61.9
9,923
51.5
2,011
16.8

19,302
12,008
62.5
10,105
52.4
1,903
15.8

19,330
11,962
61.9
10,168
52.6
1,795
15.0

19,360
12,076
62 4
10,041
51.9
2,035
16.9

19,386
12,176
62.8
10,226
52.8
1,950
16.0

9,400
5,983
63.6
5,158
54.9
825
13.8

12,771
8,119
63.6
6,995
54.8
1,124
13.8

9,690
6,145
63.4
5,350
55.2
795
12.9

9,700
6,202
63.9
5,392
55.6
810
13.1

9,745
6,165
63.3
5,398
55.4
767
12.4

9,677
6,232
64.4
5,463
56.5
769
12.3

9,735
6,267
64.4
5,540
56.9
727
11.6

9,778
6,336
64.8
5,627
57.6
708
11.2

9,906
6,292
63.5
5,652
57.1
639
10.2

10,080
6,484
64.3
5,751
57.1
733
11.3

10,072
6,378
63.3
5,643
56.0
735
11.5

10,026
6,332
63.2
5,666
56.5
666
10.5

9,824
6,298
64.1
5,669
57.7
629
10.0

9,738
6,293
64.6
5,626
57.8
667
10.6

9,785
6,271
64.1
5,600
57.2
672
10.7

M e n , 2 0 y e a rs and over

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture.........................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
W o m e n , 2 0 y e a rs an d o ver

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture.........................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
B o th s e x e s , 1 6 t o 1 9 y e a r s

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture.........................................
Nonagricultural industries ................
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
W h it e

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
B la c k

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ...................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................
H i s p a n ic o r ig in

Civilian noninstitutional population1 ..............
Civilian labor fo rc e ....................................
Participation ra te ...........................
Employed ............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed.........................................
Unemployment rate ......................

1The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
^Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.


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

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for
the “ other races” groups are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black
population groups.

57

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.

S elected em ploym ent indicators, seasonally adjusted

[In thousands]
1984

1983

A nnu al ave ra g e
S e le c t e d c a t e g o r ie s
1982

1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

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

101,484 101,876 101,970 102,606 102,941 103,190 103,892 104,140 104,402 105,288 105,748 105,395 104,969
57,069 57,279 57,407 57,855 58,043 58,239 58,607 58,748 58,745 59,084 59,378 59,056 59,098
44,415 44,597 44,563 44,751 44,898 44,950 45,285 45,392 45,657 46,205 46,370 46,339 45,871
38,281 38,232 38,240 38,388 38,494 38,682 38,911 38,927 39,062 39,159 39,072 39,121 39,029
24,905 24,921 24,953 25,057 25,140 24,947 25,212 25,239 25,457 25,722 25,786 25,716 25,764
5,444
5,491
5,254
5,293
5,346
5,668
5,688
5,662
5,507
5,124
5,172
5,236
5,096

99,526
56,271
43,256
38,074
24,053
5,099

100,834
56,787
44,047
37,967
24,603
5,091

Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers ..............................
Self-employed workers .................................
Unpaid family workers...................................

1,505
1,636
261

1,579
1,565
240

1,628
1,564
240

1,572
1,515
236

1,505
1,527
227

1,481
1,556
224

1,512
1,572
265

1,443
1,613
233

1,560
1,609
232

1,515
1,580
198

1,661
1,534
207

1,610
1,537
246

1,604
1,570
212

1,513
1,559
230

1,425
1,568
208

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

88,462
15,562
72,945
1,207
71,738
7,262
401

89,500
15,537
73,963
1,247
72,716
7,575
376

90,032
15,671
74,361
1,270
73,091
7,641
375

90,743
15,560
75,183
1,279
73,904
7,656
380

90,617
15,578
75,039
1,278
73,761
7,695
405

91,094
15,585
75,509
1,216
74,293
7,800
474

91,422
15,481
75,941
1,241
74,700
7,734
450

91,641
15,535
76,106
1,197
74,909
7,936
364

92,379
15,822
76,557
1,219
75,339
7,849
330

92,819
15,813
77,006
1,155
75,851
7,755
326

92,931
15,784
77,147
1,296
75,851
7,834
338

93,928
15,761
78,167
1,347
76,820
7,707
311

94,040
15,685
78,355
1,329
77,026
7,828
348

93,841
15,604
78,236
1,239
76,997
7,717
306

93,554
15,782
77,772
1,181
76,591
7,829
324

90,552
72,245
5,852
2,169
3,683
12,455

92,038
73,624
5,997
1,826
4,171
12,417

91,953
73,499
5,866
1,742
4,124
12,588

93,322
74,666
6,027
1,771
4,256
12,629

93,273
75,047
5,724
1,617
4,107
12,502

93,834
75,398
5,848
1,719
4,129
12,588

94,173
75,802
5,712
1,672
4,040
12,659

94,707
76,237
5,943
1,771
4,172
12,527

95,067
76,715
5,808
1,611
4,197
12,545

94,982
77,004
5,463
1,472
3,991
12,515

96,918
78,276
5,593
1,530
4,063
13,049

96,523
78,280
5,353
1,549
3,804
12,889

96,500
78,496
5,491
1,654
3,837
12,514

96,848
78,659
5,300
1,589
3,711
12,889

96,921
78,799
5,324
1,749
3,576
12,797

Civilian employed, 16 years and over ...................
M en...............................................................
Women.........................................................
Married men, spouse present.........................
Married women, spouse present ...................
Women who maintain families ......................
M A J O R IN D U S T R Y A N D C L A S S O F W O R K E R

PERSONS AT W O R K 1

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

1Excludes persons "with a job but not at work” during the survey period for such reasons as
vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

5.

S elected unem ploym ent indicators, seasonally adjusted

[U n em p lo y m en t rates]
1984

1983

A n n u al a verag e
S e le c t e d c a t e g o r ie s
1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

Total, all civilian w orkers......................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 ye a rs...........................
Men, 20 years and ov e r.................................
Women, 20 years and o v e r...........................

9.7
23.2
8.8
8.3

9.6
22 4
8.9
8.1

9.5
22.8
8.7
8.0

9.2
21.8
8.6
7.8

8.8
21.6
8.2
7.5

8.4
20.2
7.8
7.2

8.2
20.1
7.4
7.1

8.0
19.4
7.3
7.1

7.8
19.3
7.0
6.9

7.8
19 9
6.8
6.9

7.8
19.4
6.9
7.0

7.5
19.0
6.5
6.8

7.1
17.6
6.3
6.4

7.5
18.3
6.5
6.9

7.5
18.4
6.4
7.1

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

8.6
20.4
21.7
19.0
7.8
7.3

8.4
19.3
20.2
18.3
7.9
6.9

8.2
19.5
20.7
18.2
7.7
6.7

8.0
18.2
18.9
17.4
7.7
6.6

7.7
18.5
19.8
16.9
7.3
6.3

7.3
17.2
17.6
16.6
6.9
6.0

7.1
17.0
17.5
16.5
6.7
5.9

6.9
16.2
17.8
14.5
6.3
6.0

6.7
16.5
16.4
16.7
6.1
5.8

6.7
17.1
17.3
16.8
58
5.9

6.7
16.2
16.6
15.7
5.9
6.0

6.4
16.2
16.8
15.5
5.6
5.8

6.1
15.5
16.5
14.5
5.3
5.6

6.4
15.3
17.8
12.6
5.5
5.9

6.4
15.9
16.2
15.5
5.5
6.0

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

18.9
48.0
48.9
47.1
17.8
15.4

19.5
48.5
48.8
48.2
18.1
16.5

19.8
51.4
53.7
48.8
18.2
16.4

18.9
51.1
52.7
49.2
16.9
16.1

18.3
48.7
45.6
52.2
16.3
15.9

17.7
47.3
44.9
50.0
15.6
15.6

17.8
49.0
46.4
51.9
15.1
15.9

16.7
47.9
47.1
48.8
14.8
14.3

16.2
43.5
46.7
39.9
14.1
14.4

16.6
46.7
44.4
49.6
15.4
13.5

16.8
44.8
42.8
47.1
16.0
13.4

15.8
44.1
40.9
48.2
14.1
13.6

15.0
34.3
35.3
33.1
14.8
12.4

16.9
42.4
42.6
42.1
15.7
14.0

16.0
41.7
40.6
42 9
14.2
14.1

Hispanic origin, total......................................

13.8

13.8

12.9

13.1

12.4

12.3

11.6

11.2

10.2

11.3

11.5

10.5

10.0

10.6

10.7

Married men, spouse present........................
Married women, spouse present ...................
Women who maintain families ......................

6.5
7.4
11.7

6.5
7.0
12.2

6.3
6.9
11.8

6.1
6.8
12.0

5.7
6.3
11.4

5.5
6.0
10.5

5.2
6.1
10.9

5.0
6.0
10.7

4.9
5.9
11.0

4.7
5.8
11.0

4.7
5.8
10.5

4.5
5.8
9.8

4.5
5.6
9.6

4.6
5.9
9.6

4.4
6.0
10.5

Full-time workers............................................
Part-time workers .........................................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over ...................
Labor force time lost1 ...................................

9.6
10.5
3.2
11,0

9.5
10.4
3.8
10.9

9.3
10.2
3.6
10.7

9.1
10.1
3.5
10.5

8.7
10.0
3.3
10.0

8.2
9.8
3.1
9.7

8.0
9.8
3.0
9.4

7.8
9.2
2.9
9.2

7.5
9.3
2.6
8.9

7.5
9.2
2.5
8.8

7.6
9.1
2.5
8.9

7.2
9.3
2.5
8.5

6.7
10.3
2.3
8.3

7.2
9.6
2.4
8.7

7.2
9.6
2.3
8.5

10.1
13.4
20.0
12.3
13.3
10.8
6.8
10.0
6.9
4.9
14.7

9.9
17.0
18.4
11.2
12.1
10.0
7.4
10.0
7.2
5.3
16.0

9.8
14.9
17.9
11.2
11.7
10.5
7.7
9.8
7.2
5.1
15.1

9.4
16.9
18.1
10.2
10.9
9.3
7.4
9.5
7.0
5.0
16.5

9.0
12.1
15.8
9.6
10.2
8.7
7.2
9.8
6.9
5.1
16.2

8.6
12.8
15.6
8.9
9.0
8.7
6.7
9.1
6.7
4.9
15.7

8.3
12.4
16.3
8.3
8.3
8.2
6.5
8.8
6.6
5.0
15.6

7.9
10.9
15.0
8.4
8.0
8.9
5.1
8.4
6.3
5.0
15.5

7.8
12.2
15.1
7.5
7.3
7.8
5.9
8.3
6.3
4.5
14.0

7.6
11.2
13.3
7.5
7.8
7.2
5.0
8.3
6.4
4.4
14.6

7.7
10.3
14.3
7.7
7.5
8.0
5.4
8.7
6.1
4.4
12.2

7.2
8.9
14.8
7.1
7.0
7.1
5.5
7.9
5.5
4.7
13.9

7.0
7.1
14.8
7.2
7.2
7.3
5.2
7.2
5.4
4.1
11.8

7.4
7.5
14.7
7.5
6.7
8.6
6.1
7.8
5.9
4.5
14.6

7.5
10.3
14.0
7.5
6.9
8.3
6.2
7.8
6.1
4.3
12.8

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

IN D U S T R Y

Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers . .
Mining .........................................................
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 ...................

1Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a percent
of potentially available labor force hours.

58

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

6.

U n em p lo ym en t rates by sex and age, seasonally adjusted

[Civilian w orkers]

1983

A n n u al a verag e

1984

1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

Total, 16 years and over ......................................
16 to 24 years .................................................
16 to 19 ye a rs..............................................
16 to 17 years............................................
18 to 19 years............................................
20 to 24 ye a rs...............................................
25 years and over ............................................
25 to 54 years............................................
55 years and over ......................................

9.7
17.8
23.2
24 9
22.1
14.9
7.4
7.9
5.0

9.6
17.2
22.4
24.5
21.1
14.5
7.5
8.0
5.3

9.5
17.2
22.8
24.8
21.6
13.9
7.3
7.8
5.1

9.2
16.5
21.8
24.0
20.5
14.4
7.2
7.7
5.2

8.8
16.3
21.6
24.0
20.3
13 8
6.8
7.2
5.0

8.4
15.4
20.2
21.9
19.3
13.6
6.5
6.9
4.9

8.2
14.9
20.1
22.9
18.8
13.0
6.4
6.8
4.9

8.0
14.8
19.4
21.9
17.6
12.2
6.2
6.5
4.7

7.8
14.2
19.3
22.1
17.5
12.5
6.1
6.4
4.3

7.8
14.4
19.9
23.1
18.1
11.6
5.9
6.3
4.3

7.8
14.6
19.4
22.3
17.5
11.6
6.0
6.3
4.2

7.5
14.0
19.0
20.2
18.2
12.2
5.7
6.0
4.4

7v1.
13.0
17.6
19.7
16.3
11.5
5.6
5.7
4.6

7.5
13.6
18.3
20.5
16.7
10.7
5.9
6.2
4.4

7.5
14.0
18.4
21.4
16.7
11.8
5.8
6.1
4.6

Men, 16 years and o v e r.................................
16 to 24 years............................................
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 ..............................

9.9
19.1
24.4
26.4
23.1
16.4
7.5
8.0
5.1

9.9
18.4
23 3
25 2
22.2
15.9
7.8
8.2
5.6

9.8
18.6
24.3
26.0
23.2
15.7
7.5
8.0
5.4

9.6
17.6
22.8
23.9
22.2
15.0
7.5
8.0
5.6

9.1
17.3
22.5
24.3
21.6
14.7
7.0
7.4
5.4

8.6
15.9
20.2
22.0
19.6
13.8
6.8
7.1
5.4

8.3
15.6
20.4
23.3
18.9
13.3
6.5
6.7
5.4

8.1
15.6
20.8
21.6
19.6
13.1
6.2
6.6
4.8

7.8
14.6
19.7
21.6
18.1
12.1
6.1
6.4
4.5

7.7
14.6
20.0
23.0
18.2
11.9
5.9
6.1
4.6

7.7
15.0
19.7
23.7
17.3
12.7
5.9
6.2
4.4

7.3
14.0
19.4
21.3
18.3
11.5
5.7
5.9
4.5

7.1
13.7
18.5
22.7
16.1
11.4
5.4
5.6
4.3

7.5
14.6
20.6
23.0
18.8
11.7
5.7
5.9
4.6

7.2
14.3
18.6
22.1
16.5
12.3
5.5
5.7
4.6

Women, 16 years and o v e r...........................
16 to 24 years............................................
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 ..............................

9.4
16.2
21.9
23.2
21.0
13.2
7.3
7.7
4.8

9.2
15.8
21.3
23.7
19.9
12.9
7.2
7.7
4.7

9.1
15.7
21.1
23.4
19.9
12.8
7.0
7.5
4.7

8.8
15.2
20.6
24.0
18.5
12.5
6.9
7.3
4.5

8.5
15.1
20.5
23.6
18.8
12.3
6.5
7.0
4.4

8.2
14.7
20.1
21.8
19.0
12.0
6.2
6.6
4.1

8.1
14.0
19.8
22.5
18.7
11.0
6.3
6.8
4.3

7.9
13.9
18.0
22.2
15.4
11.7
6.2
6.5
4.5

7.8
13.7
18.9
22.6
16.9
11.0
6.1
6.5
4.0

7.9
14.2
19.8
23.1
18.1
11.3
6.0
6.5
3.9

7.9
14.1
19.0
20.8
17.8
11.6
6.0
6.4
3.9

7.7
14.0
18.6
19.0
18.1
11.6
5.8
6.1
4.3

7.2
12.2
16.7
16.4
16.5
9.9
5.8
5.8
5.0

7.6
12.5
15.9
17.9
14.4
10.8
6.1
6.5
4.2

7.9
13.7
18.2
20.6
16.9
11.4
6.3
6.6
4.4

7.

U nem p loyed persons by reason for unem ploym ent, seasonally adjusted

[N u m b ers in thousands]

1983

A n n u al av e ra g e
R e a s o n to r u n e m p lo y m e n t

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

1984

1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

6,258
2,127
4,141
840
2,384
1,185

6,258
1,780
4,478
830
2,412
1,216

6,133
1,660
4,473
799
2,479
1,214

5,938
1,562
4,376
858
2,362
1,234

5,601
1,392
4,209
866
2,322
1,127

5,226
1,321
3,905
868
2,250
1,154

5,017
1,283
3,734
855
2,246
1,150

4,825
1,238
3,588
809
2,192
1,175

4,737
1,272
3,465
772
2,153
1,092

4,614
1,254
3,360
756
2,208
1,213

4,527
1,108
3,419
781
2,308
1,216

4,327
1,192
3,134
804
2,178
1,186

4,220
1,166
3,055
800
1,968
1,136

4,511
1,164
3,346
865
2,091
1,092

4,218
1,152
3,066
835
2,322
1,093

100.0
58 7
19.9
38.8
7.9
22.3
11.1

100.0
58.4
16.6
41.8
7.7
22.5
11.3

100.0
57.7
15.6
42.1
7.5
23.3
11.4

100.0
57.1
15.0
42.1
8.3
22.7
11.9

100.0
56.5
14,0
42.4
8.7
23.4
11.4

100.0
55.0
13.9
41.1
9.1
23.7
12.1

100.0
54.1
13.8
40.3
9.2
24.2
12.4

100.0
53.6
13.7
39.9
9.0
24.4
13.1

100.0
54.1
14.5
39.6
8.8
24.6
12.5

100.0
52.5
14.3
38.2
8.6
25.1
13.8

100.0
51.3
12.5
38.7
8.8
26.1
13.8

100.0
50 9
14.0
36.9
9.5
25.6
14.0

100.0
51.9
14.4
37.6
9.8
24.2
14.0

100.0
52.7
13.6
39.1
10.1
24.4
12.8

100.0
49 8
13.6
36.2
9.9
27.4
12.9

5.7
8
2.2
1.1

5.6
.7
2.2
1.1

5.5
.7
2.2
1.1

5.3
8
2.1
1.1

5.0
.8
2.1
1.0

4.7
8
2.0
1.0

4.5
.8
2.0
1.0

4.3
.7
2.0
1.0

4.2
.7
1.9
1.0

4.1
.7
2.0
1.1

4.0
.7
2.0
1.1

3.8
.7
1.9
1.0

3.7
.7
1.7
1.0

4.0
.8
1.8
1.0

3.7
.7
2.0
1.0

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

Total unemployed.................................................
Job losers ............................................................
On layoff .......................................................
Other job losers ............................................
Job leavers............................................................
Reentrants............................................................
New entrants..........................................................
PERCENT OF
C IV IL IA N L A B O R F O R C E

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

8.

D uration of unem ploym ent, seasonally adjusted

[N u m b ers in thousands]

1983

A n n u al ave ra g e
W e e k s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t

Less than 5 weeks.................................................
5 to 14 w eeks.......................................................
15 weeks and over ..............................................
15 to 26 weeks..............................................
27 weeks and over.........................................
Mean duration in weeks.........................................
Median duration in weeks......................................


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1984

1982

1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

3,883
3,311
3,485
1,708
1,776
15.6
8.7

3,570
2,937
4,210
1,652
2,559
20.0
10.1

3,633
2,951
4,078
1,597
2,481
19.9
9.4

3,740
2,784
3,889
1,383
2,506
20.2
9.4

3,504
2,725
3,655
1,372
2,283
20.1
9.5

3,328
2,616
3,527
1,337
2,190
20.2
9.4

3,382
2,504
3,369
1,284
2,085
19.6
9.0

3,233
2,556
3,201
1,166
2,035
20.5
9.2

3,359
2,484
2,984
1,173
1,810
18.8
8.3

3,386
2,539
2,873
1,114
1,759
18.8
8.3

3,438
2,493
2,855
1,111
1,744
18.5
8.1

3,238
2,433
2,851
1,186
1,664
18,4
8.7

3,174
2,294
2,619
1,008
1,611
18 6
7.2

3,462
2,490
2,689
1,100
1,589
18.1
7.6

3,555
2,333
2,606
1,113
1,493
17.3
7.5

59

EMPLOYMENT, HOURS, AND EARNINGS DATA FROM ESTABLISHMENT SURVEYS

E m p l o y m e n t , h o u r s , a n d e a r n in g s d a t a in this section are com­
piled from payroll records reported monthly on a voluntary basis
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies
by 195,000 establishments representing all industries except ag­
riculture. In most industries, the sampling probabilities are based
on the size of the establishment; most large establishments are
therefore in the sample. (An establishment is not necessarily a
firm; it may be a branch plant, for example, or warehouse.) Selfemployed 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 fc the difference in
employment figures between the household and establishment sur­
veys.

Definitions
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holiday
and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the 12th of the
month. Persons holding more than one job (about 5 percent of all persons
in the labor force) are counted in each establishment which reports them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker su­
pervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with produc­
tion operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 12-16 include production
workers in manufacturing and mining; construction workers in construc­
tion; and nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; in
wholesale and retail trade; in finance, insurance, 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 re­
ceive during the survey period, including premium pay for overtime or
late-shift work but excluding irregular bonuses and other special payments.
Real earnings are earnings adjusted to reflect the effects of changes in
consumer prices. The deflator for this series is derived from the Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The
Hourly 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

60


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in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available)
and the effects of changes and seasonal factors in the proportion of workers
in high-wage and low-wage industries.

Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or nonsuper­
visory workers for which pay was received and are different from standard
or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the portion of gross average
weekly hours which were in excess of regular hours and for which overtime
premiums were paid.
The Diffusion Index, introduced in table 17 of the May 1983 issue,
represents the percent of 185 nonagricultural industries in which employ­
ment was rising over the indicated period. One-half of the industries with
unchanged employment are counted as rising. In line with Bureau practice,
data for the 3-, 6-, and 9-month spans are seasonally adjusted, while that
for the 12rmonth span is unadjusted. The diffusion index is useful for
measuring the dispersion of economic gains or losses and is also an eco­
nomic indicator.

Notes on the data
Establishment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are pe­
riodically adjusted to com prehensive counts o f em ploym ent (called
“ benchmarks” ). The latest complete adjustment was made with the release
of May 1984 data, published in the July 1984 issue of the R eview . Con­
sequently, data published in the R eview prior to that issue are not necessarily
comparable to current data. Unadjusted data have been revised back to
April 1982; seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January
1979. Unadjusted data from April 1983 forward, and seasonally adjusted
data from January 1980 forward are subject to revision in future bench­
marks. Earlier comparable unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data are
published in a Supplement to Employment and Earnings (unadjusted data
from April 1977 through February 1984 and seasonally adjusted data from
January 1974 through February 1984) 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, “ Com­
paring employment estimates from household and payroll surveys,” Monthly
Labor Review, December 1969, pp. 9 -2 0 . See also BLS Handbook of
Methods, Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982).

9.

E m ploym ent, by industry, selected years, 1 9 5 0 -8 3

[N o nagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
S e r v ic e - p r o d u c in g

G o o d s -p r o d u c in g
T ra n s p o r­
Year

T o ta l

P r iv a t e
s e c to r

T o ta l

M in in g

C o n s tru c ­

M a n u fa c ­

t io n

t u r in g

T o ta l

t a tio n

W h o le ­

and

s a le

p u b lic

Ir a d e

G o v e rn m e n t

F in a n c e ,
R e t a il

in s u r a n c e ,

tra d e

an d real

S e r v ic e s
T o ta l

F e d e ra l

S t a te

Local

e s t a te

u t il it ie s

1950 ..............................
1955 ..............................
I9602 ...........................
1964 ..............................
1965 ..............................

45,197
50,641
54,189
58,283
60,765

39,170
43,727
45,836
48,686
50,689

18,506
20,513
20,434
21,005
21,926

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

26,691
30,128
33,755
37,278
38,839

4,034
4,141
4,004
3,951
4,036

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

(1)
1,168
1,536
1,856
1,996

(1)
3,558
4,547
5,392
5,700

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

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

63,901
65,803
67,897
70,384
70,880

53,116
54,413
56,058
58,189
58,325

23,158
23,308
23,737
24,361
23,578

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

40,743
42,495
44,160
46,023
47,302

4,158
4,268
4,318
4,442
4,515

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

2,141
2,302
2,442
2,533
2,664

6,080
6,371
6,660
6,904
7,158

19 71..............................
1972 ..............................
1973 ..............................
1974 ..............................
1975 ..............................

71,214
73,675
76,790
78,265
76,945

58,331
60,341
63,058
64,095
62,259

22,935
23,668
24,893
24,794
22,600

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

48,278
50,007
51,897
53,471
54,345

4,476
4,541
4,656
4,725
4,542

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

2,747
2,859
2,923
3,039
3,179

7,437
7,790
8,146
8,407
8,758

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

79,382
82,471
86,697
89,823
90,406

64,511
67,344
71,026
73,876
74,166

23,352
24,346
25,585
26,461
25,658

779
813
851
958
1,027

3,576
3,851
4,229
4,463
4,346

18,997
19,682
20,505
21,040
20,285

56,030
58,125
61,113
63,363
64,748

4,582
4,713
4,923
5,136
5,146

4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5,275

13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,035

4,271
4,467
4,724
4,975
5,160

14,551
15,303
16,252
17,112
17,890

14,871
15,127
15,672
15,947
16,241

2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866

3,273
3,377
3,474
3,541
3,610

8,865
9,023
9,446
9,633
9,765

19 81..............................
1982 ..............................
1983 ..............................

91,156
89,566
90,138

75,126
73,729
74,288

25,497
23,813
23,394

1,139
1,128
957

4,188
3,905
3,940

20,170
18,781
18,497

65,659
65,753
66,744

5,165
5,082
4,958

5,358
5,278
5,259

15,189
15,179
15,545

5,298
5,341
5,467

18,619
19,036
19,665

16,031
15,837
15,851

2,772
2,739
2,752

3,640
3,640
3,660

9,619
9,458
9,439

1Not available.
20ata include Alaska and Hawaii beginning In 1959.

10.

NOTE: See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

E m ploym ent, by State

[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
S t a te

J u ly 1 9 8 3

June 1984

J u ly 1 9 8 4 9

S t a te

J u ly 1 9 8 3

June 1 9 8 4

J u ly 1 9 8 4 1 *

Alabama....................................................
Alaska .......................................................
Arizona ....................................................
Arkansas .................................................
California .................................................

1,332.0
233.2
1,044.0
736.9
9,896.0

1,359.5
225.7
1,124.7
768.2
10,387.7

1,351.4
234.3
1,109.3
766.2
10,328.5

Montana....................................................
Nebraska .................................................
Nevada ....................................................
New Hampshire.........................................
New Jersey..............................................

269.0
609.7
408.2
417.4
3,202.8

280 9
631.9
420.3
431.8
3,317.5

272.4
625.9
421.6
434.8
3,312.6

Colorado .................................................
Connecticut...............................................
Delaware .................................................
District of Columbia .................................
Florida.......................................................

1,322.3
1,442.6
271.3
613.1
3,847.0

1,369.2
1,499.0
273.5
602.2
4,119.3

1,356.9
1,485.7
273.2
617.0
4,078.6

New Mexico..............................................
New Y o rk .................................................
North Carolina .........................................
North Dakota............................................
O hio.........................................................

482.8
7,304.3
2,376.9
251.7
4,082.0

500.9
7,545.2
2,498.1
254.2
4,220.4

496.4
7,501.2
2,445.9
251.9
4,178.7

Georgia ....................................................
Hawaii.......................................................
Idaho .......................................................
Illinois.......................................................
Indiana ....................................................

2,273.2
406.1
317.5
4,532.7
2,011.7

2,411.9
406.8
329.8
4,588.6
2,060.8

2,407.5
408.2
325.0
4,588.8
2,065.7

Oklahoma.................................................
Oregon ....................................................
Pennsylvania ............................................
Rhode Island ............................................
South Carolina .........................................

1,168.5
963.1
4,537.7
391.5
1,177.6

1,190.5
1,004.6
4,660.6
407.0
1,243.2

1,181.2
980.9
4,623.0
400.0
1,240.3

Iow a..........................................................

1,036.2
943.9
1,199.8
1,581.0
440,8

1,023.4
930.5
1,179.1
1,573.4
445.0

South Dakota............................................
Texas .......................................................

M aine.......................................................

1,010.1
911.6
1,137.6
1,565.9
430.3

Vermont....................................................

236.8
1,717.3
6,172.7
564 1
205.0

250.2
1 824 5
6,353.4
600 2
207.6

243.7
1,823 9
6,340.2
596 1
209.6

Maryland .................................................
Massachusetts .........................................
Michigan .................................................
Minnesota .................................................
Mississippi ...............................................
Missouri....................................................

1,712.0
2,670.7
3,182.0
1,716.4
788.2
1,910.2

1,769.2
2,762.7
3,298.0
1,832.2
800.4
1,965.6

1,757.9
2,729.4
3,265.1
1,819.7
794.8
1,937.7

Virginia ....................................................
Washington..............................................
West Virginia............................................
Wisconsin.................................................
Wyoming .................................................

2,215.4
1,585.9
588.4
1,854.4
203.3

2,315.4
1,652.9
594.2
1,927.9
213.1

2,285.6
1,633.9
594.0
1,918.3
209 1

Virgin Islands............................................

36.4

34.5

35.5

Kentucky .................................................

p = preliminary.


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61

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •

11.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : E s ta b lis h m e n t D a ta

E m ploym ent, by industry, seasonally adjusted

[N o nagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
A n n u al a v e ra g e

1983

1984

In d u s tr y d iv is io n a n d g ro u p
1982

1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

89,566
73,729

90,138

89,918

91,018

91,345

91,688

74,288

74,110

75,083

75,481

75,814

23,813

23,394

23,532

23,669

23,895

1,128
708

957
600

950
590

952
594

3,905
991

3,940
1,015

3,985
1,037

18,781
12,742

18,497
12,581

Production workers ......................................

11,039
7,311

Lumber and wood products ...........................
Furniture and fixtures......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ......................
Primary metal industries .................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products . . . .
Fabricated metal products.................................
Machinery, except electrical ...........................
Electrical and electronic equipment...................
Transportation equipment.................................
Motor vehicles and equipment ......................
Instruments and related products ...................
Miscellaneous manufacturing...........................

Jan.

Feb.

92,026

92,391

92,846

76,157

76,533

76,971

24,058

24,198

24,383

24,577

965
600

967
603

969
607

975
608

4,019
1,043

4,044
1,053

4,073
1,064

4,086
1,077

18,597
12,679

18,698
12,759

18,886
12,928

19,018
13,048

10,774
7,151

10,846
7,224

10,923
7,289

11,071
7,421

598
432
577
922
396
1,427

658
447
573
838
343
1,374

675
453
578
840
344
1,384

680
456
581
849
346
1,389

2,244
2,008
1,735
699
716
382

2,038
2,024
1,756
758
695
371

2,051
2,022
1,776
779
694
373

Production workers ......................................

7,741
5,431

7,724
5,430

Food and kindred products..............................
Tobacco manufactures ....................................
Textile mill products.........................................
Apparel and other textile products...................
Paper and allied products.................................

1,636
69
749
1,161
662

Printing and publishing....................................
Chemicals and allied products .........................
Petroleum and coal products...........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products . .
Leather and leather products...........................

TO TAL
P R IV A T E S E C T O R
G O O D S P R O O U C IN G
M in in g

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

Oil and gas extraction....................................
C o n s t r u c tio n

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

General building contractors...........................
M a n u f a c t u r in g

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

Production workers ......................................
D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

S E R V IC E -P R O D U C IN G
T r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d p u b lic u t il it ie s

Transportation.................................................
Communication and public utilities...................
W h o le s a l e t r a d e

Durable goods.................................................
Nondurable goods............................................
R e t a il t r a d e

General merchandise stores ...........................
Food stores ....................................................
Automotive dealers and service stations...........
Eating and drinking places ..............................
F i n a n c e , in s u r a n c e , a n d r e a l e s t a t e

Finance............................................................
Insurance .......................................................
Real estate.......................................................
S e r v ic e s

Business services............................................
Health services ..............................................
G o v e rn m e n t

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

Federal............................................................
State ...............................................................
Local...............................................................
p = preliminary.

62

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

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly P

A u g .P

93,058

93,449

93,768

94,135

94,351

94,510

77,185

77,546

77,864

78,241

78,411

78,575

24,595

24,760

24,851

24,974

25,068

25,112

978
607

978
607

984
612

995
619

1,002
623

1,007
629

1,015
629

4,154
1,100

4,226
1,111

4,151
1,099

4,246
1,110

4,286
1,126

4,343
1,135

4,350
1,130

4,357
1,133

19,143
13,145

19,254
13,234

19,373
13,326

19,466
13,388

19,530
13,443

19,570
13,465

19,629
13,492

19,711
13,555

19,740
13,572

11,170
7,511

11,266
7,585

11,343
7,643

11,440
7,718

11,513
7,769

11,551
7,799

11,598
7,826

11,652
7,860

11,709
7,910

11,763
7,959

690
462
587
863
351
1,408

695
467
589
869
351
1,420

698
470
592
877
352
1,431

702
475
595
871
347
1,440

706
480
604
877
348
1,447

712
483
606
877
347
1,456

714
482
604
879
345
1,459

711
482
605
887
347
1,469

712
485
605
884
345
1,479

708
487
605
882
341
1,490

705
489
604
880
336
1,493

2,058
2,062
1,780
783
698
370

2,077
2,086
1,820
810
702
376

2,106
2,109
1,832
823
705
378

2,122
2,132
1,855
843
707
382

2,137
2,152
1,876
858
711
384

2,151
2,175
1,898
865
715
387

2,166
2,202
1,905
863
718
388

2,189
2,212
1,905
857
719
388

2,203
2,228
1,906
848
722
385

2,226
2,237
1,917
855
723
384

2,244
2,253
1,928
860
726
386

2,255
2,266
1,957
889
728
386

7,751
5,455

7,775
5,470

7,815
5,507

7,848
5,537

7,877
5,560

7,911
5,591

7,933
5,608

7,953
5,619

7,979
5,644

7,972
5,639

7,977
5,632

8,002
5,645

7,977
5,613

1,622
69
744
1,164
662

1,621
66
751
1,170
663

1,624
68
753
1,174
666

1,624
68
758
1,186
669

1,629
66
760
1,195
671

1,631
67
762
1,202
675

1,638
66
758
1,207
676

1,637
65
767
1,213
680

1,638
66
769
1,218
680

1,648
67
766
1,226
680

1,643
67
762
1,217
681

1,644
67
759
1,209
685

1,654
66
755
1,212
687

1,641
62
750
1,215
686

1,272
1,075
201
697
219

1,296
1,047
195
718
208

1,302
1,046
194
730
208

1,305
1,047
194
735
209

1,311
1,049
192
748
210

1,317
1,050
192
758
210

1,321
1,052
191
766
210

1,328
1,053
191
774
210

1,333
1,054
190
784
210

1,339
1,054
190
790
209

1,348
1,057
189
790
208

1,356
1,057
188
795
206

1,362
1,062
188
797
204

1,369
1,064
187
803
205

1,371
1,066
187
800
199

65,753

66,744

66,386

67,349

67,450

67,630

67,828

68,008

68,269

68,463

68,689

68,917

69,161

69,283

69,398

5,082
2,789
2,293

4,958
2,739
2,219

4,369
2,751
1,618

5,046
2,768
2,278

5,053
2,776
2,277

5,043
2,763
2,280

5,055
2,776
2,279

5,095
2,816
2,279

5,105
2,828
2,276

5,112
2,839
2,273

5,129
2,862
2,267

5,144
2,871
2,273

5,163
2,883
2,280

5,173
2,896
2,277

5,182
2,902
2,280

5,278
11,039
7,741

5,259
10,774
7,724

5,277
10,846
7,751

5,301
10,923
7,775

5,322
11,071
7,815

5,344
11,170
7,848

5,371
11,266
7,877

5,406
11,343
7,911

5,438
11,440
7,933

5,457
11,513
7,953

5,473
11,551
7,979

5,492
11,598
7,972

5,502
11,652
7,977

5,527
11,709
8,002

5,559
11,763
7,977

15,179
2,184
2,478
1,632
4,831

15,545
2,161
2,560
1,667
5,007

15,626
2,169
2,563
1,679
5,043

15,671
2,171
2,568
1,685
5,058

15,737
2,179
2,587
1,695
5,071

15,805
2,195
2,594
1,703
5,082

15,857
2,189
2,600
1,710
5,095

15,914
2,210
2,618
1,725
5,111

15,980
2,211
2,626
1,740
5,121

16,030
2,230
2,626
1,748
5,136

16,095
2,251
2,635
1,743
5,154

16,166
2,273
2,630
1,751
5,183

16,245
2,295
2,641
1,751
5,199

16,278
2,291
2,653
1,763
5,210

16,298
2,280
2,665
1,761
5,230

5,341
2,646
1,714
981

5,467
2,740
1,721
1,005

5,498
2,749
1,724
1,025

5,503
2,763
1,725
1,015

5,512
2,769
1,725
1,018

5,530
2,777
1,728
1,025

5,546
2,789
1,730
1,027

5,573
2,797
1,737
1,039

5,593
2,812
1,741
1,040

5,613
2,831
1,742
1,041

5,640
2,851
1,742
1,047

5,662
2,863
1,746
1,053

5,676
2,858
1,752
1,066

5,679
2,856
1,760
1,063

5,692
2,857
1,766
1,069

19,036
3,286
5,812

19,665
3,539
5,973

19,808
3,599
5,988

19,893
3,636
6,003

19,962
3,672
6,007

20,034
3,703
6,016

20,130
3,758
6,026

20,162
3,798
6,030

20,278
3,845
6,040

20,378
3,875
6,052

20,449
3,912
6,062

20,549
3,979
6,073

20,681
4,014
6,064

20,686
4,031
6,078

20,732
4,058
6,045

15,837
2,739
3,640
9,458

15,851
2,752
3,660
9,439

15,808
2,747
3,668
9,393

15,935
2,774
3,672
9,489

15,864
2,760
3,667
9,437

15,874
2,759
3,669
9,446

15,869
2,762
3,668
9,439

15,858
2,760
3,670
9,428

15,875
2,763
3,682
9,430

15,873
2,770
3,686
9,417

15,903
2,771
3,693
9,439

15,904
2,767
3,699
9,438

15,894
2,777
3,699
9,418

15,940
2,779
3,711
9,450

15,935
2,780
3,728
9,427

NOTE: See "Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

12.

A verage hours and earnings, by industry 1 9 6 8 -8 3

[P roduction or nonsupervisory w orkers on nonagricultural payrolls]
A v e ra g e
Year

A v e ra g e

A v e ra g e

A verag e

A v e ra g e

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

w e e k ly

h o u r ly

w e e k ly

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

A v e ra g e

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

A v e ra g e

e a r n in g s

h o u rs

e a r n in g s

e a r n in g s

M in in g

P r iv a t e s e c t o r

A verag e

A v e ra g e

C o n s t r u c tio n

1968 ...............................................................
1969 ...............................................................
1970 ...............................................................

37.8
37.7
37.1

$2.85
3.04
3.23

$107.73
114.61
119.83

42.6
43.0
42.7

$3.35
3.60
3.85

$142.71
154.80
164.40

37.3
37.9
37.3

$4.41
4.79
5.24

$164.49
181.54
195.45

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

36.9
37.0
36.9
36.5
36.1

3.45
3.70
3.94
4.24
4.53

127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53

42.4
42.6
42.4
41.9
41.9

4.06
4.44
4.75
5.23
5.95

172.14
189.14
201.40
219.14
249.31

37.2
36.5
36.8
36.6
36.4

5.69
6.06
6.41
6.81
7.31

211.67
221.19
235.89
249.25
266.08

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

36.1
36.0
35.8
35.7
35.3

4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6.66

175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10

42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.3

6.46
6.94
7.67
8.49
9.17

273.90
301.20
332.88
365.07
397.06

36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0

7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.94

283.73
295.65
318.69
342.99
367.78

1981...............................................................
1982 ...............................................................
1983 ...............................................................

35.2
34.8
35.0

7.25
7.68
8.02

255.20
267.26
280.70

43.7
42.7
42.5

10.04
10.77
11.27

438.75
459.88
478.98

36.9
36.7
37.2

10.82
11.63
11.92

399.26
426.82
443.42

M a n u fa c t u r in g

T r a n s p o r ta t io n a n d p u b lic u t il it ie s

W h o le s a l e t r a d e

1968 ...............................................................
1969 ...............................................................
1970 ...............................................................

40.7
40.6
39.8

$3.01
3.19
3.35

$122.51
129.51
133.33

40.6
40.7
40.5

$3.42
3.63
3.85

$138.85
147.74
155.93

40.1
40.2
39.9

$3.05
3.23
3.44

$122.31
129.85
137.26

19 71...............................................................
1972 ...............................................................
1973 ...............................................................
1974 ...............................................................
1975 ...............................................................

39.9
40.5
40.7
40.0
39.5

3.57
3.82
4.09
4.42
4.83

142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79

40.1
40.4
40.5
40.2
39.7

4.21
4 65
5.02
5.41
5.88

168.82
187.86
203.31
217.48
233 44

39.5
39.4
39.3
38.8
38.7

3.65
3.85
4.08
4.39
4.73

129.85
144.18
151.69
160.34
183.05

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7

5.22
5.68
6.17
6.70
7.27

209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62

39.8
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6

6.45
6.99
7.57
8.16
8.87

256.71
278.90
302.80
325.58
351.25

38 7
38 8
38.8
38.8
38.5

5.03
5.39
5.88
6.39
6.96

194.66
209.13
228.14
247.93
267.96

1981...............................................................
1982 ...............................................................
1983 ...............................................................

39.8
38.9
40.1

7.99
8.49
8.83

318.00
330.26
354.08

39.4
39.0
39.0

9.70
10.32
10.80

382.18
402.48
421.20

38.5
38.3
38.5

7.56
8.09
8.54

291.06
309.85
328.79

R e t a il t r a d e

F in a n c e , in s u r a n c e , a n d r e a l e s t a t e

S e r v ic e s

1968 ...............................................................
1969 ...............................................................
1970 ...............................................................

34.7
34.2
33.8

$2.16
2.30
2.44

$74.95
78.66
82.47

37.0
37.1
36.7

$2.75
2.93
3.07

$101.75
108.70
112.67

34 7
34.7
34.4

$2.42
2.61
2.81

$83.97
90.57
96.66

19 71...............................................................
1972 ...............................................................
1973 ...............................................................
1974 ...............................................................
1975 ...............................................................

33.7
33.4
33.1
32.7
32.4

2.60
2.75
2.91
3.14
3.36

87.62
91.85
96.32
102.68
108.86

36.6
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.5

3.22
3.36
3.53
3.77
4.06

117.85
122.98
129.20
137.61
148.19

33.9
33.9
33.8
33.6
33.5

3.04
3.27
3.47
3.75
4.02

103.06
110.85
117.29
126.00
134.67

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

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

32.1
31.6
31.0
30.6
30.2

3.57
3.85
4.20
4.53
4.88

114.60
121.66
130.20
138.62
147.38

36.4
36.4
36.4
36.2
36.2

4.27
4.54
4.89
5.27
5.79

155.43
165.26
178.00
190.77
209.60

33.3
33.0
32.8
32.7
32.6

4.31
4.65
4 99
5.36
5.85

143.52
153.45
163.67
175.27
190.71

1981...............................................................
1982 ...............................................................
1983 ...............................................................

30.1
29.9
29.8

5.25
5.48
5.74

158.03
163.85
171.05

36.3
36.2
36.2

6.31
6.78
7.29

229.05
245.44
263.90

32.6
32.6
32.7

6.41
6 92
7.30

208.97
225.59
238.71

NOTE: See "Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.


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

63

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
13.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : E s ta b lis h m e n t D a ta

A verage w eekly hours, by industry, seasonally adjusted

[P roduction or nonsupervisory w orkers on private nonagricultural payrolls]

1983

A nnu al av e ra g e
In d u s tr y

1984

1982

1983

34.8

35.0

35.0

35.2

35.2

35.2

35.2

35.4

35.3

35.3

35.4

35.3

35.3

35.2

35.2

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

38.9
2.3

40.1
3.0

40 3
3.0

40.7
3.2

40.6
3.3

40.6
3.3

40.6
3.4

40.9
3.5

40.9
3.5

40.7
3.5

41.1
3.7

40.6
3.3

40.6
3.3

40.5
3.3

40.4
3.2

Overtime ho urs......................................

39.3
2.2

40.7
3.0

40.8
3.0

41.4
3.3

41.2
3.4

41.3
3.5

41.3
3.5

41.6
3.7

41.7
3.8

41.4
3.7

41.8
4.0

41.3
3.5

41.2
3.5

41.2
3.5

41.1
3.4

Lumber and wood products...........................
Furniture and fixtures ....................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ...................
Primary metal industries.................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products . . . .
Fabricated metal products..............................

38.0
37.2
40.1
38.6
37.9
39.2

40.1
39.4
41.5
40.5
39.5
40.6

40.2
39.7
41.7
40.9
40.1
40.8

40.4
40.0
42.0
41.2
40.5
41.4

40.5
39.8
41.8
41.6
40.8
41.2

40.0
39.8
41.8
41.7
40.8
41.4

40.0
40.1
41.9
41.8
41.2
41.4

40.6
40.0
42.1
41.9
41.0
41.6

40.4
39.9
42.5
42.0
41.3
41.8

40.1
39 6
41.9
41.8
41.2
41.3

40.4
39.7
42.3
42 2
41.0
41.8

39.6
39.7
42.1
42.1
41.6
41.4

39.4
39.1
41.8
41.7
41.1
41.3

39 2
39.7
41.9
41.6
40.1
41.4

39.3
38.8
41.3
41.4
40.3
41.2

Machinery, except electrical...........................
Electrical and electronic equipment................
Transportation equipment..............................
Motor vehicles and equipment......................
Instruments and related products...................

39.7
39.3
40.5
40.5
39.8

40.5
40.5
42.1
43.3
40.4

40.6
40.7
41.9
43.1
40.4

41.1
41.2
43.3
45.1
40.8

41.2
41.1
42.5
44.1
40.7

41.3
41.1
42.6
44.1
40.7

41.5
41.0
42.4
43.9
40 8

41.8
41.2
43 2
44.8
41.3

41.9
41.2
43.1
44.3
41.2

41.9
41.0
42.9
44.4
41.1

42.3
41.3
43.5
44.8
41.4

41.9
41.0
42.4
42 9
40 7

42.0
40.8
42.3
43.1
41.3

41.8
40.7
42.2
42.6
41.1

41.9
40.7
42.5
43.6
40.6

Overtime ho urs......................................

38.4
2.5

39.4
3.0

39.6
3.1

39.9
3.1

39.7
3.1

39.8
3.1

39.7
3.2

39.9
3.3

39.9
3.3

39.8
3.3

40.2
3.4

39.6
3.1

39.6
3.2

39.5
3.1

39.4
3.0

Food and kindred products ...........................
Textile mill products......................................
Apparel and other textile products ................
Paper and allied products..............................

39.4
37.5
34.7
41.8

39.5
40.5
36.2
42.6

39.6
40.9
36.3
42.9

39 8
41.3
36.7
43.2

39.6
40.8
36.6
43.2

39.6
40.6
36.7
43.1

39.5
40.7
36.6
43.1

39.7
40.6
36 6
43.2

39.7
40.8
36.9
43.2

39.8
40.6
36.7
43.0

40.1
41.2
37.4
43.2

39.7
40.0
36.5
43.1

39.8
40.0
36.4
42.9

39.6
39.8
35.9
43.3

39.6
39.2
35.8
43.3

Printing and publishing .................................
Chemicals and allied products.........................
Petroleum and coal products .........................
Leather and leather products ........................

37.1
40.9
43.9
35.6

37.6
41.6
43.9
36.8

37.6
41.7
43.5
37.1

37.8
41.7
43.2
37.8

37.9
41.7
43.6
37.3

37.9
41.9
43.7
37.2

37.7
41.9
44.6
37.1

37.9
42.1
44.8
37.3

37.9
42.1
44.5
37.2

37.9
42.0
44.7
36.7

38.2
42.0
43.7
37.5

38.0
41.8
43.5
36.5

37.7
41.9
43.1
36.7

37.7
41.9
42.9
37.1

37.7
42.0
43.5
36.5

T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S

39.0

39.0

39 2

39.3

39.4

39.2

39.4

39.5

39.3

39.2

39.5

39.4

39.6

39.7

39.6

W H O LE SA LE TRA DE

38.3

38.5

38.5

38 6

38.6

38.6

38.6

38.6

38.5

38.5

38.7

38.6

38 6

38.6

38.6

R E T A IL T R A D E

29.9

29.8

29.8

29.8

30.0

30.0

30.3

30.1

30.0

30.1

30.0

30.1

30.2

29.9

29.9

S E R V IC E S

32.6

32.7

32.6

32.7

32.8

32.7

32.6

32.8

32.7

32.8

32.8

32.7

32.7

32.7

32.6

P R IV A T E S E C T O R

M A N U F A C T U R IN G
O v e r tim e h o u r s

D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

p = preliminary.

64

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

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly P

NOTE: See “ Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

A u g .P

14.

A verage hourly earnings, by industry

[P roduction or nonsupervisory w orkers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
A n n u al a verag e

1983

1984

In d u s tr y

P R IV A T E S E C T O R

Seasonally adjusted.................................

1982

1983

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly P

A u g .P

$7.68
(1)

$8.02
(1)

$7.95
8.00

$8.12
8 09

$8.16
8.13

$8.16
8.14

$8.16
8.17

$8.26
8.21

$8.24
8.23

$8.24
8.25

$8.29
8.31

$8.28
8.29

$8.29
8.33

$8.32
8.35

$8.30
8.35

M IN IN G

10.77

11.27

11.25

11.33

11.33

11.40

11.41

11.54

11.49

11.60

11.62

11.56

11.57

11.57

11.53

C O N S T R U C T IO N

11.63

11.92

11.86

12.04

12.06

11.91

12.02

12.08

11.99

11.97

11.95

11.99

11.94

11.95

12.01

8 49

8.83

8.78

8.89

8.90

8.97

9.04

9.08

9.06

9.09

9.11

9.11

9.14

9.17

9.14

Lumber and wood products...................
Furniture and fixtures..............................
Stone, clay, and glass products..............
Primary metal industries.........................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products
Fabricated metal products......................

9.04
7.43
6.31
8.87
11.33
13.35
8.77

9.38
7.79
6.62
9.27
11.34
12.89
9.11

9.32
7.82
6.67
9.30
11.29
12.74
9.09

9.46
7.87
6.74
9.42
11.34
12.79
9.18

9.47
7.86
6.71
9.38
11.28
12.68
9.18

9.53
7.79
6.73
9.41
11.32
12.71
9.24

9.60
7.80
6.78
9.41
11.35
12.71
9.35

9.64
7.88
6.76
9.42
11.38
12.76
9.31

9.63
7.88
6.75
9.38
11.49
13.10
9.31

9.66
7.87
6.76
9.40
11.44
12.97
9.31

9.67
7.89
6.76
9.51
11.51
13.12
9.34

9.66
7.92
6.80
9.54
11.49
13.09
9.33

9 69
8.04
6.84
9.58
11.46
13.02
9.33

9.71
8.01
6.88
9.64
11.46
13.04
9.32

9.68
8.06
6.90
9.66
11.44
13.01
9.30

Machinery, except electrical...................
Electrical and electronic equipment . . . .
Transportation equipment ......................
Motor vehicles and equipment..............
Instruments and related products...........
Miscellaneous manufacturing ................

9.26
8.21
11.11
11.62
8 06
6 42

9.55
8.65
11.66
12.12
8.46
6.80

9.54
8.62
11.52
11.92
8.45
6.79

9.63
8.73
11.80
12.31
8.54
6.83

9.66
8.71
11.87
12.38
8.54
6.84

9.74
8.77
12.01
12.49
8.56
6.84

9.85
8.84
12.04
12.47
8.65
6.95

9.85
8.88
12.06
12.53
8.68
7.00

9.87
8.86
12.00
12.41
8.66
6.97

9.90
8.88
12.12
12.62
8.71
6.97

9.91
8.89
12.06
12.56
8.73
6.97

9.90
8.89
12.04
12.51
8.71
6.99

9.93
8.91
12.14
12.67
8.78
6.98

9.95
8.95
12.15
12.64
8.83
7.02

9.93
8.99
12.11
12.60
8.79
7.02

7.74
7.92
9.79
5.83
5.20
9.32

8.08
8.20
10.35
6.18
5.37
9 94

8 06
8.15
10.26
6.19
5.35
10.03

8.11
8.17
9.90
6.23
5.39
10.11

8.12
8.16
9.65
6.24
5.40
10.11

8.18
8.26
10.77
6.26
5.43
10.20

8.24
8.36
10.19
6.31
5.44
10.24

8.27
8.41
10.77
6.39
5.50
10.23

8 24
8.37
11.13
6.40
5.46
10.22

8.27
8.39
11.29
6.41
5.48
10.25

8 29
8.43
11.43
6.43
5.49
10.29

8.30
8.43
11.55
6.42
5.48
10.34

8.33
8.44
11.92
6.43
5.50
10.42

8.39
8.41
11.54
6.43
5.51
10.54

8.36
8.36
11.04
6.46
5.54
10.50

8.74
9.96
12.46

9.11
10.59
13.29

9.12
10.62
13.17

9.23
10.70
13.38

9.23
10.79
13.38

9.26
10.86
13.45

9.29
10.90
13.54

9.26
10.91
13.47

9.30
10.90
13.43

9.29
10.95
13.44

9.29
10.97
13.44

9.31
11.02
13.32

9.30
11.03
13.33

9.35
11.10
13.28

9.40
11.10
13.28

7 64
5.33

7 99
5.54

8.00
5.52

8.05
5.57

8.08
5.56

8.07
5.57

8.16
5.61

8.17
5.68

8.16
5.67

8.20
5.68

8.25
5.68

8.20
5.68

8 23
5.67

8.29
5.72

8.22
5.67

10.32

10.80

10.69

10 88

10.94

11.01

11.00

11.08

11.01

11.02

11.07

11.03

11.07

11.18

11.21

W HO LESALE TRADE

8.09

8.54

8.54

8.62

8.69

8.68

8.74

8.82

8.79

8.79

8.89

8.86

8.90

8.97

8.95

R E T A IL T R A D E

5.48

5.74

5.73

5.78

5.79

5.82

5.78

5.89

5.89

5 89

5.90

5.88

5.88

5.87

5.84

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

Food and kindred products ...................
Tobacco manufactures...........................
Textile mill products ..............................
Apparel and other textile products...........
Paper and allied products ......................
Printing and publishing...........................
Chemicals and allied products................
Petroleum and coal products ................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products.................................
Leather and leather products ................
T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E

6.78

7.29

7.24

7.33

7.45

7.39

7.43

7.55

7.54

7.54

7.62

7.55

7.58

7.63

7.59

S E R V IC E S

6.92

7.30

7.24

7.37

7.43

7.44

7.47

7.57

7.55

7.54

7.60

7.55

7.53

7.56

7.52

1Not available.
p = preliminary.

15.

NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

T h e H ourly E arnings Index, by industry

[P roduction o r nonsupervisory w orkers on private nonagricultural payrolls; 1 9 7 7 = 100]
N o t s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

S e a s o n a ll y a d ju s te d
P e rc e n t

P e rc e n t

change
In d u s tr y

change

A ug.

June

J u ly

A ug.

f ro m :

Aug.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

Iro n t:

1983

1984

1984P

1984P

A ug. 1 9 8 3

1983

1984

1984

1984

1984P

1984P

J u ly 1 9 8 4

to

to

A ug. 1 9 8 4

Aug. 1984

154.9

159.8

160.5

160.1

3.3

155.4

159.9

159 6

160.3

160.8

160.6

-0 .2

Mining ....................................................
Construction............................................
Manufacturing.........................................
Transportation and public utilities ...........
Wholesale tra d e ......................................
Retail trade...............................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate...........
Services .................................................

166.9
145.1
157.3
155.5
158 2
150.5
158.0
155.3

173.4
146.1
162.1
160.6
164.6
154.0
164.9
161.6

174.3
146.2
162.7
161.7
165.9
153.9
166.1
162.4

172.7
146.9
162.5
162.3
165.5
153.1
165.3
161.4

3.5
1.2
3.3
4.4
4.7
1.7
4.6
3.9

(1)
144.8
158.0
155.6
(1)
150.9
<1)
156.6

(1)
146.6
161.6
161.3
(1)
153.7
(1)
162.3

(1)
147.0
162.0
160.9
(1)
153 4
(1)
161.4

(1)
147.1
162.3
162.1
(1)
153.8
(1)
162.5

(1)
146.4
162.8
162.7
(1)
154.0
(1)
163.6

(1)
146.6
163.2
162.4
(1)
153.6
(1)
162.5

<1)
.1
.3
-.2
<1)
- .3
(1)
-.6

P R IV A T E S E C T O R ( in c o n s t a n t d o l l a r s ) ..................

93.9

94.7

94.7

(2)

<2)

94.4

95.4

94.9

95.2

95.2

<2)

<2)

P R IV A T E S E C T O R ( in c u r r e n t d o l la r s )

1This series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component is small relative to the trendcycle, irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
2Not available.


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

p = preliminary,
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

65

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
16.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : E s ta b lis h m e n t D a ta

A verag e w eekly earnings, by industry

[P roduction o r nonsupervisory w orkers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
A n n u al av e ra g e

1983

1984

In d u s tr y
1982

1983

$267.26
(1)
168.09

$280.70
<1)
171.37

M IN IN G

459.88

478.98

479.25

488.32

489 46

489.06

495.19

499.68

492.92

496.48

499.66

499.39

505.61

499.82

503.86

C O N S T R U C T IO N

426.82

443.42

450.68

456.32

449.84

432.33

442.34

438.50

443.63

439.30

448.13

458.02

460.88

461.27

462.39

330.26
207.71

354.08
216.17

352.96
213.92

362.71
218.90

362.23
218.08

365.98
220.34

372.45
224.23

368.65
221.01

368.74
220.67

369.96
221.40

372.60
222.45

369.87
219.77

372.91
221.05

369.55
218.15

368.34
<1)

Lumber and wood products ...........................
Furniture and fixtures......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ......................
Primary metal Industries .................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products...........
Fabricated metal products.................................

355.27
282.34
234.73
355.69
437.34
505.97
343.78

381.77
312.38
260.83
384.71
459.27
509.16
369.87

378.39
319.06
267.47
391.53
458.37
507.05
369.96

390.70
320.31
270.95
399.41
469.48
521.83
379.13

391.11
319.12
271.08
394.90
464.74
508.47
379.13

395.50
309.26
269.87
395.22
470.91
513.48
384.38

403.20
311.22
277.98
394.28
478.97
526.19
395.51

398.13
311.26
263.64
386.22
476.82
521.88
385.43

398 68
313.62
263.93
389.27
482.58
539.72
386.37

399.92
314.01
267.02
389.16
480.48
534.36
384.50

402.27
317.18
267.02
401.32
488.02
549.73
387.61

399.92
317.59
268.60
404.50
481.43
540.62
386.26

402.14
324.01
270.86
407.15
480.17
536.42
388.13

397.14
315.59
269.01
406.81
474.44
528.12
381.19

395.91
321.59
271.17
403.79
471.33
520.40
382 23

Machinery except electrical..............................
Electrical and electronic equipment...................
Transportation equipment.................................
Motor vehicles and equipment......................
Instruments and related products ...................
Miscellaneous manufacturing...........................

367.62
322.65
449.96
470.61
320.79
246.53

386.78
350.33
490.89
524.80
341.78
265.88

383.51
349.11
474.62
503.02
340.54
264.81

395.79
358.80
505 04
546.56
349.29
269.10

396.06
357.98
505.66
545.96
346.72
272.23

405.18
363.08
515.23
550.81
350.96
272.23

418.63
369.51
521.33
556.16
357.25
278.00

411.73
364.97
517.37
555.08
356.75
272.30

413.55
364.15
514.80
544.80
356.79
276.01

415.80
364.08
521.16
560.33
358.85
276.01

417.21
364.49
523.40
563.94
358.80
275.32

413.82
363.60
514.11
546.69
354.50
274.71

417.06
365.31
519.59
557.48
362.61
273.62

410.94
360.69
509.09
540 99
359.38
273.08

411.10
364.10
504.99
536.76
356.00
275.18

297.22
312.05
370.06
218 63
180.44
389.58

318.35
323.90
387.09
250.29
194.39
423.44

319.98
326.00
385.78
254.41
195.81
429.28

325.21
330.07
380.16
258.55
198.35
439.79

323.99
324.77
370.56
256.46
198.72
437.76

327.20
329.57
431.88
256.66
199.82
440.64

330.42
333.56
385.18
258.71
199.65
448.51

326.67
331.35
410.34
257.52
198.55
440.91

326.30
327.27
405.13
259.84
200.38
438.44

327.49
329.73
416.60
258.96
201.12
437 68

329.94
332.99
451.49
260.42
202.03
442.47

328.68
333.83
457.38
257.44
200.02
443.59

331.53
337.60
482.76
259.77
202.40
449.10

330.57
333.88
430.44
252.70
198.91
455.33

330.22
334.40
433.87
255.17
199.99
453.60

324.25
407.36
546.99

342.54
440.54
583.43

343.82
439.67
572.90

350.74
448.33
592.73

350.74
449.94
586.04

352.81
457.21
590.46

356.74
462.16
603.88

347.25
458.22
594.03

349.68
457.80
584.21

353.02
458.81
585.98

353.02
460.74
590.02

351.92
460.64
580.75

349.68
463.26
579.86

351.56
462.87
576.35

355.32
462.87
577.68

302.54
189.75

329.19
203.87

329.60
207.00

337.30
209 43

338.55
206.83

338 94
207.76

345.98
209.25

343.14
208.46

342.72
208.66

341.94
205.05

347.33
210.16

341.94
209.59

344.84
213.76

342.38
213.93

339.49
209.22

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly P

A ug. F

P R IV A T E S E C T O R

Current dollars..............................................
Seasonally adjusted...................................
.................................

C o n s ta n t ( 1 9 7 7 ) d o l l a r s

$280.64 $286.64 $288.05 $286.42 $289.68 $289.10 $288.40 $288.40 $292.64 $291.46 $294.30 $296.19 $294.65
280.00 284.77 286.18 286.53 287.58 290.63 290.52 291.23 294.17 292.64 294.05 293.92 293 92
170.08 172.99 173.42 172.44 174.40 173.32 172.59 172.59 174.71 173.18 174.45 174.85
(1)

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

Current dollars...............................................
Constant (1977) do llars.................................
D u r a b le g o o d s

N o n d u r a b le g o o d s

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

Food and kindred products..............................
Tobacco manufactures ....................................
Textile mill products.........................................
Apparel and other textile products...................
Paper and allied products.................................
Printing and publishing...................................
Chemicals and allied products .........................
Petroleum and coat products...........................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products.........................................
Leather and leather products...........................
T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S

402.48

421.20

422.26

428.67

432.13

432.69

436.70

434.34

429.39

429.78

435.05

432.38

440.59

446.08

447.28

W HO LESALE TRADE

309.85

328.79

329.64

333.59

336.30

335.92

339.99

338.69

335.78

336.66

342.27

342.00

344.43

348.04

346.37

R E T A IL T R A D E

163.85

171.05

174.77

172.82

173.12

173.44

178.02

173.17

173.17

174.34

175.82

176.40

178.75

180.21

178.70

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E

245.44

263 90

261.36

264.61

271.18

266.78

268.97

275.58

274.46

273.70

278.13

274.07

275.15

280.02

276.28

S E R V IC E S

225.59

238.71

238.92

241.00

242.96

242.54

243.52

246.78

246.13

245.80

248.52

246.13

247.74

250.24

248.16

1Not available.
p - preliminary.

17.

NOTE: See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

In dexes of diffusion: in dustries in w hich em ploym ent increased, seasonally adjusted

[In percent]
T im e

Year

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Over
1-month
span

1982 . . . .
1983 . . . .
1984 . . . .

27.6
54.3
71.1

47.6
46.5
73.2

35.7
60.8
67.0

31.1
68.9
63.8

41.1
69.5
64.1

33.5
64.6
63.0

34.6
74.3
P60.8

32.4
68.6
P57.3

37.3
69.5
-

28.9
75.4
-

32.4
69.7
-

45.7
73.8
-

Over
3-month
span

1982 . . . .
1983 . . . .
1984 . . . .

25.1
46.8
82 2

27.8
57.3
80.5

27.8
64.1
76.5

27.3
75.1
71.1

27 6
75.7
68.4

28.6
77.8
P69.5

23.5
74,1
P65.1

24.1
81.6

26.5
80.8

—

—

25.9
78.9
-

27.8
79.5
-

41.6
77.6
-

Over
6-month
span

1982 . . . .
1983
.
1984 . . . .

19.2
50.8
81.9

22.2
63.0
82.7

21.9
69.2
79.7

24.6
75.1
P75.4

20.3
80.0
P70.5

21.4
82.4
—

21.4
84.1
—

18.6
82.4
—

23.2
84.6
-

27.3
85 9
-

29.5
86.8
-

35.4
83.8
-

Over
12-month
span

1982 . .
1983 . . . .
1984 . .

21.6
49.5
P86.2

21.4
54.3
P82.7

17.6
61.9
—

18.1
71.1
—

16.2
77.3
—

18.1
79.5
—

21.1
83.8
—

21.1
88.1
—

25.1
86.8
—

31.6
87.3
—

34.1
85.4
—

40.3
87.3
—

span

p = preliminary.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment rising. (Half of the unchanged components

66

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

are counted as rising.) Data are centered within the spans. See the "Definitions” in this section.
See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA
a t i o n a l u n e m p l o y m e n t i n s u r a n c e d a t a are compiled monthly
by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. De­
partment of Labor from monthly reports of unemployment insur­
ance activity prepared by State agencies. Railroad unemployment
insurance data are prepared by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.

persons in unemployment insurance programs to indicate they are out of
work and wish to begin receiving 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 o f in­
sured unemployed as a percent of the average insured employment in a
12-month period.

Definitions

Average weekly seasonally adjusted insured unemployment data are
computed by BLS’ Weekly Seasonal Adjustment program. This procedure
incorporated the X -11 Variant of the Census Method II Seasonal Adjust­
ment program.

N

Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured un­
employment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation for ExServicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees,
and the Railroad Insurance Act.

An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the beginning
of his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no application is
required for subsequent periods in the same year. Number of payments
are payments made in 14-day registration periods. The average amount
of benefit payment is an average for all compensable periods, not adjusted
for recovery of overpayments or settlement 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 o f unemployment before they are defined as unemployed. 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. Initial claims are notices filed by

18.

U nem p loym ent insurance and em ploym ent service operations

[All item s except average benefits am ounts are in thousands]
1984

1983
It e m
Aug.

J u ly

All programs:
Insured unemployment........................
State unemployment insurance program:1
Initial claims2 ......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume).................................
Rate of Insured unemployment..............
Weeks of unemployment compensated . .
Average weekly benefit amount
for total unemployment ...................
Total benefits paid ..............................
State unemployment insurance program:1
(Seasonally adjusted data)
Initial claims2 ......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume).................................
Rate of insured unemployment..............

S e p t.

Nov.

O c t.

Jan.

D ec.

Feb.

3,374

M a r.

3,174

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly P

2,166

2,327

2,958

2,613

2,290

1,529

1,433

r1,429

r1,370

1,389

1,731

3,056
3.6
11,622

2,843
3.3
11,339

2,515
2.9
r9,695

2,215
2.6
r9,304

2,111
2.5
8,228

2,270
2.6
8,428

$124.67 r$125.26 r$123.69
$122.61
$123.60
$124.30
$121.14
$123.00
$122.19
$121.32
$121.53
$1,297,164 $1,367,186 $1,104,404 $1,002,141 $1,099,862 $1,203,605 $1,457,983 $1,400,458 $1,369,536 r$1,173,601 r$1,109,268

$122.69
$975,000

$120.18
$982,838

2,478

2,620

2,915

3,275

2,917

2,580

r1,803

1,668

1,381

1,522

1,757

2,105

2,356

2,449
2.8
9,383

2,358
2.7
8,417

2,508
2.9
9,301

2,805
3.3
10,168

3,249
3.8
12,232

3,049
3.5
10,957

1,723

2,766
3.2
11,581

1,841

1,664

1,656

1,717

1,620

1,606

1,568

1,554

1,619

1,692

1,574
2,432
2.8

3,303
3.8

3,026
3.5

3,088
3.6

2,617
3.1

2,677
3.1

2,721
3.2

2,486
2.9

2,416
2.8

2,505
2.9

2,612
3.0

2,324
2.7

Unemployment compensation for exservicemen:3
Initial claims1 ......................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume).................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated . .
Total benefits paid ..............................

16

19

17

16

15

14

15

13

13

12

12

12

13

25
95
$12,134

26
110
$14,082

27
106
$13,531

28
107
$14,074

28
116
$15,121

27
113
$14,815

27
112
$14,532

24
96
$12,540

22
89
$11,813

20
78
r$10,349

18
79
r$10,577

18
72
$9,633

18
72
$9,664

Unemployment compensation for
Federal civilian employees:4
Initial claims.........................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume).................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated . .
Total benefits paid ..............................

12

11

11

15

13

13

16

10

9

13

9

11

12

23
84
$9,646

22
96
$10,982

22
83
$9,535

25
88
$10,144

27
110
$12,415

29
119
$13,888

32
133
$15,588

31
129
$15,003

28
122
$14,778

23
98
r$11,844

20
r88
r$10,529

19
76
$9,032

20
80
$9,512

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

55

14

9

7

8

8

10

4

3

2

2

11

25

49
92
$199.87
$17,551

46
107
$214.21
$21,789

41
103
$214.77
$20,239

48
92
$211.41
$19,531

40
92
$212.36
$19,536

43
95
$213.71
$19,870

51
121
$210.73
$23,866

49
104
$209.56
$23,228

41
99
$208.96
$20,112

27
70
$196.32
$13,356

19
54
$188.45
$10,233

16
38
$187.37
$7,039

16
35
$189.06
$6,691

15,595
3,012

11nitial claims and State insured unemployment include data under the program for Puerto Rican
sugarcane workers.
Excludes transition claims under State programs.
Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with other programs.
“•Excludes data or claims and payments made jointly with State programs.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4,297
782

8,231
1,469

9,517
1,810

^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.
P = preliminary.
r = revised.

67

PRICE DATA

P r ic e d a t a are gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
retail and primary markets in the United States. Price indexes are
given in relation to a base period (1967 = 100, unless otherwise
noted).

Definitions
The Consumer Price Index is a monthly statistical measure of the average
change in prices in a fixed market basket of goods and services. Effective
with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics began pub­
lishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. It introduced a CPI for All
Urban Consumers, covering 80 percent of the total noninstitutional pop­
ulation, and revised the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,
covering about half the new index population. The All Urban Consumers
index covers in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional,
managerial, 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, doctors’ and dentists’ fees, and other goods and ser­
vices that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quality of
these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revisions so that
only price changes will be measured. Data are collected from more than
24,000 retail establishments and 24,000 tenants 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 ex­
penditures o f two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience o f individual families and single persons with dif­
ferent buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “ Cost-of-Living Index,” it measures
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 o f the United States by producers of commodities in all
stages o f processing. The sample used for calculating these indexes contains
about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations per month selected
to represent the movement of prices of all commodities 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 o f processing structure organizes products by degree
o f fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate or semifinished goods,
and crude materials). The commodity structure organizes products by sim­
ilarity o f end-use or material composition.

68

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price Indexes
apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the United States,
from the production or central marketing point. Price data are generally
collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire. Most prices are ob­
tained directly from producing companies on a voluntary 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 various
commodities are averaged together with implicit quantity weights repre­
senting their importance in the total net selling value of all commodities
as of 1972. The detailed data are aggregated to obtain indexes for stage
o f processing groupings, commodity groupings, durability 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 (Washing­
ton, 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 industrial censuses conducted
by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the U .S. Department of Agriculture.

Notes on the data
Regional CPI’s cross classified by population size were introduced in
the May 1978 Review. These indexes 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 appropriate population size class measure for their region.
The cross-classified indexes are published bimonthly. (See table 20.)
For details concerning the 1978 revision of the CPI, see The Consumer
Price Index: Concepts and Content O ver the Years, Report 517, revised
edition (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 1978).
As of January 1976, the Producer Price Index incorporated a revised
weighting structure reflecting 1972 values of shipments.
Additional data and analyses of price changes are provided in the CPI
D etailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes, both monthly
publications of the Bureau.
For a discussion of the general method of computing producer, and
industry price indexes, see BLS Handbook o f Methods, Bulletin 2134-1
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 7. For consumer prices, see
BLS Handbook o f Methods f o r Surveys and Studies (1976), chapter 13.
See also John F. Early, ‘‘Improving the measurement of producer price
change,” Monthly Labor Review, April 1978. For industry prices, see also
Bennett R. Moss, “ Industry and Sector Price Indexes,” Monthly Labor
Review, August 1965.

19.

C o n su m er P rice Index fo r Urban W age E arners and C lerical W orkers, annual a verag es and c hanges, 1 9 6 7 -8 3

[1 9 6 7 = 100 ]
Food and

A ll i te m s

A p p arel and

H o u s in g

T r a n s p o r t a t io n

upkeep

b e v e ra g e s

M e d ic a l c a r e

O th e r g oods

E n t e r t a in m e n t

a n d s e r v ic e s

Year
P erc e n t

In d e x

change

In d e x

P e rc e n t
change

P e rc e n t
In d e x

P e rc e n t

In d e x

change

In d e x

change

P e rc e n t

In d e x

change

P ercen t
change

In d e x

P ercen t

In d e x

change

P e rc e n t
change

1967
1968
1969
1970

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

100.0
104.2
109.8
116.3

4.2
5.4
5.9

100.0
103.6
108.8
114.7

3.6
5.0
5.4

100.0
104.0
110.4
118.2

4.0
6.2
7.1

100.0
105.4
111.5
116.1

5.4
5.8
4.1

100 0
103.2
107.2
112.7

3.2
3.9
5.1

100.0
106.1
113.4
120.6

6.1
6.9
6.3

100.0
105.7
111.0
116.7

5.7
5.0
5.1

100.0
105.2
110.4
115.8

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

3.3
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
8.0
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
287.2

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 .................
1982 .................
1983 .................

272.3
288 6
297.4

10.2
6.0
3.0

267.8
278.5
284 7

7.7
4.0
2.2

293.2
314.7
322.0

11.4
7.3
2.3

186.6
1909
195.6

5.2
2.3
2.5

281.3
293.1
300.0

12.3
4.2
2.4

295.1
326.9
355.1

10.4
10.8
8.6

219.0
232.4
242.4

7.5
6.1
4.3

233.3
257.0
286.3

9.2
10.2
11.4

20. C o n su m er P rice Index fo r All Urban C onsum ers and revised CPI fo r Urban W age E arners and C lerical W orkers,
U.S. city averag e — general sum m ary and groups, subgroups, and selected item s
[1 9 6 7 = 1 0 0 unless otherw ise specified]
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1984

1983

1984

1983
J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

A ll i t e m s ........................................................................................................................

299 3

306.6

307.3

308.8

309.7

310.7

311.7

298.2

303.3

303.3

304.1

305.4

306.2

307.5

Food and beverages ..........................................................
Housing ..........................................................................
Apparel and upkeep..........................................................
Transportation..................................................................
Medical care
Entertainment ..................................................................
Other goods and services.................................................

284.7
324.5
195.0
300 4
357.7
246.0
287.5

294.2
331.0
196.2
305.8
373.2
251.5
301.5

294.3
331.5
198.8
306.9
374.5
251.7
302.1

294.5
333.2
199 2
309.6
375.7
253.8
302.8

293.6
334.6
1989
312.2
376.8
253.5
303.2

294 3
336.2
197.4
313.1
378.0
254.5
304.4

295.3
338.1
1966
312.9
380 3
255.3
306.5

285.0
323.1
194.0
301.9
355.6
242.5
286.4

294.4
324.2
195.4
307.7
371.3
247.7
299.2

294.5
322.9
198.0
308.9
372.6
248.0
299.7

294.7
322.7
198.2
311.9
373.9
249.8
300.4

293.7
325.2
197.7
314.6
375.0
249 6
300.8

294.3
326.2
196.1
315.5
376.3
250.7
302.1

295.3
328.7
195.3
315.2
378.5
251.4
304.5

Commodities.....................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages......................
Nondurables less food and beverages...................
Durables...............................................................

272.5
262.3
273.5
252.9

278.3
266.0
274.0
260.9

278.7
266.6
274.2
262.2

280.1
268.7
275.7
265.2

280.4
269.7
276.1
267.0

280.6
269.6
275.4
267.8

280.6
269.0
274.3
267.8

274.2
264.9
275.7
254.8

278.0
266.2
276.0
256.9

278.1
266.4
276.1
257.1

279.2
267.8
277.5
258.5

279.5
268.7
277.9
259.8

279.7
268.7
277.2
260.3

280.1
268.8
276.2
261.3

Services ..........................................................................
Rent, residential .......................................................
Household services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100)
Transportation services ............................................
Medical care services ...............................................
Other services .........................................................

345.6
237.1
104.8
302.3
387.2
276.3

355.3
243.6
105.7
314.4
404.4
289.1

356.5
244.8
105.8
315.4
405.3
290.4

358.1
246.4
106.2
315.8
406.3
291.3

359.9
247.2
107.4
317.7
407.1
292.3

361.9
248.4
108.5
319 6
408.4
293.6

364.5
249.7
109.7
321.4
410.9
294.2

342.8
236.5

350.1
242.9

349.9
244.1

350.1
245.7

353.4
246.5

355.2
247.7

358.2
249.0

298.4
384.4
274.2

310.6
401.8
286.1

311.6
402.7
287.6

312.1
403.9
288.3

313.9
404.7
289.4

315.7
406.1
290 9

317.4
408.6
291.5

All items less food.................................................
All items less homeowners' costs .........................
All items less mortgage interest co s ts ...................
Commodities less food .........................................
Nondurables less food .........................................
Nondurables less food and apparel.........................
Nondurables..........................................................
Services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100)...........
Services less medical care ...................................
Domestically produced farm food s.........................
Selected beef c u ts .................................................
Energy ..................................................................
Energy commodities .........................................
All items less energy ............................................
All items less food and energy...........................
Commodities less food and energy................
Services less energy...............................................

299 3
102.3

305.9
104.8

306.8
105.1

308.6
105.5

310.0
105.9

311.0
106.2

312 0
106.5

298.5

302.4

302.4

303.3

305.2

306 0

307.3

260.2
268.4
310.4
280.3
103.1
338.9
269.6
275.8
430.1
423.4
289.2
286.8
242.7
337.9

263.8
269.1
311.2
285.3
106.3
347.8
280.7
280.8
420.2
414.5
298.2
295.5
248.5
349.5

264.4
269,3
310.3
285.5
106.5
349.0
279.9
279.7
418.1
410.7
299.2
296.7
249.9
350.7

266.5
270.7
312.1
286.3
106.8
350.6
279.4
280 6
421.3
414.2
300.5
298.3
251.8
352.2

267.4
271.1
313.0
286.1
107.5
352.5
277.4
278.1
426.1
416.3
301.1
299.3
252.5
353.3

267.4
270.5
312.9
286.0
108.3
354.5
278.0
273.7
428.5
414.4
301 9
300.2
252 8
354.7

266.8
269 5
311.9
286.0
109.0
357.1
279.0
271.9
428.3
408.9
303.1
301.3
253.0
356.8

285.3
262.7
270.6
312.1
281.4

290.9
264.1
271.1
312.4
286.3

291.3
264 3
271.3
311.6
286.4

292.4
265.7
272.6
313.5
287.2

293.2
266.6
273.0
314.3
286.9

294 0
266.6
272.4
314.3
286.9

294.9
266.7
271.4
313.3
286.8

336.1
268.5
277.2
430.9
424.5
287.4
284.9
243.8
334.5

342.4
279.4
282.1
420.2
414.7
293.8
290.4
246.6
343 6

342.1
278.6
281.3
418.2
411.3
294 0
290.7
247.2
343.3

342.2
278.1
282.3
421.5
414.8
294.6
291.3
248.4
343.3

345.8
276.0
279.3
426 0
416.9
295.7
293.0
249.1
346.1

347.6
276.4
274.9
428.2
415.0
296.3
293.6
249.3
347.2

350.5
277.4
272.8
427.8
409.5
297.8
295.1
250.1
349.7

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1

$0.334

$0.326 $0.325

$0.324

$0 323 $0.322

$0.321

$0.335

$0.330

$0.330

$0.329 I $0.327

$0.327

$0.325

S p e c i a l in d e x e s :


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

69

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.

C o n tin u ed — C onsum er P rice In dex— U.S. city average

[1 9 6 7 = 1 0 0 unless otherw ise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1983
J u ly

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

1984
Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

1983
M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

1984
Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

FO OD A N D BEVERAG ES

284.7

294.2

294.3

294.5

293.6

294 3

295.3

285.0

294.4

294.5

294.7

293.7

294.3

295.3

Food

292.0

302.1

302.2

302.3

301.4

302.0

303.2

292.1

302.1

302.1

302.3

301.2

301.8

302.8

Food at home ..................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ......................
Cereals and cereal products (12/77 = 100) .............
Flour and prepared flour mixes (12/77 = 100)...................
Cereal (12/77 = 100) ............................................
Rice, pasta, and cornmeal (12/77 = 100) .........................
Bakery products (12/77 = 100).................................................
White bread.................................................
Other breads (12/77 = 100)...................
Fresh biscuits, rolls, and muffins (12/77 = 100) ..............
Fresh cakes and cupcakes (12/77 = 100) ........................
Cookies (12/77 = 100) ..............................
Crackers, bread, and cracker products (12/77 = 100) . . .
Fresh sweetrolls, coffeecake, and donuts 912/77 = 100)
Frozen and refrigerated bakery products and
fresh pies, tarts, and turnovers (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..............

282.8
293.7
158.3
142.8
176.7
146.5
154.4
254 3
149.5
153.2
155.4
157.0
150.3
154.1

293.6
300.3
160.3
143.4
180.4
147.2
158.5
257.3
153.9
158.7
160.4
162.6
152.3
160.4

293.1
301.5
161.9
144.6
182.3
148.8
158.8
258.9
153.0
158.8
160.0
162.9
153.9
160.5

292.8
302 8
162.5
143 8
183.9
149.2
159.4
258.2
154.7
159.2
161.2
163.8
156.6
160.1

290.7
303.5
163.4
144.6
185.1
150.0
159.6
260.4
154.3
158.5
160.6
163 9
155.4
161.5

291.4
304.9
164.2
146.2
185.7
150.1
160.4
260.2
154.8
158.7
161.3
165.8
157.9
162.1

292.5
306.6
164.5
147.2
185.7
150.3
161.5
260.9
155.7
158.7
163.9
166.1
160.7
163.0

281.8
292.3
159.2
143.3
178.8
147.7
153.2
249.9
151.6
149.6
153.6
157.9
151.8
156.9

292.4
298.9
161.0
143.8
182.5
148.4
157.2
253.0
156.0
154.7
158.6
163.4
153.6
163.2

291.9
300.0
162.6
145.1
184.4
150.0
157.5
254.6
155.2
154.9
158.1
163.7
155.2
163.3

291.6
301.3
163.1
144.1
186.1
150.4
158.2
254.0
156.8
155.1
159.2
164.8
158.1
163.1

289.4
301.9
164.1
144.8
187.3
151.1
158.4
256.1
156.6
154.3
158.7
164.7
156.6
164.2

290 0
303.4
164.8
146.5
188.0
151.2
159.1
256.0
157,0
154.5
159.3
166.7
159.2
164.9

291.0
304 9
165.2
147.5
188 0
151.4
160.1
256.6
157.8
154.6
161.8
167.1
162 0
165 6

159.4

163.9

163.8

166 0

164.9

166.6

169.0

152.5

157.1

157.0

159.1

158.1

159.8

162.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......................................
Meats, poultry, and f is h ....................................................
Meats ............................................................
Beef and veal 1
Ground beef other than canned.................................
Chuck roast .................................................
Round ro a s t.......................................................
Round steak.........................................................
Sirloin stea k...............................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Pork.......................................................
Bacon ..................................................................
Chops .......................................................................
Ham other than canned (12/77 = 1 0 0 )................
Sausage ....................................................................
Canned h a m ....................................................
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 = 1 0 0 )...........
Other poultry (12/77 = 10 0)......................................
Fish and seafood ...............................................................
Canned fish and seafood ..............................
Fresh and frozen fish and seafood (12/77 = 100) . . .
Eggs..........................................................................................

260.4
267.2
267.8
275.8
261.4
277.6
240.7
257.8
285.2
168.8
251.2
267.3
232.9
108.3
318.9
256.8
140.0
266.9
265 9
154.0
137.1
138.4
198.1
198.7
129.6
126.0
368.9
135.7
143.3
177.9

273.0
273.9
270.0
280.9
261.1
293.1
253.5
264.5
274.6
172.3
250.6
267.9
230.7
109.8
320.0
251.1
139.3
265.0
263.5
152.4
136.2
138.2
225.5
235.9
152.2
128.5
386.2
132.9
155.5
270.3

269.6
272.6
268.8
279.9
260 9
286.6
251.2
261.6
278.7
172.2
248.6
258.9
229.6
112.2
315.2
251.5
137.8
265 1
264.2
153.1
136.3
137.2
223.2
232.6
150.7
127.9
385.3
132.1
155.4
237.2

270.5
272.7
268.9
280.8
262.7
286.8
250.9
262.4
284.3
172.1
247.7
258.8
232.9
109.2
314.8
246.9
137.3
264.6
262.5
152.9
135.3
138.9
222.3
231.2
150.1
128.0
387.3
132.7
156.3
249.6

266.7
270.9
267.9
278.3
259.7
281.0
246.5
261.3
280.0
172.0
248.0
262.5
227.3
110.2
318.7
249.7
137.1
265.7
264.8
153.6
135.9
138.5
218.0
223.2
145.9
130.3
380.8
132.3
152.6
218.9

263.9
270.3
266 8
274.2
255.1
272.1
238.3
254.2
284.6
170.9
250 5
262 8
234.4
110.7
319.3
248.3
139.1
267 5
265.8
155.0
138.2
137.1
219.6
223.7
147.6
131.6
382.3
133.0
153.1
185.8

264.6
271.4
267.3
272.1
253.0
269.1
231.4
250.6
286.5
170.5
255.5
272.4
242.4
111.4
322.0
246.5
142.0
268.0
265.3
154.8
138.2
139.0
221.3
228 1
146.6
132.7
387.0
134.4
155.1
182.7

260.1
266.8
267.3
276.5
262.7
286.3
243.8
256 5
287.5
167.4
250.8
271.6
231.1
105.5
320.0
262.6
139.3
266.6
264.9
154.1
135.2
141.6
196.1
196.6
127.7
125.3
367.3
135.2
142.8
178.7

272.4
273.2
269.4
281.6
261.9
302.0
257.3
264.0
276.5
170 8
250.1
271.6
228.7
107.0
321.1
255.7
138.7
264.4
262.0
152.3
134.2
141.6
223.5
233.4
150.2
127.9
384.6
132.4
155.2
271.8

269 0
272.0
268.3
280.8
262.1
295.8
254.5
261.3
280.9
171.0
248.0
262.7
227.8
109.1
315.6
256.3
137.1
264.6
263.0
152.9
134.3
140.5
221.2
229.8
148.7
127.6
383.9
131.7
155.2
238.7

270.0
272.1
268 4
281.7
264 0
295.8
254.7
261.4
286.4
171.0
247.2
262.6
231.1
106.3
315.3
252.1
136.8
263.9
261.1
152.6
133.4
142.1
220.4
228.7
148.3
127.3
385.9
132.2
156.1
251.0

266.1
270.1
267.2
278.8
260 6
289.5
250.2
258.7
281.7
170.7
247.4
266.3
225.2
107.4
319.2
254.8
136.4
265.1
263.4
153.4
134.0
141.7
216.0
221.0
143.9
129.6
380.0
131.9
152.7
220.0

263.3
269.6
266.1
274.6
256.3
280.9
242.6
251.3
285.9
169.3
249 9
266.7
232.4
107.6
319.8
253.3
138.3
267.1
264.4
154.7
136.4
140.3
217.7
221.5
145.7
131.0
380.9
132.5
152 9
186.7

263.9
270.4
266.6
272.4
253.7
277.3
235.1
247.7
288.4
169.1
254.8
276.3
240.1
108.3
322.9
252.0
141.1
267.5
263.8
154.8
136.4
142.0
218.8
225.4
144.4
131.5
385.5
133.9
154.8
183.7

Dairy products..................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 100)...........................
Fresh whole milk .........................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 100)................
Processed dairy products .........................................
Butter .........................................................
Cheese (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Other dairy products (12/77 = 100) .................................

249.8
136.2
222.8
136.4
148.2
253.3
146.9
151.6
144.5

250.9
136.5
223.3
137.0
149.3
253.4
146.8
155.6
146.2

250.8
136.5
222.9
137.3
149.2
254.4
146.3
155.3
146 9

251.5
136.8
223.7
137.3
149.6
252.4
146.6
156.4
148.2

251.0
136.5
223.0
137.3
149.4
254.2
146.2
156.6
146.8

251.7
136.6
223.2
137.3
150.2
254.1
147.4
156.6
148.5

252.2
136.7
223.3
137.5
150.8
261 2
147.9
155.8
148.3

249.0
135.7
222.0
135.8
148.5
255.8
147.3
150.7
145.1

250.1
136.0
222.3
136.4
149.5
255.9
147.1
154.4
146.7

249.8
135.8
221.9
136.7
149.4
256.9
146.6
154.3
147.4

250.5
136.2
222.6
136.6
149.8
254 9
146.9
155.3
148.7

250.1
135.9
222.0
136.6
149.7
256.8
146.5
155.5
147.3

250.6
135.9
222.1
136.6
150.5
256.7
147.8
155.5
148.8

251.1
136.0
222.2
136.8
151.0
263.8
148.2
154.8
148.6

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).........................

298.7
310.6
326.5
287.5
325.2
347.9
173.3
295.8
320.7
280.5
243.1
167.6

321.0
342.8
296.0
287.9
263.2
303.0
158.2
386.6
359.6
278.5
332.8
252.1

323.2
344.3
300.5
298 6
264.1
309.6
159.1
385.4
363.5
290.5
318.5
249.4

315.3
326.5
304.2
299.3
275.2
309.5
161.5
347.4
367.3
244.4
280.4
218.9

310.2
316.0
315.2
298.8
251.1
344.8
169.9
316.8
372.1
234.1
252.8
187.4

318.1
329.7
343.3
315.5
277.9
452.5
169.6
317,1
391 4
262.6
262.3
174.6

320.0
332.4
346.9
329.9
271.8
486.5
163.6
318.8
455.6
246.0
237.3
167.1

294.7
304.8
315.3
288.8
323 1
321.5
166 6
295.5
318.2
280.6
247.3
167.3

317.2
337.4
286.2
289.3
260.7
276.2
152.6
383 8
353.2
280.2
337.6
249.7

319.4
339.0
290 8
298.7
262.2
284.2
153.4
382.7
357.7
292.6
322.7
247.0

311.2
321.0
294.0
300.4
273.1
283.4
155.1
345 4
360.1
247.1
286.6
217.2

305.6
309.5
303.2
299.5
248.8
313.9
163.2
315.4
366.0
236.4
257.6
186.3

313.1
322.5
328.8
315.2
275.5
413.0
162.6
316.8
387.6
264.6
267.4
174.1

315.1
325.2
333.5
330.6
269.5
448.5
157.0
317.8
451.1
246.2
242.1
166.1

Processed fruits and vegetables.................................
Processed fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 = 1 0 0 )................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 = 100) ..............
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................

288.2
150.6
140.6
156.4
152.6

299.9
156.8
154.9
158.4
156.8

302.8
159.5
159.4
160.8
158.3

305.7
161.7
163.2
163.2
158.8

306.5
162.1
163 8
164.1
158.6

308.0
163.2
164.8
165.2
159.6

309 2
163.6
163.9
165.7
161.2

285.9
150.2
139.8
155.4
153.1

297 4
156.3
154.0
157.3
157.1

300.2
159.0
158.6
159.7
158.5

302.9
161.2
162 4
162.2
159.0

303.8
161.6
163.1
163.1
158.7

305.3
162.7
164.1
164.3
159.9

306.5
163.1
163.1
164.8
161.4

70

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

20.

C o n tin u ed — C o nsum er Price In d ex— U.S. city average

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1984

1983

1984

1983

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

June

J u ly

Fruits and vegetables—Continued
Processed vegetables (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).................................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 = 100) ..............................
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 = 1 0 0 )...................
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 cola .........................................
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 = 1 0 0 ).......................................................
Seasonings, olives, pickles, and relish (12/77 = 100) . . .
Other condiments (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................................
Miscellaneous prepared foods (12/77 = 100) ...................
Other canned and packaged prepared foods (12/77 = 100) . .

139.0
151.7
140.9
131.7
338.7
376.1
151.8
169.7
153.0
259.0
259.5
150.5
130.3
428.7
310.3
145.1
356.6
351.4
140.4
276.8
141.9
154.4
159.3
158.5
156.1
151.6
146.8

144.6
154.2
146.2
138.8
348.4
381.2
154.5
171.8
154.0
281.1
280.5
153.9
145.5
441.8
318.3
152.6
364.3
357.2
144.5
281.4
143.2
156.8
162.8
162.3
156.6
154.6
149.7

144.9
153.5
148.2
138.8
349.7
384.8
156.0
172.5
156.5
280.7
280.1
153.7
145.2
443.5
319.1
153.2
367.6
359.8
144.9
282.1
143.6
156.0
163.3
162.9
156.6
155.0
151.6

145.6
156.0
148.5
138.9
351.0
387.7
158.6
171.8
156.9
282.4
280 5
154.3
146.7
443.6
320.8
151.3
368.6
362.2
144.7
283.8
144.6
159.3
163.0
163.5
157.5
155.8
151,7

146.0
155.4
149.3
139.6
350.8
390.0
159.4
172.4
158.5
282.9
282.7
153.3
146.9
441.7
316.2
150.9
368.9
362.8
146.0
283.9
144.6
158.3
164.7
162.7
157.8
156.0
151.3

146.5
155.6
150.7
139.8
352.1
391 2
160.5
172.4
158.3
285.4
285.6
152.3
149.1
442.3
317.1
150.1
372.8
363.5
146.2
285.3
144.6
160.4
165.1
163.8
158.4
156.0
152.1

147.2
155.1
152.3
140.6
353.1
391.8
161.3
171.0
159.4
291.4
293.2
153.2
152.7
442.7
315.1
150.5
374.8
366 9
147.4
285.4
145.6
159.1
166.0
163.8
160.0
154.9
151.6

137.9
153.3
138.6
130.2
339.3
376.0
151.8
171.0
150.8
258.7
257.6
148.8
130.9
430.3
307.8
142.6
351.7
350.7
140.7
278.4
143.7
153.5
161.3
157.5
157.9
151.8
148.0

143.3
155.8
143.7
137.1
349.1
380.7
154.3
173.0
151.7
280.9
278.8
151.9
146.1
443.5
315.8
150.3
358.9
356.5
144.8
283.0
145.2
156.1
164.9
161.4
158.4
154.8
150.9

143.6
155.2
145.5
137.1
350.2
384.5
155.9
173.7
154.2
280.2
278.1
151.8
145.6
444.9
316.1
150.7
362.0
359.1
145.2
283.7
145.5
155.1
165.4
161.9
158.4
155.1
152.8

144.3
157.7
145.8
137.2
351.6
387.3
158.4
173.0
154.7
281.9
278.5
152.2
147.1
445.2
318.0
149.0
363.0
361.6
144.9
285.4
246.5
258 4
165.2
162.4
159.4
156.0
153.0

144.8
157.1
146.6
138 0
•351.3
389 4
159.2
173.6
156.2
282 4
280.3
151.5
147.3
443.1
313.5
148.5
363.4
362.1
146.4
285.4
146.5
157.3
166.9
161.7
159.6
156.0
152.4

145.3
157.2
148.0
138.1
352.5
390.5
160.3
173.6
155.8
284.9
283.2
150.5
149.4
443.7
314.5
147.6
367.1
362.9
146.4
286 9
146.4
159.6
167.4
163.0
160.2
156.2
153.2

146.0
156.7
149.7
138.9
353.5
391.1
161.0
172.2
157.0
291.0
291.1
151.3
153.2
444.0
312.4
148.1
369.0
366.3
147.7
287.0
147.6
158.3
168.3
162.9
161.9
154.9
152.8

Food away from home ............................................................................
Lunch (12/77 - 1 0 0 ).......................................................................
Dinner (12/77 - 100).......................................................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...........................................

319.8
154.9
153.4
158.6

328.5
158.5
158.1
162.9

329.8
159.0
158.9
163.4

330.9
159.6
159.6
163.7

332.6
160.5
160.2
164.8

333.1
160.7
160.3
165.3

334.4
161.5
161.0
165.5

323.0
156.5
155.1
159.1

331.7
160.1
159.9
163.4

333.0
160.6
160.8
163.9

334.1
161.2
161.3
164.2

335.9
162.0
162.0
165.3

336.3
162.3
162.0
165.8

337.7
163.0
162.8
166.0

A lc o h o lic b e v e r a g e s

217.2

219.9

220.7

221.3

221.5

222.4

222.5

219.8

223.0

223.8

224.6

224.8

225.6

225.8

144.5
228.9
153.7
241.7
122.7
154.8

144.6
229.7
153.7
239.3
122.3
155.3

145.0
230.2
154.1
241.8
122.4
155.9

145.0
230.6
153.9
240.1
122.4
156.6

M ay

142.8
231.5
153.5
232.5
122.7
155.5

142.5
223.6
152.6
245.2
121.8
147.1

143.6
226.8
153.5
239.8
122.6
153.2

144.1
227.8
153.8
241.5
122.8
153.9

336.2

338.1

323.1

324.2

322.9

322.7

325.2

326.2

328.7

360.2

362.7

108.2
248.4
371.5
106.8
106.8
106.6
358.9
409.8
262.2

108.9
249.7
375.7
107.6
107.7
106.7
360.3
411.6
263.1

S h e l t e r ( C P I W ) .............................................................................................................................................

344.1

343.7

342.0

341.3

344.2

344.6

347.9

Rent, residential.......................................................................................

236.5

242.9

244.1

245.7

246.5

247.7

249.0

Other renters' costs ..................................................................................
Lodging while out of tow n..................................................................
Tenants’ insurance (12/77 - 1 0 0 )....................................................

350.4
370.7
153.8

360.9
377.9
161.1

363.0
581.3
161.1

370.7
393.8
159.8

370.5
393.5
159.8

370.8
393.9
160.1

375.1
400.6
160.4

Homeownership.......................................................................................

382.5
303.3
491.3
430.8
235.1
622.5
203.8
342.0
381.4

379.4
294 4
490.5
439.3
243.2
617.2
207.7
351.9
396.8

376.6
292.5
484.8
439 9
244.1
607.9
205.4
353.8
400.3

374.9
291.7
480.8
440.3
244 8
601.6
203.9
354.2
401.0

378.5
291.9
490.1
441.0
245.6
615.5
208.4
355.0
402.6

378.8
291.7
490 6
441.5
245.9
616.0
209.3
356.0
403.1

382.7
294.9
496.5
441.6
246.4
624.9
210.1
357.3
405.2

142.3
229.9
153.1
233.4
122.8
153.6

142.3
230 6
153 3
231 4
122.3
154 2

142.8
231.2
153.8
234.0
122.5
154.8

331.5

333.2

334.6

355.5

357.8

358 9

107.4
246.4
371.2
106.2
106.2
106.1
356.3
408.1
259.2

107 8
247.2
371.3
106.5
106.3
160.6
357.3
409.6
259 7

142.0
228.7
153.6
233.6
122.8
152.6

140.7
224.8
152.1
237.1
121.7
146.1

141.5
227.7
153.2
232.4
122.8
152.0

H O U S IN G

324.5

331.0

S h e lte r (C P I

U ) .............................................................................................................................................

345.3

354.0

Renters’ co sts..........................................................................................
Rent, residential ...............................................................................
Other renters’ costs ..........................................................................
Homeowners' co s ts ..................................................................................
Owners’ equivalent r e n t....................................................................
Household insurance..........................................................................
Maintenance and repairs ..........................................................................
Maintenance and repair services .......................................................
Maintenance and repair commodities.................................................

103.1
237.1
352.3
102.7
102.7
102.7
346.1
383.3
262.6

106.0
243.6
362.5
105.1
105.1
107.1
353.5
400.9
260 4

106.5
244.8
364.5
105.6
105.5
107.1
355.3
405.9
259.3

Alcoholic beverages at home (12/77 - 100) ............................................
Beer and ale .....................................................................................
Whiskey.............................................................................................
Wine ................................................................................................
Other alcoholic beverages (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................
Alcoholic beverages away from home (12/77 = 100) ..............................

Financing, taxes, and insurance.........................................................
Property insurance....................................................................
Contracted mortgage interest co sts............................................
Mortgage interest rates.......................................................
Maintenance and repairs....................................................................
Maintenance and repair services.................................................


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

71

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.

C o n tin u ed — C onsum er P rice In d ex— U.S. city average

[1 9 6 7 = 1 0 0 unless otherw ise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1983
J u ly

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

1984
Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

1983
M ay

June

J u ly

Homeownership— Continued
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) . .

1984

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

258.0

257.4

256.3

255.9

149.2
125.8

147.6
125.6

147.3
124.3

147.3
124.5

138 7

139 4

138.6

140.2

143 3

144 3

June

J u ly

255 6

257.2

257.1

146 2
124.2

148.0
124.1

147.2
123.1

141.9

142.5

142.1

F u e l a n d o t h e r u t i l i t i e s .........................................................................................

375.5

383.0

380.1

380.9

385.5

390 0

393.9

377.3

384.2

381.3

382.0

386.6

391.4

395 4

Fuels.....................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled gas............................................
Fuel oil ....................................................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) .........................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity............................................................
Electricity............................................................
Utility (piped) gas .........................................................
Other utilities and public services ..............................................
Telephone services............................................................
Local charges (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).................................................
Interstate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Intrastate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ............................................
Water and sewerage maintenance......................................

477.7
619.3
627.2
189.3
440.5
341.1
593.0
214.2
173.8
141.8
121.9
118.2
353.5

475.2
660.0
671.6
196.4
429.5
335.8
571.4
227.4
185.9
157.7
122.4
122.0
369.5

476.0
650.7
660.9
195.6
432.3
338.9
573.2
228.2
186.4
157.8
122.3
123.7
371.4

483.5
649.2
659.9
194.4
441.4
343.0
591.7
228.8
■186.7
158.3
122.6
123.1
373.9

490.7
646.0
656.2
194.1
450.6
358.6
585.9
229.4
187.1
160.1
118.5
124 8
374.6

496.5
637.4
646.2
193.7
459 1
358.7
589.7
230.6
188.1
162.3
116.2
125.9
376.6

477.9
621.7
629.5
190.2
440.3
341.6
589.5
215.3
174.3
142.3
122.3
118.2
357.7

479.1
691.4
707.6
198.1
427 9
333.3
570.1
229.2
187.5
159.6
122.8
122.1
373.2

474.7
662 4
673.9
197.1
428.4
335.1
567.9
228.5
186.6
158.4
122.8
122.0
373.9

475.4
652.9
663.1
196.3
431.1
338.0
569.8
229.2
187.0
158.4
122.7
123.6
375.7

482.6
651.5
662.1
195.1
439.9
342.2
587.2
229.9
187.4
159.0
123.0
122.9
378.2

490.4
648.4
658.6
194.8
449.7
358.7
581.6
230.4
187.6
160.8
118.9
124.6
378.9

496.1
640.0
648.8
194.4
458.2
369.0
585.1
231.7
188.7
163.1
116.6
125.7
381.0

238.9

479.6
688.6
705.0
197.4
429.0
334.2
573.6
228.0
186.8
159.0
122.4
122.1
369.0
240.4

241.2

242.3

242.4

242.3

241.9

235.8

237.4

238.0

238.9

239 1

238.9

283.3

198.1
227.3
134.4

197.6
232.0
137.4

198.3
236.1
140.1

199.9
235.2
139.0

199.8
236 6
140 8

199.1
234.7
138.2

197.9
232.9
136.6

196.1
231.1
135.6

196.0
235.5
138.5

196.7
240.0
141.2

197.7
238.6
139.9

197.7
239.9
141.6

196.9
238.4
139.4

195.6
236.4
137.7

149.3
220.5
156.5
117.7
123.9
141.1
150 9
105.2
100.1
110.8
188.6
192.7
143.0
125.6

152.3
216 7
148.7
118.5
124.5
139.7
151.1
104.5
98 1
111.2
190.7
196.2
145.9
126.4

154.6
218.4
149.1
119.8
124.5
142.1
150.5
103.6
97 9
109.7
191.0
197.2
147.4
126.2

154.7
222.8
154.2
121.2
125.5
144.6
150.1
103.4
96.7
110.3
190.4
195 8
146.7
126.1

154.6
223.8
154.3
121.1
128.2
144.7
149.8
102.9
96.5
109.5
190.6
196.2
146.7
126.2

154.9
223.3
154.1
121.3
126.8
144.8
148.8
102 0
95.9
108.4
189.7
196.8
145.0
125.4

154.2
222.1
151.5
121.9
126.3
144.7
147.2
101.3
94.5
108.2
187.1
194.2
145.5
123.2

154.0
217.6
153.0
118.0
125.0
137.1
151.2
104.3
99.0
109.8
189.0
199.2
143.5
123.6

156.6
213.7
145.3
118.3
125.7
135.9
152.2
103.5
96.7
110.2
192.1
201.9
147.1
125.3

159.5
215.3
145.9
119.7
125.7
137.9
151.9
102.5
96.5
108.6
192.8
203.1
148.6
125.2

159.2
218.9
149.6
121.3
126 3
140.2
151.4
102.4
95.3
109.3
192.0
202 2
147.6
124.9

158 9
220.1
150.2
121.1
129.0
140.4
151.3
101.9
95.1
108.5
192.3
202.5
147.6
125.2

159.5
219.5
149.6
121.6
127.6
140.4
150.1
101.0
94.5
107.4
191.0
202.5
145.8
124.2

158 6
218.7
148.1
122.1
127.2
140.2
148.4
100.2
93.0
107.2
188 4
199.8
146,0
121.4

124.0

127.2

127.1

126.3

126.9

127.0

121.7

122.6

126.4

126.4

125.4

126.2

125.8

120.0

127.3
142.0

126.1
141.7

125.8
141.6

126.2
143.2

125.7
142.1

124.4
142.2

124 9
142.1

124.8
139.7

124.0
139.5

123.8
139.2

124.2
140.7

124.1
139.4

122.4
139.6

122 9
139.5

145.1
133.6

145.9
132.0

145.4
132.8

147.6
137.4

147.5
136.1

147.8
134.3

147.0
135.5

137.3
129.3

137.6
128.1

137.0
128.5

139.0
132.9

138.8
131.5

138.8
129.7

137.8
130.7

149.1

148.2

148.2

149.2

147.2

147.9

147.2

144.9

144.1

144.2

145.1

143.0

143.9

143.3

135.5

136.1

135.3

134.9

134.1

134.6

135.2

140.4

141.0

140.1

140.5

139.5

140.0

140.7

296 8
294.6
151.4
148.1
140.3
153.9
146.6

300.0
296.5
154.5
148.8
141.7
158.3
145.2

300.6
296.1
153.7
149.3
141.7
159.5
146.6

301.8
297.1
153.8
151.6
142.0
159.2
147.5

301.5
298.2
153.4
151.7
142.5
159.8
144.8

303.0
299.3
155.1
152.9
143.5
160.1
144.7

303.8
299.8
154.9
153.7
143.7
161.2
144.9

293.5
290.3
150 2
148.2
143.2
1486
139.7

296.9
292.3
153.2
149.0
145.0
152.8
138.3

297.1
291.7
152.4
149.4
144.7
154.0
138.9

298.5
292.8
152.5
151.6
145.1
153.7
140.5

298.5
293.7
152.0
151.7
145.7
154.4
138.7

300.1
294.8
153.8
152.9
146.7
154.7
138.7

301.0
295.3
153.6
153.7
147.1
155.9
138.7

318.7
337.5

324.8
337.5

326.1
337.5

325.7
337.5

326.5
337.5

327.0
337.5

327.6
337.5

318.3
337.5

325.3
337.5

326.0
337.5

326.0
337.5

326.9
337.5

327.5
337.5

328.2
337.5

162.2
144.0

171.7
148.3

171.7
148.8

171.8
149.4

172.9
150.1

173.7
150.2

174.5
150.9

162 3
142.2

171.9
146.5

172.0
146.9

172.1
147.5

173.2
148.1

174.1
148.2

174.9
148.9

H o u s e h o ld f u r n is h in g s a n d o p e r a t io n s

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

Housefurnishings .......................................................................
Textile housefurnishings..............................................
Household linens (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................................
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 = 1 0 0 )...........................
Other furniture (12/77 = 100) ..............................................
Appliances including TV and sound equipment .................................
Television and sound equipment ..............................................
Television ............................................................
Sound equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................................
Household appliances ...............................................................
Refrigerators and home freezers.........................................
Laundry equipment............................................................
Other household appliances (12/77 = 100) ......................
Stoves, dishwashers, vacuums, and sewing
machines (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................................
Office machines, small electric appliances, and
air conditioners (12/77 = 100) .................................
Other household equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................................
Floor and window coverings, infants’, laundry,
cleaning, and outdoor equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...................
Clocks, lamps, and decor items (12/77 = 1 0 0 )........................
Tableware, serving pieces, and nonelectric
kitchenware (12/77 = 100)....................................................
Lawn equipment, power tools, and other
hardware (12/77 = 100) ....................................................
Housekeeping supplies ..................................................................
Soaps and detergents.........................................................
Other laundry and cleaning products (12/77 = 100) .........................
Cleansing and toilet tissue, paper towels and napkins (12/77 = 100)
Stationery, stationery supplies, and gift wrap (12/77 = 100) ...........
Miscellaneous household products (12/77 = 100) ........................
Lawn and garden supplies (12/77 = 10 0)......................................
Housekeeping services .......................................................
Postage........................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 = 10 0)............................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).................................
APP AREL A N D UPKEEP

195.0

196.2

198 8

199.2

198.9

197.4

196.6

198 0

198.2

197.7

196.1

195.3

182.8

183.2

185.9

186.3

185.8

184 0

183.0

194.0
182.4

195.4

A p p a r e l c o m m o d i t i e s .....................................................................................................

183.0

185.8

185.9

185.1

183.3

182.4

179.3
188.2
118.3
110.7
98.2
145.3

179.3
187.9
118.1
107.6
98.1
145.2

182.3
189.9
119.4
110.6
98.1
146.1

182.6
190.6
120.2
112.0
99.0
146.0

181.7
190.7
120.4
111.9
98.2
147.6

179.8
190.3
120.0
113.0
96 2
148.0

178 9
189.8
119.3
113.2
96.1
145.6

178.7
188.1
118.7
103.3
100 7
141.3

178.9
188.7
118.9
101.2
101.3
141.2

181.9
190.5
120.1
104.1
101.4
142.1

181.9
191.2
121.0
105.4
102.4
142.1

180.7
191.1
121.1
105.2
101.2
143.5

178.7
190.3
120.3
105.8
99.4
143.8

177.9
189.9
119.6
106.2
99.6
141.8

Apparel commodities less footwear....................................................
Men's and boys’ ...............................................................................
Men’s (12/77 = 100) .........................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100)...................
Coats and jackets...............................................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 = 1 0 0 )................

72

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

20.

C o n tin u ed — C onsum er P rice In d ex— U.S. city average

[1 9 6 7 = 1 0 0 unless otherw ise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

1984

1983

1983

1984

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

May

June

J u ly

120.9
112.8
123.0
114.9
134.9
124.6
158.8
105.5
164.8
161.4
96.3
131.7
81.0
106.2
100.1
99.8

125.7
112.1
123.1
118.4
136.2
121.6
159.0
105.6
162.9
166.5
93.0
135 5
75.2
106.4
98.9
102.2

127.0
112.4
124.1
119.7
137.9
122.1
163.3
108.7
167.2
175.9
92.5
136.8
85.0
108.0
100.6
103.9

127.3
113.6
123.2
119.7
137.2
120.3
163.2
108 6
164.9
175.0
92.8
136.9
85.1
108.2
100 6
104.3

127.6
113.5
122.5
119.4
136.6
119.3
161.8
107.7
159.7
176.1
93.4
137.5
77.3
107.2
98.3
102.7

126.9
111.4
123.0
118.2
137.1
121.2
157.9
105.2
154.6
172.1
91.1
137.0
71.3
104.3
95.0
99.0

125.6
111.3
124.1
120.8
136.5
121.8
156.2
103.7
156.8
163.7
88.2
136.7
74.4
104.6
99.7
96.9

124.2
118.4
120.9
115.5
130.4
121.6
160.8
107.0
169.4
147.2
96.9
131.4
99.8
106.6
100.0
101.3

128.8
117.8
121.7
120.7
131.9
119.0
160.7
107.2
1669
153.7
93.3
135.2
95.0
105.6
96.6
102.7

130.0
118.3
122.8
122.0
133.4
119.6
165.3
110.5
172.8
162.9
93.0
136.5
106.4
107.4
98.3
104 6

130.1
119.9
121.8
122.0
132.7
117.6
164.5
109.9
170.1
160.6
93.5
136.6
104.2
107.6
98.1
105.2

130.1
119.9
121.1
121.8
132.2
116.6
162.7
108.6
164.7
162.9
93.9
137.1
92.7
106 4
96.0
103.7

129.2
117.5
121.6
120.4
132.7
118.4
159.2
106.2
159.1
160.5
91.4
136.6
85.8
104.3
93.7
100.7

127.7
117.2
122.7
123.1
132.2
119.0
157.4
104.8
162.4
153.1
88.6
136.2
97.1
104.0
98.4
96.7

127.7
282.4
215.9
123.0
146.7

126.3
286.2
216.1
122.4
147.0

128.0
288.0
217.2
120.8
148.8

128.1
289.2
217.6
122.6
148.3

129.7
28319
216.8
123.1
147.4

129.3
278 3
217.7
122.4
148.5

127.1
281.2
218.0
122.5
148.8

126.8
293.1
204.6
121.0
137.4

125.2
297.0
204.4
121.1
137.2

126.9
298.6
205.3
119.7
138.7

126.9
299.7
205.5
120.8
138.4

128.2
293.0
205.0
121.5
137.6

127.8
289.2
205.7
120.9
138.5

125.7
292.0
206.0
120.7
138.9

Footwear...................................................................................................
Men's (12/77 - 1 0 0 ).......................................................................
Boys' and girls’ (12/77 = 100).........................................................
Women's (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................................

203.8
132.8
128.9
122.9

206.4
135.0
131.4
123.5

207.7
135.2
131.2
125.5

208.9
135.8
131.4
126.7

210.2
137.1
132.4
127.1

209.6
136.7
132.1
126.7

208.0
137.5
131.0
124.2

203.7
134.7
131.0
118.9

207.0
136.9
133.9
120.3

208.3
137.1
133.8
122.3

209.4
137.9
133.9
123.4

210.7
139.2
134.7
123.7

210.0
138.7
134.5
123.2

208.7
139.6
133.7
120.8

A p p a r e l s e r v ic e s

291.8

299.7

300.8

301.5

303.7

304.4

305.1

290.0

297.6

298.8

299.4

301.6

302.4

303.0

Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 = 100) ...........
Other apparel services (12/77 = 100).......................................................

174.1
152.7

180.2
154.4

180.7
155.3

181.0
155.7

182.6
156.5

182.9
157.0

183.4
157.2

172.5
153.9

178.5
155.5

179.1
156.5

179.4
156.9

180.9
157.7

181.2
158.3

181.7
158.5

T R A N S P O R T A T IO N

300.4

305.8

306.9

309.6

312.2

313.1

312.9

301.9

307.7

308.9

311.9

314.6

315.5

315.2

P r iv a t e

296.0

300.8

301.9

304 8

307 4

308.1

307.5

298.6

303.9

305.2

308.3

311.0

311.7

311.2

207.6
378.0
376.7
340.2
172.3

207.7
382.0
374.9
340.7
172.6

208.1
383.2
369.8
341.6
172.6

201.0
329 6
390.6
330.4
165.6

206.7
357.2
370.7
338.1
169.0

206.7
362.2
370.5
339.0
169.3

206.9
370.0
375.7
339.6
170.1

207.1
378.0
378.2
340.8
170.9

207.1
382.0
376.4
341.5
171.3

207.6
383.2
376.4
342.3
171.6

Men's— Continued
Shirts (12/77 = 100).........................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 = 100) ................
Boys’ (12/77 - 100) ...............................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...........
Furnishings (12/77 = 100) ..............................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) . .
Women’s and girls' ..........................................................................
Women’s (12/77 = 100) .........................................................
Coats and jackets...............................................................
Dresses .............................................................................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ........................
Underwear, nightwear, and hosiery (12/77 = 100) ...........
Suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................................
Girls' (12/77 = 100)..................................................................
Coats, jackets, dresses, and suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).............
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ........................
Underwear, nightwear, hosiery, and
accessories (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................................
Infants' and toddlers' .......................................................................
Other apparel commodities ...............................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 = 100) .........................................

New ca rs...................................................................................................
Used cars ................................................................................................
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) ......................
T ire s..................................................................................
Other parts and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )........................
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 = 1 0 0 )......................................
Other vehicle-related fees (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...........................
P u b lic

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

Airline fa re ................................................................................................
Intercity bus fare .....................................................................................
Intracity mass transit ...............................................................................
Taxi fare ...................................................................................................
Intercity train fa r e .....................................................................................
M E D IC A L C A R E

M e d ic a l c a r e c o m m o d it ie s

Prescription drugs.....................................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 = 100)....................................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Circulatories and diuretics (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 = 10 0).................................


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

201.4
329.6
389 3
329.8
166.6

207.2
357.2
368.8
337.4
170.3

207.2
362.2
368.6
338.3
170.7

207.4
370.0
374.0
338.9
171.4

158.3
152.0
157.3
258.6
209 6
155.3
132.7
183.5
132.3
274.1
302.4
151.7
145.6
194.8
152.9
139.0
157.9

164.4
153.5
161.8
267.7
202.8
153.8
127.8
174.2
132.0
287 5
319 8
159.3
149.1
195.1
158.0
139.2
163.9

165.1
153.9
162.1
268.3
201.3
152.5
126.9
171.8
133.2
288.7
322.3
159.2
149.1
195.5
158.0
139.2
163.5

165.1
154.2
162.4
269.0
202.4
152.7
127.7
172.9
134.0
289.3
321.8
160.9
149.5
195.7
158.0
139.8
164.3

165.8
154.8
162.6
270.4
201.7
152.7
127.2
172.2
133.5
291.2
323.7
162.4
150.3
197.1
158.0
139.9
165.2

166 2
154.6
163.4
271.5
202.0
154.1
127.3
172.0
134.1
292.5
324.2
164.1
151.1
199.4
157.8
139.9
165.1

166.5
155.3
163.5
272.4
200.6
154 3
126.2
169.6
134.7
294.1
324 8
166.2
152.0
199.8
161.0
139.9
166.5

162.2
151.3
156.6
259.4
212.1
154.1
134.5
187.2
132.1
274.5
302.0
151.1
146.9
194.7
153.4
139.8
165.5

168.4
152.8
161.2
268.5
205.2
152.7
129.6
177.9
131.8
287.7
318.9
158.7
150.1
195.0
158.3
139.9
171.1

169.1
153.1
161.6
269.1
203.5
152.3
128.5
175.1
132.7
289.0
321.5
158.7
150.1
195.4
158.3
139.9
170.7

169.2
153.4
161.9
269 9
204.8
151.9
129.4
176.5
133.6
289.7
321.0
160.4
150.4
195.6
158.3
140.3
171.5

169.8
154.0
162 2
271.3
204.2
152.5
128.9
175.7
133.3
291.6
322.7
161.9
151.3
197.1
158 3
140.4
172.7

170.2
153.8
163.1
272.4
204.5
153.5
129.0
175.5
133.9
293.0
323.1
163.5
152.4
199.6
158.1
140.4
172.6

170.6
154.5
163.2
273.4
202.9
153.8
127.8
173.0
134.1
294.6
323.9
165.7
153.1
200 0
161.2
140.4
173.8

363.2

377.4

377.4

377.1

379.8

385.2

389 3

354.4

370.1

370.2

370.0

372.2

377.4

380.7

418.8
404.2
322.6
301.0
361.3
357.7

429.5
428.2
341.4
308.3
373.5
373.2

429.0
427.6
342.0
308.5
373.4

427.7
428.7
342.3
308.8
373.4

442.0
426.2
346.5
309.7
381.5

450.1
438.9
346.6
310.4
381.9

415.9
404.1
320 7
311.0
362.3

425.5
427.1
341.3
317.5
373.8

424.9
426.8
341.8
317.7
373.7

423.5
427.6
342.1
317.9
373.7

430.0
429.3
347.1
318.3
373.8

438.2
425.8
346.5
319.0
381.9

446.6
438.7
346.6
319.7
382.1

374.5

375.7

433.8
429.9
342.3
309.2
373.5
376.8

378.0

380.3

355.6

371.3

372.6

373.9

375.0

376.3

378.5

240.7

238.7

239.5

240.7

224.2

232.9

235.0

236.9

238.7

239.4

224.5

233.2

235.3

237.1

214.5
157.2
177.6
154.0

226.4
163.4
193.0
164.7

228.2
163.9
195 5
164.7

230.7
164.8
198.4
166.1

233.1
165.8
202.8
167.4

233.5
164.9
204.0
169 0

234.9
166.1
205.1
170.4

215.6
159 2
177.2
153.9

227.9
165.8
192.9
164.4

229.7
166.3
195.4
164.3

232.2
167.3
198.3
165.5

234.5
168.3
202.7
167.3

234.9
167.3
204.0
168.3

236.3
168.3
205.1
169.5

198.1

207.2

209.7

212.5

214.1

214.7

216.2

199 8

209.4

211.9

214.7

216.3

217.0

218.4

73

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
[1967

C o n tin u ed — C onsum er P rice In dex— U.S. city average
= 100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry

1983

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C l e r ic a l W o r k e r s

1984

1983

1984

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

191 0

190 3

191 7

173.9

175.3

176.1

176.5

162.1
137.3
264.4
157.5

163.0
137.8
266.1
158.0

163.7
138.2
267.7
158.0

164.4
138.8
269 3
157.9

165 1
139 5
270 6
158.4

Prescription drugs— Continued
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 100) . .
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 1 0 0 )................

175.1

183.8

185.5

187.7

188.7

188.3

189.7

176.8

185.9

187.7

190.0

162.3

169.8

171.4

173.2

174.6

174.5

175.9

162.5

170.4

172.0

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) . . .

155.9
135.8
253.5
150.3

159.6
138.0
260.1
154.6

161.2
138.4
263 1
155.8

162.1
138.9
264.9
156.5

162.8
139.3
266.6
156.5

163.5
140.0
268.2
156.4

164 3
140.6
269.5
157.0

156.7
134.6
254.9
151.3

160.6
137.0
261.4
155.7

387.2

404.4

405.3

406.3

407.1

408.4

410.9

384.4

401.8

402.7

403.9

404.7

406.1

408.6

Professional services ....................................
Physicians’ services.................................................
Dental services.......................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100) ........................

324.2
353.9
303.8
153.0

339.8
370.4
319.8
158.7

341.1
372.2
321.1
158.8

342.5
373.5
322.5
159.5

343.8
375.2
323.6
159.7

345.8
377.1
326.2
159.9

347.0
378.1
327.9
160.1

324.6
357.6
301.6
149.6

340.3
374.4
317.8
155.0

341.6
376.1
319.0
155.0

343.0
377.5
320.5
155.8

344.2
379.0
321.6
156.0

346.2
381.1
324.0
156.1

347 4
382.1
325 7
156.4

Other medical care services.................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 = 100) . .
Hospital ro o m .........................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 = 100)

463.3
193.8
619.1
189.9

482.5
206.4
657.9
202.7

482.8
207.0
659.4
203.3

483.4
207.5
660.3
204.2

483.6
207.9
660.7
204.8

484.1
208.4
662.0
205.2

488.3
210.9
672.9
207.0

459.4
191.9
611.2
188.4

479.0
204.4
650.4
201.0

479.3
204.9
651.7
201.5

480.0
205.6
652.9
202.4

480.3
205.9
653.3
203.0

480.9
206.3
654.4
203.4

485.2
208.9
664 6
205.4

E N T E R T A IN M E N T

246.0

251.5

251.7

253.8

253.5

254.5

255.3

242.5

247.7

248.0

249.8

249.6

250.7

251.4

246.7

250.7

250.6

253.4

252.2

252.4

253.3

241.4

245.3

245.3

247.7

246.8

246.9

247.8

Reading materials (12/77 = 100) ......................
Newspapers ...................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100)...........................

158.5
302.7
163.6

164.1
310.2
171.2

162.4
311.8
166.6

164.5
312.6
170.7

163.1
313.0
167.5

163.7
313.3
168.7

164.5
315.0
169.4

158.0
302.7
163.6

163.4
310.4
171.3

161.9
312.0
166.5

164.0
312.9
170.8

162.6
313.1
167.3

163.3
313.4
168.7

164.0
315.1
169.3

Sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).................................
Sport vehicles (12/77 = 100) ..............................
Indoor and warm weather sport equipment (12/77 = 100)................
B cycies ........................................................................................
Other sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )........................

134.2
137.1
118.6
199.8
132.8

135.9
139.5
117.4
201.5
134.6

136.1
139.9
117.1
201.5
134.0

139.1
144.6
117.5
201.1
135.6

138.0
143.0
117.3
200.8
134.6

137.5
142.2
117.7
201.1
134 2

137.8
142.9
117.7
200.2
134.3

128.3
127.8
116.4
200.7
132.7

130.3
130.7
115.3
202.4
134.2

130.0
130.4
115.1
202.5
133.8

132.6
134.1
115.6
202.2
135.3

131.7
133.0
115.5
201.7
134.3

131.2
132.2
116.0
202.0
134.0

131 4
132.6
115.9
201.2
134.2

Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 = 100) ......................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 100)........................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100) ......................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 = 100).........................................

139.0
137.7
131.6
146.6

139.8
137.3
131.9
149.9

140.5
138 6
132.6
149.7

141.0
139.3
132.9
149.9

141.0
139.2
133.2
149.8

141.1
138.8
133.7
150.5

141.7
139.3
134.2
151.4

137.7
134.0
132.7
147.6

138.7
133.8
133.0
150.9

139.5
135.2
133.8
150.8

140.0
135.8
134.2
151.0

140.0
135.8
134.4
150.9

140.1
135.5
135.0
151.6

140.7
135.9
135.6
152.7

M e d ic a l c a r e s e r v ic e s

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

E n t e r t a in m e n t c o m m o d it ie s

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

E n t e r t a in m e n t s e r v ic e s

245.6

253.1

253.8

254.9

255.4

258.1

258.5

245.8

253.2

253.9

254.7

255.8

258.5

258.8

Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 100).........................................
Admissions (12/77 = 100)...............................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 = 100) ..............................

151.8
146.4
130.6

158.6
148.3
133.4

158.5
148.9
134.5

159.5
149.4
134.8

159.6
151.3
134.9

159.7
155.3
135.1

159.7
156.0
135.3

152.8
145.4
131.4

159.2
147.2
134.4

159.2
147.8
135.7

160.1
148.3
135.7

160.3
150.2
132.5

160.7
154.3
135.7

160.4
155 0
136.0

O T H E R G O O D S A N D S E R V IC E S

287.5

301.5

302.1

302.8

303.2

304.4

306.5

286.4

299.2

299.7

300.4

300.8

302.1

304.5

T o b a c c o p ro d u c ts

294.6

305 4

305.6

305.9

305.9

308.1

313.2

294.3

305.1

305.2

305.6

305.6

307.8

312.9

Cigarettes ....................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 100)...........

302.8
150.5

313.8
156.1

313.8
157.0

314.1
157.6

314.0
157.9

316.3
158.9

322.0
159.3

301.7
150.5

312.7
156.0

312.8
157.0

313.1
157.6

313.1
157.9

315.3
159.0

320.9
159.4

P ers o n a l c are

261.3

267.9

267.8

268 9

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

269.5

270.6

271.8

259.4

266.1

265.7

266.9

267.5

268.5

269.7

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) . . .

262.3
152.5
162.6

267.9
154.7
168.1

265.9
154.1
164.6

267.3
154.9
165.1

267.4
154.1
166.8

268.5
154.8
166.5

270.2
156.1
167.2

263.0
151.7
160.8

268.7
153.8
166.3

266.6
153.3
162.9

268.1
154.1
163.3

268.3
153.4
164.9

269.3
154.1
164.7

270.9
155.1
165.2

148.8
147.9

150.6
152.4

150.0
151.8

151.8
151.6

151.5
151.7

153.0
151.7

154.0
152.7

149.5
151.6

151.7
156.2

150.8
155.4

152.7
155.2

152.7
155.3

154.0
155.5

155.1
156.4

Personal care services .................................................
Beauty parlor services for women .................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . .

261.5
264.3
145.1

269.0
272.3
148.7

270.4
273.4
149.9

271.4
274.4
150.4

272.3
275.0
151.4

273.4
276.4
151.7

274.3
277.3
152.1

256.4
257.5
143.9

264.0
265.7
147.5

265.3
266.6
148.6

266.1
267.5
149.2

267.1
268.0
150.2

268.2
269.3
150.5

269.0
270.2
150.9

P e r s o n a l a n d e d u c a t io n a l e x p e n s e s

327.2

354.4

356.4

356.9

357.4

357.9

358 6

329 4

356.4

359 2

359.7

360.3

360.7

361.3

Schoolbooks and supplies ..............................................
Personal and educational services.................................
Tuition and other school fe e s ..............................................
College tuition (12/77 = 100)........................
Elementary and high school tuition (12/77 = 100) ...................
Personal expenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................

294.2
335.1
168.0
167.8
168.9
187.9

317.2
363.3
183.2
183.0
183.9
199.6

317.1
365 7
184.3
184.5
183.9
201.2

317.6
366.1
184.4
184.7
183.9
202 0

317.8
366.7
184.4
184.7
183.9
188.0

318.5
367 1
184.5
184.8
183.9
204.2

318.8
367.9
184.8
185 2
183 9
205.0

298.3
337.3
168.5
167.9
169.9
188.3

321.7
365.2
183.5
182.9
184.9
200.2

321.6
368.6
185.2
185.4
184.9
202.1

322.2
369.0
185.3
185.5
184.9
202.8

322.4
369.7
185.3
185.5
185.6
204.3

323.1
370.1
185.4
185.7
185.0
204.8

323.4
370.8
185.6
186.0
185.0
205.6

384.3

365.1

364.7

369.8

372.4

370.7

365.9

343 6
358.9

346.6
366.9

346.5
368.7

348.0
368.6

352.8
369.5

358.0
370.0

362 9
370.9

385.4
411.4
343.1
361.7

366.0
415.7
345.5
373.8

366.5
412.6
345.5
376.1

371.4
410.3
347.0
376.6

373.8
416.9
351.6
377.8

372.2
417.7
357.1
378.4

367.3
422.0
362.0
379.9

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

S p e c ia l in d e x e s :

Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other products........................
Insurance and finance...............................................................
Utilities and public transportation..............................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance services..............................

74

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

21. C o n su m er P rice Index fo r A ll Urban C onsum ers: C ross classification of region and popu lation size c lass by expenditure
categ o ry and co m m o d ity and service group
[December 1977 = 100]
S iz e c la s s A

S iz e c la s s B

S iz e c la s s C

S iz e c la s s D

( 1 . 2 5 m il li o n o r m o r e )

( 3 8 5 , 0 0 0 - 1 , 2 5 0 m il li o n )

( 7 5 ,0 0 0 - 3 8 5 ,0 0 0 )

( 7 5 , 0 0 0 o r le s s )

C a te g o ry a n d g ro u p

1984

1984
Feb.

A p r.

|

June

Feb.

|

A p r.

1984

1984
|

June

Feb.

|

A p r.

June

Feb.

A p r.

June

N o rth e a s t
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All Items ........................................................................................................................
Food and beverages ...............................................................................................
Housing...................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ...............................................................................................
Transportation ........................................................................................................
Medical care ...........................................................................................................
Entertainment...........................................................................................................
Other goods and services .......................................................................................

159.5
152.4
164.3
121.1
168.4
171.8
146.6
169.1

160.7
152.7
165.3
123.8
170.1
173.2
148.1
170.6

161.2
153.0
165.9
122.2
171.4
174.0
146.6
171.1

165 9
151.8
176.9
124.0
172.6
175.1
140.3
168.7

166.3
151.5
175.7
128.5
174.1
177.6
143.8
169.1

167.2
151.0
177.3
125.5
176.2
179.2
143.8
170.0

170.5
155.0
183.7
128.7
173.2
176.5
1499
173.5

170.9
155.2
183.0
131.8
174.3
176.9
152.8
174.5

171.7
156.0
184.0
131.1
175.5
177.7
152.3
172.5

164.9
152.4
170.1
132.6
172.2
181.1
152.4
173.6

166.3
152.4
172.9
133.6
173.4
182.5
152.3
173.9

167.2
152.6
173.4
136.4
175.1
183.0
153.6
174.6

153.6
154.0
166.9

154.1
154.7
168.8

154.2
154.6
169.8

159.3
162.5
175.8

159.9
163.5
176.1

159.8
163.7
178.2

159.1
160.7
188.6

159.2
160.8
189.6

159.8
161.5
190.4

158.6
161.1
174.4

158.2
160.4
178.4

159.1
160.8
179.1

C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities...................................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ....................................................................
Services...........................................................................................................................

N o r t h C e n t r a l R e g io n
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

All items ........................................................................................................................
Food and beverages ...............................................................................................
Housing...................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ...............................................................................................
Transportation ........................................................................................................
Medical care ...........................................................................................................
Entertainment...........................................................................................................
Other goods and services .......................................................................................

168.7
149.4
186.2
116.7
168.6
176.2
144.6
165.9

169 9
149.4
187.7
118.2
170.5
177.4
145.1
165.9

171.3
149.0
190.7
117.8
172.3
178.5
145.7
166.8

165.2
148.0
173.4
126.6
170.9
176.9
135.7
177.4

166.8
148.6
175.2
132.8
172.9
177.2
140.6
178.6

167.7
148.5
176.7
130.8
174.1
179.4
140.7
180.5

162.5
148.6
169 9
129.0
171.1
170.2
148.3
163.0

163.4
148 8
169.1
132.6
173.8
172.7
151.0
163.6

164.7
149.1
171.6
128.3
176.2
172.7
152.9
164.3

163.7
155.9
167.0
123.0
170.0
183.2
144.2
175.0

164.5
156.9
167.3
126.1
172.2
182.9
141.3
176.1

164.8
156.9
166.4
124.6
174.7
184.0
140.5
177.4

156.8
160.0
186.3

158.1
162.1
187.2

158.0
162.2
190.7

155.7
158.6
180.4

157.3
160.9
182.1

157.5
161.1
184.1

153.6
155.7
176.8

155.1
157.9
176.8

155.4
.158.3
179.6

153.8
152.7
179.3

154.8
153.8
179.8

155.6
155.0
179.2

C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities................................................................................................ ..............
Commodities less food and beverages ....................................................................
Services...........................................................................................................................

S o u th
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

Food and beverages ...............................................................................................
Housing................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ...............................................................................................
Transportation ........................................................................................................
Medical care ..........................................................................................................
Entertainment..........................................................................................................
Other goods and services .......................................................................................

165.7
156.3
172.4
129.9
171.0
176.2
142.9
169.6

166.3
156.3
172.3
131.3
172.6
177.1
145.2
170.0

167.6
152.6
174.5
132.2
173.9
179.1
144.7
170.8

166.9
154.8
172.0
129.6
174.1
177.0
157.7
171.5

168 2
155.6
173.7
128.1
176.2
178.5
159.6
172.4

169.1
155.3
174.7
128 3
178.0
180.4
160.0
173.0

165.3
153.2
170.7
124.8
171.8
186.7
151.4
169.5

166.9
153.0
173.2
127.5
174.0
187.5
153.2
170.2

167.1
152.5
172.6
126.4
176.0
188.0
152.8
172.1

166.6
157.5
174.2
110.9
170.2
193.3
148.5
167.9

168.1
156.6
176.4
114.7
172.3
193.7
150.5
169.2

168.4
156.1
176.4
113.6
174.3
193.4
150.7
169.9

157.9
158.1
176.5

158.6
159.4
176.8

159.1
160.2
179.1

159.2
160.7
178.4

160.2
161.8
180.1

160.6
162.7
181.6

156.5
157.7
178.4

157.7
159.7
181.2

158.0
160.5
181.2

159.9
156.1
181.2

152.9
158.1
183.4

158.2
159.0
183.5

C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities less food and beverages ....................................................................
Services...........................................................................................................................

W est
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y

Housing...................................................................................................................
Medical care ..........................................................................................................
Other goods and services .......................................................................................

165.7
155.8
171.7
123 8
172.9
181.2
144.3
171.1

167.2
155 3
173.7
124.3
176.4
182.6
144.1
171.5

168.6
154.6
176.3
121.4
179.5
183.3
194.9
171.5

165.3
158.4
168.4
124.9
175.0
178.2
148.1
171.3

166.8
158.6
170.4
126.9
177.5
179.8
148.9
171.3

169.1
158.8
174.3
127.2
180.5
181.5
148.9
173.0

157.6
153.7
154.6
123.8
170.5
184.5
151.8
166.8

159.1
155.0
155.8
123.9
173.5
185.9
154.4
166.5

160.9
154.5
158.7
122.7
176.3
187.5
154.8
169 4

164.8
160.3
165.2
141.2
168.6
183.8
161.4
175.3

166.5
160.3
168.0
142,9
171.1
184.6
160.6
175.1

167.2
161.6
167.3
142.9
173.5
186.6
162.0
175.3

154.1
152.9
180.6

155.9
156.1
181.9

155.7
156.3
185.0

157.3
156.2
176.2

158.7
158.4
178.0

159.7
159.9
181.8

155.3
155.3
160.4

157.1
157.4
161.7

157.6
158.8
164.6

154.6
151.5
179.9

155.6
153.2
182.3

157.0
154.6
182.2

C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P

Commodities less food and beverages ....................................................................
Services...........................................................................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

75

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
22.
[1967

C o n su m er P rice Index— U.S. city average, and selected areas
= 100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U r b a n C o n s u m e r s
A re a 1

1983

U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s a n d C le r ic a l W o r k e r s

1984

1983

1984

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

J u ly

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

U.S. city average2 .........................................

299.3

306.6

307.3

308.8

309.7

310.7

311.7

298.2

303.3

303.3

304.1

305.4

306.2

307.5

Anchorage, Alaska (10/67 = 100) ..............................
Atlanta, Ga.....................................................
Baltimore, Md..................................
Boston, Mass...................................................
Buffalo, N Y.................................................................

265.8

307.2
298.2
286.6

309.4
300.6

296.3

296.3
312.3

274.4
309.3

300.4
289.8

307.6
296.6
290.5

299.6
312.4

305.0

Chicago, III.-Northwestern Ind.........................................
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky —Ind............................................
Cleveland, Ohio..........................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex...................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo...................................................

335.8

Detroit, Mich.................................................

298.4

303.1

294.5

280.7
323.6
306.4
300.2

Honolulu, Hawaii............................................
Houston, Tex.................................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas .......................................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif................................

305.4
320.0

331.1
322.7

Miami, Fla. (11/77 = 100) ......................................
Milwaukee, Wis...........................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.........................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J..........................................
Northeast, Pa. (Scranton)....................................................

160.8
309.8

Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.....................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa..........................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash..............................................
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill................................................................
San Diego, Calif.............................................

286.1
291.5
299.3
335.2

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif.....................................................
Seattle-Everett, Wash..................................................
Washington, D C.-Md -Va..................................................

304.0
297.1

289.1
283.4

275.3
311.3
303.1

306.7

306.9
321.9

305.6

300.7

283.2
325.7
309.1
302.8

165.6
316.8

296.4
315.5

296.7

322.0
300.9
298.2
318.6


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

305.7

306.3

305.4

284.7
330.5
310.8
305.6

300.8
294.7
298.7

324.1
301.6
300.0
319 7

301.9
305.4
353.5
315.9

310.2
305.1

1The areas listed include not only the central city but the entire portion of the Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area, as defined for the 1970 Census of Population, except that the Standard Consolidated Area is

76

279 4
288.7

303.8
294 4
285.9

310.8
323.3

296.4
308.0

296.9

336.7
325.7

166.4
320.5

298.0
302.7
349.8
311.7

310.0

346.1

304.1

299.9
293.0

257.5

292 5

332.8
323.9
344.7

319.6
299.0

275.5
313.0
304.9

265.9
309.6

314.0
310.4
302.0
293.0

318.2
317.7
349.9

331.7

307.7

303.8

304.7

305.9

293.2

284.3
323.5
296.6
299.0

167.0
321.3

162.8
324.8

302.9
297.3

286.1
286.5

301.4

291.1

300.9
308.7
351.3

286.4
296.7
320.0

314.3
308.3

292.2
300.3

318.7
313.0
305.7

296.0
313.8
341.7
302.9

298.6

297.9

289.0
324.9
299.7
298.9

298 5
299.6

289.9
294.0
298.8

287.3
298.3

321.1
291.2
299.0
301.5

299 0
314.4

321.9
318.7
347.1

298.3

297.0

298.3

303.1

290.9
329.5
299.9
303.4

300.3

167.2
338.2

292.2
297.3
326.6

291.6
295.5
300.5

168.0
341.6
328.9
293.0
302.7
301.4

297.5
297.3
328.2
310.8

299.9
308.2

311.6
300.8

340.8

166.3
335.3
318.6
290.5

266.8
310.9

320.7
316.5

308.7

used for New York and Chicago.
2Average of 85 cities.

265.7

294.7
295.9
304.3
294.6
301.4
324.6

315.1
302.7
308.9

303.2
310.8

23.

P roducer Price Indexes, by stage of processing

[1967 = 100)
1984

1983

Annual
C o m m o d it y g r o u p in g

av e ra g e
1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

F IN IS H E D G O O D S

Finished g o o d s.......................................................................
Finished consumer goods ..............................................
Finished consumer foods ............................................
Crude .......................................................................
Processed ...............................................................
Nondurable goods less fo o d s ......................................
Durable goods ............................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . .
Capital equipment............................................................

285.2

286.1

285 1

287.6

286.8

287.2

289.5

290.6

291.4

r291 2

291.5

291.2

292.6

291.8

284.6
261.8
258.7
260.0
335.3
233.1
231.5
287.2

285 7
260.7
259.9
2.58.7
338.6
233.8
232.7
287.7

285.1
263.0
267.4
260.5
338.6
229.2
233.0
285.1

287.0
263.7
287.3
259.5
338.1
235.3
233.6
289 9

285.9
261.9
270.4
259.0
336.8
235.4
234.1
'290.0

286.3
264.3
266.0
262.0
335.2
235.9
234.0
290.4

288.9
272.2
306.9
266.9
335.0
235.9
236.0
291.6

290.1
274.7
313.6
269.0
336.1
236.1
236.5
292.3

291.1
276.6
323.7
270.2
336.7
236.6
237.1
292.3

'290.3
'274.3
'299.0
269.9
'336 4
236.7
'237.9
'294.5

290.7
272.3
279.7
269.4
339.3
236.6
238.6
294.3

290.3
270.8
282.6
269.3
339.6
236.5
238.5
294.2

292.0
275.6
275.1
273.4
339.8
236.6
240.2
294.8

290.8
274.2
278.9
271.6
337.6
237.1
240.2
295.1

312.3

314.0

315.5

315.6

315.5

315.7

316.3

317.6

319.7

'320.3

320.8

321.6

321.7

321.1

299.8

301.8

'302.9

303.0

303.1

303.0

302.3

274.7
292.6
327.1
286.9

276.6
293.0
325.3
287.2

272.7
291.7
324.7
287.8

IN T E R M E D IA T E M A T E R IA L S

Intermediate materials, supplies, and components...................
Materials and components for manufacturing...................

293.4

294.7

296.7

296.4

296.5

297.6

298.9

Materials for food manufacturing.................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing ......................
Materials for durable manufacturing ...........................
Components for manufacturing....................................

258.4
280.0
319.4
280.4

260.5
281.1
320.9
281.5

269.4
282.7
323.1
281.8

263.5
283.3
322.3
282.6

260.0
284.6
321.6
283.0

262.9.
285.7
322.8
283.5

268.6
286.6
323.4
284.5

268.3
287.0
325 6
285.2

269.6
290.3
328.2
285.6

'271.4
'291.8
'329.1
'286.2

275.6
292.5
326.8
286.6

Materials and components for construction......................

301.8

303.7

303.1

303.6

303.9

304.9

305.5

307.8

309.6

'310.5

309.6

310.2

310.7

311.8

Processed fuels and lubricants.........................................
Manufacturing industries..............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................

564.8
479.0
640.0

572.0
485.1
648.0

573.4
487.2
648.8

574.2
490.5
647.2

568.1
484.9
640.6

561.7
478.8
634.0

556.4
474.2
628.0

561.3
477.9
634.1

567.8
483.4
641.4

'562.9
'480.6
'634.5

569.2
488.1
639.5

577.2
493.5
650.1

578.9
494.5
652.3

572.5
489.3
645.0

Containers.......................................................................

286.6

286.3

287.1

288.1

289.3

289.9

292.3

294.8

297.3

'299.4

301.3

302.2

303.0

304.1

Supplies..........................................................................
Manufacturing industries..............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ......................................

277.1
269.9
281.1
225.9
292.8

277.9
270.5
282.0
230.7
293.0

280.2
270.8
285.3
249.6
293.4

280.6
271.8
285.3
246.7
294.0

281.6
272.2
286.7
251.0
294.8

281.6
273.3
286.1
243 9
295.5

282.6
274.5
287.0
243.7
296.6

282.2
276.0
285.7
227.7
298.0

283.0
276.4
286.7
232.2
298.4

'284.2
'277.8
'287.8
233.5
'299.5

284.2
278.3
287.6
229.5
300.0

283.8
278.9
286.7
221.5
300.4

283.0
279.1
285.4
211.3
300.8

283.3
279.7
285.4
208.3
301.4

323.6

327.1

328.5

324.8

324.0

327.5

333.5

332.6

338.8

'339.4

338.5

333.2

334.5

329.3

251.8

256.0

264.0

260.5

269.9

'269.7

267.2

260.7

264.0

256.9

479.4

481.6

483.4

488.1

487 5

'490.1

492.2

489.5

486.6

485.5

380 1

385.5

387.8

'388.8

389.7

385.9

381.1

377.2
386.6

Other supplies.........................................................
C R U D E M A T E R IA L S

Crude materials for further processing ...................................
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs.................................................

252.2

256.4

257.2

253.7

Nonfood materials............................................................

477.4

479.6

482.5

478.2

Nonfood materials except fu e l......................................
Manufacturing industries .........................................
Construction............................................................

372.2

375.6

378.1

377.1

377.7

379.1

381.9

385.7

388.3

387.4

387.9

389 4

390.4

395.5

398.8

' 399.5

400.2

395.7

390.3

270.6

271.0

272.5

270.5

272.1

272.7

273.7

280.3

276.5

'279.2

281.1

281.7

281.9

277.5

Crude fu e l.....................................................................
Manufacturing industries .........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries...................................

931.5
1,094.5
816.3

926 9
1,088.9
812.5

931.0
1,093.9
816.1

910.9
1,067.1
801.1

915.3
921.1
1,071.8 1,079.0
810.1
805 3

926.1
1,086.5
813.2

926.6
910.6 '920.8
1,086.3 1,064.8 '1,079.6
814 2
802.6 '809.1

929.2
1,089.3
816.6

933.2
1,095.5
818.6

940.6
1,104.4
825.0

954.4
1,121.7
836.3

Finished goods excluding fo o d s..............................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods ......................
Finished consumer goods less energy..............................

290.8
291.4
249.9

292.5
293.5
250.2

290.3
291.4
249.7

293.4
293 9
252.1

293.0
293.2
251.7

292.6
292.5
252.6

292.9
292.5
256.1

293.6
293.1
257.2

294.0
293.6
258.2

294.6
'293.5
'257.8

295.7
295.1
257.3

295.7
295.3
256.7

296.0
295.4
259.0

295.3
294.4
258.7

Intermediate materials less foods and feeds ...........................
Intermediate materials less energy...................................

317.1
295 2

318.7
296.5

319.5
298.1

320.0
298.2

319.9
298.5

320.2
299.4

320 6
300.5

322.3
301.5

324.4
303.3

'325.0
'304.4

325.4
304 4

326.5
304.6

326.7
304.5

326.3
304.3

Intermediate foods and feeds .................................................

247.9

250.9

263.2

258.2

257.4

256.9

260.7

255.1

257.5

259.1

260.6

257 4

255.3

251.7

Crude materials less agricultural products ..............................
Crude materials less energy ............................................

538 6
246.5

540.0
251.2

542.9
252 5

538.8
249.6

540.3
248.3

543.2
252 0

546.3
258.3

552.0
257.3

550.0
265.1

'553.0
'265.4

554.0
263.8

552.3
257.7

550.0
258.7

549.4
252.2

S P E C IA L G R O U P IN G S

'Data for April 1984 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.

77

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
24.

P roducer P rice Indexes, by com m o dity groupings

[1 9 6 7 = 1 0 0 unless otherw ise specified]
Annual
Code

C o m m o d it y g ro u p a n d s u b g r o u p

A ll c o m m o d it ie s
A ll c o m m o d it ie s ( 1 9 5 7 - 5 9 =

100)

.

F a r m p r o d u c t s a n d p r o c e s s e d f o o d s a n d te e d s
In d u s t r ia l c o m m o d it ie s

1983

1984

ave ra g e
1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

303.1
321.5

304.7
323.3

305.3
323.9

306.0
324.7

305.5
324.1

306.1
324.8

308.0
326.8

308.9
327.7

311.0
330.0

r311.3
r330.3

311.7
330.7

311 4
330.4

312 0
331.0

310 9
329.9

253.9
315.7

255.5
317.3

259.1
317.1

257.5
318 5

256.0
318.3

257.9
318.4

264.4
319.1

263.4
320.6

267.9
321.9

r267.3
r322 6

266 3
323.3

262 7
323.9

265 2
324.0

?R1 fi
323.5

FA R M PR O D U C TS A N D PR O CESSED FO ODS
A N D FEEDS

01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01-4
01-5
01-6
01-7
01-8
01-9

Farm products.................................
Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables . . . .
Grams............................................
Livestock.................................
Live poultry.................................
Plant and animal fibers ................
Fluid m ilk ..............................
Eggs........................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds ...........
Other farm products................

248.2
262.1
240.4
243.1
206.5
227 0
282.0
(2)
246.8
282.1

253.5
270.4
251.8
242.2
221.4
240.7
281.7
189.5
262.8
285.7

256.4
276.0
258.0
231 5
242.2
238.7
284.4
200.1
297.8
287.3

255.2
308.1
253.7
229.4
208.5
234.5
284.1
(2)
288.8
283.7

251 0
275.2
257.5
220.5
238.5
243.6
283.2
<2)
287.6
283.5

254.0
276.1
243.6
238 2
241.2
244.1
281.4
(2)
282.2
276.9

263.4
291.2
245.5
250.7
252.6
229.3
279.1
282.4
287.3
280.2

261.6
312.2
235.3
251.9
251.3
232.7
275.7
280.7
265.4
278.9

267.4
308.0
250.9
260.8
258.4
250.3
274.2
(2)
281.4
277.7

265.4
r263.8
262.1
260.8
240.8
252.3
272.7
264.4
282.1
r279 7

260.8
251.1
256.2
254.8
240.6
259.1
271.7
201.0
297.0
288.0

257 1
272.9
257.8
250.0
227.7
252.7
271.8
177.9
272.4
279.0

258 6
281.2
248 9
260.1
259 2
235.8
273.9
184 9
245 8
277.4

?53 ?
293 3
236 9
253 7
218 6
211 3
276 8
181 2
242 6
284.1

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 f is h ..............................
Dairy products ....................................
Processed fruits and vegetables..............
Sugar and confectionery...................
Beverages and beverage materials ...................
Fats and oils ........................
Miscellaneous processed fo o d s ................
Prepared animal feeds.........................

255.9
261.0
249.0
250.6
277.4
292.8
263.6
238.8
254.8
228 8

255.5
262.8
243.2
250.4
278.3
298.9
263.9
245 6
252.7
233.0

259.6
263.6
242.9
250.6
278.6
300.2
264 3
303 5
258.4
249.3

257.8
264.6
237.0
251.3
281.1
298.0
265.2
281.7
262.1
248.6

257.6
265.2
234.7
251.4
280.9
297.7
266.3
274.5
264.8
252 1

259.0
265.1
242.3
248.9
282.9
297.5
266.5
271.7
266.2
245.6

263.8
266.6
255.8
248.4
287.7
299.9
268.7
278.3
266.8
245.2

263.4
267.1
254 6
248.4
292.8
300.5
270 2
273.3
275.4
231.1

267.1
267.4
264.4
248.8
295.4
301.1
269 9
286.2
275.2
235.3

r267.2
r268.3
r261.7
r248.9
r295.1
r301.9
r271.4
r293.4
r276.3
236.3

268.3
268.6
260.6
248.9
297.4
303.6
273.6
325.8
275.5
232.6

264.8
271 5
248.5
249 4
298 2
304 0
271.7
326 5
278.4
225.5

267 7
272 2
260 6
251 4
296 5
305 3
273 8
312 7
280 4
216.3

265 2
271 8
253 8
251 0
296 4
304 1
274 2
306 8
279 6
214.0

03
03-1
03-2
03-3
03-4
03-81
03-82

Textile products and apparel...................
Synthetic fibers (12/75 = 1 0 0 ).............
Processed yarns and threads (12/75 = 100) .
Gray fabrics (12/75 = 10 0)................
Finished fabrics (12/75 = 1 0 0 )...................
Apparel ......................................
Textile housefurnishings........................

205.1
156.7
138.5
147.0
123.1
197.4
235.1

206.0
157.5
140.2
146.7
123.6
198.7
234.5

206.2
158.0
140.3
147.3
123.4
198.7
235.3

207.0
160.5
141.3
149.4
123.8
198.8
234.5

207.7
159.3
141.7
151.4
124.4
199.4
234.4

207.8
158.1
142.9
152.0
124.8
199.0
235.3

208.2
159.2
142.3
151.1
124.8
200.1
236.0

209.6
161.4
144.0
152.8
126.3
200.5
236.6

209 9
160.7
144.0
153.2
127.0
200.7
237.6

r209 9
r160.7
r143.6
153 0
M26.9
r200.7
r238.1

210.5
160.8
144.3
153.6
127.4
201.2
239.4

210.3
160 5
143 8
154.3
127.2
200 7
239.3

210 8
160 1
143 7
154 1
127.7
201 9
239.2

210 5
159 9
142 1
154 4
127.3
201 8
239.7

04
04-2
04-3
04-4

Hides, skins, leather, and related products
Leather ..............................
Footwear .................................
Other leather and related products . . .

271.1
330.7
250.1
252.7

274.7
343.4
250.9
253.7

274.4
339.4
251.6
253.5

273.7
336.6
251.3
253.5

277.0
340.5
257.3
255.8

277.3
344.1
250.3
255.6

279.1
346.2
250.9
257.2

283.3
362 0
252.5
257.3

286 7
378.0
253.5
257.3

r286.8
r386.7
r251.6
r258.1

289.2
387.2
251,8
263.1

290.3
383.5
250 3
271.2

290.2
384.7
250 1
271.2

290.2
379.7
250 9
271.5

05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05—7

Fuels and related products and power...................
C oal......................................
Coke............................................
Gas fuels3 ....................................
Electric power .................................
Crude petroleum4 ......................
Petroleum products, refined5 ...........................

06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7

Chemicals and allied products...........
Industrial chemicals6 ...........................
Prepared paint
Paint materials..............
Drugs and pharmaceuticals ...................
Fats and oils, Inetjible . . . .
Agricultural chemicals and chemical products . .
Plastic resins and materials................
Other chemicals and allied products ...........

293.0
342.9
264.7
305.8
226.1
285.6
280.5
291.5
273.6

294.4
347.6
265.4
305.7
227.3
278.1
277.1
293.7
274,2

295.9
345.6
264.5
316.2
227.4
329.0
276.0
302.6
274.3

295.5
344.9
264.2
316.9
229.3
318.6
276.4
299.1
274.4

296.4
346.2
264.5
316.5
231.0
321.6
280.4
297.9
273.8

297.7
349.2
264 9
315.5
230.9
318.8
281.9
301.5
273.6

298.1
347.4
265.6
316.6
232.9
334.2
278.5
305.2
274.9

296.5
337.6
267.3
314.2
234.4
349.0
285.9
305.0
273.3

300 1
344.7
267.3
317.9
237.6
366.7
288.1
306.2
275.2

r302.0
r345.4
r268.7
r328.7
r239.8
r383.2
r288 4
r307.8
r277.0

302.5
344.8
268.0
337.2
240.2
398.8
286.6
311.1
277.2

302.5
345.5
270.8
337.1
238.7
414.2
286.4
310.8
276.3

302 6
345.7
274.1
335 4
240.0
378 4
285 5
309 9
277.5

301 4
341 7
276 4
335 1
241 7
350 5
282 9
309 4
278.4

07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2

Rubber plastic products ................
Rubber and rubber products........................
Crude rubber..............................
Tires and tubes...................
Miscellaneous rubber products . .
Plastic products (6/78 = 100) ..............

243.2
266.0
280.8
245.3
284.8
135.3

243.7
265.1
284.6
242.8
284.5
136.4

243.2
263.9
284.4
242.5
281.6
136.6

244.4
264.8
284.3
242.6
283.8
137.4

243.6
264.3
282 7
242.4
283.5
136.7

243.8
264.6
282.2
242.3
284.6
136.8

244.8
266.6
282.9
244.1
287.1
136.9

246.2
266.8
282.8
243.7
288.4
138.4

246.4
265.5
283.0
241.7
287.4
139 4

r247.3
r267.2
r282.3
r243.5
r289 8
r139.4

247.4
267.2
277.5
244.5
290.0
139.6

247.3
266.3
277.1
243.5
289.1
140.1

247 5
266.9
275.9
244 1
290.3
139.9

247 6
267 7
273 2
244 1
293 4
139.5

08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4

Lumber and wood products . . .
Lum ber.................................
Millwork......................
Plywood...........................
Other wood products.................................

307.1
352.6
302.3
244.1
230.6

313.9
366 6
306.6
246.2
229.3

305.6
346.6
305.9
242.2
229.4

305.6
344.7
307.4
246 6
229.6

304 9
342.8
307.9
244.6
229.8

308.7
351.3
308.5
247.2
230.6

309.1
352.6
308.6
248.2
230.0

315.7
364.9
308.8
249.5
230.8

316.8
370.5
309.9
248 6
231.8

r315.1
r369.4
r307.2
r243.6
233.3

308.8
355.8
305.4
235.4
234.3

307.1
351.5
305.2
236.3
234.9

304.3
343.3
305.7
237.1
235.2

304.5
342.3
306.1
246.9
236.5

I N D U S T R IA L C O M M O D IT IE S

See footnotes at end of table.

78

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

664.7
671.7 672.3
669 5 663.7 658.0 652.1 656.0 658.7 r654.7 662.7 667.9 667.2 660.7
537.4
536.6 537.9
538.2 542.3 543.9 541.4 544.7 546.2 r542.0 546 9 543.3 546.8 550.7
444.6
453.9 453.9
453.1 453.8 415.4 418.3 437.9 438.9 r442 8 428.7 441.9 441 9 437 3
1,146.9 1,145.9 1,147.0 1,128.4 1,122.0 1,120.4 1,123.0 1,107.8 1,091.0 r1,102.1 1,116.8 1,122.1 1,123.5 1,128 9
417.9
427.2 427.9
423 6 418.7 417.3 420.5 424.4 426.7 r431.5 433.5 446.5 453 9 457 1
681.4
675.1 675.7
675.7 675.8 674.4 675.6 675.6 675.6 r673.9 674.3 673 7 673 1 672 3
684.3
694.9 695.3
695.3 688.2 678.3 663.2 669.8 680.2 r667.0 678.9 681.1
674.6 657.3

24.

C o n tin u ed — P roducer P rice Indexes, by com m o dity group ings

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1984

1983

Annual
C o m m o d it y g r o u p a n d s u b g r o u p

Cod«

a verag e
1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

M ay

June

J u ly

A ug.

IN D U S T R IA L C O M M O D IT IE S — C o n t in u e d

09
09-1
09-11
09-12
09-13
09-14
09-15
09-2

Pulp, paper, and allied products.................................................
Pulp, paper.and products,excluding building paper and board
Woodpuip...............................................................................
Wastepaper.............................................................................
Paper .....................................................................................
Paperboard .............................................................................
Converted paper and paperboard products..............................
Building paper and board ......................................................

298 1
271.4
346.9
(2)
282.0
250.9
265.3
250.0

298.8
271.1
346.4
(2)
280.9
250.1
264.7
252.1

299.9
273.1
34.4
194.4
286.0
254.0
265.0
252.8

302.2
275.2
347.4
216.2
287.2
257.3
266.5
254.7

303.6
277.4
356.7
215.0
288.5
259 4
267 9
254 7

304.0
277.4
355.5
211.5
289.3
260.9
268.0
250.4

309.1
280.8
366.2
211.5
294.2
262.2
270.6
251.9

312.0
285.0
374.2
229.3
296.6
271.8
273.7
255.1

314.0
288.3
378.6
242.9
299.8
275.6
276.5
258.6

r316.3
r291.5
r401.1
258.8
r300.4
r277.1
r279.1
r263.8

317.0
292.7
405.1
259.3
301.3
276.9
280.6
265.2

317.6
293.3
407.6
257.3
301.4
279.1
280.8
265.1

319.2
295.6
410.6
254.7
307.9
279.1
281.9
262.9

320.0
296.3

10
10-1
10-17
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8

Metals and metal products.........................................................
Iron and steel..........................................................................
Steel mill products..................................................................
Nonferrous m etals..................................................................
Metal containers ....................................................................
Hardware...............................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings ......................................
Heating equipment..................................................................
Fabricated structural metal products ......................................
Miscellaneous metal products.................................................

307.2
343.4
352.8
276.1
335.4
290.7
289.3
243.6
303.5
283.6

308.2
343.2
351.7
279.8
336.6
292.2
290.2
245.1
303.0
284.0

310.7
348.1
358.1
282.0
■338.5
292.5
292.4
246.6
304.3
284.3

310.9
348.5
358.7
279.3
338.3
292.7
292.7
245.3
304.2
289.0

310 9
349 5
359 5
276.6
338 2
293 1
294.1
245.5
305.3
289.5

311.9
350.9
360.0
278.2
340.3
293.5
294.0
245.7
306.0
289 6

312.9
353.8
362.5
276.8
344.1
293.3
293.9
247.3
306.5
290.3

314.8
356.2
363.6
280.2
344.8
294.0
296.4
248.1
307.0
291.1

316.8
356.5
363.6
286.1
345.4
294.4
299 9
248.5
308.3
292.1

r317.9
356.5
r364.2
r289.1
r345.3
r294.6
r301.5
250.3
309.3
r293.1

317.1
357.1
364.9
283.6
348.1
294.1
301.8
252.5
310.6
293.1

317.2
356.8
365.4
282.9
348.2
295.0
302.0
251.3
311.1
294.5

315.9
357.2
367.8
276.8
348.4
295.8
302.5
254.7
311.6
294.1

315.8
357.1
368.0
274.6
352.4
296.7
303.3
255.5
312.3
295.0

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

286.4
326.3
351.9
326.5
308.2
337.1
240.1
274.1

287.4
327.3
352.9
326.5
307.9
339.0
241.7
275.3

287.9
328.5
353.5
326.6
308.1
339 8
242 9
274.5

287.6
328.0
353.6
327.0
307.8
340.6
242.6
273.3

288.0
328.6
353.9
327.3
308.6
341.0
242.8
273.7

288.8
330.1
353.6
328.7
309.8
342.0
243.8
273.9

289.7
331.0
354.2
329.2
310.7
342.0
244.7
275.5

290.2
331.4
355.9
330.2
310.9
343.2
245.7
274.3

291.0
332.9
355.3
330.6
311.7
344.6
246.7
274.5

r292.2
335.5
r357.5
r332.6
r313.1
r346.8
r247.7
r274.6

292.8
337.1
357.8
332.9
313.3
348.2
247.5
277.2

293.1
336.8
358.1
333.3
313.6
348.8
248.4
275.7

293.7
337.2
358.2
334.1
314.9
351.0
248.5
275.6

294.2
337.6
358.6
334.6
315.4
352.3
248.7
276.1

12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6

Furniture and household durables..............................................
Household furniture ...............................................................
Commercial furniture...............................................................
Floor coverings.......................................................................
Household appliances ............................................................
Home electronic equipment....................................................
Other household durable goods..............................................

214.0
234.7
286.3
185.4
206.9
86.1
313.1

214.9
236.3
286.5
188.9
207.7
85.5
313.9

215.4
236.6
287.3
189.5
208.0
85.8
314.5

215.3
236.9
287.4
189.5
207.6
85.8
314.0

215.7
237.4
289 9
189.3
208.0
85.1
315.1

215.7
237.2
289.5
189.4
208.5
84.5
315.2

216.8
237.9
293.4
188.2
209.8
84.4
318.0

217.2
239.1
294.7
188.4
210.7
84.1
316.8

217.4
240.0
294.7
188.3
210.9
84.0
316.7

r218.2
r240.8
r296.1
r188.2
r210.9
r84.9
r319.1

218.9
241.5
297.6
191.1
210.9
84.1
321.0

219.2
242.3
297.0
191.6
211.1
83.7
322.1

218.7
241.8
297.9
191.4
211.4
82.4
320.4

218.9
242.2
298.4
191.3
211.7
84.2
316.3

13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9

Nonmetallic mineral products ....................................................
Flat g la s s ...............................................................................
Concrete ingredients...............................................................
Concrete products .................................................................
Structural clay products, excluding refractories ......................
Refractories.............................................................................
Asphalt roofing.......................................................................
Gypsum products .................................................................
Glass containers ....................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals ....................................................

325.2
229.7
313.3
302.0
277.8
341.3
384.0
286.0
352.4
480.2

326.3
229.7
316.4
302.7
282.4
339.4
383.4
289.3
351.3
481.9

327.2
229.5
317.2
303.5
282.4
340.2
387.2
297.8
351.1
482.5

328.0
229.6
316.7
303.3
283.5
344.7
387.9
312.8
350.2
483.2

328.9
230.1
314.8
304.1
284,1
353.3
387.8
315.1
350.4
487.4

328.9
229.9
314.6
304.2
284.2
353.3
384.2
322.6
350.4
486.8

330.1
229.5
315.6
304.9
284.3
353.9
385.0
328.6
350.6
486.4

332.2
229.9
319.9
305.9
283.7
356.0
392.3
339.4
350.6
488.1

333.4
229.1
324.2
306.3
284.3
361.1
385.6
339.6
351.6
490.8

r335.8
r230.2
r324.3
308.8
r285.0
r361.8
r396.2
r353.0
r358.0
r491.3

337.3
226.4
326.9
309.6
285.0
362.9
396.8
360.9
361.2
495.0

338.4
227.3
326.3
310.0
285.6
362.9
392.3
366.0
499.7

339.3
227.4
327 2
310.6
285.7
362.9
392.6
360.6
367.1
507.1

340.0
217.8
329.0
311.3
287.5
362.7
405.6
352.9
366.0
512.0

14
14-1
14-4

Transportation equipment (12/68 = 100)...................................
Motor vehicles and equipment.................................................
Railroad equipment.................................................................

256.7
256.8
350.2

256.8
256.8
351.0

250.4
249.1
350.7

260.6
260.6
348.6

260.5
260.5
348.6

260.7
260.6
350.5

261.5
261.1
351.5

262.2
261.2
351.5

262.4
261.5
352.0

r263.4
r261.9
r380.8

262.7
261.5
361.2

262.6
261.4
361.2

262.8
261.5
363.4

263.1
261.8
364.6

15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9

Miscellaneous products...............................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, ammunition......................
Tobacco products .................................................................
Notions..................................................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ...................................
Mobile homes (12/74 - 100).................................................
Other miscellaneous products.................................................

289.6
225.2
365.4
280 1
215.7
163.4
351.8

292.0
224.5
376.7
279.7
216.6
163.7
352.9

291.4
224.8
376.9
279.7
216.6
164.3
349.6

291.7
225.9
376.8
279.7
216.8
164.8
349 2

291.7
225.2
377.0
279.6
216.8
165.0
349.3

292.8
225.3
377.1
280.1
216.8
165.1
353.2

294.5
227.4
389.4
281.4
(2)
162.2
350.8

294.9
227.8
390.3
282.2
217.9
162.4
350.5

294.9
227.6
390.4
282.2
212.7
162.5
354.2

r294.6
r226.5
390.4
283.0
r213.6
r163.8
r351.9

294.3
226.7
390.6
283.9
213.5
163.9
350.0

295.6
226.4
400.2
283.9
213.5
163.9
349L6

297.1
226.4
407 9
283.9
213.7
164.1
349.8

297.9
226.9
407.6
283.9
214.1
163.1
352.8

1Data for April 1984 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.
2Not available.
3Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.


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

360.3

4T0.0
254.5
306.9
285.4
282.4
258.4

4Includes only domestic production.
5Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month.
6Some prices for Industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month.
r= revised.

79

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
25.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : P r o d u c e r P r ic e s

P roducer P rice Indexes, fo r special com m o dity group ings

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual

1983

1984

1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

M ay

June

J u ly

306.6
257.5
258.7

308.0
257.1
257.6

308.3
260.7
260.9

309.2
260.5
258 6

309.1
258.0
258.0

309.4
260.2
260.4

310.7
268.3
266 2

311.9
270.2
267.0

313.6
272.9
271.2

314.2
'270.6
'270.9

314.9
269.8
272.4

314.9
267.6
269.2

315.4
272.1
273.4

314.7
270.1
270.5

Industrial commodities less fu e ls ........................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 1 0 0 )..............
Hosiery ..........................................................
Underwear and nightwear ..............................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and fibers and yarns..............................................

279.3
138.2
144.7
223.8

280.4
139.0
145.6
223.5

280.0
139.1
145.6
224.5

281.8
139.4
145.6
224.7

282.2
139.8
145.6
224.6

282.9
140.1
145.6
225.4

284.3
140.0
145.8
228.6

285.5
141.3
147.3
229.8

286.7
141.7
147.4
229.8

'287.8
'141.7
147.4
229.8

287.8
142.7
147.4
229.9

287.9
142.6
147.4
229.0

288 1
142.9
147.8
229.5

288 2
142.7
147 8
230.2

283.5

285.0

285.6

285.6

286.3

287.4

287.6

286.2

289.1

290.6

290.9

290.7

291.2

290.4

Pharmaceutical preparations...........................
lumber and wood products, excluding millwork......................
Steel mill products, including fabricated wire products . . .
Finished steel mill products, excluding fabricated wire
products .................................................
Finished steel mill products, including fabricated wire
products .................................................

224.8
321.2
351.2

226.0
331.5
350.1

227.1
316.5
355.9

229.4
316.7
356.4

231.3
314.7
357.4

231 8
321 4
357.8

233.9
322.6
360.1

235.9
331.4
361.1

238.8
334.9
361.2

'241.5
'332.5
361.8

242.1
320.6
362.5

242.3
317.9
363.1

244 0
312 6
365.3

244 2
315 3
365.7

351.5

350.3

357.1

357.8

358.6

359.2

361.7

363.2

363.1

'363.6

364.2

364.8

367.0

367.4

349.9

348.7

354.8

355.4

356.4

356.9

359.2

360.5

360.5

'361.0

361.6

362.3

364.4

364.9

Special metals and metal products ......................
Fabricated metal products.........................................
Copper and copper products........................
Machinery and motive products...................
Machinery and equipment, except electrical ................

292.6
294.3
196.6
279.8
313.6

293.5
294.7
201.2
280.4
314.2

291.5
295.5
198.2
277.7
314.3

296.4
297.2
190.7
282.2
314.1

296.3
297.9
182.6
282.4
314.6

297.0
298.4
185.0
283.0
315.3

297.8
299.3
182.1
283.9
316.3

299.0
300.0
185.1
284.5
316.5

300.3
301.1
192.9
285.0
317.1

'301.2
'301.9
'199.4
'286.2
'318.5

300.6
302.7
190.4
286.2
319.6

300.6
303.5
189.3
286.3
319.4

300.0
303.8
183.5
286.7
320.3

300.0
304.9
181 8
287 1
321.0

Agricultural machinery, including tractors ...................
Metalworking machinery...........................
Total tractors............................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less parts......................

341.5
357.1
'369.7
330.0

342.8
357.8
370.0
331.2

344.0
357.5
372.5
332.6

343.6
357.1
372.6
331.8

344.0
357.6
373.1
332.2

346.4
358.2
373.8
334.2

347.1
359.3
374 0
335.2

347.5
362.1
374.5
335.7

349.3
361.6
376.1
337.4

352.9
'363.0
'384.1
340.4

355.0
363.2
384.5
342.2

354.6
363.2
384.8
341.7

355.4
364.7
384.9
342.3

355 9
365.2
386 5
342.7

Farm and garden tractors less parts ......................
Agricultural machinery, excluding tractors less parts ..............
Construction materials......................................

347.2
337.1
297.7

347.5
339.2
299.8

350.6
338.9
299.9

350.7
338.2
300.4

350.9
338.7
300.4

352.0
342.2
301.3

352.2
343.3
302.3

352.9
343.4
305.0

355.1
344.9
306.6

362.1
345.7
'307.1

362.4
349.3
306.0

362.8
348.2
306.3

362.9
349 6
306.6

364 9
348 8
307.3

A ll c o m m o d it ie s — l e u f a r m p r o d u c t s ...................................
A ll f o o d s
P r o c e u e d fo o d s

'Data for April 1984 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.

A ug.

r = revised.

P roducer P rice Indexes, by durability of product

[1967 = 100]
Annual
C o m m o d it y g r o u p in g

1983

1984

av e ra g e
1983

A ug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

Total durable goods .................................
Total nondurable goods ..............................

286.7
315.7

287.8
317.8

286.8
319.7

289.2
319.1

289.3
318.1

290.1
318.4

291.0
321.2

292.2
321.9

293.2
324.8

'294.2
'324.7

293.7
325.6

293.8
325.1

293.7
326.3

293.9
324.0

Total manufactures......................................
Durable .................................................
Nondurable ............................................

295.7
287.3
304 4

296.9
288.3
305.9

297.2
287.2
307.8

298.5
289.6
307.7

298.4
289.8
307.4

298.8
290.5
307.5

300.0
291.3
309.1

301.2
292.4
310.4

302.8
293 3
312.7

'303.2
'294.3
'312.5

303.7
293.9
314.0

303.8
294.1
314.1

304.2
294.1
314.9

303.4
294.5
312.7

Total raw or slightly processed goods ...........
Durable .................................
Nondurable ............................................

339.8
249.3
345.4

343.8
256.8
349.1

345.9
260.7
351.0

343.6
259.8
348.6

340.6
258.5
345.6

341.8
263.3
346.5

348.4
267.4
353.3

347.6
275.2
351.8

352.4
278.7
356.7

'352.4
'280.6
'356.5

351.7
277.2
356.1

349.0
273.0
353.5

350.8
264 8
356.0

348.1
259.6
353.5

'Data for April 1984 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.

80

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

r = revised.

27.

P roducer P rice In dexes fo r th e output of selected SIC industries

[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
S IC

In d u s tr y d e s c r ip tio n

av e ra g e
O c t.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r .1

May

June

J u ly

A ug.

A ug.

S e p t.

177.1
269.7
921.4

177.1
231.2
915.8

177.1
243.3
920.0

177.1
283.3
907.2

177.1
287.5
909.4

177.1
277.0
909.4

177.1
275.8
914.3

177.1
245.4
913.0

177.1
250.0
902.7

177.1
267.9
r909.2

177.1
273.7
914.9

177.1
271.6
919.2

177.1
264.6
922.2

177.1
249.1
929.4

1983

code

1984

1983

Annual

1972

M IN IN G

1011
1092
1311

Iron ores (12/75 = 100).........................................
Mercury ores (12/75 = 100) .................................
Crude petroleum and natural gas ...........................
M A N U F A C T U R IN G

2067
2074
2083
2091
2098

Chewing g u m ..........................................................
Cottonseed oil m ills.................................................
Malt .......................................................................
Canned and cured seafoods (12/73 = 100) ...........
Macaroni and spaghetti............................................

326.8
204.1
234.1
174.1
256.8

327.3
220.6
232.6
169.4
255.5

327.3
262.9
232.6
169.8
255.5

327.3
253.5
232.6
170.2
258.6

327.5
233.1
241.6
169.2
261.9

327.5
223.3
241.6
169.7
261.9

328.0
229.2
241.6
169.0
261.9

328.1
201.7
241.6
168.8
261.9

328.7
212.7
241.6
168.6
261 9

328.8
r222.6
241.6
r167.0
261.9

329.0
244.1
241.6
169 4
261.9

329.0
242.9
241.6
168.9
261.9

329.1
223.2
241.6
167.8
261.9

329.2
210.3
241.6
167.9
261.9

2298
2361
2381
2394
2448

Cordage and twine (12/77 = 100) ........................
Children's dresses and blouses (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Fabric dress and work gloves .................................
Canvas and related products (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...........
Wood pallets and skids (12/75 = 1 0 0 )...................

139.3
116.6
293.3
147.0
149.2

137.6
117.0
296.3
146.2
151.3

139.0
117.0
296.3
146.2
151.0

139 0
117.0
296.3
147.8
151.5

138.9
117.0
296.3
147.8
151.9

139.0
117.0
297.6
147 8
153.6

139 0
118.2
295.2
150.6
154 0

139.2
117.8
299.1
150.6
156.0

139.2
117.8
302.3
r150.6
157.9

139.3
r118.6
304.8
r150.6
161.6

139.4
118.5
315.6
151.3
165.0

139.4
118.5
315.6
151.3
165.4

137.4
118.6
315.6
151.3
166.3

137.4
118.6
315.6
151.3
166.3

2521
2654
2655
2911
3251

Wood office furniture...............................................
Sanitary food containers .........................................
Fiber cans, drums, and similar products (12/75 = 100)
Petroleum refining (6/76 = 100) ...........................
Brick and structural clay tile ...................................

281.3
266 1
186 5
253.8
332.3

283.6
267.1
187.7
257.2
336.4

283.6
267.8
187.7
256.8
336.4

283.6
269.0
187.8
257.1
338.4

283.6
269.0
189.5
253.5
339.7

283.6
269.0
189.6
249.7
339.9

285.1
269 1
189.6
244.4
340.2

289.1
273.4
189.7
246.7
339.9

289.1
278.4
191.4
249.8
341.1

r289 2
r280.6
193.1
f244.9
r342.6

290 3
282 3
193.1
248.7
344.9

290.3
282 3
193.1
249.6
346.1

290.3
282.3
194.7
247.2
346.5

290.3
282.3
194.7
241.0
346.5

3253
3255
3259
3261
3263

Ceramic wall and floor tile (12/75 = 100) ..............
Clay refractories.......................................................
Structural clay products, n.e.c..................................
Vitreous plumbing fixtures......................................
Fine earthenware food utensils.................................

146.0
355.6
230.2
278.1
366.5

149.6
354.4
234.9
277.0
366.5

149.6
355.9
234.9
281.3
366.5

149.6
364.3
235.1
283.7
366 5

149.6
366.6
235.0
284.5
368.5

149.6
366.5
235.0
285.4
368 5

149.6
367 2
235 0
285.6
383.6

149.6
367.7
232.1
287.0
384.0

149.6
369.3
232.4
290.1
375.9

r149.6
r371.5
r232.4
290.4
r382.6

146.8
373.5
232.8
290.8
378.8

146.8
373.7
232.9
292.5
375.5

146.8
373.7
233.0
293.1
372.1

150.5
373.4
232.9
293.9
373.0

3269
3274
3297
3482
3623

Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ................
Lime (12/75 - 100) ..............................................
Nonclay refractories (12/74 = 1 0 0 )........................
Small arms ammunition (12/75 = 100)...................
Welding apparatus, electric (12/72 = 100)..............

187.1
185.7
205 2
180.5
243.6

186.6
187.6
203.8
181.6
243.5

186.6
186.3
203.8
181.6
243.6

186 6
185.9
203.9
181.6
243.9

189 9
182.4
212.8
181.6
243.9

189.9
182.5
212.8
181.6
244 7

191.9
182.8
213.1
190.3
246.0

192.2
184.4
215.4
190.3
246.7

191.9
183.9
220.6
190.3
247.2

r192.2
r184.1
r220.1
M90.3
r248.7

192 3
184.2
220.2
196.6
243.7

192.2
183.4
220.1
196.6
245.2

192.1
180.4
220.0
196.6
245.3

192.1
179.8
219.9
196.6
245.4

3648
3671
3942
3944
3955

Lighting equipment, n.e.c. (12/75 = 1 0 0 ).............
Electron tubes, receiving type .................................
Dolls (12/75 - 1 0 0 )...............................................
Games, toys, and children's vehicles ......................
Carbon paper and inked ribbons (12/75 = 100) . . .

172.8
435.4
137.5
238.7
139.2

173.4
432.5
137.7
236.2
139.2

173.5
432.8
137.7
236.3
139.2

173.7
432.9
137.7
236.4
139.3

173.9
432.9
137 7
236.2
139.3

172.6
469.8
137.7
236.2
139.3

173.5
490.6
137.6
239.3
144.3

173.5
490 8
137.8
240.6
149.0

184.9
490.8
137.7
240.1
149.0

r185.0
r490 9
r131.6
r239.7
149.1

185.6
490.8
133.1
234.6
149.1

185.7
490.9
133.3
234.7
149.1

186 4
491.1
133.3
234.7
146.7

188.2
491.3
133.3
234 7
146.7

3995
3996

Burial caskets (6/76 = 1 0 0 )...................................
Hard surface floor coverings (12/75 = 1 0 0 )...........

153.5
161.5

155.4
163.4

155.4
163.5

156.0
165.5

156.0
163.5

156.0
163.5

156.0
165.2

157.2
165.2

157.3
165.2

158.8
166.3

158.8
166.4

158.8
166.4

158.8
168.7

158 8
168.7

1Data for April 1984 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.
r = revised.


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

NOTE: Indexes which were deleted in the September issue may now be found in Table 4 of the BIS
monthly report, P r o d u c e r P r ic e s a n d P r ic e I n d e x e s .

81

PRODUCTIVITY DATA

d a t a are compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from establishment data and from measures of compensation and
output supplied by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the
Federal Reserve Board.

P r o d u c t iv it y

Definitions
Output is the constant dollar gross product produced by the particular
sector. Output per hour of all persons (labor productivity) measures the
value o f goods and services in constant prices produced per hour of labor.
Output per unit of capital services (capital productivity) measures the
value o f goods and services in constant dollars per unit of capital services
input.
Multifactor productivity measures the output per unit of combined
labor and capital input. The traditional measure of output per hour reflects
changes in capital per hour and a combination of other factors— such as,
changes in technology, shifts in the composition of the labor force, changes
in capacity utilization, research and development, skill and efforts of the
work force, management, and so forth. The multifactor productivity meas­
ure differs from the familiar b l s measure of output per hour of all persons
in that it excludes the effects of the substitution of capital for labor.
Compensation per hour includes wages and salaries of employees 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 compensation per hour is com­
pensation per hour adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers.
Unit labor costs measure the labor compensation costs required to
produce a unit o f output and is derived by dividing compensation by output.
Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, interest, and in­
direct taxes per unit o f output. They are computed by subtracting com­
pensation o f all persons from current dollar gross product and dividing by
output. Unit nonlabor costs contain all the components of unit nonlabor
payments except unit profits. Unit profits include corporate profits and
the value o f inventory adjustments per unit of output.
The implicit price deflator is the price index for the gross product of
the sector reported. It is derived by dividing the current dollar gross product
by the constant dollar figures.

Hours of all persons measures the labor input of payroll workers, selfemployed persons, and unpaid family workers. Output per all employee

hour describes labor productivity in nonfinancial corporations where there
are no self-employed. The capital services input index used in the mul­
tifactor productivity computation is developed by bls from measures of
the net stock o f physical assets— equipment, structures, land, and inven­
tories— weighted by rental prices for each type of asset. Combined units
of labor and capital input are computed by combining changes in labor
and capital inputs with weights which represent each component’s share
of total output. The indexes for capital services and combined units of
labor and capital are based on changing weights which are averages of the
shares in the current and preceding year (the Tomquist index-number
formula).

Notes on the data
In the business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the output meas­
ure employed in the computation of output per hour is constructed from
Gross Domestic Product rather than Gross National Product. Multifactor
productivity measures (table 28) for the p riva te business and p riva te non­
farm business sectors differ from the business and nonfarm business sector
measures used in the traditional labor productivity indexes (tables 2 9 -3 2 )
in that they exclude the activities of government enterprises. There is no
difference in the sector definition for manufacturing.
Output measures for the business sectors are derived from data 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. Com­
pensation and hours data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The productivity and associated cost measures in the tables describe the
relationship between output in real terms and the labor time and capital
services involved in its production. They show the changes from period
to period in the amount of goods and services produced per unit o f input.
Although these measures relate output to hours and capital services, they
do not measure the contributions of labor, capital, or any other specific
factor of production. Rather, they reflect the joint effect of many influences,
including changes in technology; capital investment; level of output; uti­
lization of capacity, energy, and materials; the organization of production;
managerial skill; and the characteristics and efforts of the work force. For
a more complete description of the methodology underlying the multifactor
productivity measures, see Bulletin 2178, “ Trends in Multifactor Produc­
tivity, 1 9 4 8 -8 1 ” (September 1983).

Beginning with the September issue of the Review, all of the productivity and cost measures in tables 29-32 incorporate
revised output and compensation measures reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of
Commerce. In addition, revised values for seasonally adjusting measures of employment and average weekly hours were
introduced, data for employees of nonagricultural establishments were rebenchmarked to the most recent levels from
unemployment insurance data, and improved estimates of employment levels in agricultural services were incorporated.

82

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

28.

A nnual in dexes of m ultifactor p rodu ctivity and related m easures, selected years, 1 9 4 8 -8 2

[1977 = 100]
It e m

1948

1950

1960

1970

1973

1974

1975

1976

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

45.3
99.0
60 0
36.8

49.7
98.6
63.6
39.5

64.8
98.5
75.4
53.3

86.1
98.5
90.2
78.3

94.7
103.0
97.5
91.8

92.4
96.5
93.8
89.9

94.5
92.0
93.6
88 0

97.6
96.1
97.1
93.7

100.6
101.8
101.0
105.5

99.3
100.3
99.7
107.9

98.8
95.5
97.7
106.4

101.2
95.8
99.3
109.8

101.1
90.9
97.5
106.6

81.3
37.2
61.3
45.7

79.5
40.1
62.1
50.4

82.2
54.1
70.7
65.8

90 9
79.4
86.8
87.4

96.9
89.1
94.1
92.0

97.2
93.1
95.8
95.8

93.1
95.7
94.0
102.8

95.9
97.5
96.5
101.6

104.9
103.6
104.4
98.8

108.6
107.5
108.2
99.0

107.7
111.4
108.9
103.4

108.4
114.6
110.5
105.7

105.4
117.3
109.4
-'111.3

51.2
97.9
64.6
35.6

55.6
98.2
68.1
38.3

67.9
98 4
77.6
52.3

86.8
98.6
90.6
77.8

95.3
103 2
97.9
91.7

92.9
96.5
94.1
89.7

94.7
91.7
93.6
87.6

97.8
96.1
97.2
93.6

100.6
101.9
101.1
105.7

99.0
100.1
99.4
108.0

98.3
95.2
97.3
106.4

100.2
95.0
98.4
109.3

100.2
90.1
96.6
106.2

69 6
36.4
55.2
52.3

69.0
39.0
56.3
56.6

77.0
53.2
67.4
69.0

89.7
78.9
85 9
88.0

96.2
88.8
93.6
92.3

96.6
93.0
95.4
96.3

92.5
95.6
93.6
103.4

95.7
97.4
96.3
101.8

105.1
103.7
104.6
98 7

109.0
107.9
108.6
99.0

108.2
111.7
109.4
103.2

109.0
115.1
111.0
105.5

106.0
118.0
110.0
111.2

45.1
93.9
56.1
35.8

49.4
94.5
59.9
38.6

60.0
88.0
67.0
50.7

79.1
91.8
82.3
77.0

93.0
108.2
96.8
95.9

90 8
99.6
93.0
91.9

93.4
89 4
92.2
85.4

97.5
96.1
97.1
93.6

100.8
101.5
101.0
105.3

101.5
99.5
101.0
108.2

101.7
90.7
98.7
103.5

105.3
90.2
101.2
106.5

106.5
82.7
99.9
99.1

79.4
38.1
63.8
48.0

78.2
40.9
64.6
52.3

84.4
57.5
75.6
68.2

97.3
83.9
93.6
86.2

103.2
88.6
99.1
85.9

101.2
92.2
98.8
91.1

91.4
95.5
92.6
104.4

95.9
97.4
96.4
101.5

104.5
103.8
104.3
99.3

106.6
108.8
107.2
102.1

101.8
114.1
104.8
112.1

101.2
118.0
105.2
116.7

93.0
119.9
99.2
128.8

P R IV A T E B U S IN E S S S E C T O R

Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons........................
Output per unit of capital services...................
Multifactor productivity....................................
Output..................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons.........................................
Capital services ...............................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons ...........................
P R IV A T E N O N F A R M B U S IN E S S S E C T O R

Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons.........................
Output per unit of capital services...................
Multifactor productivity ...................................
Output..................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons.........................................
Capital services ...............................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons ...........................
M A N U F A C T U R IN G

Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons........................
Output per unit of capital services...................
Multifactor productivity....................................
Output..................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons.........................................
Capital services ...............................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons ...........................

29.

A nnual in dexes of productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1 9 5 0 -8 3

[1977 = 100]
Ite m

Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons.........................
Compensation per h o u r....................................
Real compensation per hour ...........................
Unit labor c o s ts ..............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator......................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons.........................
Compensation per h o u r...................................
Real compensation per hour ...........................
Unit labor c o s ts ..............................................
Unit nonlabor payments....................................
Implicit price deflator......................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all persons........................
Compensation per h o u r....................................
Real compensation per h o u r...........................
Unit labor c o s ts ...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments....................................
Implicit price deflator......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons.........................
Compensation per h o u r....................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...........................
Unit labor c o s ts ...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments....................................
Implicit price deflator......................................

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1976

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

50.4
20.0
50.5
39.8
43.4
41.0

58.3
26.4
59.7
45.2
47.6
46.0

65.2
33.9
69.5
52.1
50.6
51.6

78.3
41.7
80.1
53.3
57.6
54.7

86.2
58.2
90.8
67.5
63.2
66.0

94.6
85.6
96.4
90.5
90.4
90.4

97.6
92.9
98 9
95.1
94.0
94.7

100.5
108.5
100.8
108.0
106.7
107.5

99.3
118.7
99.1
119.5
112.8
117.2

98.8
131.1
96.4
132.6
119.3
128.1

100.7
143.4
95.5
142.4
136.7
140.4

100.9
155.0
97.3
153.6
136.8
147.9

103.7
161.7
98.4
156.0
145.5
152.4

56.3
21.9
55.1
38.8
42.7
40.1

62.8
28.3
64.0
45.1
47.8
46.0

68.3
35.7
73.1
52.3
50.4
51.6

80.5
42.8
82.3
53.2
58.0
54.8

86.8
58.7
91.5
67.6
63.8
66.3

94.8
86.1
96.9
90.8
88.5
90.0

97.8
93.0
99.0
95.1
93.5
94 6

100.6
108.6
100.8
108.0
105.3
107.1

99.0
118.4
98.8
119.5
110.4
116.5

98.3
130.6
96.0
132.8
118.6
128.1

99.8
143.1
95.3
143 5
135.0
140.6

100.0
154.5
97.0
154.5
136 9
148.6

103.4
162.0
98.6
156.6
147.0
153.4

(1)
<1)
(1)
(1)

82 0
43.9
84.3
53.5
60.8
56.1

87.4
59 4
927
68.0
63.1
66.3

95.5
86.1
97.0
90.2
90.8
90.4

98.2
92.9
98.9
94 6
95.0
94.7

100.8
108.4
100.7
107.5
104.2
106.4

100.6
118.6
99.0
117.8
106.9
114.1

99.7
130.8
96.2
131.2
117.4
126.4

101.6
143.1
95.3
140.9
135.1
138.9

102.6
154.6
97.0
150.6
138.1
146.3

106.1
161.0
97.9
151.8
149.1
150.9

74.6
42.8
82.3
57.5
69.4
61.0

79.2
57.6
89.8
72.7
65.1
70.5

93.4
85.5
96.2
91.5
87.3
90.3

97.6
92.3
98.3
94.6
93.9
94.4

100.9
108.3
100.6
107.3
102.7
106.0

101.6
118.8
99.2
117.0
99.9
112.0

101.7
132.7
97.6
130.5
97.9
120.9

104.9
145.2
96.8
138.4
111.6
130.6

107.1
158.0
99.2
147.6
110.5
136.7

111.6
163.4
99.4
146.4
128.8
141.2

<n

<1>

68.0
37.0
75.8
54.4
54.6
54.5

49.4
21.5
54.0
43.4
54.3
46.6

56.4
28.8
65.1
51.0
58 6
53.2

60.0
36 7
75.1
61.1
61.1
61.1

<n

(1)
<1>
(1>
<1 )

<1)

1Not available.


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

83

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
30.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : P r o d u c tiv ity

A nnual changes in produ ctivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, 1 9 7 3 -8 3
A n n u a l ra te

Year

of change

It e m
1973

Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ..............
Compensation per h o u r........................
Heal c o m p e n s a tio n p e r hour ................
Unit labor costs ....................................
Unit nonlabor payments........................
Implicit price deflator ...........................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ..............
Compensation per h o u r.........................
Real compensation per hour ................
Unit labor costs ....................................
Unit nonlabor payments........................
Implicit price deflator ...........................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees...........
Compensation per h o u r.........................
Real compensation per hour ................
Unit labor costs ....................................
Unit nonlabor payments........................
Implicit price deflator ...........................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ..............
Compensation per h o u r........................
Real compensation per hour ................
Unit labor costs ....................................
Unit nonlabor payments........................
Implicit price deflator ...........................

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1960

1981

1982

1983

1 9 5 0 -8 3

1 9 7 2 -8 3

2.6
8.0
1.6
5.3
5.9
5.5

-2 .4
9.4
-1 .4
12.1
4.4
9.5

2.2
9.6
0.5
7.3
15.1
9.8

3.3
8.5
2.6
5.1
4.0
4.7

2.4
7.7
1.2
5.1
6.4
5.6

0.5
8.5
0.8
8.0
6.7
7.5

-1 .2
9.4
-1 .7
10.7
5.8
9.0

-0 .5
10.4
-2 .7
11.0
5.7
9.3

1.9
9.4
-0 .9
7.3
14.6
9.6

-0 .2
8.1
1.9
7.9
0.1
5.3

2.7
4.3
1.1
1.6
6.3
3.0

2.2
6.5
2.0
4.2
3.7
4.1

1.1
8.5
0.2
7.3
6.7
7.1

2.4
7.6
1.3
5.0
1.3
3.8

-2 .5
9.4
-1 .4
12.2
5.9
10.2

2.0
9.6
0.4
7.5
16.7
10.3

3.2
8.1
2.2
4.7
5.7
5.1

2.2
7.5
1.0
5.2
6.9
5.7

0.6
8.6
0.8
8.0
5.3
7.1

-1 .5
9.0
-2 .0
10.7
4.8
8.8

-0 .7
10.3
-2 .8
11.1
7.4
10.0

r1.5
9.6
-0 .7
8.0
13.8
9.8

0.2
8.0
1.7
7.7
1.4
5.7

3.5
4.9
1.6
1.4
7.4
3.2

1.9
6.3
1.8
4.3
3.8
4.1

1.0
8.4
0.2
7.4
6.9
7.2

2.4
7.5
1.2
4.9
1.5
3.8

-3 .7
9.4
-1 .5
13.6
7.1
11.4

2.9
9.6
0.4
6.5
20.1
10.9

2.9
7.9
2.0
4.9
4.6
4.8

1.8
7.6
1.1
5.7
5.3
5.6

0.8
8.4
0.7
7.5
4.2
6.4

-0 .2
9.4
-1 .7
9.6
2.6
7.2

-0 .9
10.3
-2 .8
11.3
9.8
10.8

1.9
9.4
-0 .9
7.4
15.1
9.8

1.0
8.0
1.8
6.9
2.3
5.3

3.3
4.2
0.9
0.8
7.9
3.1

(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

1.1
r8.3
r0.3
r6.8
7.1
r7.0

5.4
7.2
0.9
1.7
-3 .3
0.3

-2 .4
10.6
-0 .3
13.3
-1 .8
9.0

2.9
11.9
2.5
8.8
25.9
13.1

4.5
8.0
2.1
3.4
7.5
4.6

2.5
8.3
1.8
5.7
6.5
6.0

0.9
8.3
0.6
7.3
2.7
6.0

0.7
9.7
-1 .4
9.0
-2 .6
5.7

0.2
11.7
-1 .6
11.5
-2.1
7.9

3.1
9.4
-0 .9
6.1
14.1
8.0

2.1
8.8
2.5
6.6
-1 .0
4.7

4.3
3.4
0.2
-0 .8
165
3.3

2.5
6.3
1.9
3.8
2.6
3.4

2.2
8.8
0.6
6.5
5.3
6.2

1Not available.

31.

1979

r = revised.

Q uarterly indexes of productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, seaso n ally adjusted

[1977 = 100]

Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ......................
Compensation per hour .................................
Real compensation per ho ur...........................
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 co sts..............................................
Unit labor costs . .................................
Unit nonlabor costs.................................
Unit profits ....................................................
Implicit price deflator......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ......................
Compensation per hour .................................
Real compensation per ho ur...........................
Unit labor costs..............................................
1Not available.

84


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

Q u a r t e r ly in d e x e s

Annual
av e ra g e

It e m

1981

1982

1983

1984

1982

1983

100.9
155.0
97.3
153.6
136.8
147.9

103.7
161.7
98.4
156.0
145.5
152.4

100.3
147.6
95.4
147.1
139.6
144.6

100 9
151.4
96.9
150.0
138.0
145.9

100.3
153.9
97.2
153.4
137.0
147.9

100.9
156.7
97.3
155.3
135.8
148.7

101.6
158.4
98.0
155.9
136.5
149.3

102.2
160 2
99.0
156.8
139.8
151.0

103.6
161.0
98.5
155.4
144.6
151.7

104.3
161.8
98.0
155.1
147.9
152.7

104.7
164.2
98.4
156.8
149.1
154.2

105.7
166.7
98.6
157.7
151.6
155.6

r106.8
167.5
98.2
r156.9
r156.3
156.7

100.0
154.5
97.0
154.5
136.9
148.6

103.4
162.0
98.6
156.6
147.0
153.4

99 2
147.3
95.2
148.5
138.5
145.1

99.8
151.0
96.7
151.4
136.9
146.5

99.4
153.2
96.8
154.2
137.5
148.6

100.3
156.0
96.9
155.6
136.8
149.3

100.5
157.9
97.7
157.1
136.4
150.2

101.6
160.1
99.0
157.6
140.6
151.9

103.6
161.5
98.8
155.9
146.4
152.7

104.1
162.4
98.3
155.9
149.4
153.8

104.4
164.0
98.2
157.1
151.4
155.2

105.2
166.5
98.5
158.3
152.2
156.3

r106.4
r168.0
98.5
r158.0
r155.8
r157.2

102.6
154.6
97.0
154.3
150.6
164.8
84.6
146.3

106.1
161.0
97.9
155.2
151.8
164.9
117.2
150.9

101.3
147.1
95.1
148.7
145 2
158.5
100.2
143.1

102.2
151.1
96.7
151.5
147,9
161.6
89.4
144.3

102.1
153.5
97.0
154.0
150.3
164.3
86.8
146.3

103.3
156.2
97.0
154.7
151.3
164.4
86.6
146 9

103.2
157.7
97.5
157.0
152 9
168.8
75.6
147.7

104.0
159.2
98.4
156.7
153.1
167.0
92.5
149.4

105.8
160.6
98.2
155.2
151.7
165.1
111.8
150.2

107.2
161.8
98.0
154.4
150.9
164.4
126.6
151.2

107.2
162.6
97.4
154.7
151.7
163.3
135.9
152.6

108.1
164.8
97.5
155.0
152.5
162.0
143.2
153.6

P108.6
P165.8
P97.2
P155.3
P152.7
P162.8
P147.9
P154.5

107.1
158.0
99.2
147.6

111.6
163.4
99.4
146.4

104.0
149.8
96.8
144.0

105.5
154.3
98 8
146.2

106.3
157.2
99.4
148.0

108 8
159 8
99.2
146.9

107.8
161.0
99.6
149.3

109.1
162.7
100.6
149.1

110.8
163.0
99.7
147.0

113.4
163.5
99.0
144.1

113.1
164.6
98.6
145.5

114.2
r167.1
r98.9
r146 4

r115.2
r168.3
r98.7
r146.1

IV

I

II

in

r = revised.
p = preliminary.

IV

I

II

I II

IV

I

II

32. P ercen t ch an g e from preceding q uarter and year in productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices,
seaso n ally adjusted at annual rate
P e rc e n t c h a n g e fro m s a m e q u a r te r a y e a r a g o

Q u a r t e r ly p e r c e n t c h a n g e a t a n n u a l r a te
It e m

Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons...........
Compensation per hour......................
Real compensation per h o u r..............
Unit labor co sts.................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...................
Implicit price deflator.........................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons...........
Compensation per hour......................
Real compensation per h o u r..............
Unit labor co sts.................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...................
Implicit price deflator.........................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees . . .
Compensation per hour......................
Real compensation per h o u r..............
Total units 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 h o u r..............

1Not available.


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

IV 1 9 8 2

11983

I1 1983

I II 1 9 8 2

IV 1 9 8 3

11934

1 1982

I1 1982

III 1 9 8 2

IV 1 9 8 2

11983

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

to

1 1983

II 1 9 8 3

III 1 9 8 3

IV 1 9 8 3

1 1984

I1 1984

1 1983

I1 1983

III 1 9 8 3

IV 1 9 8 3

1 1984

I1 1984

2.1
4.4
4.1
2.2
10.2
4.6

5.9
2.2
-2.1
-3 .5
14.5
1.9

2.8
2.0
-2.1
-0 .8
9.5
2.5

1.4
6.1
1.6
4.6
3.1
4.1

4.0
6.2
1.2
2.1
7.0
3.7

r4 0
r1 9
r -1 7
r- 2 0
r12 9
2.7

1.2
5.8
2.1
4.5
1.3
3.5

3.3
4.6
1.3
1.3
5.5
2.6

3.4
3.3
0.7
-0.1
8.9
2.7

3.1
3.7
0.3
0.6
9.2
3.3

3.5
4.1
-0 .4
0.6
8.4
3.0

r3.1
4.0
-0 .3
r1.0
r8.1
r3.3

4.4
5.7
5.4
1.3
12.7
4.6

8.1
3.5
-0 .8
-4 .2
17.8
2.2

2.1
2.2
-1 .9
0.1
8.4
2.7

1.0
4.1
-0 .3
3.0
5.3
3.7

2.9
6.1
1.0
3.1
2.3
2.8

r4.7
r3.7
r0 0
r-0 9
r9.7
r2 5

1.8
6.0
2.4
4.1
2.7
3.7

4.3
5.4
2.0
1.1
6.5
2.8

3.9
4.1
1.5
0.2
9.2
3.0

3.9
3.9
0.6
10.9
3.3

3.5
4.0
-0 .5
0.4
8.3
2.9

r2.7
4.0
-0 .3
r1.3
r6.4
2.9

3.2
3.9
3.5
-0 .7
0.7
-4.1
124.6
4.7

7.5
3.5
-0 .8
-3 .9
-3 .7
-4 .5
112.8
2.3

5.3
3.1
-1 .0
-2 .0
-2.1
-1 .7
64.8
2.8

-0 .2
2.0
-2 .4
0.8
2.1
-2 .6
32.6
3.6

3.6
5.7
0.7
0.6
2.0
-3 .2
23.4
2.7

P1.7
P2 3
P-1.3
P1.0
P0 6
P2.1
P13 6
P2 3

1.8
5.4
1.7
3.5
3.5
3.3
3.5
3.5

3.7
4.6
1.3
0.8
0.9
0.5
28.7
2.7

3.8
3.6
1.0
-0 .2
-0 .2
46.3
3.0

3.9
3.1
-0 .2
-1 .5
-0 .8
-3 .2
79.8
3.3

4.0
3.6
-0 .9
-1.1
-0 .4
-3 .0
54.8
2.8

P2.6
P3.2
P-1.0
P0.1
P0.7
P-1.4
P32.3
P2.8

4.8
4.2
3.9
-0 .5

6.4
0.6
-3 .5
-5 .5

9.7
1.3
-2 .8
-7 .7

-1 .0
2.9
-1 .5
3.9

3.7
r6.2
r1.1
r2.3

r3 6
r2 9
r-0 8
r -0 .7

3.4
5.5
1.8
2.0

4.3
3.6
0.3
-0 .6

4.3
2.3
-0 .3
-1 .9

4.9
2.2
-1 .0
-2 .6

4.7
r2.7
r -1 .7
r1.9

r4.0
r3.3
r -1 .0
0.6

0.0

0.0

I1 1983

r = revised.
p = preliminary.

85

WAGE AND COMPENSATION DATA

D a t a f o r t h e e m p l o y m e n t c o s t in d e x are reported to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics by a sample of 2,000 private nonfarm estab­
lishments and 750 State and local government units selected to
represent total employment in those sectors. On average, each
reporting unit provides wage and compensation information on
five well-specified occupations.

Data on negotiated wage and benefit changes are obtained from
contracts on file at the Bureau, direct contact with the parties, and
secondary sources.
Definitions
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a quarterly measure of the average
change in the cost o f employing labor. The rate of total compensation,
which comprises wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee ben­
efits, is collected for workers performing specified tasks. Employment in
each occupation is held constant over time for all series produced in the
ECI, except those by region, bargaining status, and area. As a consequence,
only changes in compensation are measured. Industry and occupational
employment data from the 1970 Census of Population are used in deriving
constant weights for the ECI. While holding total industry and occupational
employment fixed, in the estimation of indexes by region, bargaining
status, and area, the employment in those measures is allowed to vary over
time in accord with changes in the sample. The rate of change (in percent)
is available for wages and salaries, as well as for total compensation. Data
are collected for the pay period including the 12th day of the survey months
o f March, June, September, and December. The statistics are neither an­
nualized nor adjusted for seasonal influence.

Wages and salaries consist of earnings before payroll deductions, ex­
cluding premium pay for overtime, work on weekends and holidays, and
shift differentials. Production bonuses, incentive earnings, commissions,
and cost-of-living adjustments are included; nonproduction bonuses are
included with other supplemental pay items in the benefits category; and
payments-in-kind, free room and board, and tips are excluded. Benefits
include supplemental pay, insurance, retirement and savings plans, and
hours-related and legally required benefits.
Data on negotiated wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry
collective bargaining agreements covering 1,000 workers or more. Data
on compensation changes apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage or compensation changes refer to average
negotiated changes for workers covered by settlements reached in the period

86

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and implemented within the first 12 months after the effective date o f the
agreement. Changes over the life o f the agreement refer to all adjustments
specified in the contract, expressed as an average annual rate. These meas­
ures exclude wage changes that may occur under cost-of-living adjustment
clauses, that are triggered by movements in the Consumer Price Index.
Wage-rate changes are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earn­
ings; compensation changes are expressed as a percent of total wages and
benefits.

Effective wage adjustments reflect all negotiated changes implemented
in the reference period, regardless of the settlement date. They include
changes from settlements reached during the period, changes deferred from
contracts negotiated in an earlier period, and cost-of-living adjustments.
The data also reflect contracts providing for no wage adjustment in the
period. Effective adjustments and each of their components are prorated
over all workers in bargaining units with at least 1,000 workers.

Notes on the data
The Employment Cost Index data series began in the fourth quarter of
1975, with the quarterly percent change in wages and salaries in the private
nonfarm sector. Data on employer costs for employee benefits were in­
cluded in 1980, to produce a measure of the percent change in employers’
cost for em ployees’ total compensation. State and local government units
were added to the ECI coverage in 1981, providing a measure o f total
compensation change in the civilian nonfarm economy.
Data for the broad white-collar, blue-collar, and service worker groups,
and the manufacturing, nonmanufacturing, and service industry groups are
presented in the ECI. Additional occupation and industry detail are pro­
vided for the wages and salaries component of total compensation in the
private nonfarm sector. For State and local government units, additional
industry detail is shown for both total compensation and its wages and
salaries component.
Historical indexes (June 1981 = 100) of the quarterly rates o f changes
presented in the ECI are also available.
For a more detailed discussion of the ECI, see chapter 11, “ The Em­
ployment Cost Index,” of the BLS Handbook o f Methods (Bulletin 2134—
1), and the Monthly Labor Review articles: “ Employment Cost Index: a
measure of change in the ‘price of labor,’ ” July 1975; “ How benefits will
be incorporated into the Employment Cost Index,” January 1978; and
“ The Employment Cost Index: recent trends and expansion,” May 1982.
Additional data for the ECI and other measures of wage and compen­
sation changes appear in Current Wage Developments, a monthly publi­
cation o f the Bureau.

33.

E m ploym ent C ost Index, by occupation and industry group

[June 1981 = 100 ]
P erc e n t ch an g e
1982

S e r ie s

C i v il ia n w o r k e r s 1

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

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers....................................................................
Blue-collar workers ....................................................................
Service workers ..........................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing .............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.......................................................................
Serv.ces ..................................................................................
Public administration2 ............................................................
P r iv a t e in d u s tr y w o r k e r s

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ...............................................................
Blue-collar workers ..................................................................
Service workers.......................................................................
Workers, by Industry division
Manufacturing..........................................................................
Nonmanufacturing....................................................................
S t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t w o r k e r s

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ...............................................................
Blue-collar workers .................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Services ..................................................................................
Schools...............................................................................
Elementary and secondary ..............................................
Hospitals and other services3 ..............................................
Public administration2 ............................................................
Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.

1983

1984

3 m o n th s

1 2 m o n th s

ended

ended

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

107.5

110.1

111.4

113.2

114.5

116.5

117.8

119.8

120.8

0.8

5.5

107.7
107.1
108.3

110.7
109.2
110.8

111.9
110.5
112.4

113.7
112.3
114.3

114.9
113.6
115.1

117.6
114.8
116.7

118.9
115.8
119.1

120.9
117.7
122.0

122.1
118.6
122.1

1.0
.8
.1

6.3
4.4
6.1

107.2
107.7
109.2
109.1

109.3
110.5
113.5
112.8

110.4
111.8
115.0
113.6

112.5
113.5
116.6
116.2

113.5
114.9
117.1
117.0

115.0
117.2
121.1
119.8

116.0
118.6
122.6
121.4

117.9
120.7
125.0
122.9

119.1
121.6
125.5
123.7

1.0
.7
.4
.7

4.9
5.8
7.2
5.7

June 1984

107.2

109.3

110.7

112.6

113.9

115.6

117.0

119.0

120.1

.9

5.4

107.2
107.0
107.9

109.5
109.0
109.6

110.8
110.3
111.8

112.8
112.1
113.8

114.2
113.5
114.6

116.5
114.6
115.1

117.9
115.7
117.9

119.9
117.5
121.5

121.4
118.4
121.2

1.3
.8
- .2

6.3
4.3
5.8

107.2
107.1

109.3
109.3

110.4
110.8

112.5
112.6

113.5
114.2

115.0
116.0

116.0
117.5

117.9
119.6

119.1
120.7

1.0
.9

4.9
5.7

109.3

114.3

115.1

116.5

117.1

120.8

122.0

123.9

124.4

.4

6.2

109.5
108.9

114.9
112.7

115.8
113.0

117.0
114.9

117.5
115.8

121.5
118.0

122.6
119.2

124.5
121.9

125.0
122.3

.4
.3

6.4
5.6

109.4
109.1
109.5
110.3
109.1

114 9
114.8
115.6
115.3
112.8

115.9
115.8
116.6
116.0
113.6

116.8
116.6
117.2
117.5
116.2

117.4
116.9
117.4
118.8
117.0

121.7
121.9
123.3
121.1
119.8

122.6
122.6
123.9
122.6
121.4

124.5
124.5
125.4
124.4
122.9

125.0
124.7
125.7
125.7
123.7

.4
.2
.2
1.0
.7

6.5
6.7
7.1
5.8
5.7

includes, for example, library, social, and health services.

^Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

87

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
34.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : W a g e a n d C o m p e n s a tio n D a ta

E m ploym ent C ost Index, w ages and salaries, by occupation and industry group

[June 1981 = 100 )
P erc e n t change
1982

S e r ie s

1983

1984

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

3 m o n th s

1 2 m o n th s

ended

ended

June 1984

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

107.3

109.7

110.9

112.2

113.4

115.3

116.5

117.9

118.8

0.8

4.8

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers....................................................................
Blue-collar workers ....................................................................
Service workers ..........................................................................

107.6
106.7
107.9

110.4
108.6
110.1

111.4
109.8
111.8

113.0
110.8
113.2

114.2
112.0
113.9

116.7
113.1
115.1

117.9
114.0
117.4

119.3
115.3
120.0

120.4
116.1
119.8

.9
.7
-.2

5.4
3.7
5.2

Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing ............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.......................................................................
Services ..................................................................................
Public administration2 ............................................................

107.0
107.5
109.5
108.4

108.8
110.1
113.2
111.9

109.8
111.3
114.4
112.6

111.0
112.7
115.8
114.6

112.0
114.0
116.3
115.4

113.3
116.1
120.1
118.2

114.5
117.4
121.3
119.4

115.7
118.9
123.3
120.4

116.8
119.7
123.8
121.3

1.0
.7
.4
.7

4.3
5.0
6.4
5.1

P r iv a t e in d u s tr y w o r k e r s ..........................................................................................................

107.1

109.0

110.3

111.6

112.9

114.5

115.8

117.2

118.2

.9

4.7

107.3
109.4
107.2
101.8
108.3
106.6
107.6
106.6
104.1
105.1
107.9

109.4
111.8
108.5
104.5
110.3
108.5
109.6
108.3
106.0
106.5
109.3

110.6
112.9
109.3
106.2
111.6
109.7
111.2
109.3
106.9
107.8
111.4

112.2
114.8
112.0
105.7
113.4
110.7
112.2
110.0
108.0
109.0
112 9

113.6
115.9
114.0
107.1
114.6
111.9
113.4
111.1
110.3
109.8
113.5

115.9
119.9
114.8
108.4
116.7
112.9
114.3
112.3
110.7
110.8
113.7

117.2
120.4
115.7
111.2
118.3
113.9
115.4
113.6
110.2
112.1
116.5

118.5
122.2
118.0
110.2
119.8
115.1
116.5
114 9
111.7
112.9
119.8

119 9
123.8
119.2
111.9
120.7
115.9
117.3
115.8
112.7
114.1
119.3

1.2
1.3
1.0
1.5
.8
.7
.7
.8
.9
1.1
- .4

5.5
6.8
4.6
4.5
5.3
3.6
3.4
4.2
2.2
3.9
5.1

107.0
107.4
106.3
107.1
107.3
106.9
105.8
108.9
104.5
102.4
110.0

108.8
109.0
108.5
109.1
109.1
109.5
106.5
109.0
105.5
106.1
112.5

109.8
110.3
109.1
110.5
109.7
111.1
107.2
109.8
106.1
109.0
114.3

111.0
111.1
110.9
112.0
110.4
112.9
108 5
111.8
107.2
110.6
116.0

112.0
111.8
112.3
113.4
112.1
114.7
110.8
114.1
109.4
111.1
116.6

113.3
112.9
113.9
115.2
112.2
115.7
111.5
115.7
109 9
113.5
120.4

114.5
114.4
114.6
116.5
112.9
116.8
112.3
116.5
110.6
116.9
121.9

115.7
115.7
115.8
118.0
113.3
118.5
114.3
118.2
112.8
116.1
124.2

116.8
116.6
117.1
119.0
114.0
119.3
116.0
120.0
114.4
116.9
124.7

1.0
.8
1.1
.8
.6
.7
1.5
1.5
1.4
.7
.4

4.3
4.3
4.3
4.9
1.7
4.0
4.7
5.2
4.6
5.2
6.9

108.7

113.5

114.0

115.1

115.7

119.2

120.0

121.6

122.0

.3

5.4

108.9
107.9

114.2
111.5

114.6
112.0

115.6
113.3

116.1
114.3

119.8
116.4

120.6
116.9

122.2
119.1

122.5
119.6

.2
.4

5.5
4.6

108.8
108.5
108.8
109.5
108.4

114.2
114.2
114.9
114.3
111.9

114.6
114.5
115.1
114.9
112.6

115.5
115.2
115.6
116.5
114.6

115.9
115.4
115.8
117.7
115.4

119.8
119.9
121.1
119.7
118.2

120.6
120.6
121.7
120.6
119.4

122.2
122.2
122.9
121.9
120.4

122.5
122.3
123.0
123.1
121.3

2
.1
.1
1.0
.7

5.7
6.0
6.2
4.6
5.1

C i v il ia n w o r k e r s 1

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ...............................................................
Professional and technical w orkers......................................
Managers and administrators ..............................................
Salesworkers.......................................................................
Clerical workers....................................................................
Blue-collar w orkers.................................................................
Craft and kindred w orkers....................................................
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 tra d e ....................................................
Wholesale trade ...............................................................
Retail trade.......................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate......................................
Services...............................................................................
S t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t w o r k e r s ...........................................................................

Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ...............................................................
Blue-collar workers .................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Services ..................................................................................
Schools...............................................................................
Elementary and secondary ..............................................
Hospitals and other services3 ..............................................
Public administration2 ............................................................
Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.

88

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includes, for example, library, social, and health services.

35.

E m ploym ent C ost Index, private industry w orkers, by bargaining status, region, and area size

[June 1981 = 100)
P erc e n t ch an g e
1982

S e r ie s

1983

1984

3 m o n th s

1 2 m o n th s

ended

ended

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

S e p t.

D ec.

M a rc h

June

Workers, by bargaining status1
Union .............................................................................
Manufacturing .......................................................
Nonmanufacturing...............................................................

108.4
108.0
108.7

110.6
110.3
111.0

112.3
111.8
112.8

114.5
114.0
114.9

116.0
114.8
117.1

117.8
116.3
119.2

118.8
117.2
120.4

120.6
119.3
121.9

121.7
120.5
122.8

0.9
1.0
.7

4.9
5.0
4.9

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

106.5
106.6
106.4

108.5
108.4
108.6

109.7
109.2
109.9

111.5
111.2
111.6

112.8
112.3
113.0

114.4
113.8
114.7

115.9
114.9
116.4

118.0
116.6
118.6

119.2
117.9
119.8

1.0
1.1
1.0

5.7
5.0
6.0

111.7
110.6
108.6
112.9

112.6
112.5
110.9
115.4

114.3
113.5
112.5
116.6

116.0
115.6
113.9
118.0

117.5
117.1
114.7
120.0

118.9
119.7
117.2
121.0

120.7
120.7
117.9
122.2

1.5
.8
.6
1.0

5.6
6.3
4.8
4.8

June 1 9 8 4

C O M P E N S A T IO N

Workers, by region1
Northeast ............................................................
South ..................................................................
North Central .................................................
W est....................................................
Workers, by area size1
Metropolitan areas ............................................
Other areas ..............................................

107.2
107.0

109.4
108.6

110.9
109.1

112.9
110.8

114.2
112.3

116.0
113.4

117.4
114.5

119.4
116.7

120.6
117.4

1.0
.6

5.6
4.5

108.1
107.3
108.8

110.3
109.5
111.1

111.8
110 8
112.7

112.9
111.4
114.3

114.2
112.3
116.0

116.0
113.7
118.3

116.9
114.8
118.9

118.1
116.1
120.1

119.0
117.1
120.7

.8
.9
.5

4.2
4.3
4.1

106.5
106.7
106.4

108.3
108.2
108.3

109.5
109.1
109.6

110.9
110.7
111.0

112.2
111.8
112.4

113.7
113.0
114.0

115.2
114.2
115.6

116.7
115.4
117.2

117.8
116.5
118.3

.9
1.0
.9

5.0
4.2
5.2

Workers, by region1
Northeast ............................................
South .......................................................
North Central ..............................................
W est....................................................

106.7
107.4
106.1
108.6

109.7
108.8
107.6
110.7

111.5
109.8
108.6
112.0

112.0
111.4
110.1
114.1

113.6
112.5
111.5
114.9

115.3
114.3
112.8
116.5

116.6
115.7
113.6
118.5

117.4
117.9
115.5
118.8

118.9
119.0
116.0
119.6

1.3
.9
,4
.7

4.7
5.8
4.0
4.1

Workers by area size1
Metropolitan areas ..............................................
Other areas ............................................................

107.1
106.8

109.1
108.3

110.5
108.8

111.9
110.1

113.2
111.4

114.9
112.3

116.2
113.4

117.6
115.1

118.6
116.0

9
.8

4.8
4.1

W A G E S A N D S A L A R IE S

Workers, by bargaining status1
Union .......................................................................
Manufacturing .......................................................
Nonmanufacturing...............................................................
Nonunion ............................................................
Manufacturing .......................................................
Nonmanufacturing.......................................................

1The indexes are calculated differently from those for the occupation and industry groups. For a
detailed description of the index calculation, see BLS H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin 1910.


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89

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW October 1984 •
36.

C u r r e n t L a b o r S ta tis tic s : W a g e a n d C o m p e n s a tio n D a ta

W age and com pensation change, m ajor collective bargaining settlem ents, 1979 to date

[In percent]
Q u a r t e r ly a v e r a g e
1982

M e a s u re
1979

1981

1980

1983

1982

1983

II

I II

IV

1

1984F

II

I II

IV

1

II

Total compensation changes, covering
5,000 workers or more, all
industries:
9.0
6.6

10.4
7.1

10.2
8.3

3.2
2.8

3.4
3.0

2.6
2.1

6.2
4.7

3.3
4.8

-1 .6
1.4

4.4
3.6

5.0
4.3

4.9
3.1

5.2
4.8

3.6
3.1

First year of contract ...................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .

7.4
6.0

9.5
7.1

9.8
7.9

3.8
3.6

2.6
2.8

3.4
3.2

5.4
4.5

3.8
4.8

-1 .2
2.2

2.7
2.8

3.7
3.6

4.2
2.8

3.1
3.4

2.3
2.3

Manufacturing:
First year of contract ...................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .

6.9
5.4

7.4
5.4

7.2
6.1

2.8
2.6

0.4
2.1

1.8
1.7

5.1
3.9

4.1
4.5

-3 .4
.9

1.3
1.7

3.4
3.5

2.9
3.1

2.9
2.7

1.9
1.4

Nonmanufacturing (excluding
construction):
First year of contract ...................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .

7.6
6.2

9.5
6.6

9.8
7.3

4.3
4.1

5.0
3.7

6.6
6.1

5.5
4.8

3.6
5.2

3.3
5.3

5.9
5.2

5.8
4.3

4.8
2.7

4.4
4.8

4.1
4.0

Construction:
First year of contract ...................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .

8.8
8.3

13.6
11.5

13.5
11.3

6.5
6.3

1.5
2.4

6.2
6.3

6.3
5.9

3.4
2.9

.7
2.4

1.7
2.1

1.5
2.9

1.1
2.6

-3 .7
-3 .0

.7
1.1

First year of contract ...................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
Wage rate changes covering at least
1,000 workers, all industries:

p = preliminary.

37.

E ffective w age adjustm ents in collective bargaining units covering 1,000 w orkers or m ore, 1979 to date
Y e a r a n d q u a rte r
Year
1982

M e a s u re
1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

II

I II

1983
IV

I

II

19840
III

IV

1

II

Average percent adiustment (including no change):
All industries..................................................................
Manufacturing .........................................................
Nonmanufacturing ....................................................

9.1
9.6
8.8

9.9
10.2
9.7

9.5
9.4
9.5

6.8
5.2
7.9

4.0
2.7
4.8

2.0
1.0
2.7

2.4
1.7
2.9

1.3
1.5
1.2

0.3
- .5
.9

1.3
1.1
1.5

1.2
1.2
1.2

1.1
.9
1.2

0.9
1.2
.7

0.9
1.0
.9

From settlements reached in period ..............................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier period . . . .
From cost-of-living clauses............................................

3.0
3.0
3.1

3.6
3.5
2.8

2.5
3.8
3.2

1.7
3.6
1.4

.8
2.5
.6

.4
1.4
.2

.5
1.3
.6

.6
.4
.3

- .2
.4
.1

.3
1.0
.1

.2
.8
.2

.6
.3
.2

.1
.4
.4

.1
.7
.2

Total number of workers receiving wage change
(in thousands)1 .........................................................

—

—

8,648

7,852

6,530

3,423

3,760

3,441

2,875

3,061

3,025

2,887

2,906

2,651

—

—

2,270

1,907

2,327

511

620

825

448

561

599

996

291

316

—

—

—

—

6,267
4,593

4,846
3,830

3,260
2,327

1,594
1,568

2,400
2,251

860
1,970

812
1,938

1,405
1,299

1,317
1,218

669
1,290

1,043
1,613

1,231
1,267

—

—

145

483

1,187

4,912

4,575

4,895

4,842

4,656

4,693

4,830

4,735

4,990

From settlements reached
in period ..................................................................
Deferred from settlements
reached in earlier period............................................
From cost-of-living clauses............................................
Number of workers receiving no adjustments
(in thousands) .........................................................

1The total number of workers who received adjustments does not equal the sum of workers that received
each type of adjustment, because some workers received more than one type of adjustment during the
period.

90

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p = preliminary.

WORK STOPPAGE DATA

s t o p p a g e s include all known strikes or lockouts involving
1,000 workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data are
based largely on newspaper accounts and 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.

W ork

38.

Estimates of days idle as a percent of estimated working time
measure only the impact of larger strikes (1,000 workers or more).
Formerly, these estimates measured the impact of strikes involving
6 workers or more; that is, the impact of virtually all strikes. Due
to budget stringencies, collection of data on strikes involving fewer
than 1,000 workers was discontinued with the December 1981
data.

W o rk stoppages involving 1,000 w orkers or m ore, 1947 to date
N u m b e r o f s to p p a g e s
M o n th a n d y e a r

1947
1948
1949
1950

W o r k e r s in v o lv e d

B e g in n in g in

In e ffe c t

m o n th o r y e a r

d u r in g m o n th

D a y s id le

B e g in n in g in

In e ffe c t

m o n th o r y e a r

d u r in g m o n th

( in th o u s a n d s )

( in t h o u s a n d s )

N um ber
( in t h o u s a n d s )

P e rc e n t of
e s t im a t e d
w o r k in g t im e

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

270
245
262
424

1 629
1 435
2 537
1 698

25 720
2fi 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
1fi 830
21 180

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

1961..........................................................................................
1962 ..........................................................................................
1963 ..........................................................................................
1964 ..........................................................................................
1965 ..........................................................................................

195
211
181
246
268

1,031
793
512
1 183
999

10 140
11 760
10 020
16 220
15 140

1966
1967
1968
1969
1970

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

321
381
392
412
381

1 300
2 192
1,855
1,576
2,468

16 000
31 320
29 397
52 761

16
29

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...........................................................................................
1982 ..........................................................................................
1983 ..........................................................................................

145
96
81

729
656
909

16 908
9 061
17 461

07
04
08

26

20
13
09
07
07
10

1983

January ..................................................................
February..................................................................
M arch ....................................................................
A p ril.......................................................................
May .......................................................................
Ju n e .......................................................................
July .......................................................................

1
5
5
2
12
16
10

3
7
10
9
17
25
23

1.6
14.0
10.5
2.8
24.9
63.3
64.5

38.0
50.4
54.9
52.4
34.2
81.2
99 8

794.8
844.4
1,131.5
789.5
488.5
689.1
1,270.1

.04
.05
.05
.04
.03
.03
.07

1984P

January ..................................................................
February ..................................................................
M arch....................................................................
A p ril.......................................................................
May .......................................................................
Ju n e .......................................................................
July .......................................................................

6
2
2
7
5
5
7

12
12
9
13
15
14
19

28.9
8.7
3.0
28.5
8.1
23.7
65.0

43.0
37.2
14.6
38.1
39.2
45.7
100.7

507.3
365.5
284.2
651.0
581.2
754.8
1,211.3

.03
.02
.01
.03
.03
.04
.06

p = preliminary


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