12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, private industry workers, not seasonally adjusted, March 1996-March 2001 Compensation costs Wages and salaries Benefit costs Mar. 1996 2.7 3.2 1.6 Mar. 1997 3.0 3.4 2.0 Mar. 1998 3.5 4.0 2.3 Mar. 1999 3.0 3.3 2.2 Mar. 2000 4.6 4.2 5.5 Mar. 2001 4.2 3.8 5.0