12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, State and local government, September 1998 - September 2003 Percent change Compensation costs Wages and salaries Benefit costs Sep-98 3.0 3.0 2.8 Sep-99 2.9 3.3 2.0 Sep-00 3.3 3.5 2.8 Sep-01 4.4 3.9 5.6 Sep-02 3.8 3.1 5.4 Sep-03 3.6 2.3 6.7