12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, private industry, December 1998 - December 2003 Percent change Compensation costs Wages and salaries Benefit costs Dec 1998 3.5 3.9 2.4 Dec 1999 3.4 3.5 3.4 Dec 2000 4.4 3.9 5.6 Dec 2001 4.2 3.8 5.1 Dec 2002 3.2 2.7 4.7 Dec 2003 4.0 3.0 6.4