Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until	                       USDL-20-0045
8:30 a.m. (EST), Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Technical Information:	(202) 691-6555  *  cesinfo@bls.gov      *  www.bls.gov/ces
Media Contact:	(202) 691-5902          *  PressOffice@bls.gov

REAL EARNINGS – DECEMBER 2019

All employees

Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.1 percent from November to December, 
seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from an 
increase of 0.1 percent in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.2 percent in the 
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings decreased 0.1 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek.  

Real average hourly earnings increased 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2018 to 
December 2019. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6-percent decrease in 
the average workweek resulted in essentially no change in real average weekly earnings over this period.


Production and nonsupervisory employees

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees decreased 0.2 percent from 
November to December, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.1-percent increase in average 
hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.3 percent in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage 
Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings decreased 0.2 percent over the month due to the decrease in real average 
hourly earnings combined with no change in average weekly hours. 

From December 2018 to December 2019, real average hourly earnings increased 0.7 percent, seasonally 
adjusted. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6-percent decrease in the 
average workweek resulted in a 0.1-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. 

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Real Earnings for January 2020 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 
8:30 a.m. (EST).