Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until	                       USDL-19-0019
8:30 a.m. (EST), Friday, January 11, 2019

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

REAL EARNINGS*DECEMBER 2018

All employees

Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.5 percent from November to December, 
seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from a  
0.4-percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.1-percent decrease in the Consumer 
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.7 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with a 0.3-percent increase in the average workweek.  

Real average hourly earnings increased 1.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2017 to 
December 2018. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average 
workweek resulted in a 1.2-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period.


Production and nonsupervisory employees

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 0.6 percent from 
November to December, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.4-percent increase in average 
hourly earnings combined with a 0.2-percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage 
Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.6 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with no change in average weekly hours. 

From December 2017 to December 2018, real average hourly earnings increased 1.5 percent, seasonally 
adjusted. Combining the change in real average hourly earnings with a 0.3 percent decrease in the 
average workweek resulted in a 1.2-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. 

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Real Earnings for January 2019 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 
8:30 a.m. (EST).