12-month percent changes in Employment Cost Index, State and local government, not seasonally adjusted, March 1999 - March 2004 Compensation costs Wages and salaries Benefit costs March-99 2.9 2.9 2.8 March-00 3.6 3.8 3.2 March-01 3.3 3.5 2.8 March-02 3.9 3.4 5.0 March-03 4.2 3.1 6.6 March-04 3.3 2.1 6.2