U.S. workers see earnings rise

Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.1 percent from March to April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. This increase stems from a 0.1 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) while average hourly earnings remained unchanged.

Real average weekly earnings rose 0.4 percent over the month, as a result of a 0.3 percent increase in the average workweek combining with the increase in real average hourly earnings. Over the past six months, real average weekly earnings have risen by 1.2 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, from April 2009 to April 2010. The decline in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours, resulted in essentially no change in real average weekly earnings during this period.