Report: Paychecks remain largely unchanged

WASHINGTON — Real average hourly earnings for all employees was unchanged from July to August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. This result stems from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings, which was offset by a 0.3 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings were about unchanged over the month, as a result of no change in both the average work week and real average hourly earnings. Since reaching a recent low in Oct. 2009, real average weekly earnings have risen 2 percent.

Real average hourly earnings rose 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, from Aug. 2009 to Aug. 2010. A 1.2 percent increase in average weekly hours, combined with the increase in real average hourly earnings resulted in a 1.7 percent increase in real average weekly earnings during this period.