BLS Daily Report

[Richardson_D <Richardson_D@xxxxxxx>]

> BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, DAILY LABOR REPORT, SEPTEMBER 18, 2001:
>
> RELEASED TODAY:  The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
> was unchanged in August, before seasonal adjustment, remaining at a level
> of 177.5 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
> For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U increased 2.7 percent.
> The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
> (CPI-W), also was unchanged in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
> August level of 173.8 was 2.7 percent higher than the index in August
> 2000.
>   Real average weekly earnings increased by 0.3 percent from July to
> August after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released
> today by BLS. This was due to a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly
> earnings.  Both the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and
> Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and average weekly hours were unchanged.
>
> Consumer inflation edged up by 0.1 percent in August as lower prices for
> gasoline, tobacco and airline fares helped to blunt higher costs for
> medical care, the government reported today.  The small advance in the
> Labor Department's Consumer Price Index, a closely watched inflation
> gauge, came after consumer prices had plummeted by 0.3 percent in July,
> the biggest drop in 15 years.  Excluding energy and food prices, the
> "core" rate of inflation rose for the second straight month by 0.2
> percent.  The latest readings on inflation at the consumer level were in
> line with analysts' expectations (Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press,
> http://www.nypost.com/apstories/V0058.htm).
>
> The senior vice president for Manpower Inc.'s eastern division says
> companies that could see a surge in business after the attacks might
> require more workers with certain skill sets on a temporary basis.
> Insurance companies, for example, are likely to face an increase in claims
> and customer inquiries ("Work Week" feature, The Wall Street Journal, page
> A1).
>

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