Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.2 percent from February to March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This decrease stems from a 0.1 percent decrease in average hourly earnings and a 0.1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings rose 0.1 percent over the month, as a result of a 0.3 percent increase in the average work week offsetting the decrease in real average hourly earnings. Over the past 9 months, real average weekly earnings have changed little.

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

Production and nonsupervisory employees

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees fell 0.2 percent from February to March, seasonally adjusted. This decrease stems from a 0.1 percent decrease in average hourly earnings and a 0.1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.4 percent over the month, as a 0.6 percent increase in the average work week was partially offset by the decrease in real average hourly earnings. Since reaching a high point in December 2008, real average weekly earnings have fallen by 1.1 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 1.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, from March 2009 to March 2010. The change in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.6 percent increase in the average work week, resulted in a 0.4 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period.