Real average weekly earnings fell by 0.5 percent from March to April after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

A 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings was offset by a 0.3 percent decrease in average weekly hours and a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Data on average weekly earnings are collected from the payroll reports of private nonfarm establishments. Earnings of both full-time and part-time workers holding production or nonsupervisory jobs are included. Real average weekly earnings are calculated by adjusting earnings in current dollars for changes in the CPI-W.

Average weekly earnings rose by 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, from April 2007 to April 2008. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings decreased by 1.0 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $599.65 in April 2008, compared with $588.50 a year earlier.