WASHINGTON (AP) — Pay and benefits for America’s workers grew more quickly in the first three months of this year, a trend that could contribute to higher inflation and raise concerns about the future path of price increases at the Federal Reserve.
Compensation as measured by the government’s Employment Cost Index rose 1.2% in the January-March quarter, up from a 0.9% increase in the previous quarter, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Compared with the same quarter a year earlier, compensation growth was 4.2%, the same as the previous quarter.
The increase in wages and benefits is good for employees, to be sure, but could add to concerns at the Fed that inflation may remain too high in the coming months. The Fed is expected to keep its key short-term rate unchanged after its latest policy meeting concludes Wednesday.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other officials have recently backed away from signaling that the Fed will necessarily cut rates this year, after several months of higher-than-expected inflation readings. Big price increases for rents, car insurance and health care have kept inflation stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% inflation target.
Tigers starter Olson leaves game against Royals after being struck by line drive
FM spokesperson refutes western accusation of overcapacity
Outfielder Tommy Pham returns to major leagues with the MLB
Tagovailoa misses Dolphins' OTA day to attend Saban's charity golf tournament
Man killed while fleeing Indiana police had previously resisted law enforcement
Sheriff's deputies fatally shoot driver while serving a high
Shirley MacLaine celebrates her landmark 90th birthday with low
Microsoft's AI chatbot will remember everything you do on a PC
Woman pleads guilty to being accessory in fatal freeway shooting of 6