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. |
An Overview of Xi's Diplomacy in Spring 2023How Will Xi's Visit to Xiong'an Reshape the Future of the Futuristic City?Tourists enjoy cherry blossoms in Changning, HunanView of paddy fields in Guiyang, SW China's GuizhouMount Huangshan in E China, World Cultural and Natural HeritageTourists enjoy cherry blossoms in Changning, HunanChina Rolls out Red Carpet for Central Asian Leaders Ahead of Milestone SummitXi Replies to Letter from Students, Calling for Greater Contributions to Rural RevitalizationXi Visits City of Cangzhou in North China's Hebei ProvinceXi Story: Agricultural Science, Technology Carry the Weight of Food Security