US paychecks show little sign of accelerating in 4th quarter
Source: AP
By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. paychecks increased moderately in the final three months of last year, yet the gain was little changed from the sluggish post-recession trend.
The employment cost index, which tracks wages and benefits, rose 0.6 percent in the October-December quarter, the Labor Department said. That's the same as the previous three months.
In the past year, salaries and benefits have risen just 2 percent, the same annual pace as the previous two quarters. That is below the roughly 3.5 percent rate that is consistent with a healthy economy.
Americans are seeing some improvement in inflation-adjusted wages. The Fed's preferred inflation gauge rose just 0.3 percent in 2015, held down by sharp drops in gas and other energy prices. That's lower than the 1.4 percent gain recorded in 2014 and means that U.S. paychecks were able to stretch a bit further last year.
FULL story at link.
In this Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, photo, an employee works on a school bus on the assembly line at Blue Bird Corporation's manufacturing facility, in Fort Valley, Ga. On Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, the Labor Department releases the employment cost index for the fourth quarter, a measure of wage and benefit growth. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/93d5e7fb8a9f4823ab43e9bd27cad5a5/us-paychecks-show-little-sign-accelerating-4th-quarter
= new reply since forum marked as read
Oh, WAIT...
Didn't you see the numbers the government put out? Oil is down, so inflation is low, we in the working class should be grateful to get our average 2% raise. The omniscience and benevolence of our federal reserve bankers is awe inspiring... they truly help make us the greatest country in the world. USA USA USA 
>.... !!!! .... 
