Real average weekly earnings were about unchanged from February to March after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. A 0.3 percent decrease in average weekly hours was offset by a 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings and a 0.1 percent decrease 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 1.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, from March 2008 to March 2009. After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings increased by 2.6 percent. Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, average weekly earnings were $616.19 in March 2009, compared with $607.39 a year earlier.