Workers' paychecks grew faster in the first quarter, a possible concern for the Fed
Time:2024-05-22 01:23:06 Source:politicsViews(143)
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.
Previous:Colton Herta shows speed as Honda fights back in penultimate Indy 500 practice session
Next:Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
You may also like
- Baby Reindeer's real
- Move over Mykonos! Paros is far more laid
- Blackpool rocks! Inside the coastal town brimming with old
- What you need to know about investing in a VCT and the 30% tax break
- LeBron James UNFOLLOWS Diddy on Instagram after video of assault on ex
- NASA is looking for new astronauts
- Inside Thailand's last untouched island: Empty beaches, authentic villages, mangrove forests
- I'm a travel expert
- Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership