Workers' paychecks grew faster in the first quarter, a possible concern for the Fed
Time:2024-05-22 05:08:05 Source:businessViews(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:Rishi Sunak to apologise for worst treatment disaster in NHS history
Next:Colton Herta shows speed as Honda fights back in penultimate Indy 500 practice session
You may also like
- Lafrenière continuing his breakthrough season as a solid contributor for Rangers in NHL playoffs
- Chinese Leaders Extend Spring Festival Greetings to Veteran Comrades
- Xi Focus: Xi Charts Course for Chinese Economy at New Starting Point for Modernization
- China specifies steps to improve payment services in tourist attractions
- Tom Brady and Jay
- Xi Focus: Xi Stresses Efforts to Modernize Judicial, Procuratorial, Public Security Work
- Chinese President Appoints New Ambassadors
- Xi Jinping Delivers Speech at Central Rural Work Conference
- Ohio judge to rule Monday on whether the state’s abortion ban stands