The significant historical developments of the cost of living wage adjustments are summarized. Since the concept of cost of living took effect in 1919, developments that are noted are: World War II, the GM contract 1948, the GM Contract 1950, and the impact of the agreements. (DS)

The new Area Wage Survey program index method introduced in January 1973 provides a more accurate reflection of establishment wage rate changes than the old method, through elimination of the influence of employment shifts. (EA)

Earnings inequality in the United States rose in the late 1960s, stabilized for the most part in the 1970s, and began to grow again in the 1980s. The recent increase arises from changes in labor demand and not from demographic characteristics of U.S. workers. (Author)

Although wages and salaries have risen faster for nonunion workers than for union workers in recent years, three Bureau of Labor Statistics series suggest that the union edge persists. Estimates of its magnitude depend on the data analyzed. (Author)

In international comparisons it was found that manufacturing productivity growth slowed after 1973 and unit labor costs accelerated in most industrial countries including the United States. Aggregate hours rose only in the U.S. (CT)

Earnings inequality trends are sensitive to the earnings concept and sample of workers surveyed. Inequality increased for some groups of workers, but the combined effects of changes in demand, supply, and institutions did not generate higher wage inequality in the labor market as a whole. (JOW)

Bureau of Labor Statistics information on 1,973 contracts covering all industries but farming reflect wage increases scheduled to become effective in 1974, an anticipated year of heavy collective bargaining, and information on contract expirations and reopenings. Deferred wage increases (1974) are indicated as to major industry and size of…

Innovations in data processing permit more intensive analysis of major collective bargaining settlements. (Author)

Manufacturing productivity, as measured by output per hour, rose in 1984 in the United States and 11 other industrial countries studied. (Statistics are presented in the following areas: productivity trends, employment and hours, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and relative productivity and labor cost trends.) (CT)

Involuntary part-time workers (those who would prefer full-time jobs) account for most of the growth in part-time work since 1970. This increase appears to stem from employer demand for a low-wage, low-skill, flexible work force. (SK)

Earnings inequality increased sharply in the early 1980s, tapered off in the later 1980s, and reaccelerated in the 1990s. Although inequality increased overall and for men and women separately, a combined analysis overlooks differences in the labor market dynamics of men and women. (Author)

The overall wage movement in 1974, consisting of accelerated wage gains overshadowed by large price increases, is discussed, data on various series in the Bureau of Labor Statistics presented, and the wage picture for 1975 touched upon. (MW)

The tailoring of grants-in-aid to wage levels in the localities which receive them enjoys growing popularity among federal policymakers; two ongoing programs illustrate the flexibility of this technique. The article describes the procedures currently used to index the CETA and Medicare programs and their data source, the ES-202 system. (CT)

Analysis of new data from the Current Population Survey suggests a larger differential between union and nonunion earnings than previously indicated. (Author)