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                                           TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL
                                           IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
                                           UNTIL 8:30 AM EDT, WEDNESDAY,
                                           MAY 14, 2008
  
                          REAL EARNINGS IN APRIL 2008
 
     Real average weekly earnings fell by 0.5 percent from March to April after 
seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  A 0.1 percent increase in 
average hourly earnings was offset by a 0.3 percent decrease in average weekly 
hours and a 0.2 percent increase 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 3.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, from 
April 2007 to April 2008.  After deflation by the CPI-W, average weekly earnings 
decreased by 1.0 percent.  Before adjustment for seasonal change and inflation, 
average weekly earnings were $599.65 in April 2008, compared with $588.50 a year 
earlier.
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     Real Earnings for May 2008 will be released on Friday, June 13, 2008.