Percent changes in Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries and for benefit costs, civilian workers, December to December, 1990-98 Wages and Benefit salaries costs 1990 4.3 6.7 1991 3.6 5.6 1992 2.7 5.3 1993 3.1 4.6 1994 2.8 3.4 1995 2.9 2.3 1996 3.3 2.0 1997 3.8 2.1 1998 3.7 2.6