US employment cost index rises 0.8% in Q3, in line with forecasts

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US Employment Cost Index rose 0.8% in the third quarter of 2026, in line with market expectations, the US Labor Department reported on Friday.

The increase in the index, which measures compensation costs for workers, followed a 0.9% rise in the second quarter.

Wages and salaries climbed 0.7% on a quarterly basis in the July-September period, while the cost of benefits increased 0.9%.

Employment costs for private industry workers also advanced 0.8% quarter-on-quarter during the three-month period.

On an annual basis, total compensation costs increased 3.4% for the 12-month period ending in September.

Gökhan Ergöçün