Total labour costs increased by 9.6% in the economic activity of Wholesale and retail trade; repair (G) in the 4th quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter. During the same period the index for total labour costs increased by 9.3% in the economic activity of Transport, storage and communication (I), by 7.8% in Construction (F) and 6.2% in Manufacturing (D).

Total labour costs, excluding bonuses, increased by 6.2% in the economic activity of Wholesale and retail trade; repair (G) and 6.0% in Construction (F) compared with the previous quarter. Total labour costs, excluding bonuses, increased by 3.4% in the economic activity of Transport, storage and communication (I) and 2.2% in Manufacturing (D). The index of total labour costs excluding bonuses does not include payments which are not paid in each pay period.

Annual increases in total labour costs range from 5.1% in Construction (F) to 7.8% in Wholesale and retail trade; repair (G).

The labour costs index measures, on a quarterly basis, the development of labour costs per hour worked. The index is not adjusted to changes in working hours or labour structure.

Change from previous year , %
4th quarter 2007 Total labour Labour costs
 costs  other than
Total excluding Wages and  wages and
  labour costs  bonuses salaries  salaries
Manufacturing (D) 6.2 6.9 5.8 8.1
Construction (F) 5.1 5.7 4.3 9.0
Wholesale and retail trade (G) 7.8 9.1 7.3 10.0
Transp., storage and communication (I) 5.4 7.2 4.9 8.0

Statistics