Ao minuto: Irão rejeita acordo de cessar-fogo e quer fim definitivo da guerra

[Keyser Soze]

Economic Data (US, Oct): Chicago PMI 53.5 vs. 58.0 (62.1 in Sept). Consumer Confidence 105.4 vs. 108.0 (104.5 in Sept).

[Infoo]

entretanto pelas 3 da tarde temos, os possivelmente mais influentes no intra, Chicago PMI and Consumer Confidence reports


U.S. Q3 employment cost index biggest gain in 2 years
U.S. Q3 private-sector employment costs up 0.9%
U.S. employment costs up 3.3% in past year
U.S. Q3 wages rise 0.9%, benefits up 1.1%
U.S. Q3 employment cost index up 1% vs. 0.9% expected

ECONOMIC REPORT: Employment costs up 1% in third quarter; Compensation rising faster than inflation for first time in two years
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:52 AM ET Oct 31, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The cost of keeping an employee on the payroll rose 1% in the third quarter, the biggest increase since 2004 and a signal that the tight labor market could be fueling inflation, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

In the past year, employment costs are up 3.3%, the fastest year-over-gain in five quarters.

It's the first time compensation costs have risen faster than inflation in two years. Inflation measured 2.1% in the 12 months ending in September.

A year ago, inflation-adjusted wages were down 2.3%, but were up 1.1% in the third quarter of this year.

The Federal Reserve has warned that high levels of resource utilization could feed inflation. With the unemployment rate falling to 4.6%, tight labor markets could force bosses to raise their prices to pay for the higher wages needed to keep qualified workers.

On Thursday, the government will report on third-quarter productivity and unit labor costs data. Economists expect productivity to falter again in the third quarter as economic output slowed even as workers put in more hours. The slowdown in productivity is seen as a harbinger of future layoffs and reduced hiring.

Economists were expecting employment costs to rise 0.9% for the second straight quarter, according to a survey conducted by MarketWatch.

The costs of wages and salaries increased 0.9% in the third quarter, identical to the second-quarter gain.

The cost of providing benefits, such as retirement, health insurance and vacations, rose 1.1% in the quarter, the biggest increase in a year following a 0.8% increase in the second quarter.

Over the past year, wages are up 3.2% while benefit costs are up 3.3%.

Costs were better contained in the private sector than in government, and non-union employees received larger gains than unionized employees.

In the private sector, employment costs rose 0.9% in the quarter and are up 3% in the past year. Wages rose 0.8% in the quarter and 3% in the past year. Benefit costs rose 1% in the quarter and 2.8% in the past year.

In the state and local government sector, employment costs rose 1.4% in the quarter and 4.1% in the past year. Wages rose 1.4% in the quarter and 3.7% in the past year. Benefit costs rose 1.5% in the quarter and 5.2% in the past year.