Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.5 percent in February from January, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A 0.5 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers contributed to the decline in real earnings while average hourly earnings remained unchanged, according to the BLS.

Year-over-year, real average hourly earnings fell by 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, in February. A 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours combined with the decrease in real average hourly earnings resulted in a 0.2 percent increase in real average weekly earnings during this period.