Labor costs rise as expected in Q2

The employment cost index rose 0.6% in the second quarter, in-line with expectations. 
Expectations were for the report to show employment costs — which are a more comprehensive measure of compensation than the average hourly earnings number reported in the monthly jobs report — rose 0.6% in the second quarter. 
Over the prior year the ECI was up 2.3%, better than the 2.2% increase seen in the first quarter of the year. 
In the second quarter wages and salaries &m