Study: Central Oklahoma wage growth doesn't improve buying power

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A federal study says wages paid to workers in central Oklahoma increased last year, but didn't keep up with the rising cost of living. <br/><br/>The study by the U-S Bureau of

Friday, August 13th 2004, 2:12 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A federal study says wages paid to workers in central Oklahoma increased last year, but didn't keep up with the rising cost of living.

The study by the U-S Bureau of Labor Statistics included 209-thousand workers in Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.

It found an average salary of 15-dollars-67 cents per hour, an increase of 23 cents from last year, or one-point-48 percent.

But the Consumer Price Index rose by three-point-three percent during the year.

The survey doesn't include agricultural work, private households, the self-employed and the federal government.