Worker costs on the rise Washington (AP) The government says wages and benefits paid to American workers in the third quarter rose at the fastest pace in more than two years.

The Labor Department's Employment Cost Index edged up one percent. That's compared to a nine-tenths of one percent rise in the April through June period.

The increase was led by a jump in the cost of employee benefits like health insurance and pensions.

Compared to a year earlier, employment costs were up three-point-three percent.

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