14/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - Figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday 14 September reveal that hourly labour costs in the euro area rose by 1.6% in the year up to the second quarter of 2010, compared with 1.9% for the previous quarter. This is the lowest increase registered since the start of the series in 2000. In the EU27, the annual rise was 1.6% up to the second quarter of 2010, compared with 2.1% for the previous quarter. (O.L./transl.rt)