Luxembourg, 19/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - According to the figures published by Eurostat on 18 March, the total hourly cost of labour in the euro zone increased by 2.5% in nominal terms during the fourth quarter of 2003, compared to the previous quarter. The increase for the third quarter of 2003 was 2.8%. In the Union of Fifteen (EU15), the rise was 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared to 3.1% in the previous quarter. Germany and Italy (2.3% each) recorded the lowest annual increase, and Sweden (4.5%) the greatest. In industry, hourly labour costs increased by 2.7% in the euro zone and by 3.1% in the EU15. The Netherlands (2.1%) saw the smallest annual increase, and Luxembourg (4.9%- the largest. An analysis of labour costs at Member State level shows the effect of the various component parts, salaries and other costs, on the quarterly evolution of total labour costs. During the fourth quarter of 2003, the lowest increase in salaries- which covers most of the total costs of labour- was observed in Germany (2.1%). Luxembourg (3.8%) registered the highest.