Brussels, 19/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the fourth quarter of 2006, total labour costs in the eurozone rose by 2.4% on the fourth quarter of 2005, following a 2.5% rise in the third quarter of 2006. In the EU25, total labour costs rose by 2.4% on the fourth quarter of 2005, following a 3.0% rise in the third quarter of 2006. Salary and pay rose by 2.5% and non-salary labour costs by 2.2% in the eurozone and by 2.8% and 2.3% respectively in the EU25. Labour costs rose in the eurozone by 2.2% in industry, 2.6% in construction and 2.5% in services. In the EU25, they rose by 2.5% in industry and 2.8% in both construction and services. The lowest annual labour cost rises were recorded in Germany (1.2%), Malta (1.7%) and Sweden (2.0%). The highest rises were recorded in Latvia (26.9%), Lithuania (19.7%), Estonia (17.6%) and Hungary (10.8%). (ab)