12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the second quarter of 2007, the total hourly labour costs in the euro area rose at an annual rate of 2.5%, compared with 2.3% for the previous quarter. In the EU27, the annual rise was 3.2% up to the second quarter of 2007, compared with 3.6% for the previous quarter. In the euro area, wages and salaries grew at an annual rate of 2.5%, and non-wage costs by 1.8%, compared with 2.3% and 1.9% respectively for the first quarter of 2007. In the EU27, wages and salaries rose by 3.3% and the non-wage component by 2.5%, compared with 3.8% and 2.7% in the first quarter of the year. A breakdown by economic activity shows that in the euro area hourly labour costs rose at an annual rate of 2.7% in industry, 3.2% in construction and 2.2% in services up to the second quarter of 2007. In the EU27, labour costs grew by 3.2% in industry and by 3.3% in both construction and services. (ab)