1.   It must negotiate a new steelworker contract this year and its benefit costs are expected to rise.

2.   Also, savings in health care costs have kept employee benefits costs in check.

3.   Annual benefits costs rose last year at one of the slowest paces on record, offsetting the largest annual increase in wage costs in five years.

4.   Annual benefit costs rose at one of the slowest paces on record, offsetting the largest annual increase in wage costs in five years.

5.   Another important factor has been the slowdown in health care inflation, which has kept employer benefit costs in check.

6.   Another way for companies to keep their benefit costs down is to provide pay-per-use services.

7.   As benefit costs rise, workers may ask for higher wages too.

8.   Benefit costs barely budged.

9.   Benefit costs also grew at a slower pace in the third quarter.

10.   Benefit costs also grew at a slower pace than in the previous quarter.