Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 1.8 percent
annual rate during the second quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today as hours increased 3.5 percent and output
increased 1.6 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are
seasonally adjusted annual rates.) The second-quarter gain in hours worked
was the largest since the first quarter of 2006. From the second quarter
of 2009 to the second quarter of 2010, productivity and output both grew
3.7 percent and hours were unchanged (tables A and 2). Nonfarm business
productivity increased at an average annual rate of 2.5 percent from 2000
through 2009.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses rose 1.1 percent in the second
quarter of 2010, as the 1.8 percent decline in productivity was partially
offset by a 0.7 percent decline in hourly compensation. Unit labor costs
decreased 2.8 percent over the last four quarters, as output per hour
increased faster than hourly compensation.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 0.9 percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, with output and hours rising 2.6 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) The decline in output per hour follows five quarters of strong productivity growth. The second-quarter gain in hours worked was the largest since the first quarter of 2006 when hours rose 4.1 percent. From the second quarter of 2009 to the second quarter of 2010, both productivity and output increased 3.9 percent; hours were unchanged.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses edged up 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2010, the result of productivity declining more than hourly compensation. Over the last four quarters, unit labor costs fell 2.8 percent as output per hour increased faster than hourly compensation.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 2.8 percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, with output rising 4.0 percent and hours rising 1.1 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, output increased 3.0 percent while hours fell 3.0 percent, yielding an increase in productivity of 6.1 percent. This gain in productivity from the same quarter a year ago was the largest since output per hour increased 6.1 percent over the four-quarter period ending in the first quarter of 2002.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 1.3 percent in the first quarter of 2010, as the 2.8 percent increase in productivity outpaced a 1.5 percent gain in hourly compensation. Unit labor costs fell 4.2 percent over the last four quarters, as the 6.1 percent increase in output per hour over that period outpaced a 1.6 percent rise in hourly compensation.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 3.6 percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, with output rising 4.4 percent and hours worked rising 0.8 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, output increased 3.1 percent while hours fell 3.0 percent, yielding an increase in productivity of 6.3 percent (tables A and 2). This gain in productivity from the same quarter a year ago was the largest since output per hour increased 7.0 percent over the four-quarter period ending in the first quarter of 1962.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2010, as the 3.6 percent increase in productivity outpaced a 1.9 percent gain in hourly compensation. Unit labor costs fell 3.7 percent over the last four quarters, as the 6.3 percent increase in productivity outpaced a 2.3 percent rise in hourly compensation.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 6.9 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The gain in productivity reflects a 7.6 percent increase in output partially offset by a 0.6 percent increase in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the fourth quarter of 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2009, productivity increased 5.8 percent as output declined 0.2 percent and hours fell 5.7 percent. The annual measure of productivity increased 3.8 percent from 2008 to 2009.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, the result of productivity increasing faster than hourly compensation. Unit labor costs decreased 4.7 percent from the same quarter a year ago, the largest four-quarter decline since the series began in 1948. The annual average index of unit labor costs declined 1.7 percent from 2008 to 2009, the largest decline in that series.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 6.2 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This gain in productivity reflects increases of 7.2 percent in output and 1.0 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) This was the first quarterly increase in hours worked since the second quarter of 2007 (0.9 percent). Productivity increased 5.1 percent over the last four quarters--more than during any similar period since output per hour rose 6.1 percent from the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2002.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, a result of the increase in productivity (6.2 percent) outpacing the increase in hourly compensation (1.5 percent). BLS defines unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity; increases in hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor costs and increases in output per hour tend to reduce them. Over the last four quarters, unit labor costs declined 2.8 percent, as hourly compensation and productivity increased 2.2 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively (table A). This decline in unit labor costs was the largest since unit labor costs fell 3.2 percent over the four quarters ending with the first quarter of 2002.

Manufacturing sector productivity grew 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, as output rose 6.1 percent and hours worked declined 1.6 percent. Productivity grew 6.2 percent in durable goods industries and 9.8 percent in nondurable goods industries in the fourth quarter. Over the last four quarters, manufacturing productivity increased 6.5 percent as output decreased 4.4 percent and hours fell 10.2 percent. Unit labor costs in manufacturing declined 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 and decreased 3.2 percent from the same quarter a year earlier.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at an 8.1 percent annual rate during the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was the largest gain in productivity since the third quarter of 2003, and reflects a 2.9 percent increase in output and a 4.8 percent decline in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 2.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009, as productivity grew at a faster rate (8.1 percent) than hourly compensation (5.4 percent). Unit labor costs declined 1.4 percent over the last four quarters. BLS defines unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity; increases in hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor costs and increases in output per hour tend to reduce them.

Manufacturing sector productivity grew 13.4 percent in the third quarter of 2009, as output rose 8.4 percent and hours worked fell 4.4 percent. The third quarter gain in manufacturing productivity was the largest in the series, which begins in the second quarter of 1987. Over the last four quarters, manufacturing productivity grew 3.0 percent. Manufacturing unit labor costs fell 6.1 percent in the third quarter of 2009, but rose 3.0 percent over the last four quarters.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 9.5 percent annual rate during the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was the largest gain in productivity since the third quarter of 2003, when it rose 9.7 percent. Output increased 4.0 percent and hours worked decreased 5.0 percent in the third quarter of 2009 (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates).

From the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009, nonfarm business output fell 3.5 percent and hours worked fell faster, 7.5 percent, resulting in a productivity increase of 4.3 percent. The four-quarter decline in hours was the largest in the series, which begins in 1948. Nonfarm business productivity rose 1.8 percent in 2008, and 2.6 percent per year on average during the 2001-2007 period corresponding to the last complete business cycle.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009; the increase in productivity outpaced the increase in hourly compensation. Unit labor costs declined 3.6 percent over the last four quarters--the largest decrease since the series began in 1948. BLS defines unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity; increases in hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor costs and increases in output per hour tend to reduce them.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 6.6 percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was the largest productivity increase since the third quarter of 2003, and reflects declines of 1.5 percent in output and 7.6 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)

From the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2009, output fell 5.5 percent while hours fell 7.2 percent, yielding an increase in productivity of 1.9 percent. Nonfarm business productivity increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent from 2000 through 2008.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses fell 5.9 percent in the second quarter of 2009, with the decline due entirely to the increase in productivity; hourly compensation increased slightly. Unit labor costs declined 1.2 percent over the last four quarters, as a 1.9 percent increase in output per hour was partially offset by a 0.7 percent increase in hourly compensation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the second quarter of 2009. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the second quarter were: 6.3 percent in the business sector and 6.4 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

Productivity gains in both sectors were the largest since the third quarter of 2003, and were due to hours worked declining faster than output. In manufacturing, the preliminary productivity changes in the second quarter were: 5.3 percent in manufacturing, 3.9 percent in durable goods manufacturing, and 2.0 percent in nondurable goods manufacturing.

The increases in productivity in all manufacturing sectors were the result of hours falling faster than output. Output and hours in manufacturing, which includes about 11 percent of U.S. business-sector employment, tend to vary more from quarter to quarter than data for the aggregate business and nonfarm business sectors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported revised productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the first quarter of 2009. The revised seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the first quarter were: 1.8 percent in the business sector and 1.6 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

In both sectors, the first-quarter productivity gains were greater than the preliminary estimates reported on May 7, due solely to revisions to output growth. In manufacturing, the revised productivity changes in the first quarter were: -2.7 percent in manufacturing, -10.4 percent in durable goods manufacturing, and 1.9 percent in nondurable goods manufacturing.

Manufacturing productivity in the first quarter of 2009 fell at a slower rate than was reported on May 7. Output and hours in manufacturing, which includes about 11 percent of U.S. business-sector employment, tend to vary more from quarter to quarter than data for the aggregate business and nonfarm business sectors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the first quarter of 2009. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity growth in the first quarter were: 1.1 percent in the business sector and 0.8 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

Productivity gains in both sectors were due to hours declining faster than output. First quarter measures are summarized in table A and appear in detail in tables 1 through 5. In manufacturing, productivity changes in the first quarter were: -3.4 percent in manufacturing, -10.0 percent in durable goods manufacturing, and -0.1 percent in nondurable goods manufacturing.

Manufacturing sector productivity fell for the fourth consecutive quarter. First quarter declines in output and hours in total manufacturing were the largest in these series, which begin with data for the second quarter of 1987; output dropped 22.4 percent and hours fell 19.7 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rates). Output and hours in manufacturing, which includes about 11 percent of U.S. business sector employment, tend to vary more from quarter to quarter than data for the aggregate business and nonfarm business sectors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported revised fourth-quarter seasonally-adjusted annual rates of productivity change--as measured by output per hour of all persons--and revised changes for calendar year 2008.

The revised seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the fourth quarter were -0.4 percent in the business sector and -0.4 percent in the nonfarm business sector and the annual average changes were 2.7 percent in the business sector and 2.8 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

Productivity growth for the fourth quarter of 2008 was revised down by 3.5 percentage points in the business sector and 3.6 percentage points in the nonfarm business sector from the estimates published February 5. In both sectors output was revised down by 3.2 percentage points and hours were revised up by 0.1 percentage point. Productivity growth during calendar year 2008 was not revised in either sector.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the fourth quarter were 3.1 percent in the business sector and 1.3 percent in the nonfarm business sector and the annual average changes were 2.7 percent in the business sector and 2.8 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, productivity increased 3.1 percent in the business sector, with output and hours decreasing 5.2 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively. Output per hour for the nonfarm business sector rose 3.2 percent as output declined 5.5 percent and hours fell 8.4 percent. For the full year 2008 productivity rose 2.7 percent in the business sector and 2.8 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported revised productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the third quarter of 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity growth in the third quarter were: 1.5 percent in the business sector and 1.3 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the third quarter of 2008. The preliminary seasonally-adjusted annual rates of productivity growth in the third quarter were: 1.3 percent in the business sector and 1.1 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the second quarter of 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the second quarter were:
2.3 percent in the business sector and 2.2 percent in the nonfarm business sector.

Productivity gains in both sectors reflected output increases and small declines in hours worked.