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Two programs develop Productivity and Costs data for elements of the U.S. economy. The Major Sector Productivity and Costs program produces quarterly and annual output per hour and unit labor costs for the U.S. business, nonfarm business, and manufacturing sectors. These are the productivity statistics most often cited by the national media.

The Industry Productivity and Costs program produces annual measures of output per hour and unit labor costs for 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries in the U.S., featuring complete coverage in manufacturing, retail trade, and in wholesale trade. There is also nearly complete coverage in mining and accommodations and food services, as well as additional coverage in other sectors.

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 Latest Numbers

Nonfarm Business Sector:

Output per Hour
History  
+1.9% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Hourly Compensation
History  
+3.6% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Unit Labor Costs
History  
+1.6% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Output
History  
+4.1% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Hours of All Persons
History  
+2.1% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Manufacturing Sector:

Output per Hour
History  
+4.3% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Hourly Compensation
History  
+4.4% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Unit Labor Costs
History  
+0.1% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Output
History  
+4.0% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

Hours of All Persons
History  
-0.3% in 3rd Qtr of 2004

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» Click on the History icon for 10-years of historical data.


 People Are Asking...

1. How is productivity defined?

2. Why is productivity measurement important?

3. How is productivity measured by BLS?

4. What is the most commonly used productivity measure?

5. Are industry productivity measures available for separate regions, states, and cities in the United States?

6. What are "unit labor costs"?

7. Does outsourcing and offshoring of intermediate production inflate the productivity measures?

8. Why can't I find a productivity measure for the total economy?

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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Office of Productivity and Technology
Suite 2150
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212-0001

URL: http://www.bls.gov/LPC
Phone: (202) 691-5600
Fax: (202) 691-5664
Quarterly productivity data questions: dprweb@bls.gov
Industry productivity data questions: dipsweb@bls.gov
Technical (web) questions: webmaster@bls.gov
Other comments: feedback@bls.gov