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Posted August 15, 2018

Second-quarter productivity increased 2.9 percent

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 2.9 percent during the second quarter of 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 4.8 percent and hours worked increased 1.9 percent.


Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 0.9 percent in the second quarter of 2018, as output increased 1.9 percent and hours worked increased 1.0 percent.

Productivity increased 0.9 percent in the durable manufacturing sector, as output rose 2.4 percent and hours worked increased 1.4 percent. In the non-durable goods manufacturing sector, a 1.1-percent increase in productivity reflected a 1.5-percent increase in output and a 0.4-percent increase in hours worked.

Over the last four quarters, total manufacturing sector productivity decreased 0.2 percent, as output increased 1.8 percent and hours worked increased 2.1 percent. Unit labor costs in manufacturing rose 0.6 percent in the second quarter of 2018 and increased 2.7 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

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