Ratio of index of U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs to index of 12 competitors' costs, 1979-99 (percent) Years Ratio 1979 100.0 1980 101.5 1981 106.2 1982 117.1 1983 115.9 1984 121.3 1985 126.1 1986 105.5 1987 87.6 1988 80.1 1989 83.8 1990 80.8 1991 79.1 1992 77.4 1993 78.6 1994 76.7 1995 70.0 1996 72.7 1997 78.5 1998 83.5 1999 80.1