Upward revision in second-quarter productivity growth

September 06, 2002

Productivity in the nonfarm business sector, as measured by output per hour, increased at a revised seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2002. A preliminary estimate of 1.1 percent had been reported in August, based on information available at that time.

[Chart data—TXT]

The rise in output in the second quarter was revised upward from 0.5 percent to 0.8 percent. The movement in hours was the same as originally reported, a decrease of 0.7 percent. Hours worked in the nonfarm business sector have declined in eight of the last nine quarters.

These data are a product of the BLS Productivity and Costs program. Data are subject to revision. Additional information is available in "Productivity and Costs, Second Quarter 2002 (revised)" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 02-508.