Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until USDL 15-2291
8:30 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Technical information: (202) 691-5606 dprweb@bls.gov www.bls.gov/lpc
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 PressOffice@bls.gov
PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS
Third Quarter 2015, Revised
Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 2.2-percent annual
rate during the third quarter of 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today, as output increased 1.8 percent and hours worked decreased
0.3 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally
adjusted annual rates.) The decline in hours worked was the first decline in
this series since a 4.8-percent decline in the third quarter of 2009. From
the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2015, productivity
increased 0.6 percent, reflecting increases in output and hours worked of 2.5
percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. (See table A.)
Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of
real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including employees,
proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Measures released today are based on
more recent source data than were available for the preliminary report.
Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 1.8 percent in the
third quarter of 2015, reflecting a 4.0-percent increase in hourly
compensation and a 2.2-percent increase in productivity. Unit labor costs
increased 3.0 percent over the last four quarters. (See tables A and 2.)
BLS calculates 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 labor productivity increased 5.1 percent in the third
quarter of 2015—the largest gain since a 6.1-percent increase in the third
quarter of 2011—as output increased 3.2 percent and hours worked decreased
1.8 percent. Productivity increased 6.9 percent in the durable goods
manufacturing sector and increased 2.3 percent in the nondurable goods
sector. (See tables A, 3, 4, and 5.) Over the last four quarters,
manufacturing productivity increased 1.5 percent, as output increased 2.0
percent and hours increased 0.4 percent. Unit labor costs in manufacturing
increased 2.3 percent in the third quarter of 2015 and increased 2.1 percent
from the same quarter a year ago. (See tables A and 3.) The concepts,
sources, and methods used for the manufacturing output series differ from
those used in the business and nonfarm business output series; these output
measures are not directly comparable. See the Technical Notes for a more
detailed explanation.
Preliminary third-quarter 2015 measures of productivity and costs were
announced for the nonfinancial corporate sector. Productivity increased 2.9
percent in the third quarter of 2015, as output increased 4.3 percent and
hours worked increased 1.4 percent. Unit labor costs increased 1.2 percent.
Revised measures
The measures released today are based on more recent source data than were
available for the preliminary report. Table B presents previous and revised
productivity and related measures for the business, nonfarm business, and
manufacturing sectors, for the second and third quarters of 2015.
In the third quarter of 2015, nonfarm business labor productivity increased
2.2 percent, rather than 1.6 percent as reported on November 5. The revised
figure reflects an upward revision to output that was larger than a small
upward revision to hours. Unit labor costs were revised up, and increased
1.8 percent rather than increasing 1.4 percent, as the upward revision to
productivity was smaller than a 1.0 percentage point upward revision to
hourly compensation growth. In the manufacturing sector, productivity
increased 5.1 percent rather than increasing 4.9 percent as previously
reported, as the upward revision to output was larger than the upward
revision to hours. Unit labor costs increased 2.3 percent, a larger increase
than the preliminary estimate.
In the second quarter of 2015, nonfarm business labor productivity, output,
and hours were unrevised. Unit labor costs increased 2.0 percent, rather
than decreasing 1.8 percent as previously reported, the result of a large
upward revision to hourly compensation. In the manufacturing sector, output
growth and productivity growth were both revised up by 0.1 percentage point.
Hourly compensation was revised up to a 5.5-percent increase from a
preliminary estimate of 0.0 percent. As a result, unit labor costs were
revised up, and increased 3.3 percent instead of decreasing 2.0 percent.
Second-quarter 2015 measures of productivity and costs were revised for the
nonfinancial corporate sector. Productivity increased 1.6 percent rather
than decreasing 0.5 percent as reported on November 5, due to a 2.0
percentage point upward revision to output. (See table C.)
Complete annual and quarterly data series can be found on the Productivity
and Costs home page: www.bls.gov/lpc/#data.
______________
The preliminary Productivity and Costs news release for fourth-quarter 2015
is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
=============================================================================
Calendar year 2016 release dates for Productivity and Costs news releases are
now available at www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/prod2.htm.
=============================================================================
======================================================================================================
Table A. Revised third-quarter 2015 measures: percent change from previous quarter, at annual rate
(Q to Q) and from same quarter a year ago (Y to Y)
Sector Nonfarm Durable Nondurable
Business Business Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing
Q to Q Y to Y Q to Q Y to Y Q to Q Y to Y Q to Q Y to Y Q to Q Y to Y
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor Productivity 2.2 0.6 2.7 0.6 5.1 1.5 6.9 1.9 2.3 0.6
Output 1.8 2.5 2.3 2.6 3.2 2.0 3.7 1.6 2.7 2.4
Hours worked -0.3 1.9 -0.4 2.0 -1.8 0.4 -3.0 -0.3 0.3 1.8
Hourly compensation 4.0 3.6 4.1 3.6 7.5 3.7 7.5 3.5 7.7 4.2
Real hourly
compensation 2.4 3.4 2.4 3.4 5.8 3.5 5.9 3.4 6.0 4.0
Unit labor costs 1.8 3.0 1.3 2.9 2.3 2.1 0.6 1.6 5.3 3.5
======================================================================================================
Table B. Revised and previous measures: third quarter and second quarter 2015
Sector Nonfarm Durable Nondurable
Business Business Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing
Revised Previous Revised Previous Revised Previous Revised Previous Revised Previous
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change, annual rate, third quarter 2015
Labor
Productivity 2.2 1.6 2.7 2.0 5.1 4.9 6.9 7.3 2.3 1.3
Output 1.8 1.2 2.3 1.5 3.2 2.7 3.7 3.5 2.7 1.8
Hours worked -0.3 -0.5 -0.4 -0.5 -1.8 -2.1 -3.0 -3.6 0.3 0.5
Hourly
compensation 4.0 3.0 4.1 3.1 7.5 5.9 7.5 5.8 7.7 6.2
Real hourly
compensation 2.4 1.4 2.4 1.5 5.8 4.2 5.9 4.2 6.0 4.5
Unit labor
costs 1.8 1.4 1.3 1.1 2.3 0.9 0.6 -1.4 5.3 4.8
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change, annual rate, second quarter 2015
Labor
Productivity 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.7 2.2 2.1 2.8 2.6 1.1 1.2
Output 5.1 5.1 5.0 5.0 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.3
Hours worked 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 -0.8 -0.8 -1.4 -1.4 0.1 0.1
Hourly
compensation 5.6 1.7 5.9 2.0 5.5 0.0 5.3 -0.3 5.9 0.7
Real hourly
compensation 2.5 -1.2 2.8 -0.9 2.4 -2.9 2.3 -3.1 2.8 -2.3
Unit labor
costs 2.0 -1.8 2.1 -1.6 3.3 -2.0 2.5 -2.8 4.7 -0.5
======================================================================================================
Table C. Nonfinancial corporations: preliminary third quarter and revised second quarter 2015
Real
Labor Hourly hourly Unit Implicit
produc- Hours compen- compen- labor Unit price
tivity Output worked sation sation costs profits deflator
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change, annual rate, third quarter 2015
Q to Q 2.9 4.3 1.4 4.1 2.5 1.2 0.7 0.5
Y to Y 1.4 3.3 1.9 2.9 2.7 1.5 -5.3 -0.4
Percent change, annual rate, second quarter 2015
Q to Q Revised 1.6 2.0 0.4 5.7 2.6 4.1 5.8 2.4
Q to Q Previous -0.5 0.0 0.4 2.1 -0.8 2.6 8.0 2.4
======================================================================================================
TECHNICAL NOTES
Labor Hours
Hours data for the labor productivity and cost measures include hours worked
for all persons working in the sector—wage and salary workers, the self-
employed and unpaid family workers. The primary source of hours and
employment data is the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) program, which
provides monthly survey data on the number of jobs held by wage and salary
workers in nonfarm establishments, counting a person who is employed by two
or more establishments at each place of employment. The CES also provides
average weekly paid hours of production and nonsupervisory workers in these
establishments. Weekly paid hours are adjusted to hours at work using data
from the National Compensation Survey (NCS) for 2001 forward and data from
the BLS Hours at Work survey, conducted for this purpose, for earlier years.
The Office of Productivity and Technology estimates average weekly hours at
work for nonproduction and supervisory workers using information from the
Current Population Survey (CPS), the CES, and the NCS.
Data from the CPS are used to estimate hours worked for farm labor, nonfarm
proprietors, and nonfarm unpaid family workers. Using CPS information on
employment and hours worked at primary jobs and all other jobs, separately,
the BLS productivity measures assign all hours worked to the correct
industrial sector. Hours for government enterprises are derived from the CPS,
the CES, and the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) prepared by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the Department of Commerce.
Output
Business sector output is a chain-type, current-weighted index constructed
after excluding from gross domestic product (GDP) the following outputs:
general government, nonprofit institutions, and private households (including
owner-occupied housing). Corresponding exclusions also are made in labor
inputs. Business output accounted for about 76 percent of the value of GDP in
2014. Nonfarm business, which excludes farming, accounted for about 75
percent of GDP in 2014.
Annual indexes for manufacturing and its durable and nondurable goods
components are constructed by deflating current-dollar industry value of
production data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census with deflators from the
BLS. These deflators are based on data from the BLS producer price program
and other sources. The industry shipments are aggregated using annual
weights, and intrasector transactions are removed. Quarterly manufacturing
output measures are based on the indexes of industrial production prepared
monthly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, adjusted to
be consistent with annual indexes of manufacturing sector output prepared by
BLS.
Nonfinancial corporate output is a chain-type, current-weighted index
calculated on the basis of the costs incurred and the incomes earned from
production. The output measure excludes the following outputs from GDP:
general government; nonprofit institutions; private households;
unincorporated business; and those corporations classified as offices of bank
holding companies, offices of other holding companies, or offices in the
finance and insurance sector. Nonfinancial corporations accounted for about
49 percent of the value of GDP in 2014.
Labor Productivity
The measure describes the relationship between real output and the labor time
involved in its production. Measures of labor productivity growth show the
changes from period to period in the amount of goods and services produced
per hour worked. They reflect the joint effects of many influences, including
changes in technology; capital investment; level of output; utilization of
capacity, energy, and materials; the organization of production; managerial
skill; and the characteristics and effort of the work force.
Labor Compensation
The measure includes accrued wages and salaries, supplements, employer
contributions to employee benefit plans, and taxes. Estimates of labor
compensation by major sector, required for measures of hourly compensation
and unit labor costs, are based primarily on employee compensation data from
the NIPA, prepared by the BEA. The compensation of employees in general
government, nonprofit institutions and private households are subtracted from
compensation of domestic employees to derive employee compensation for the
business sector. The labor compensation of proprietors cannot be explicitly
identified and must be estimated. This is done by assuming that proprietors
have the same hourly compensation as employees in the same sector. The
quarterly labor productivity and cost measures do not contain estimates of
compensation for unpaid family workers.
Unit Labor Costs
These measures describe the relationship between compensation per hour and
labor productivity, or real output per hour, and can be used as an indicator
of inflationary pressure on producers. Increases in hourly compensation
increase unit labor costs; labor productivity increases offset compensation
increases and lower unit labor costs.
Presentation of the data
The quarterly data in this release are presented in three ways: as percent
changes from the previous quarter presented at a compound annual rate, as
percent changes from the corresponding quarter of the previous year, and as
index number series where 2009=100. Annual data are presented both as index
number series and percent changes from the previous year.
The index numbers and rates of change reported in the productivity and costs
news release are rounded to one decimal place. All percent changes in this
release and on the BLS web site are calculated using index numbers to three
decimal places. A complete historical series of these index numbers are
available at the BLS web site, www.bls.gov/data/home.htm, or by contacting
the BLS Division of Major Sector Productivity (Telephone 202-691-5606 or
email dprweb@bls.gov).
For a more detailed explanation of methodology see "Technical Information
About the Major Sector Productivity and Costs Methods" at
www.bls.gov/lpc/lpcmethods.pdf.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5606; Federal Relay Service
number: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Business sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted
Real
Output Compen- compen- Unit Implicit
Year per hour Hours sation sation Unit nonlabor price
and of all of all per hour per hour labor payments deflator
quarter persons Output persons (1) (2) costs (3) (4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 2.7 r 2.3 r -0.4 r 4.1 r 2.4 r 1.3 r 0.4 r 0.9 r
II 3.7 5.0 1.2 5.9 r 2.8 r 2.1 r 2.4 r 2.2
I -1.3 0.6 1.9 1.3 4.4 2.6 -3.7 -0.1
2014 ANNUAL 0.6 3.0 2.4 2.6 1.0 2.0 0.6 1.4
2014 IV -2.4 2.6 5.2 3.0 3.9 5.6 -8.2 -0.6
III 2.5 5.5 2.9 2.5 1.3 0.0 2.9 1.2
II 2.9 5.7 2.7 -0.9 -3.2 -3.7 10.6 2.3
I -3.6 -1.7 2.0 5.9 3.7 9.9 -8.5 1.5
2013 ANNUAL 0.4 2.0 1.6 1.2 -0.2 0.8 2.4 1.5
2013 IV 3.4 5.1 1.7 2.1 0.7 -1.2 4.4 1.2
III 1.3 3.9 2.5 0.5 -1.8 -0.9 5.3 1.7
II 0.6 1.6 1.0 6.3 6.5 5.7 -5.6 0.6
I 1.2 2.5 1.3 -8.6 -9.9 -9.7 18.8 1.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 0.6 r 2.6 r 2.0 r 3.6 r 3.4 r 2.9 r -2.4 r 0.6
II 0.6 3.4 2.8 3.2 r 3.1 r 2.5 r -1.8 r 0.7
I 0.4 3.6 3.2 1.5 1.5 1.1 0.2 0.7
2014 ANNUAL 0.6 3.0 2.4 2.6 1.0 2.0 0.6 1.4
2014 IV -0.2 3.0 3.2 2.6 1.4 2.8 -1.1 1.1
III 1.3 3.6 2.3 2.4 0.6 1.1 2.1 1.5
II 1.0 3.2 2.2 1.9 -0.2 0.9 2.7 1.7
I 0.4 2.2 1.8 3.7 2.2 3.3 -1.3 1.3
2013 ANNUAL 0.4 2.0 1.6 1.2 -0.2 0.8 2.4 1.5
2013 IV 1.6 3.3 1.6 -0.1 -1.3 -1.7 5.4 1.3
III 0.3 2.0 1.7 2.0 0.5 1.7 0.9 1.3
II -0.3 1.2 1.5 2.0 0.6 2.3 0.4 1.5
I 0.1 1.4 1.3 1.1 -0.6 1.0 3.1 1.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 106.5 r 117.8 r 110.6 r 115.1 r 103.8 r 108.1 r 111.2 r 109.4 r
II 105.8 117.2 110.7 114.0 r 103.2 r 107.7 r 111.1 r 109.1
I 104.9 115.8 110.4 112.4 102.5 107.1 110.4 108.5
2014 ANNUAL 105.2 113.9 108.3 111.1 100.7 105.6 112.2 108.4
2014 IV 105.2 115.6 109.9 112.0 101.4 106.5 111.4 108.5
III 105.9 114.8 108.5 111.2 100.4 105.0 113.9 108.7
II 105.2 113.3 107.7 110.5 100.1 105.0 113.1 108.4
I 104.5 111.8 107.0 110.7 100.9 106.0 110.2 107.8
2013 ANNUAL 104.6 110.6 105.7 108.3 99.7 103.6 111.5 106.9
2013 IV 105.4 112.2 106.5 109.2 100.0 103.6 112.7 107.4
III 104.6 110.9 106.0 108.6 99.9 103.9 111.5 107.1
II 104.2 109.8 105.4 108.5 100.3 104.1 110.1 106.6
I 104.1 109.4 105.1 106.8 98.7 102.7 111.7 106.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Table 2. Nonfarm business sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted
Real
Output Compen- compen- Unit Implicit
Year per hour Hours sation sation Unit nonlabor price
and of all of all per hour per hour labor payments deflator
quarter persons Output persons (1) (2) costs (3) (4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 2.2 r 1.8 r -0.3 r 4.0 r 2.4 r 1.8 r -0.1 r 1.0 r
II 3.5 5.1 1.5 5.6 r 2.5 r 2.0 r 2.7 r 2.3
I -1.1 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.6 2.6 -2.2 0.5
2014 ANNUAL 0.7 3.0 2.3 2.7 1.1 2.0 0.9 1.5
2014 IV -2.2 2.6 4.9 3.4 4.2 5.7 -8.1 -0.5
III 3.1 5.5 2.3 3.2 2.0 0.1 4.1 1.8
II 2.8 5.4 2.5 -0.8 -3.1 -3.5 9.5 1.9
I -3.5 -1.2 2.3 5.5 3.4 9.3 -8.4 1.3
2013 ANNUAL 0.0 1.7 1.7 1.1 -0.4 1.1 2.1 1.5
2013 IV 3.5 5.2 1.7 2.3 0.9 -1.2 5.7 1.7
III 1.4 3.5 2.1 0.9 -1.4 -0.5 5.8 2.2
II 0.1 1.1 1.1 6.3 6.5 6.2 -5.0 1.2
I -0.1 1.7 1.8 -9.2 -10.5 -9.1 16.8 1.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 0.6 r 2.5 r 1.9 3.6 r 3.4 r 3.0 r -2.0 r 0.8
II 0.8 3.4 2.6 3.4 r 3.3 r 2.6 r -1.0 r 1.0
I 0.6 3.5 2.8 1.8 1.9 1.2 0.6 0.9
2014 ANNUAL 0.7 3.0 2.3 2.7 1.1 2.0 0.9 1.5
2014 IV 0.0 3.0 3.0 2.8 1.6 2.8 -1.0 1.1
III 1.4 3.7 2.2 2.5 0.7 1.1 2.5 1.7
II 1.0 3.2 2.2 1.9 -0.1 0.9 2.9 1.8
I 0.3 2.1 1.8 3.7 2.3 3.4 -0.7 1.6
2013 ANNUAL 0.0 1.7 1.7 1.1 -0.4 1.1 2.1 1.5
2013 IV 1.2 2.9 1.7 -0.1 -1.3 -1.3 5.5 1.6
III -0.2 1.6 1.9 1.9 0.3 2.1 0.5 1.4
II -0.8 1.0 1.8 1.7 0.3 2.5 -0.1 1.4
I -0.2 1.4 1.6 0.8 -0.9 1.0 2.5 1.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 106.5 r 117.8 r 110.6 r 115.3 r 104.0 r 108.2 r 110.6 r 109.2 r
II 105.9 117.2 110.7 114.1 r 103.3 r 107.8 r 110.7 r 109.0
I 105.0 115.8 110.2 112.6 102.7 107.2 109.9 108.3
2014 ANNUAL 105.2 114.0 108.4 111.1 100.7 105.7 111.1 107.9
2014 IV 105.3 115.6 109.8 112.2 101.6 106.5 110.5 108.2
III 105.9 114.9 108.5 111.3 100.5 105.1 112.9 108.3
II 105.1 113.4 107.9 110.4 100.0 105.0 111.8 107.8
I 104.4 111.9 107.2 110.6 100.8 106.0 109.3 107.4
2013 ANNUAL 104.4 110.6 105.9 108.2 99.6 103.6 110.1 106.3
2013 IV 105.3 112.2 106.6 109.1 100.0 103.7 111.7 107.0
III 104.4 110.8 106.2 108.5 99.8 104.0 110.2 106.5
II 104.0 109.9 105.6 108.3 100.1 104.1 108.6 106.0
I 104.0 109.6 105.3 106.6 98.6 102.5 110.0 105.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Table 3. Manufacturing sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs,
seasonally adjusted
Real
Output Compen- compen-
Year per hour Hours sation sation Unit
and of all of all per hour per hour labor
quarter persons Output persons (1) (2) costs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 5.1 r 3.2 r -1.8 r 7.5 r 5.8 r 2.3 r
II 2.2 r 1.3 r -0.8 5.5 r 2.4 r 3.3 r
I -0.6 -0.5 0.1 -2.2 0.8 -1.6
2014 ANNUAL 1.3 2.9 1.6 2.7 1.0 1.4
2014 IV -0.4 4.0 4.4 4.3 5.1 4.7
III 2.9 4.4 1.4 2.7 1.5 -0.2
II 2.8 6.3 3.4 -1.8 -4.2 -4.4
I 2.0 1.0 -1.0 8.7 6.5 6.5
2013 ANNUAL 0.7 1.5 0.8 0.2 -1.2 -0.5
2013 IV -0.5 3.4 3.9 -0.3 -1.6 0.2
III -0.9 0.6 1.5 1.0 -1.3 1.9
II 2.5 0.1 -2.3 4.1 4.3 1.6
I 1.1 3.5 2.3 -5.4 -6.7 -6.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 1.5 2.0 r 0.4 3.7 r 3.5 r 2.1 r
II 1.0 2.3 1.2 2.5 r 2.5 r 1.5 r
I 1.2 3.5 2.3 0.7 0.8 -0.4
2014 ANNUAL 1.3 2.9 1.6 2.7 1.0 1.4
2014 IV 1.8 3.9 2.0 3.4 2.2 1.5
III 1.8 3.7 1.9 2.2 0.5 0.4
II 0.8 2.8 2.0 1.8 -0.2 1.0
I 0.8 1.3 0.5 3.3 1.9 2.5
2013 ANNUAL 0.7 1.5 0.8 0.2 -1.2 -0.5
2013 IV 0.5 1.9 1.3 -0.2 -1.4 -0.7
III 1.1 1.5 0.4 0.9 -0.6 -0.2
II 1.0 1.2 0.2 0.4 -0.9 -0.6
I 0.1 1.2 1.2 -0.3 -2.0 -0.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 122.6 r 131.7 r 107.5 r 111.8 r 100.8 r 91.2 r
II 121.0 r 130.7 r 108.0 109.8 r 99.4 r 90.7 r
I 120.4 130.2 108.2 108.4 98.8 90.0
2014 ANNUAL 120.0 128.3 106.9 107.9 97.8 89.9
2014 IV 120.6 130.4 108.2 109.0 98.6 90.4
III 120.7 129.1 107.0 107.8 97.4 89.3
II 119.8 127.8 106.6 107.1 97.0 89.4
I 119.0 125.8 105.7 107.6 98.1 90.4
2013 ANNUAL 118.5 124.6 105.2 105.0 96.8 88.7
2013 IV 118.4 125.5 106.0 105.4 96.5 89.0
III 118.6 124.5 105.0 105.4 96.9 88.9
II 118.8 124.3 104.6 105.2 97.3 88.5
I 118.1 124.2 105.2 104.1 96.2 88.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Table 4. Durable manufacturing sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs,
seasonally adjusted
Real
Output Compen- compen-
Year per hour Hours sation sation Unit
and of all of all per hour per hour labor
quarter persons Output persons (1) (2) costs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 6.9 r 3.7 r -3.0 r 7.5 r 5.9 r 0.6 r
II 2.8 r 1.4 r -1.4 5.3 r 2.3 r 2.5 r
I -2.3 -2.4 -0.1 -3.4 -0.4 -1.1
2014 ANNUAL 1.9 4.2 2.3 2.1 0.5 0.2
2014 IV 0.5 3.9 3.3 5.0 5.9 4.5
III 3.2 6.4 3.1 2.3 1.1 -0.9
II 3.0 8.7 5.5 -2.6 -5.0 -5.5
I 2.6 1.5 -1.1 8.6 6.4 5.8
2013 ANNUAL 0.7 1.8 1.1 -0.4 -1.8 -1.1
2013 IV 0.7 5.5 4.8 -2.5 -3.8 -3.1
III -0.3 1.4 1.7 1.7 -0.6 2.0
II 2.4 -0.3 -2.6 3.5 3.7 1.0
I -0.5 3.4 3.9 -6.7 -8.0 -6.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 1.9 r 1.6 r -0.3 r 3.5 r 3.4 r 1.6 r
II 1.0 2.3 r 1.2 2.2 r 2.2 r 1.2 r
I 1.1 4.0 2.9 0.3 0.3 -0.8
2014 ANNUAL 1.9 4.2 2.3 2.1 0.5 0.2
2014 IV 2.3 5.1 2.7 3.2 2.0 0.9
III 2.4 5.5 3.0 1.3 -0.4 -1.0
II 1.5 4.2 2.7 1.2 -0.9 -0.3
I 1.3 2.0 0.7 2.7 1.3 1.4
2013 ANNUAL 0.7 1.8 1.1 -0.4 -1.8 -1.1
2013 IV 0.6 2.5 1.9 -1.1 -2.3 -1.6
III 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.9 -0.6 -0.1
II 0.8 1.1 0.3 -0.1 -1.5 -0.9
I 0.6 2.1 1.5 -1.1 -2.8 -1.8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 126.9 r 140.2 r 110.4 r 110.1 r 99.3 r 86.7 r
II 124.8 r 138.9 r 111.3 108.1 r 97.9 r 86.6 r
I 124.0 138.4 111.7 106.7 97.3 86.1
2014 ANNUAL 123.9 136.5 110.2 106.5 96.5 86.0
2014 IV 124.7 139.3 111.7 107.6 97.4 86.3
III 124.5 138.0 110.8 106.3 96.0 85.4
II 123.6 135.9 110.0 105.7 95.8 85.6
I 122.6 133.1 108.5 106.4 97.0 86.8
2013 ANNUAL 121.6 131.0 107.8 104.3 96.1 85.8
2013 IV 121.9 132.6 108.8 104.2 95.5 85.5
III 121.7 130.8 107.5 104.9 96.4 86.2
II 121.8 130.4 107.1 104.5 96.6 85.8
I 121.0 130.4 107.8 103.6 95.7 85.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Table 5. Nondurable manufacturing sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs,
seasonally adjusted
Real
Output Compen- compen-
Year per hour Hours sation sation Unit
and of all of all per hour per hour labor
quarter persons Output persons (1) (2) costs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 2.3 r 2.7 r 0.3 r 7.7 r 6.0 r 5.3 r
II 1.1 r 1.2 r 0.1 5.9 r 2.8 r 4.7 r
I 1.3 1.7 0.4 0.2 3.2 -1.1
2014 ANNUAL 1.0 1.5 0.5 3.7 2.0 2.6
2014 IV -2.1 4.1 6.3 3.1 3.9 5.3
III 3.6 2.1 -1.4 3.2 2.1 -0.4
II 3.7 3.7 0.0 -0.6 -3.0 -4.2
I 1.4 0.4 -0.9 8.8 6.6 7.3
2013 ANNUAL 0.9 1.1 0.2 1.2 -0.2 0.3
2013 IV -1.4 1.0 2.4 4.0 2.5 5.4
III -1.6 -0.4 1.2 -0.3 -2.6 1.3
II 2.1 0.3 -1.8 5.3 5.5 3.1
I 3.6 3.3 -0.3 -3.2 -4.6 -6.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 0.6 r 2.4 r 1.8 4.2 r 4.0 r 3.5 r
II 1.0 2.3 1.3 3.1 r 3.0 r 2.1 r
I 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.5 1.5 -0.2
2014 ANNUAL 1.0 1.5 0.5 3.7 2.0 2.6
2014 IV 1.6 2.6 0.9 3.6 2.4 1.9
III 1.8 1.8 0.0 3.8 2.0 1.9
II 0.5 1.2 0.7 2.9 0.8 2.4
I 0.1 0.4 0.2 4.4 2.9 4.3
2013 ANNUAL 0.9 1.1 0.2 1.2 -0.2 0.3
2013 IV 0.7 1.1 0.4 1.4 0.1 0.7
III 1.3 1.2 -0.1 0.9 -0.6 -0.4
II 1.5 1.5 0.0 1.5 0.1 0.0
I 0.2 0.8 0.6 1.2 -0.5 1.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 113.9 r 117.0 r 102.7 r 114.5 r 103.3 r 100.5 r
II 113.3 r 116.2 r 102.6 112.4 r 101.8 r 99.2 r
I 113.0 115.9 102.6 110.8 101.1 98.1
2014 ANNUAL 112.3 114.0 101.5 109.8 99.5 97.7
2014 IV 112.6 115.4 102.5 110.8 100.3 98.4
III 113.2 114.3 100.9 109.9 99.3 97.1
II 112.2 113.6 101.3 109.1 98.8 97.2
I 111.2 112.6 101.3 109.2 99.6 98.3
2013 ANNUAL 111.2 112.3 101.0 105.9 97.5 95.3
2013 IV 110.8 112.5 101.5 107.0 98.0 96.5
III 111.2 112.2 100.9 105.9 97.4 95.3
II 111.6 112.3 100.6 106.0 98.0 95.0
I 111.0 112.2 101.1 104.7 96.7 94.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Table 6. Nonfinancial corporate sector: Productivity, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, unit profits,
and prices, seasonally adjusted
Real Unit
Output Hourly hourly non- Total Unit Implicit
Year per all- compen- compen- Unit labor unit pro- price
and employee Employee sation sation labor costs cost fits deflator
quarter hour Output hours (1) (2) costs (6) (7) (8) (4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from previous quarter at annual rate(5)
2015 III 2.9 4.3 1.4 4.1 2.5 1.2 -0.9 0.5 0.7 0.5
II 1.6 r 2.0 r 0.4 5.7 r 2.6 r 4.1 r -2.9 r 1.8 r 5.8 r 2.4
I -2.1 -0.3 1.8 0.5 3.6 2.6 3.2 2.8 -19.3 -0.8
2014 ANNUAL 0.4 3.2 2.8 2.4 0.8 2.0 -1.4 0.9 -0.4 0.7
2014 IV 3.4 7.4 3.9 1.5 2.3 -1.8 -6.4 -3.3 -6.5 -3.8
III 2.4 5.2 2.7 1.6 0.4 -0.8 -1.1 -0.9 17.2 1.6
II 1.7 6.2 4.4 -1.7 -4.1 -3.3 -3.4 -3.4 27.4 0.5
I -1.7 0.2 2.0 8.4 6.2 10.3 -0.8 6.5 -22.0 1.9
2013 ANNUAL 1.0 3.0 2.0 1.3 -0.2 0.3 -0.2 0.1 4.4 0.8
2013 IV -0.2 2.3 2.4 0.9 -0.5 1.1 0.8 1.0 0.9 1.0
III -2.0 0.5 2.6 -0.3 -2.6 1.7 1.2 1.6 -7.5 0.2
II 4.8 6.0 1.1 4.4 4.6 -0.5 -4.0 -1.6 6.9 -0.4
I -0.5 2.8 3.3 -4.2 -5.6 -3.7 1.8 -1.9 14.6 0.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent change from corresponding quarter of previous year
2015 III 1.4 3.3 1.9 2.9 2.7 1.5 -1.8 0.4 -5.3 -0.4
II 1.3 r 3.5 r 2.2 2.3 r 2.2 r 1.0 r -1.8 r 0.1 r -1.7 r -0.2
I 1.3 4.6 3.2 0.5 0.5 -0.9 -2.0 -1.2 3.0 -0.6
2014 ANNUAL 0.4 3.2 2.8 2.4 0.8 2.0 -1.4 0.9 -0.4 0.7
2014 IV 1.4 4.7 3.3 2.4 1.1 0.9 -2.9 -0.3 2.1 0.0
III 0.5 3.4 2.9 2.2 0.4 1.7 -1.1 0.8 4.1 1.3
II -0.6 2.3 2.9 1.7 -0.3 2.3 -0.6 1.4 -1.9 0.9
I 0.2 2.2 2.0 3.3 1.9 3.1 -0.7 1.8 -6.1 0.7
2013 ANNUAL 1.0 3.0 2.0 1.3 -0.2 0.3 -0.2 0.1 4.4 0.8
2013 IV 0.5 2.9 2.4 0.1 -1.1 -0.4 -0.1 -0.3 3.4 0.3
III 2.0 4.2 2.2 1.8 0.3 -0.2 -1.2 -0.5 4.3 0.2
II 1.2 3.1 1.9 1.9 0.5 0.7 -0.4 0.3 4.8 1.0
I 0.1 1.9 1.8 1.3 -0.4 1.1 0.9 1.0 5.2 1.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indexes 2009=100
2015 III 110.0 124.3 113.0 113.8 102.7 103.5 95.0 100.6 145.5 105.3
II 109.3 r 123.0 r 112.6 112.7 r 102.0 r 103.2 r 95.2 r 100.5 r 145.3 r 105.2
I 108.8 122.4 112.4 111.2 101.4 102.1 95.9 100.0 143.2 104.6
2014 ANNUAL 108.3 119.6 110.5 110.6 100.2 102.1 96.6 100.3 148.0 105.3
2014 IV 109.4 122.5 111.9 111.0 100.5 101.5 95.1 99.4 151.1 104.8
III 108.5 120.3 110.9 110.6 99.9 101.9 96.7 100.2 153.7 105.8
II 107.9 118.8 110.1 110.2 99.8 102.1 97.0 100.4 147.7 105.4
I 107.4 117.0 108.9 110.7 100.9 103.0 97.8 101.3 139.0 105.2
2013 ANNUAL 107.9 116.0 107.5 108.0 99.5 100.1 98.0 99.4 148.5 104.6
2013 IV 107.9 117.0 108.4 108.5 99.4 100.5 98.0 99.7 148.0 104.7
III 107.9 116.3 107.7 108.2 99.5 100.2 97.8 99.4 147.6 104.5
II 108.5 116.1 107.1 108.3 100.1 99.8 97.5 99.1 150.5 104.4
I 107.2 114.5 106.8 107.1 99.0 99.9 98.5 99.5 148.0 104.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes following Table 6. December 2, 2015
r=revised Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
SOURCES: Output data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census
Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce; the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor; and the Federal Reserve Board. Hours and
compensation data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of
Economic Analysis.
RELIABILITY: Productivity and cost measures are regularly revised as more
complete information becomes available. The measures are first published
within 40 days of the close of the reference period; revisions appear 30 days
later, and second revisions after an additional 60 days. In the business
sector, the third publication (second revision) of a quarterly index of
output per hour of all persons has differed from the initial value by between
–1.6 and 1.4 index points approximately 95 percent of the time. This interval
is based on the performance of this measure between the fourth quarter of
1995 and the second quarter of 2015.
Table Footnotes
(1) Wages and salaries of employees plus employers' contributions for social
insurance and private benefit plans. Except for nonfinancial corporations,
where there are no self-employed, data also include an estimate of wages,
salaries, and supplemental payments for the self-employed.
(2) The change for recent quarters is based on the Consumer Price Index for
all urban consumers (CPI-U). The trend from 1978-2014 is based on the Consumer
Price Index research series (CPI-U-RS).
(3) Unit nonlabor payments include profits, consumption of fixed capital,
taxes on production and imports less subsidies, net interest and
miscellaneous payments, business current transfer payments, rental income of
persons, and the current surplus of government enterprises.
(4) Current dollar output divided by the output index.
(5) Quarterly changes: Percent change compounded at annual rate is
calculated using index numbers to three decimal places. Indexes published in
the news release are rounded to one decimal place for convenience. Annual
changes: Percent change is calculated using annual indexes to three decimal
places.
(6) Unit nonlabor costs include consumption of fixed capital, taxes on
production and imports less subsidies, net interest and miscellaneous
payments, and business current transfer payments.
(7) Total unit costs are the sum of unit labor and nonlabor costs.
(8) Unit profits include corporate profits before tax with inventory
valuation and capital consumption adjustments.
United States Department of Labor
