February 12, 2010 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Productivity increases, output and hours decline in 2009

Annual average changes in productivity and related measures, nonfarm business sector, 2005�2009
Year	Productivity	Output	Hours
2005	1.7	3.4	1.7
2006	0.9	3.1	2.2
2007	1.8	2.3	0.5
2008	1.8	-0.1	-1.9
2009 (P)	2.9	-3.6	-6.4
Footnotes: (P) = Preliminary

A Look at Projected Employment in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 2021‒31
Examines projected employment growth for the 2021–31 decade for the sector and its detailed industries and top-employing occupations.
Business Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Looks at differences in private industry businesses' responses to COVID-19 across firm sizes.
Inflation Experiences for Lower and Higher Income Households Presents consumer price indexes for the lowest and highest household incomes to examine how different spending patterns change measures of inflation.
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Urban and Rural Spending Habits
Explores how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the spending behaviors of urban and rural consumers.
Workplace Injuries and Job Requirements for Construction Laborers
Examines typical physical requirements for construction laborers, exposures they experience on the job, and nonfatal and fatal injuries they incur.