Productivity News Updates

Productivity slumped for a second straight quarter as the economy shrank, driving another surge in labor costs that risks keeping inflation elevated and further complicates the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame price increases.

U.S. productivity dropped in the first quarter by the most since 1947 as the economy shrank, while labor costs surged and illustrated an extremely tight job market.

Productivity in the U.S. fell by the most since 1981 in the third quarter, reflecting a sharp pullback in economic growth and an increase in hours worked.

Productivity in the U.S. took a step back in the second quarter, indicating an easing in the rapid pace of efficiency gains seen in the prior three months.

Productivity in the U.S. unexpectedly posted the first decline in almost four years and labor costs accelerated, suggesting a pickup in efficiency earlier this year was more of a temporary shift.

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Productivity rose at a healthy pace in the second quarter but dropped at American factories, another sign of trouble for manufacturers.

Productivity gains in the United States accelerated by more than expected last quarter to the fastest pace since 2014, adding fuel to the Trump administration’s argument that its tax cuts are boosting the economy without stoking inflation.

Productivity gains in the U.S. last quarter exceeded forecasts though were little changed from the prior reading as output and hours worked both cooled, with efficiency improvements surpassing the recent average for a third period.

WASHINGTON — U.S. productivity grew at an annual rate of 2.3% in the July-September quarter, slower than the previous quarter but still an improvement over the weak annual gains of the past decade. Labor costs rose at a modest pace in the third quarter.