Productivity By Industry: — 2004-09-24

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today on labor productivity changes for wholesale trade, retail trade, and food services and drinking places. In 2003, labor productivity--defined as output per hour--rose 3.4 percent for wholesale trade, 5.1 percent for retail trade, and 3.3 percent for food services and drinking places. In both the retail and wholesale trade sectors, output increased in 2003 while hours declined. In food services and drinking places, both output and hours increased in 2003. From 1987 to 2003, labor productivity in the wholesale trade sector rose an average of 3.5 percent per year. Output increased 4.0 percent per year, and hours increased 0.5 percent per year. Labor productivity in retail trade increased 2.9 percent per year, while output increased 3.9 percent, and hours increased 0.9 percent per year.