Material Is Embargoed — 1999-05-11

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported preliminary productivity data--as measured by output per hour of all persons--for the first quarter of 1999. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the first quarter were: 4.7 percent in the business sector and 4.0 percent in the nonfarm business sector. These productivity gains resulted from a combination of strong output growth and modest increases in hours of all persons. Output grew 5.1 percent in the business sector and 5.0 percent in the nonfarm business sector. Hours at work increased 0.4 percent in business and 0.9 percent in nonfarm business. First-quarter measures are summarized in table A and appear in detail in tables 1 through 5. 5.8 percent in manufacturing, 8.2 percent in durable goods manufacturing, and 2.4 percent in nondurable goods manufacturing.