Productivity And Costs By Industry: — 2006-08-22

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today on productivity and costs for wholesale trade, retail trade, and food services and drinking places. Labor productivity--defined as output per hour--rose 0.6 percent in wholesale trade, 3.4 percent in retail trade, and 1.6 percent in food services and drinking places in 2005. Output and hours also grew in each of these sectors. Unit labor costs fell in retail trade, but increased in wholesale trade, and in food services and drinking places. Productivity advanced in 34 of the 50 detailed industries studied, as output grew in 47 industries while hours declined in 20 industries. Unit labor costs declined in 26 of the 50 industries measured.