2015 Second Quarter (Preliminary) Productivity and Costs — 2015-08-11

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 1.3 percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 2.8 percent and hours worked increased 1.5 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the second quarter of 2014 to the second quarter of 2015, productivity increased 0.3 percent, reflecting increases in output and hours worked of 2.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively. (See table A.) Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 0.5 percent in the second quarter of 2015, reflecting a 1.8 percent increase in hourly compensation and a 1.3 percent increase in productivity. Unit labor costs increased 2.1 percent over the last four quarters.