Productivity And Costs By Industry: — 2005-09-27

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 2004, labor productivity--defined as output per hour--rose 7.8 percent in wholesale trade, 6.1 percent in retail trade, and 2.4 percent in food services and drinking places. Output increased in each of them, while hours increased in retail trade and food services and drinking places but remained steady in wholesale trade. Productivity increased in 40 of the 50 industries studied, as output rose in 46 industries and hours declined in 26 industries. From 1987 to 2004, labor productivity rose at an average annual rate of 3.9 percent per year in wholesale trade, 3.4 percent per year in retail trade, and 0.7 percent per year in food services and drinking places. In wholesale trade, output increased 4.4 percent per year, on average, while hours increased 0.4 percent per year.