November 04, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Productivity in third quarter 2005

Productivity in the nonfarm business sector grew 4.1 percent during the third quarter of 2005 as output grew 4.2 percent. Hours of all persons edged up 0.1 percent.

Growth in output per hour of all persons, nonfarm business, seasonally adjusted, 2003 III - 2005 III (percent change from previous quarter at annual rate)
[Chart data—TXT]

In the previous quarter, nonfarm business productivity increased 2.1 percent, as output grew 4.4 percent and hours worked increased by 2.2 percent.

Hourly compensation increased at a 3.6-percent annual rate in the third quarter of 2005. When the rise in consumer prices is taken into account, real hourly compensation fell 1.4 percent during the July-September period. During the second quarter of 2005, real hourly compensation had declined 0.1 percent.

These data are from the BLS Productivity and Costs program. Data are subject to revision. For more information, see "Productivity and Costs, Third Quarter 2005, Preliminary" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-2116.

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