U.S. Labor Productivity Unchanged In Q4, Labor Costs Jump 2.5%
March 07 2018 - 4:38AM
RTTF2
Revised data released by the Labor Department on Wednesday
showed U.S. labor productivity was unchanged in the fourth
quarter.
The Labor Department said labor productivity was unchanged in
the fourth quarter compared to the previously reported 0.1 percent
drop. Economists had expected the dip in productivity to be
unrevised.
The unchanged reading on productivity in the fourth quarter came
following the 2.6 percent jump seen in the third quarter.
The report showed that output surged up by 3.2 percent in the
fourth quarter, while hours worked spiked by 3.3 percent.
Meanwhile, the report said unit labor costs soared by 2.5
percent compared to the previously reported 2.0 percent jump. The
increase in labor costs was expected to be revised to 2.1
percent.
The jump in unit labor costs in the fourth quarter came on the
heels of a revised 1.0 percent increase in the third quarter.
Hourly compensation shot up by 2.4 percent in the fourth
quarter, while real hourly compensation, which takes changes in
consumer prices into account, fell by 1.2 percent.
Compared to the same quarter a year ago, productivity was up by
1.1 percent in the fourth quarter, as output climbed by 3.2 percent
and hours worked increased by 2.1 percent.
Unit labor costs were up by 1.7 year-over-year in the fourth
quarter amid a 2.9 percent jump in hourly compensation.
US Dollar vs Yen (FX:USDJPY)
Forex Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
US Dollar vs Yen (FX:USDJPY)
Forex Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024