• U.S. Productivity Declines 2.0% in Q4 2012 (annual rate)

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 2.0 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2012.

The decrease in productivity reflects increases of 0.1 percent in output and 2.2 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)

From the fourth quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2012, productivity increased 0.6 percent as output and hours worked rose 2.4 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

Annual average productivity increased 1.0 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Source: USDOL-BLS