Global| Sep 07 20052Q U.S. Productivity Revised Down
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Non-farm labor productivity last quarter was revised down to 1.8% from 2.2%. Consensus expectations had been for 2.1% growth. Growth in output was lowered to 4.1% from 4.4% reported initially while hours worked were raised to 2.2% [...]
Non-farm labor productivity last quarter was revised down to 1.8% from 2.2%. Consensus expectations had been for 2.1% growth. Growth in output was lowered to 4.1% from 4.4% reported initially while hours worked were raised to 2.2% from 2.1%.
Unit labor cost growth was revised sharply higher to 2.5% from 1.3% reflecting the reduction in productivity, but compensation costs were raised even more to 4.4% from 3.5%.
Factory sector productivity growth was similarly reduced to 3.6% (4.6% y/y) from 4.1% due to a lowered estimate of output.An upward revision to manufacturing compensation growth to 8.4% from 6.6% raised unit Labor costs sharply to 4.7% (4.3% y/y) from 2.3%.
Reported for the first time, nonfinancial corporate sector productivity surged 6.8% (6.3% y/y) and the spike lowered unit labor costs by 2.6% (+0.3% y/y). Output rose 9.5% (8.0% y/y). This measure is gleaned from the income side of the National Income & Product Accounts (NIPA) as opposed to the non-farm and manufacturing figures which are derived from the output side.Analysis of the Economic & Budgetary Effects of Hurricane Katrina from the US Congressional Budget Office can be found here.
| Non-farm Business Sector (SAAR) | 2Q '05 (Revised) | 2Q '05 (Prelim.) | 1Q '05 | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output per Hour | 1.8% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.0% |
| Compensation | 4.4% | 3.5% | 5.5% | 6.5% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 3.5% |
| Unit Labor Costs | 2.5% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 4.2% | 1.1% | 0.2% | -0.5% |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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