Productivity, output, and hours in the second quarter of 2012

From the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 1.1 percent, as output rose 2.9 percent and hours worked rose 1.8 percent.

[Chart data]

Over the last four quarters, manufacturing productivity increased 2.9 percent, as output increased 5.6 percent and hours rose 2.6 percent. Durable goods manufacturing productivity increased 6.2 percent, as output rose 9.7 percent and hours rose 3.3 percent.

These data, from the Labor Productivity and Costs program, are seasonally adjusted and are subject to revision. To learn more, see "Productivity and Costs — Second Quarter 2012, Preliminary" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-12-1588. Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers.