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Labor productivity up 7.7 percent in retail trade and 3.6 percent in wholesale trade in 2020
August 04, 2021
In 2020, labor productivity rose 7.7 percent in retail trade, the highest annual growth since measurement began in 1987. Hours worked decreased 3.6 percent and output increased 3.9 percent in retail trade. In wholesale trade, productivity rose 3.6 percent in 2020, as output fell 2.6 percent and hours worked decreased 6.0 percent. The declines in hours worked for retail trade and wholesale trade were the largest since 2009.
Annual percent change in labor productivity, hours worked, and output in wholesale trade and retail trade, 1988–2020
Year
Wholesale trade labor productivity
Wholesale trade hours worked
Wholesale trade output
Retail trade labor productivity
Retail trade hours worked
Retail trade output
1988
3.2%
3.3%
6.6%
2.1%
2.3%
4.5%
1989
1.1
2.7
3.9
0.8
1.8
2.6
1990
4.8
-1.7
3.0
0.2
0.8
0.9
1991
0.9
-1.2
-0.3
0.4
-2.3
-1.9
1992
7.8
-1.4
6.3
4.5
-0.4
4.1
1993
3.6
-0.2
3.4
3.4
2.2
5.7
1994
2.0
3.4
5.4
4.3
2.9
7.4
1995
2.7
3.2
5.9
1.8
1.9
3.8
1996
3.5
1.0
4.5
4.1
1.1
5.3
1997
3.8
1.6
5.5
2.6
1.8
4.4
1998
3.7
1.6
5.4
5.6
0.6
6.3
1999
7.6
1.0
8.7
6.7
1.9
8.7
2000
5.4
0.7
6.2
3.2
1.2
4.4
2001
1.6
-4.1
-2.5
3.7
-1.0
2.7
2002
4.7
-3.0
1.6
4.5
-0.9
3.5
2003
5.6
-1.1
4.4
4.9
-0.3
4.6
2004
7.7
-0.2
7.5
5.2
0.0
5.3
2005
2.9
2.0
4.9
2.3
1.1
3.5
2006
2.2
2.7
4.9
3.8
-0.6
3.2
2007
1.2
1.8
3.0
2.2
0.0
2.2
2008
-3.1
-0.9
-4.0
-2.2
-2.3
-4.5
2009
-3.2
-7.7
-10.6
0.5
-5.8
-5.3
2010
7.1
-1.8
5.2
2.4
0.7
3.1
2011
-0.1
3.1
2.9
0.7
2.2
2.9
2012
1.9
1.4
3.4
2.2
1.0
3.3
2013
2.3
1.2
3.5
4.3
-0.5
3.8
2014
2.0
1.4
3.3
1.7
2.2
3.9
2015
1.7
0.6
2.4
3.2
1.6
4.9
2016
0.4
0.4
0.8
4.4
-0.2
4.2
2017
1.5
0.2
1.7
1.9
1.3
3.2
2018
2.0
0.5
2.5
3.0
-0.1
2.9
2019
0.0
0.2
0.2
4.8
-1.6
3.1
2020
3.6
-6.0
-2.6
7.7
-3.6
3.9
In wholesale trade, productivity increased in both durable goods (+1.6 percent) and nondurable goods (+8.3 percent) in 2020. Productivity fell 4.7 percent in electronic markets and agents and brokers.
Percent change in labor productivity, by industry, 2019–20
Industry
Percent change
Wholesale trade
3.6%
Nondurable goods
8.3
Paper and paper products
17.7
Alcoholic beverages
14.3
Druggists' goods
13.0
Petroleum
8.0
Grocery and related products
5.8
Miscellaneous nondurable goods
5.2
Farm product raw materials
4.6
Chemicals
2.3
Apparel and piece goods
-0.4
Durable goods
1.6
Hardware and plumbing
7.1
Appliances and electric goods
6.3
Miscellaneous durable goods
6.0
Furniture and furnishings
4.5
Machinery and supplies
2.4
Motor vehicles and parts
2.3
Commercial equipment
1.4
Lumber and construction supplies
-1.8
Metals and minerals
-4.4
Electronic markets and agents and brokers
-4.7
Electronic markets and agents and brokers
-4.7
Retail trade
7.7
Nonstore retailers
19.6
Vending machine operators
26.7
Electronic shopping and mail-order houses
12.9
Direct selling establishments
9.9
Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores
19.5
Book stores and news dealers
58.1
Sporting goods and musical instrument stores
16.0
Health and personal care stores
13.1
Health and personal care stores
13.1
Miscellaneous store retailers
12.2
Florists
24.9
Other miscellaneous store retailers
13.7
Used merchandise stores
3.4
Office supplies, stationery and gift stores
-0.3
Food and beverage stores
8.8
Beer, wine and liquor stores
18.3
Specialty food stores
9.0
Grocery stores
7.6
Motor vehicle and parts dealers
7.0
Other motor vehicle dealers
25.9
Automobile dealers
8.2
Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores
1.8
Clothing and clothing accessories stores
3.6
Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores
35.4
Shoe stores
12.1
Clothing stores
-4.3
Furniture and home furnishings stores
2.9
Furniture stores
7.1
Home furnishings stores
-1.6
General merchandise stores
2.2
Other general merchandise stores
0.5
Department stores
-2.7
Building material and garden supply stores
-0.7
Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores
11.0
Building material and supplies dealers
-2.3
Electronics and appliance stores
-2.0
Electronics and appliance stores
-2.0
Gasoline stations
-5.0
Gasoline stations
-5.0
In retail trade, productivity rose in 9 of the 12 industries studied. The largest productivity increases in 2020 occurred in nonstore retailers (+19.6 percent) and sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores (+19.5 percent). Productivity decreased in building material and garden supply stores (−0.7 percent), electronics and appliance stores (−2.0 percent), and gasoline stations (−5.0 percent).
United States Department of Labor
