U.S. nonfarm labor productivity slipped 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the prior quarter, as output rose 3.2% and hours worked climbed 3.3%, preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed.
Productivity in the manufacturing sector jumped 5.7% for the quarter, reflecting 7.3% and 1.5% gains in output and hours worked, respectively.
Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector rose 2%, as hourly compensation increased 1.8%, while unit labor costs in the manufacturing sector declined 3.7%.
In annual terms, nonfarm labor productivity edged up 1.1%, as output rose 3.2% and hours worked increased 2.1%. Manufacturing sector productivity inched up 1.1%, reflecting a 2.7% increase in output and 1.6% gain in hours worked.
