The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 3.0 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate during the third quarter of 2017. Output increased 3.8 percent and hours worked increased 0.8 percent. Compared to the third quarter of 2016, productivity rose 1.5 percent, output rose 2.9 percent and hours worked increased 1.4 percent.

Productivity in the manufacturing sector fell 5 percent in the third quarter of 2017, with output decreasing 2.1 percent and hours worked increasing 3.1 percent. This decrease in manufacturing output per hour is the largest reported since the measure fell 16.3 percent during the first quarter of 2009.