BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[U.S. Worker Productivity Continues to Impress]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/03/u-s-worker-productivity-continues-to-impress/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/03/u-s-worker-productivity-continues-to-impress/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/03/u-s-worker-productivity-continues-to-impress/#commentsFiled under: ,

Financial crisis or not, fragile economic recovery or not, there has been one constant in the past and current economic cycles: productivity.

Worker productivity rose an impressive 2.8% in the first quarter, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday. That's down slightly from the previously-released 3.6% rate for the first quarter, but still constitutes a 4.0% productivity gain on a year-over-year basis. Productivity rose at an annual rate of 7.8% and 6.3% in the third and fourth quarters of 2009, respectively. In 2009, productivity rose 3.7%.

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U.S. Worker Productivity Continues to Impress originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsproductivityunit labor costsThu, 03 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Labor Costs Rose Just 1.5% in 2009: Smallest Gain Since 1982]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/u-s-labor-costs-rose-just-1-5-in-2009-smallest-gain-since-19/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/u-s-labor-costs-rose-just-1-5-in-2009-smallest-gain-since-19/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/u-s-labor-costs-rose-just-1-5-in-2009-smallest-gain-since-19/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You've heard chatter (mostly hype) on some of the cable news networks that inflation is on rise.

Don't believe it: unit labor costs rose 0.5% in Q4, and just 1.5% for all of 2009 -- capping the smallest increase for wages and benefits on record, the U.S. Labor Department announced Friday. Unit labor costs rose a revised 0.4% in Q3.

In 2008, unit labor costs rose 2.6%. The department began record keeping for the wage/benefits metrics in 1982.

Continue reading U.S. Labor Costs Rose Just 1.5% in 2009: Smallest Gain Since 1982

U.S. Labor Costs Rose Just 1.5% in 2009: Smallest Gain Since 1982 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyinflationinthenewsunit labor costsFri, 29 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Ray of Light: U.S. corporate, worker productivity continues to rise]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/06/ray-of-light-u-s-corporate-worker-productivity-continues-to-r/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/06/ray-of-light-u-s-corporate-worker-productivity-continues-to-r/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/06/ray-of-light-u-s-corporate-worker-productivity-continues-to-r/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

These days, most investors, executives, and economists know that there's no shortage of unpleasant news regarding the U.S. economy.

Moreover, some days it's hard to find those bright spots that we know exist amid the the snow storm of the recession. Here's one: U.S. worker productivity.

Underscoring that while there are no positives to job layoffs -- each job loss is a tragedy -- citizens and investors can at least point to the fact that the U.S. workforce is becoming more productive, and corporate efficiency is improving.

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Ray of Light: U.S. corporate, worker productivity continues to rise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsefficiencyfeaturedgdpglobal economyglobalizationinnovationlabor costsproductivitytechnologyU.S. economyU.S. Labor Departmentunit labor costsworker productivityFri, 06 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[So far, despite Fed, congressional actions, inflation remains tame]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/05/so-far-despite-fed-congressional-actions-inflation-remains-ta/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/05/so-far-despite-fed-congressional-actions-inflation-remains-ta/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/05/so-far-despite-fed-congressional-actions-inflation-remains-ta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Inflation -- the bane of earnings -- must always be watched, lest it rob the nation of return on investment.

Further, while the inflation hawks have been out in force, given the U.S.'s likely, record fiscal stimulus package and the Federal Reserve's doubling of its balance sheet, so far inflation remains tame.

Unit labor costs -- a key gauge of inflation, and one the Fed watches closely -- rose at a 1.8% annualized rate in Q4 2008, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday. Meanwhile, productivity in Q4 2008 rose at a 3.2% annualized rate.

Productivity measures output per hour worked. Economists say rising productivity usually leads to increases in income, as businesses can increase salaries/wages paid without increasing their per unit costs.

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So far, despite Fed, congressional actions, inflation remains tame originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inflationinthenewsproductivityU.S. economyU.S. Labor Departmentunit labor costsworker productivityThu, 05 Feb 2009 12:45:00 EST