Q3 US Nonfarm Productivity Rises Faster Than Expected, Unit Labor Costs Decline

08:51 AM EST, 11/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Nonfarm productivity rose by 3.6% in Q3 after a revised 2.1% gain in Q2, above expectations for a 2.7% gain in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed. Output growth accelerated to 3.7% from 2.4% in the previous quarter, while hours worked increased by 0.1% after a 0.3% gain. Unit labor costs fell by 0.7% after a revised 1.9% increase in Q2, compared with expectations for a 0.4% increase. The larger gain in productivity and slower compensation growth accounted for the decline in unit labor costs.