US – Productivity increases modestly

Nonfarm productivity increased at a modest pace in the third quarter, giving little sign that businesses are poised to ramp up hiring significantly.

Productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, increased at a 1.9 percent annual rate, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

Many economists would read a drop in productivity as a sign that companies are closer to maxing out production with existing staff and would have to boost hiring…

via Productivity increases modestly, unit labor costs drop | Reuters.