September 27, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Productivity in retail trade, 2003

Productivity, as measured by output per hour, increased 5.1 percent in retail trade in 2003. Output rose by 4.5 percent while hours declined by 0.6 percent.

[Chart data—TXT]

Labor productivity rose in 23 of the 27 retail trade industries in 2003. The highest increases were 25.3 percent in electronics and appliance stores and 15.8 percent in electronic shopping and mail-order houses. Productivity grew in five of the six largest retail trade industries, those with more than 1,000,000 employees.

From 1987 to 2003, labor productivity in retail trade increased 2.9 percent per year, while output increased 3.9 percent, and hours increased 0.9 percent per year.

This information is from the BLS Productivity and Costs Program. Data are subject to revision. Additional information is available from "Productivity by Industry: Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, and Food Services and Drinking Places, 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-1832.