Table 3. Unit labor costs (ULC) in U.S. dollars and in national currency
Table 3. Unit labor costs (ULC) in U.S. dollars and in national currency
Manufacturing, 19 countries, 1979-2010
Average annual compound rates of change
Country Indicator 1979-2010 1979-1990 1990-2000 2000-2007 2007-2010 2008-2009 2009-2010
United States ULC in U.S. dollars 0.3 2.5 -0.4 -2.1 0.2 -0.5 -4.0
ULC in nat. cur. 0.3 2.5 -0.4 -2.1 0.2 -0.5 -4.0
Exchange rates -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Australia ULC in U.S. dollars NA NA -1.3 8.5 4.5 -5.1 13.3
ULC in nat. cur. NA NA 1.7 3.0 1.3 2.2 -2.4
Exchange rates -0.6 -3.2 -2.9 5.4 3.1 -7.1 16.1
Belgium ULC in U.S. dollars 0.9 0.6 -2.5 6.7 0.2 -1.4 -7.9
ULC in nat. cur. 1.0 1.8 0.2 0.8 1.3 4.2 -3.2
Exchange rates -0.1 -1.2 -2.6 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Canada ULC in U.S. dollars 2.4 4.6 -2.7 7.6 0.5 -8.8 6.1
ULC in nat. cur. 2.0 4.6 -0.3 2.7 -0.9 -2.4 -4.3
Exchange rates 0.4 0.0 -2.4 4.8 1.4 -6.6 10.8
Czech Republic ULC in U.S. dollars NA NA NA 9.2 0.0 -8.6 -7.8
ULC in nat. cur. NA NA NA -0.2 -2.4 2.1 -7.6
Exchange rates NA NA NA 9.4 2.4 -10.5 -0.3
Denmark ULC in U.S. dollars 2.3 4.1 -2.0 7.8 -1.9 -0.9 -10.7
ULC in nat. cur. 2.5 5.7 0.7 1.9 -0.8 4.3 -6.2
Exchange rates -0.2 -1.5 -2.6 5.8 -1.1 -5.0 -4.8
Finland ULC in U.S. dollars 0.5 5.9 -7.1 2.6 2.9 12.8 -15.4
ULC in nat. cur. 1.0 5.7 -2.2 -3.1 4.0 19.2 -11.1
Exchange rates -0.5 0.2 -5.1 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
France ULC in U.S. dollars 1.6 3.4 -2.9 5.9 0.7 -0.6 -10.0
ULC in nat. cur. 2.1 5.7 -0.2 0.1 1.8 5.0 -5.4
Exchange rates -0.5 -2.2 -2.6 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Germany ULC in U.S. dollars C 2.4 4.5 -1.3 4.1 3.4 9.5 -12.6
ULC in nat. cur. C 1.7 3.3 1.4 -1.6 4.6 15.7 -8.1
Exchange rates 0.7 1.1 -2.7 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Italy ULC in U.S. dollars 2.8 5.2 -3.8 8.7 3.0 4.4 -9.2
ULC in nat. cur. 4.7 8.8 1.7 2.8 4.2 10.3 -4.6
Exchange rates -1.8 -3.3 -5.4 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Japan ULC in U.S. dollars 1.9 4.6 2.1 -5.0 8.4 22.6 -7.5
ULC in nat. cur. -1.1 0.7 -0.9 -3.8 -1.7 11.1 -13.3
Exchange rates 3.0 3.8 3.0 -1.3 10.3 10.4 6.7
Korea, Republic of ULC in U.S. dollars 1.2 4.1 -2.0 4.5 -6.0 -10.3 9.5
ULC in nat. cur. 4.1 7.9 2.6 1.6 1.2 4.1 -0.7
Exchange rates -2.8 -3.4 -4.5 2.8 -7.0 -13.8 10.3
Netherlands ULC in U.S. dollars 1.2 1.7 -2.4 5.7 0.8 2.6 -12.2
ULC in nat. cur. 0.5 0.8 0.3 -0.1 1.9 8.4 -7.7
Exchange rates 0.6 0.9 -2.7 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Norway ULC in U.S. dollars 3.7 4.9 0.0 8.1 1.8 -6.2 3.3
ULC in nat. cur. 4.3 6.9 3.5 2.0 2.8 4.7 -0.7
Exchange rates -0.6 -1.9 -3.4 6.0 -1.1 -10.4 4.1
Singapore ULC in U.S. dollars 1.8 5.5 -1.0 0.8 0.2 -2.9 -12.8
ULC in nat. cur. 0.3 3.7 -1.5 -1.1 -3.1 -0.2 -18.3
Exchange rates 1.5 1.7 0.5 2.0 3.4 -2.8 6.7
Spain ULC in U.S. dollars 2.3 3.8 -3.0 8.5 0.5 -2.7 -9.2
ULC in nat. cur. 4.3 7.8 2.7 2.5 1.6 2.9 -4.6
Exchange rates -2.0 -3.7 -5.5 5.8 -1.1 -5.4 -4.8
Sweden ULC in U.S. dollars -0.5 3.5 -6.4 2.2 -0.4 -3.4 -8.6
ULC in nat. cur. 1.2 6.6 -2.2 -2.2 1.7 12.3 -13.9
Exchange rates -1.7 -2.9 -4.3 4.5 -2.1 -14.0 6.2
Taiwan ULC in U.S. dollars 0.9 8.3 -1.3 -4.5 -4.6 -11.6 -6.4
ULC in nat. cur. 0.5 5.5 0.2 -3.8 -5.9 -7.4 -10.7
Exchange rates 0.4 2.7 -1.5 -0.7 1.4 -4.5 4.8
United Kingdom ULC in U.S. dollars 2.1 4.7 -0.3 4.9 -5.8 -9.2 -2.3
ULC in nat. cur. 3.1 6.3 1.4 0.8 2.7 7.5 -1.0
Exchange rates -1.0 -1.6 -1.6 4.1 -8.3 -15.6 -1.3
NOTE: German data for years before 1991 pertain to the former West Germany.
NA=data not available.
C=corrected
Exchange rates are value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.