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Thanksgiving is right around the corner. As we start to think about how we will celebrate, it might be hard to imagine the ties between BLS statistics and celebrating Thanksgiving. So, here’s a short tour of a typical Thanksgiving Day as seen through a few BLS statistics. Enjoy!
9:00 a.m. Put the turkey in the oven
All good chefs know the key to a successful Thanksgiving feast is to get the turkey in the oven bright and early. Whether you are roasting your turkey or firing up a deep fryer in the driveway, you will have to pay more for the fuel. The Consumer Price Index for household energy was pretty stable through 2019 and the first half of 2020 but then started a steady rise in September 2020.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
10:00 a.m. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused ups and downs in the labor market, much like the impact of a windy day for the famous balloons in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Keeping with the department store theme, employment in department stores plunged 25.3 percent in April 2020 but then rose 14.1 percent June 2020. These gyrations were more dramatic than the broader retail trade sector.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
2:00 p.m. Scope out Black Friday deals
After watching the parade, it’s time to plan our Black Friday shopping! As consumers, we are always trying to get more for less. In the retail trade industry, it turns out they are doing just that. The industry has produced more output with steady or decreasing hours worked. The result is a corresponding increase in labor productivity. Now, only if we could prepare a bigger Thanksgiving feast in less time!
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
4:00 p.m. Play touch football
We need to make some room of the feast we are about to enjoy, so we assemble willing participants and play some touch football in the yard. The American Time Use Survey is the best source of information on how Americans spend their time each day. In this case, let’s compare how much time people spend playing sports versus how much time they spend watching sports on TV. We’ll look only at time spent in these activities on weekend days and holidays. The survey does not have details on what people watch on TV, but we can assume some time reported here is spent watching sports.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
We can see that Americans, on average, easily spend more time watching TV—3.36 hours—than playing sports—0.34 hours. But what is more interesting is that, on average, those who watch TV watch about 24 percent more than the overall population. However, those who play sports play, on average, nearly 6 times as many hours as the average for the population.
6:00 p.m. Thanksgiving feast
No matter what is on your dinner table this Thanksgiving, chances are it will cost more than previous years. All six major grocery store food groups in the Consumer Price Index for food at home continued to rise sharply in October 2021. Even if you decide to order out, it will set you back a bit more this year. Both full-service meals and limited services meals rose nearly 1 percent in October 2021.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
7:00 p.m. Watch football
Now that we’ve finished our delicious feast, it’s a time-honored tradition to watch a bit of football on TV. If you are buying a new TV for this holiday, you can expect to pay a bit more. After years of steady declines, import prices for television and video receivers have reversed trend in 2021, much like a wide receiver changing direction to find an opening and catch a game-winning touchdown pass!
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
9:00 p.m. Say goodbye
It’s hard to say goodbye to your friends and family. In the United States, however, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey is showing that workers are saying goodbye to their employers more often these days. The number of quits has been rising steadily since the shock of the pandemic affected layoffs and discharges in early 2020. (It’s only a coincidence that the layoffs line in the chart below looks like the outline of a pilgrim’s hat.)
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Now we’ve come to the end of our Thanksgiving feast of BLS data. Our hunger for the premier statistics on the U.S. labor force, prices, and productivity, has been satisfied, and we can rest easily knowing there’s a stat for that!
Consumer Price Index for household energy
Month
Index
Jan 2019
100.000
Feb 2019
99.662
Mar 2019
100.046
Apr 2019
99.952
May 2019
99.679
Jun 2019
99.258
Jul 2019
99.415
Aug 2019
99.253
Sep 2019
99.033
Oct 2019
99.756
Nov 2019
99.890
Dec 2019
99.716
Jan 2020
99.666
Feb 2020
99.355
Mar 2020
98.812
Apr 2020
98.492
May 2020
98.278
Jun 2020
98.501
Jul 2020
98.542
Aug 2020
98.478
Sep 2020
99.590
Oct 2020
100.103
Nov 2020
101.043
Dec 2020
101.377
Jan 2021
101.299
Feb 2021
102.681
Mar 2021
103.436
Apr 2021
104.748
May 2021
105.512
Jun 2021
105.840
Jul 2021
106.664
Aug 2021
107.833
Sep 2021
109.273
Oct 2021
112.872
Monthly percent change in employment in retail trade and department stores
Month
Retail trade
Department stores
Jan 2019
-0.1%
0.2%
Feb 2019
-0.2
-1.4
Mar 2019
-0.1
-0.6
Apr 2019
-0.1
-0.9
May 2019
-0.1
-0.5
Jun 2019
-0.1
-0.7
Jul 2019
0.0
-0.9
Aug 2019
-0.1
-1.4
Sep 2019
0.1
0.3
Oct 2019
0.2
0.0
Nov 2019
-0.2
0.4
Dec 2019
0.3
-0.4
Jan 2020
-0.1
-2.7
Feb 2020
0.0
0.3
Mar 2020
-0.8
-0.6
Apr 2020
-14.5
-25.3
May 2020
3.1
6.7
Jun 2020
6.3
14.1
Jul 2020
1.7
4.3
Aug 2020
1.7
2.3
Sep 2020
0.2
-0.8
Oct 2020
0.7
0.2
Nov 2020
0.0
0.7
Dec 2020
0.2
-0.6
Jan 2021
0.1
-0.3
Feb 2021
0.1
0.5
Mar 2021
0.3
0.1
Apr 2021
-0.1
0.2
May 2021
0.4
0.9
Jun 2021
0.6
1.3
Jul 2021
0.0
0.3
Aug 2021
0.1
-0.5
Sep 2021
0.4
0.5
Oct 2021
0.2
-0.2
Indexes for labor productivity, hours worked, and output in retail trade
Year
Labor productivity
Hours worked
Output
2007
100.000
100.000
100.000
2008
97.765
97.658
95.475
2009
98.294
92.032
90.461
2010
100.694
92.667
93.310
2011
101.397
94.686
96.008
2012
103.655
95.673
99.170
2013
108.080
95.212
102.905
2014
109.919
97.268
106.916
2015
113.486
98.821
112.148
2016
118.525
98.636
116.908
2017
120.719
99.896
120.593
2018
124.393
99.783
124.123
2019
130.360
98.139
127.934
2020
140.392
94.650
132.880
Average hours spent watching TV and playing sports, weekend days and holidays, 2019
Activity
Hours
Watching TV (average of population)
3.36
Watching TV (average of those who watched TV)
4.17
Playing sports (average of population)
0.34
Playing sports (average of those who played sports)
1.94
Consumer Price Indexes for food at home and food away from home
Month
Food at home
Food away from home
Jan 2018
100.000
100.000
Feb 2018
99.793
100.243
Mar 2018
99.780
100.352
Apr 2018
100.026
100.594
May 2018
99.779
100.929
Jun 2018
99.865
101.113
Jul 2018
100.127
101.229
Aug 2018
100.198
101.421
Sep 2018
100.252
101.645
Oct 2018
100.046
101.738
Nov 2018
100.259
102.029
Dec 2018
100.554
102.437
Jan 2019
100.683
102.789
Feb 2019
101.014
103.153
Mar 2019
101.163
103.342
Apr 2019
100.716
103.676
May 2019
100.913
103.894
Jun 2019
100.718
104.232
Jul 2019
100.716
104.443
Aug 2019
100.654
104.669
Sep 2019
100.902
104.940
Oct 2019
101.124
105.139
Nov 2019
101.324
105.310
Dec 2019
101.331
105.611
Jan 2020
101.440
106.000
Feb 2020
101.851
106.236
Mar 2020
102.220
106.395
Apr 2020
104.775
106.550
May 2020
105.718
106.942
Jun 2020
106.309
107.496
Jul 2020
105.343
108.002
Aug 2020
105.322
108.309
Sep 2020
105.051
108.911
Oct 2020
105.177
109.210
Nov 2020
105.012
109.342
Dec 2020
105.335
109.751
Jan 2021
105.203
110.122
Feb 2021
105.474
110.180
Mar 2021
105.587
110.311
Apr 2021
106.047
110.649
May 2021
106.423
111.258
Jun 2021
107.309
112.047
Jul 2021
108.031
112.923
Aug 2021
108.431
113.405
Sep 2021
109.779
114.013
Oct 2021
110.841
114.965
Import price index for television and video receivers
Month
Index
Jan 2011
100.000
Feb 2011
100.173
Mar 2011
100.173
Apr 2011
99.136
May 2011
98.964
Jun 2011
97.409
Jul 2011
97.064
Aug 2011
96.373
Sep 2011
95.855
Oct 2011
94.991
Nov 2011
93.092
Dec 2011
94.128
Jan 2012
94.819
Feb 2012
94.473
Mar 2012
93.955
Apr 2012
92.573
May 2012
92.573
Jun 2012
92.401
Jul 2012
92.401
Aug 2012
92.573
Sep 2012
92.228
Oct 2012
92.573
Nov 2012
90.155
Dec 2012
90.155
Jan 2013
89.810
Feb 2013
89.637
Mar 2013
88.256
Apr 2013
88.083
May 2013
87.910
Jun 2013
87.910
Jul 2013
87.392
Aug 2013
87.219
Sep 2013
85.838
Oct 2013
85.492
Nov 2013
85.492
Dec 2013
85.492
Jan 2014
85.320
Feb 2014
85.320
Mar 2014
85.147
Apr 2014
84.801
May 2014
84.283
Jun 2014
84.111
Jul 2014
83.074
Aug 2014
82.902
Sep 2014
83.074
Oct 2014
81.865
Nov 2014
81.865
Dec 2014
81.347
Jan 2015
79.965
Feb 2015
79.965
Mar 2015
79.965
Apr 2015
79.965
May 2015
79.620
Jun 2015
79.620
Jul 2015
79.620
Aug 2015
79.620
Sep 2015
79.620
Oct 2015
79.447
Nov 2015
79.275
Dec 2015
78.929
Jan 2016
78.756
Feb 2016
77.547
Mar 2016
77.375
Apr 2016
77.029
May 2016
76.857
Jun 2016
77.029
Jul 2016
76.857
Aug 2016
76.684
Sep 2016
76.684
Oct 2016
76.684
Nov 2016
76.684
Dec 2016
76.684
Jan 2017
76.166
Feb 2017
76.166
Mar 2017
75.820
Apr 2017
75.993
May 2017
75.993
Jun 2017
75.993
Jul 2017
75.993
Aug 2017
75.993
Sep 2017
75.820
Oct 2017
75.475
Nov 2017
75.302
Dec 2017
75.130
Jan 2018
75.130
Feb 2018
75.302
Mar 2018
74.784
Apr 2018
74.439
May 2018
74.266
Jun 2018
73.575
Jul 2018
72.884
Aug 2018
72.884
Sep 2018
72.712
Oct 2018
72.539
Nov 2018
72.366
Dec 2018
72.021
Jan 2019
71.330
Feb 2019
70.812
Mar 2019
70.466
Apr 2019
70.466
May 2019
70.294
Jun 2019
69.948
Jul 2019
69.775
Aug 2019
69.603
Sep 2019
69.603
Oct 2019
69.430
Nov 2019
69.085
Dec 2019
68.912
Jan 2020
69.430
Feb 2020
68.048
Mar 2020
67.358
Apr 2020
66.839
May 2020
66.667
Jun 2020
66.667
Jul 2020
66.494
Aug 2020
66.494
Sep 2020
66.321
Oct 2020
66.667
Nov 2020
67.358
Dec 2020
68.048
Jan 2021
68.739
Feb 2021
68.739
Mar 2021
68.566
Apr 2021
69.775
May 2021
70.639
Jun 2021
70.812
Jul 2021
73.402
Aug 2021
73.402
Sep 2021
74.439
Oct 2021
74.784
Quits, layoffs and discharges, and other job separations
When you find yourself in a 16-day marathon on the sofa shouting “U-S-A, U-S-A” at every swimmer, weightlifter, and beach volleyball player, you may not see the relationship to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But as you sprint through the pages of our website or add your likes to Twitter, you’ll begin to see how BLS has a stat for that.
Uneven bars
As we head into the gymnastics venue, we notice one of the women’s apparatus reminds us of how we measure productivity. We use two factors to compute labor productivity—output and hours worked. Over the past decade, the “bars” for output and hours worked aren’t quite parallel, but they are definitely uneven; output grew a little faster than hours, leading to rising productivity. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in sharp drops in both output and hours, leaving productivity to maintain its steady climb. BLS productivity staff stick the landing by providing a series of quarterly charts to let you vault into all the details.
You may not have to run, jump, and throw, but the fastest growing occupations from our annual employment projections represent a diversity of skills. A decathlon has 10 events, but we have so much Olympic spirit we want to show you the 12 fastest growing occupations. Half of these jobs are in the healthcare field, while a couple involve alternative forms of energy. And, of course, BLS is pleased to see statisticians and data scientists and mathematical science occupations make the list. While the “World’s Greatest Athlete” is decided at the track and field venue, our Employment Projections staff goes the extra mile (1,500 meters, actually) to identify where the jobs will be in the future.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Swimming 4×100 medley relay
At the natatorium, we are here to witness one of the premier events of the Olympic Games, the swimming 4×100 medley relay. Four price indexes will each take a lap to demonstrate how they work together to provide a complete inflation picture. In the leadoff position is the Import Price Index, which rose 11.2 percent from June 2020 to June 2021—with fuel prices being one of the largest drivers. After touching the wall first, imports made way for the Producer Price Index, which rose 7.3 percent for the year ending in June. Price increases for a variety of goods drove this gain. The third leg belonged to the Export Price Index, which rose 16.8 percent over the past year, the largest gain among the quartet. Agricultural products were among the largest contributors to the increase in export prices. In the anchor position was the Consumer Price Index, freestyling with a 5.4-percent increase over the year, leading BLS to the gold medal. Among the largest increases over the past year were consumer prices for gasoline and for used cars and trucks.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Greco-Roman wrestling
We bypassed the freestyle wrestling venue to watch Greco-Roman wrestling. The difference between freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling is that freestyle wrestlers can use their legs for both defensive and offensive moves, but Greco-Roman forbids any holds below the waist. Our Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses reports on the part of the body where workplace injuries occur, and, just like Greco-Roman, many of those occur above the waist.
Among workplace injuries that resulted in time away from work, nearly two out of three affected parts of the body above the waist, with the greatest number related to the upper extremities (shoulder, arm, hand, and wrist).
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Among the most prevalent injuries to the upper extremities were sprains, strains, punctures, cuts, and burns.
Beach volleyball
This popular sport takes place out on the sandy beaches, with two athletes on each side battling for the gold. Let’s look at some popular beach volleyball spots around the United States and pair them with the unemployment rates by state and metropolitan area. Florida serves up the lowest unemployment rate among the four states we have selected, at 5.7 percent (not seasonally adjusted) in June. Miami had an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent in June—the lowest among the metro areas chosen. Receiving the serve, Hawaii’s rate stood at a 7.9 percent. They bumped it to their teammate Illinois, which also had a rate of 7.9 percent. California reached a little higher, with a rate of 8.0 percent.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
BLS heads to Tokyo
Just as the United States exports its athletes to Japan for the Olympic Games, the two countries are regular trading partners. The BLS International Price Program provides a monthly look at inflation for U.S. imports and exports. Among the data available are price changes based on where the imports come from and where the exports go. And yes, this includes data for Japan. While we’ve seen increases in many inflation measures in recent months, the data show more modest increases in prices of U.S. imports from Japan. Not so for U.S. exports to Japan, which increased 15.8 percent from June 2020 to June 2021. No, this does not represent the price of exporting our athletes; it mostly relates to sharp increases in the price of agricultural exports.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Whether it’s weightlifting or dressage or the new sports climbing activities, BLS is cheering on the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians in Japan. At the same time, we’ll still be keeping to our data release schedule. Find out what’s available from BLS during August and September and be sure to follow BLS on Twitter.
Fastest growing occupations, projected, 2019–29
Occupation
Projected percent change
Wind turbine service technicians
60.7%
Nurse practitioners
52.4
Solar photovoltaic installers
50.5
Occupational therapy assistants
34.6
Statisticians
34.6
Home health and personal care aides
33.7
Physical therapist assistants
32.6
Medical and health services managers
31.5
Physician assistants
31.3
Information security analysts
31.2
Data scientists and mathematical science occupations, all other
30.9
Derrick operators, oil and gas
30.5
Percent change in BLS price indexes, June 2020 to June 2021
Price index
Percent change
Import Price Index
11.2%
Producer Price Index
7.3
Export Price Index
16.8
Consumer Price Index
5.4
Number of workplace injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work, by part of body, 2019
Part of body
Number
Upper extremities (shoulder, arm, hand, wrist)
284,860
Lower extremities (knee, ankle, foot)
216,850
Trunk
187,130
Multiple body parts
82,650
Head
79,620
Body systems
15,150
Neck
11,600
All other body parts
10,360
Unemployment rates in selected beach volleyball states and metropolitan areas, June 2021, not seasonally adjusted
State or metropolitan area
Rate
States
Florida
5.7%
Hawaii
7.9
Illinois
7.9
California
8.0
Metropolitan areas
Miami
6.2
Honolulu
7.1
Chicago
8.5
Los Angeles
9.5
Percent change in U.S. import and export prices, June 2020 to June 2021
I know many of us are glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror and have higher hopes for 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused so much suffering and hardship for people in the United States and around the world. During these challenging times, it remains important to have good, reliable, timely data. Good data are essential for the public health response to the pandemic and for tracking its economic and social effects, as well as the progress toward recovery. Let’s reflect back on some of the historic measures we saw in 2020.
Throughout the pandemic, the BLS staff and our colleagues across the statistical community have remained on the job to meet the growing needs for high-quality data. We are thankful we have been able to keep working; millions of other people haven’t been so fortunate. In part this is due to the way our work life at BLS changed in 2020. Nearly the entire staff has teleworked full time since March. That means we have needed to figure out new ways to collaborate with each other to continue producing essential data about the economy. That change in work life also meant that many staff members faced the challenges of new care arrangements for young children, schooling—often online—for older children, and keeping all their loved ones safe and healthy.
When the pandemic began in March 2020, many consumers began avoiding stores, restaurants, and other public gatherings to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Many businesses and other organizations reduced their operations or closed completely. At the recommendation of public health authorities, many governors and other public leaders issued stay-at-home orders. The economic impact of COVID-19 was breathtaking in its speed and severity.
National employment data. The nation experienced steady employment growth in recent years; BLS recorded average monthly increases in nonfarm employment between about 170,000 and 200,000 from 2016 to 2019. January and February 2020 brought continued job gains before the bottom dropped out in March (down 1.7 million jobs) and especially in April (down 20.7 million). These were the two largest declines in history, dating to 1939. These declines were then followed by the 4 largest increases in history: 2.8 million, 4.8 million, 1.7 million, and 1.5 million. You have to go back to 1983 to find the next highest increase, 1,118,000. Employment in December 2020 was nearly 10 million lower than in February.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
National unemployment data. The year started with some record-low unemployment rates. The 3.5-percent unemployment rate in both January and February 2020 tied for the lowest rate since December 1969 (also 3.5 percent). The unemployment rates for several demographic groups were at or near their record lows. For example, the unemployment rate for African Americans in February 2020, at 6.0 percent, was close to the all-time low of 5.2 percent in August 2019.
Then came the pandemic in March 2020. The unemployment rate that month rose 0.9 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In April, the unemployment rate increased by 10.4 percentage points to 14.8 percent, the highest rate and largest one-month increase in history (dating to January 1948). Nearly all demographic groups experienced record-high unemployment rates in April; for example, the rate for Hispanics was a record 18.9 percent, after a record low of 4.0 percent in September 2019. And for the first time since data became available for both groups in 1973, the unemployment rate for Hispanics in April 2020 exceeded the rate for African Americans.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
State unemployment data. We see a similar pattern when looking at state unemployment rates, with record-setting lows early in 2020 followed by record-setting highs. In February, state unemployment rates ranged from a low of 2.2 percent in North Dakota to a high of 5.8 percent in Alaska, with 12 states at their historic lows that month. By April, rates had increased in all states, with 40 states and the District of Columbia setting new highs in that month, and another 7 states cresting in subsequent months. (The state data began in 1976.) State unemployment rates in April ranged from 8.3 percent in Connecticut to 30.1 percent in Nevada. Check out our animated map showing the rapid transformation of state unemployment rates.
Consumer price data. Beyond the job market, the pandemic had a big effect on other aspects of everyday life, including consumers’ buying habits. Toilet paper and wipes were disappearing from store shelves, while fewer people were commuting or traveling. Those trends were reflected in rapid changes in consumer prices.
One-month changes in the Consumer Price Index are typically 0.1 or 0.2 percent; the 0.8 percent decrease in April 2020, was the largest monthly decline since December 2008. The overall change included some large movements in both directions. For example, the price of gasoline declined 20.6 percent in April, the largest one-month decline since November 2008. In contrast, prices for food at home rose by 2.6 percent, the largest monthly increase since February 1974. Looking below the surface even further, several items experienced record one-month price changes, with some records going back over 50 years.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Labor Productivity data. The BLS quarterly measure of labor productivity in the nonfarm business sector compares output to hours worked. If output rises more than hours worked, productivity increases. The pandemic saw large declines in both output and hours starting in mid-March. There was a small decline in labor productivity in the first quarter of 2020, down 0.3 percent, as output declined (-6.4 percent) slightly more than hours worked (-6.1 percent). While we had not experienced declining productivity in nearly 3 years, small increases or decreases in the quarterly change are common. The second quarter saw labor productivity soar by 10.6 percent, the largest increase since 1971, when productivity increased 12.3 percent in the first quarter. The second quarter 2020 increase reflected a greater decline in hours worked (-42.9 percent) than in output (-36.8 percent).
Since its beginnings in 1884, BLS has built consistent data to allow comparisons across the decades. Maintaining this history allows data users to quickly learn “when was the last time.” We also have collected and published new data specifically about the COVID-19 pandemic. Still to come, BLS will release more 2020 data in the coming year. Those new results will add to the unique story of the extraordinary 2020 economy.
Nonfarm payroll employment, January 1970–December 2020
Month
Employment level
Over-the-month change
Jan 1970
71,176,000
-65,000
Feb 1970
71,305,000
129,000
Mar 1970
71,451,000
146,000
Apr 1970
71,348,000
-103,000
May 1970
71,124,000
-224,000
Jun 1970
71,029,000
-95,000
Jul 1970
71,053,000
24,000
Aug 1970
70,937,000
-116,000
Sep 1970
70,944,000
7,000
Oct 1970
70,521,000
-423,000
Nov 1970
70,409,000
-112,000
Dec 1970
70,792,000
383,000
Jan 1971
70,865,000
73,000
Feb 1971
70,807,000
-58,000
Mar 1971
70,860,000
53,000
Apr 1971
71,036,000
176,000
May 1971
71,247,000
211,000
Jun 1971
71,254,000
7,000
Jul 1971
71,315,000
61,000
Aug 1971
71,373,000
58,000
Sep 1971
71,614,000
241,000
Oct 1971
71,642,000
28,000
Nov 1971
71,847,000
205,000
Dec 1971
72,109,000
262,000
Jan 1972
72,441,000
332,000
Feb 1972
72,648,000
207,000
Mar 1972
72,944,000
296,000
Apr 1972
73,162,000
218,000
May 1972
73,469,000
307,000
Jun 1972
73,758,000
289,000
Jul 1972
73,709,000
-49,000
Aug 1972
74,141,000
432,000
Sep 1972
74,264,000
123,000
Oct 1972
74,674,000
410,000
Nov 1972
74,973,000
299,000
Dec 1972
75,268,000
295,000
Jan 1973
75,617,000
349,000
Feb 1973
76,014,000
397,000
Mar 1973
76,284,000
270,000
Apr 1973
76,455,000
171,000
May 1973
76,648,000
193,000
Jun 1973
76,887,000
239,000
Jul 1973
76,913,000
26,000
Aug 1973
77,168,000
255,000
Sep 1973
77,276,000
108,000
Oct 1973
77,607,000
331,000
Nov 1973
77,920,000
313,000
Dec 1973
78,031,000
111,000
Jan 1974
78,100,000
69,000
Feb 1974
78,254,000
154,000
Mar 1974
78,296,000
42,000
Apr 1974
78,382,000
86,000
May 1974
78,549,000
167,000
Jun 1974
78,604,000
55,000
Jul 1974
78,636,000
32,000
Aug 1974
78,619,000
-17,000
Sep 1974
78,610,000
-9,000
Oct 1974
78,630,000
20,000
Nov 1974
78,265,000
-365,000
Dec 1974
77,652,000
-613,000
Jan 1975
77,293,000
-359,000
Feb 1975
76,918,000
-375,000
Mar 1975
76,648,000
-270,000
Apr 1975
76,460,000
-188,000
May 1975
76,624,000
164,000
Jun 1975
76,521,000
-103,000
Jul 1975
76,770,000
249,000
Aug 1975
77,153,000
383,000
Sep 1975
77,228,000
75,000
Oct 1975
77,540,000
312,000
Nov 1975
77,685,000
145,000
Dec 1975
78,017,000
332,000
Jan 1976
78,503,000
486,000
Feb 1976
78,816,000
313,000
Mar 1976
79,048,000
232,000
Apr 1976
79,292,000
244,000
May 1976
79,312,000
20,000
Jun 1976
79,376,000
64,000
Jul 1976
79,547,000
171,000
Aug 1976
79,704,000
157,000
Sep 1976
79,892,000
188,000
Oct 1976
79,911,000
19,000
Nov 1976
80,240,000
329,000
Dec 1976
80,448,000
208,000
Jan 1977
80,690,000
242,000
Feb 1977
80,988,000
298,000
Mar 1977
81,391,000
403,000
Apr 1977
81,728,000
337,000
May 1977
82,088,000
360,000
Jun 1977
82,488,000
400,000
Jul 1977
82,834,000
346,000
Aug 1977
83,075,000
241,000
Sep 1977
83,532,000
457,000
Oct 1977
83,800,000
268,000
Nov 1977
84,173,000
373,000
Dec 1977
84,410,000
237,000
Jan 1978
84,594,000
184,000
Feb 1978
84,948,000
354,000
Mar 1978
85,460,000
512,000
Apr 1978
86,162,000
702,000
May 1978
86,509,000
347,000
Jun 1978
86,950,000
441,000
Jul 1978
87,204,000
254,000
Aug 1978
87,483,000
279,000
Sep 1978
87,621,000
138,000
Oct 1978
87,956,000
335,000
Nov 1978
88,391,000
435,000
Dec 1978
88,671,000
280,000
Jan 1979
88,808,000
137,000
Feb 1979
89,055,000
247,000
Mar 1979
89,479,000
424,000
Apr 1979
89,417,000
-62,000
May 1979
89,789,000
372,000
Jun 1979
90,108,000
319,000
Jul 1979
90,217,000
109,000
Aug 1979
90,300,000
83,000
Sep 1979
90,327,000
27,000
Oct 1979
90,481,000
154,000
Nov 1979
90,573,000
92,000
Dec 1979
90,672,000
99,000
Jan 1980
90,800,000
128,000
Feb 1980
90,883,000
83,000
Mar 1980
90,994,000
111,000
Apr 1980
90,849,000
-145,000
May 1980
90,420,000
-429,000
Jun 1980
90,101,000
-319,000
Jul 1980
89,840,000
-261,000
Aug 1980
90,099,000
259,000
Sep 1980
90,213,000
114,000
Oct 1980
90,490,000
277,000
Nov 1980
90,747,000
257,000
Dec 1980
90,943,000
196,000
Jan 1981
91,033,000
90,000
Feb 1981
91,105,000
72,000
Mar 1981
91,210,000
105,000
Apr 1981
91,283,000
73,000
May 1981
91,296,000
13,000
Jun 1981
91,490,000
194,000
Jul 1981
91,601,000
111,000
Aug 1981
91,565,000
-36,000
Sep 1981
91,477,000
-88,000
Oct 1981
91,380,000
-97,000
Nov 1981
91,171,000
-209,000
Dec 1981
90,895,000
-276,000
Jan 1982
90,565,000
-330,000
Feb 1982
90,563,000
-2,000
Mar 1982
90,434,000
-129,000
Apr 1982
90,150,000
-284,000
May 1982
90,107,000
-43,000
Jun 1982
89,865,000
-242,000
Jul 1982
89,521,000
-344,000
Aug 1982
89,363,000
-158,000
Sep 1982
89,183,000
-180,000
Oct 1982
88,907,000
-276,000
Nov 1982
88,786,000
-121,000
Dec 1982
88,771,000
-15,000
Jan 1983
88,990,000
219,000
Feb 1983
88,917,000
-73,000
Mar 1983
89,090,000
173,000
Apr 1983
89,364,000
274,000
May 1983
89,644,000
280,000
Jun 1983
90,021,000
377,000
Jul 1983
90,437,000
416,000
Aug 1983
90,129,000
-308,000
Sep 1983
91,247,000
1,118,000
Oct 1983
91,520,000
273,000
Nov 1983
91,875,000
355,000
Dec 1983
92,230,000
355,000
Jan 1984
92,673,000
443,000
Feb 1984
93,157,000
484,000
Mar 1984
93,429,000
272,000
Apr 1984
93,792,000
363,000
May 1984
94,098,000
306,000
Jun 1984
94,479,000
381,000
Jul 1984
94,789,000
310,000
Aug 1984
95,032,000
243,000
Sep 1984
95,344,000
312,000
Oct 1984
95,629,000
285,000
Nov 1984
95,982,000
353,000
Dec 1984
96,107,000
125,000
Jan 1985
96,372,000
265,000
Feb 1985
96,503,000
131,000
Mar 1985
96,842,000
339,000
Apr 1985
97,038,000
196,000
May 1985
97,312,000
274,000
Jun 1985
97,459,000
147,000
Jul 1985
97,648,000
189,000
Aug 1985
97,840,000
192,000
Sep 1985
98,045,000
205,000
Oct 1985
98,233,000
188,000
Nov 1985
98,443,000
210,000
Dec 1985
98,609,000
166,000
Jan 1986
98,732,000
123,000
Feb 1986
98,847,000
115,000
Mar 1986
98,934,000
87,000
Apr 1986
99,121,000
187,000
May 1986
99,248,000
127,000
Jun 1986
99,155,000
-93,000
Jul 1986
99,473,000
318,000
Aug 1986
99,588,000
115,000
Sep 1986
99,934,000
346,000
Oct 1986
100,121,000
187,000
Nov 1986
100,308,000
187,000
Dec 1986
100,509,000
201,000
Jan 1987
100,678,000
169,000
Feb 1987
100,919,000
241,000
Mar 1987
101,164,000
245,000
Apr 1987
101,499,000
335,000
May 1987
101,728,000
229,000
Jun 1987
101,900,000
172,000
Jul 1987
102,247,000
347,000
Aug 1987
102,420,000
173,000
Sep 1987
102,647,000
227,000
Oct 1987
103,138,000
491,000
Nov 1987
103,372,000
234,000
Dec 1987
103,661,000
289,000
Jan 1988
103,753,000
92,000
Feb 1988
104,214,000
461,000
Mar 1988
104,489,000
275,000
Apr 1988
104,732,000
243,000
May 1988
104,962,000
230,000
Jun 1988
105,326,000
364,000
Jul 1988
105,550,000
224,000
Aug 1988
105,674,000
124,000
Sep 1988
106,013,000
339,000
Oct 1988
106,276,000
263,000
Nov 1988
106,617,000
341,000
Dec 1988
106,898,000
281,000
Jan 1989
107,161,000
263,000
Feb 1989
107,427,000
266,000
Mar 1989
107,621,000
194,000
Apr 1989
107,791,000
170,000
May 1989
107,913,000
122,000
Jun 1989
108,027,000
114,000
Jul 1989
108,069,000
42,000
Aug 1989
108,120,000
51,000
Sep 1989
108,369,000
249,000
Oct 1989
108,476,000
107,000
Nov 1989
108,752,000
276,000
Dec 1989
108,836,000
84,000
Jan 1990
109,199,000
363,000
Feb 1990
109,435,000
236,000
Mar 1990
109,644,000
209,000
Apr 1990
109,686,000
42,000
May 1990
109,839,000
153,000
Jun 1990
109,856,000
17,000
Jul 1990
109,824,000
-32,000
Aug 1990
109,616,000
-208,000
Sep 1990
109,518,000
-98,000
Oct 1990
109,367,000
-151,000
Nov 1990
109,214,000
-153,000
Dec 1990
109,166,000
-48,000
Jan 1991
109,055,000
-111,000
Feb 1991
108,734,000
-321,000
Mar 1991
108,574,000
-160,000
Apr 1991
108,364,000
-210,000
May 1991
108,249,000
-115,000
Jun 1991
108,334,000
85,000
Jul 1991
108,292,000
-42,000
Aug 1991
108,310,000
18,000
Sep 1991
108,336,000
26,000
Oct 1991
108,357,000
21,000
Nov 1991
108,296,000
-61,000
Dec 1991
108,328,000
32,000
Jan 1992
108,369,000
41,000
Feb 1992
108,311,000
-58,000
Mar 1992
108,365,000
54,000
Apr 1992
108,519,000
154,000
May 1992
108,649,000
130,000
Jun 1992
108,715,000
66,000
Jul 1992
108,793,000
78,000
Aug 1992
108,925,000
132,000
Sep 1992
108,959,000
34,000
Oct 1992
109,139,000
180,000
Nov 1992
109,272,000
133,000
Dec 1992
109,495,000
223,000
Jan 1993
109,794,000
299,000
Feb 1993
110,044,000
250,000
Mar 1993
109,994,000
-50,000
Apr 1993
110,296,000
302,000
May 1993
110,568,000
272,000
Jun 1993
110,749,000
181,000
Jul 1993
111,055,000
306,000
Aug 1993
111,206,000
151,000
Sep 1993
111,448,000
242,000
Oct 1993
111,733,000
285,000
Nov 1993
111,984,000
251,000
Dec 1993
112,314,000
330,000
Jan 1994
112,595,000
281,000
Feb 1994
112,781,000
186,000
Mar 1994
113,242,000
461,000
Apr 1994
113,586,000
344,000
May 1994
113,921,000
335,000
Jun 1994
114,238,000
317,000
Jul 1994
114,610,000
372,000
Aug 1994
114,896,000
286,000
Sep 1994
115,247,000
351,000
Oct 1994
115,458,000
211,000
Nov 1994
115,869,000
411,000
Dec 1994
116,165,000
296,000
Jan 1995
116,501,000
336,000
Feb 1995
116,697,000
196,000
Mar 1995
116,907,000
210,000
Apr 1995
117,069,000
162,000
May 1995
117,049,000
-20,000
Jun 1995
117,286,000
237,000
Jul 1995
117,380,000
94,000
Aug 1995
117,634,000
254,000
Sep 1995
117,875,000
241,000
Oct 1995
118,031,000
156,000
Nov 1995
118,175,000
144,000
Dec 1995
118,320,000
145,000
Jan 1996
118,316,000
-4,000
Feb 1996
118,739,000
423,000
Mar 1996
118,993,000
254,000
Apr 1996
119,158,000
165,000
May 1996
119,486,000
328,000
Jun 1996
119,769,000
283,000
Jul 1996
120,015,000
246,000
Aug 1996
120,199,000
184,000
Sep 1996
120,410,000
211,000
Oct 1996
120,665,000
255,000
Nov 1996
120,961,000
296,000
Dec 1996
121,143,000
182,000
Jan 1997
121,363,000
220,000
Feb 1997
121,675,000
312,000
Mar 1997
121,990,000
315,000
Apr 1997
122,286,000
296,000
May 1997
122,546,000
260,000
Jun 1997
122,814,000
268,000
Jul 1997
123,111,000
297,000
Aug 1997
123,093,000
-18,000
Sep 1997
123,585,000
492,000
Oct 1997
123,929,000
344,000
Nov 1997
124,235,000
306,000
Dec 1997
124,549,000
314,000
Jan 1998
124,812,000
263,000
Feb 1998
125,016,000
204,000
Mar 1998
125,164,000
148,000
Apr 1998
125,442,000
278,000
May 1998
125,844,000
402,000
Jun 1998
126,076,000
232,000
Jul 1998
126,205,000
129,000
Aug 1998
126,544,000
339,000
Sep 1998
126,752,000
208,000
Oct 1998
126,954,000
202,000
Nov 1998
127,231,000
277,000
Dec 1998
127,596,000
365,000
Jan 1999
127,702,000
106,000
Feb 1999
128,120,000
418,000
Mar 1999
128,227,000
107,000
Apr 1999
128,597,000
370,000
May 1999
128,808,000
211,000
Jun 1999
129,089,000
281,000
Jul 1999
129,414,000
325,000
Aug 1999
129,569,000
155,000
Sep 1999
129,772,000
203,000
Oct 1999
130,177,000
405,000
Nov 1999
130,466,000
289,000
Dec 1999
130,772,000
306,000
Jan 2000
131,005,000
233,000
Feb 2000
131,124,000
119,000
Mar 2000
131,596,000
472,000
Apr 2000
131,888,000
292,000
May 2000
132,105,000
217,000
Jun 2000
132,061,000
-44,000
Jul 2000
132,236,000
175,000
Aug 2000
132,230,000
-6,000
Sep 2000
132,353,000
123,000
Oct 2000
132,351,000
-2,000
Nov 2000
132,556,000
205,000
Dec 2000
132,709,000
153,000
Jan 2001
132,698,000
-11,000
Feb 2001
132,789,000
91,000
Mar 2001
132,747,000
-42,000
Apr 2001
132,463,000
-284,000
May 2001
132,410,000
-53,000
Jun 2001
132,299,000
-111,000
Jul 2001
132,177,000
-122,000
Aug 2001
132,028,000
-149,000
Sep 2001
131,771,000
-257,000
Oct 2001
131,454,000
-317,000
Nov 2001
131,142,000
-312,000
Dec 2001
130,982,000
-160,000
Jan 2002
130,852,000
-130,000
Feb 2002
130,736,000
-116,000
Mar 2002
130,717,000
-19,000
Apr 2002
130,623,000
-94,000
May 2002
130,634,000
11,000
Jun 2002
130,684,000
50,000
Jul 2002
130,590,000
-94,000
Aug 2002
130,587,000
-3,000
Sep 2002
130,501,000
-86,000
Oct 2002
130,628,000
127,000
Nov 2002
130,615,000
-13,000
Dec 2002
130,472,000
-143,000
Jan 2003
130,580,000
108,000
Feb 2003
130,444,000
-136,000
Mar 2003
130,232,000
-212,000
Apr 2003
130,177,000
-55,000
May 2003
130,196,000
19,000
Jun 2003
130,194,000
-2,000
Jul 2003
130,191,000
-3,000
Aug 2003
130,149,000
-42,000
Sep 2003
130,254,000
105,000
Oct 2003
130,454,000
200,000
Nov 2003
130,474,000
20,000
Dec 2003
130,588,000
114,000
Jan 2004
130,769,000
181,000
Feb 2004
130,825,000
56,000
Mar 2004
131,142,000
317,000
Apr 2004
131,411,000
269,000
May 2004
131,694,000
283,000
Jun 2004
131,793,000
99,000
Jul 2004
131,848,000
55,000
Aug 2004
131,937,000
89,000
Sep 2004
132,093,000
156,000
Oct 2004
132,447,000
354,000
Nov 2004
132,503,000
56,000
Dec 2004
132,624,000
121,000
Jan 2005
132,774,000
150,000
Feb 2005
133,032,000
258,000
Mar 2005
133,156,000
124,000
Apr 2005
133,518,000
362,000
May 2005
133,690,000
172,000
Jun 2005
133,942,000
252,000
Jul 2005
134,296,000
354,000
Aug 2005
134,498,000
202,000
Sep 2005
134,566,000
68,000
Oct 2005
134,655,000
89,000
Nov 2005
134,993,000
338,000
Dec 2005
135,149,000
156,000
Jan 2006
135,429,000
280,000
Feb 2006
135,737,000
308,000
Mar 2006
136,047,000
310,000
Apr 2006
136,205,000
158,000
May 2006
136,244,000
39,000
Jun 2006
136,325,000
81,000
Jul 2006
136,520,000
195,000
Aug 2006
136,694,000
174,000
Sep 2006
136,843,000
149,000
Oct 2006
136,852,000
9,000
Nov 2006
137,063,000
211,000
Dec 2006
137,249,000
186,000
Jan 2007
137,477,000
228,000
Feb 2007
137,558,000
81,000
Mar 2007
137,793,000
235,000
Apr 2007
137,842,000
49,000
May 2007
137,993,000
151,000
Jun 2007
138,069,000
76,000
Jul 2007
138,038,000
-31,000
Aug 2007
138,015,000
-23,000
Sep 2007
138,095,000
80,000
Oct 2007
138,174,000
79,000
Nov 2007
138,284,000
110,000
Dec 2007
138,392,000
108,000
Jan 2008
138,403,000
11,000
Feb 2008
138,324,000
-79,000
Mar 2008
138,275,000
-49,000
Apr 2008
138,035,000
-240,000
May 2008
137,858,000
-177,000
Jun 2008
137,687,000
-171,000
Jul 2008
137,491,000
-196,000
Aug 2008
137,213,000
-278,000
Sep 2008
136,753,000
-460,000
Oct 2008
136,272,000
-481,000
Nov 2008
135,545,000
-727,000
Dec 2008
134,839,000
-706,000
Jan 2009
134,055,000
-784,000
Feb 2009
133,312,000
-743,000
Mar 2009
132,512,000
-800,000
Apr 2009
131,817,000
-695,000
May 2009
131,475,000
-342,000
Jun 2009
131,008,000
-467,000
Jul 2009
130,668,000
-340,000
Aug 2009
130,485,000
-183,000
Sep 2009
130,244,000
-241,000
Oct 2009
130,045,000
-199,000
Nov 2009
130,057,000
12,000
Dec 2009
129,788,000
-269,000
Jan 2010
129,790,000
2,000
Feb 2010
129,698,000
-92,000
Mar 2010
129,879,000
181,000
Apr 2010
130,110,000
231,000
May 2010
130,650,000
540,000
Jun 2010
130,511,000
-139,000
Jul 2010
130,427,000
-84,000
Aug 2010
130,422,000
-5,000
Sep 2010
130,357,000
-65,000
Oct 2010
130,625,000
268,000
Nov 2010
130,750,000
125,000
Dec 2010
130,822,000
72,000
Jan 2011
130,841,000
19,000
Feb 2011
131,053,000
212,000
Mar 2011
131,288,000
235,000
Apr 2011
131,602,000
314,000
May 2011
131,703,000
101,000
Jun 2011
131,939,000
236,000
Jul 2011
131,999,000
60,000
Aug 2011
132,125,000
126,000
Sep 2011
132,358,000
233,000
Oct 2011
132,562,000
204,000
Nov 2011
132,694,000
132,000
Dec 2011
132,896,000
202,000
Jan 2012
133,250,000
354,000
Feb 2012
133,512,000
262,000
Mar 2012
133,752,000
240,000
Apr 2012
133,834,000
82,000
May 2012
133,934,000
100,000
Jun 2012
134,007,000
73,000
Jul 2012
134,159,000
152,000
Aug 2012
134,331,000
172,000
Sep 2012
134,518,000
187,000
Oct 2012
134,677,000
159,000
Nov 2012
134,833,000
156,000
Dec 2012
135,072,000
239,000
Jan 2013
135,263,000
191,000
Feb 2013
135,541,000
278,000
Mar 2013
135,680,000
139,000
Apr 2013
135,871,000
191,000
May 2013
136,093,000
222,000
Jun 2013
136,274,000
181,000
Jul 2013
136,386,000
112,000
Aug 2013
136,628,000
242,000
Sep 2013
136,815,000
187,000
Oct 2013
137,040,000
225,000
Nov 2013
137,304,000
264,000
Dec 2013
137,373,000
69,000
Jan 2014
137,548,000
175,000
Feb 2014
137,714,000
166,000
Mar 2014
137,968,000
254,000
Apr 2014
138,293,000
325,000
May 2014
138,511,000
218,000
Jun 2014
138,837,000
326,000
Jul 2014
139,069,000
232,000
Aug 2014
139,257,000
188,000
Sep 2014
139,566,000
309,000
Oct 2014
139,818,000
252,000
Nov 2014
140,109,000
291,000
Dec 2014
140,377,000
268,000
Jan 2015
140,568,000
191,000
Feb 2015
140,839,000
271,000
Mar 2015
140,910,000
71,000
Apr 2015
141,194,000
284,000
May 2015
141,525,000
331,000
Jun 2015
141,699,000
174,000
Jul 2015
142,001,000
302,000
Aug 2015
142,126,000
125,000
Sep 2015
142,281,000
155,000
Oct 2015
142,587,000
306,000
Nov 2015
142,824,000
237,000
Dec 2015
143,097,000
273,000
Jan 2016
143,205,000
108,000
Feb 2016
143,417,000
212,000
Mar 2016
143,654,000
237,000
Apr 2016
143,851,000
197,000
May 2016
143,892,000
41,000
Jun 2016
144,150,000
258,000
Jul 2016
144,521,000
371,000
Aug 2016
144,664,000
143,000
Sep 2016
144,953,000
289,000
Oct 2016
145,071,000
118,000
Nov 2016
145,201,000
130,000
Dec 2016
145,415,000
214,000
Jan 2017
145,612,000
197,000
Feb 2017
145,795,000
183,000
Mar 2017
145,934,000
139,000
Apr 2017
146,154,000
220,000
May 2017
146,295,000
141,000
Jun 2017
146,506,000
211,000
Jul 2017
146,734,000
228,000
Aug 2017
146,924,000
190,000
Sep 2017
146,966,000
42,000
Oct 2017
147,215,000
249,000
Nov 2017
147,411,000
196,000
Dec 2017
147,590,000
179,000
Jan 2018
147,671,000
81,000
Feb 2018
148,049,000
378,000
Mar 2018
148,244,000
195,000
Apr 2018
148,397,000
153,000
May 2018
148,667,000
270,000
Jun 2018
148,881,000
214,000
Jul 2018
149,030,000
149,000
Aug 2018
149,259,000
229,000
Sep 2018
149,364,000
105,000
Oct 2018
149,576,000
212,000
Nov 2018
149,668,000
92,000
Dec 2018
149,908,000
240,000
Jan 2019
150,145,000
237,000
Feb 2019
150,095,000
-50,000
Mar 2019
150,263,000
168,000
Apr 2019
150,482,000
219,000
May 2019
150,545,000
63,000
Jun 2019
150,720,000
175,000
Jul 2019
150,913,000
193,000
Aug 2019
151,108,000
195,000
Sep 2019
151,329,000
221,000
Oct 2019
151,524,000
195,000
Nov 2019
151,758,000
234,000
Dec 2019
151,919,000
161,000
Jan 2020
152,234,000
315,000
Feb 2020
152,523,000
289,000
Mar 2020
150,840,000
-1,683,000
Apr 2020
130,161,000
-20,679,000
May 2020
132,994,000
2,833,000
Jun 2020
137,840,000
4,846,000
Jul 2020
139,566,000
1,726,000
Aug 2020
141,149,000
1,583,000
Sep 2020
141,865,000
716,000
Oct 2020
142,545,000
680,000
Nov 2020
142,809,000
264,000
Dec 2020
142,582,000
-227,000
Unemployment rates for selected groups, February, April, and December 2020
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
February 2020
April 2020
December 2020
Total, 16 years and older
3.5
14.8
6.7
White
3.0
14.1
6.0
Black or African American
6.0
16.7
9.9
Asian
2.4
14.5
5.9
Hispanic or Latino
4.4
18.9
9.3
Percent change in consumer prices for selected items in April 2020, seasonally adjusted
We have a guest
blogger for this edition of Commissioner’s Corner. Jennifer Price is an
economist in the Office of Productivity and Technology at the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics. She enjoys watching theatrical performances when she’s not
working.
I recently
had the pleasure of attending a high school play. The cast was composed of a
male and female lead and at least a dozen supporting actors. The program listed the performers and acknowledged many
other students, parents, teachers, and administrators. They all played some important
role to bring the play to life—lighting, sound, painting props, sewing
costumes, creating promotional materials, selling tickets, working concessions.
All of these pieces came together harmoniously to make the performance a
success.
Setting the Stage: New
Measures of State Productivity
We can view the health of the nation’s economy through the same lens. Our diversified economy is made up of lead performers and supporting roles in the form of industries. Some industries contribute more heavily to growth in output or productivity, playing the star role. Other industries are supporting characters, contributing to a smaller, but necessary, share of growth. Our productivity program recently published a webpage that examines how industries contribute to the nation’s private business output and productivity growth.
We also can examine these roles geographically. Until recently, BLS productivity measures were only produced at the national level. Last June, BLS published experimental measures of state labor productivity for the private nonfarm business sector. These measures, which cover the period from 2007 to 2017, will help us learn more about productivity growth in each state and how each state contributes to national productivity trends.
Measuring
productivity for all states allows us to credit the role played by each state,
not just the total performance of the national economy or region. Just as each
person, no matter how small their role, was necessary for the success of the
school play, each state contributes to how we evaluate national or regional productivity.
When we examine the contribution of each state to total productivity trends, we
find that, like actors, no two states perform identically. Similar individual
growth rates may have different impacts on the productivity of the nation or
region. By analyzing state productivity trends over the long term, we learn more
about regional business cycles, regional income inequality, and the role of local
regulations and taxes on growth.
From 2007
to 2017, labor productivity changes ranged from a gain of 3.1 percent per year
in North Dakota to a loss of 0.7 percent per year in Louisiana.
Editor’s note: Data for this map are available in the table below.
We estimate each state’s annual contribution to national or regional productivity growth by multiplying the state’s productivity growth rate by its average share of total current dollar national or regional output. The economic size of each state influences its contribution to national and regional estimates. From 2007 to 2017, California was our lead performer, with the largest contribution to national productivity growth. The state’s productivity grew 1.7 percent per year on average, and its large economy means it contributed more than one-fifth of the 1.0-percent growth in national labor productivity.
Editor’s note: Data for this chart are available in the table below.
Supporting
actors included Texas and New York. Making a cameo appearance was North Dakota;
despite having the largest productivity growth rate, it ranked 28th in terms of
its contribution to national productivity growth. Stars in each region included
Illinois (Midwest), New York (Northeast), Texas (South), and California (West).
Understudies—those states with the largest growth rates—were North Dakota (Midwest),
Pennsylvania (Northeast), and Oklahoma (South). Oregon and Washington shared
this role out West.
Second Act
For now,
our new measures cover the private nonfarm sector for all 50 states and the
District of Columbia from 2007 to 2017. These measures include output per hour,
output, hours, unit labor costs, hourly compensation, and real hourly
compensation. Our measures of labor productivity for states are experimental,
meaning we’re still assessing them and considering ways to improve them. In the
second act, we will be looking into producing state-level measures for more detailed
sectors and industries.
Earlier this month our nation celebrated Labor Day. We celebrate Labor Day for many good reasons, but one of the best is to appreciate, even for just one day, how amazingly productive our nation’s workforce is. As we shop online or in stores, we rarely stop to think about the skills and effort it takes to produce our goods and services. Let’s take a moment to celebrate that productivity and the progress we have seen in the last few years.
Indeed, productivity of labor is at the heart of the American economy. How much workers produce for each hour they labor and how efficiently they use resources determines the pace of economic growth and the volume of goods that supply everyone (workers included) with the products and services that shape our daily lives. Growing productivity means that our standard of living very likely is improving.
Our workers are very productive. On average, each U.S. worker produced goods and services worth $129,755 last year. That’s compared with the next largest world economies: Germany at $99,377; the United Kingdom at $93,226; Japan at $78,615; China at $32,553; and India at $19,555.
Despite our great reliance on rising productivity to attain the good things of life, academics and researchers still marvel at the mysteries that surround the subject. What drives productivity change? What are the key factors behind these international differences in output per worker?
For example, does the quality of labor alone determine the rate of productivity growth? It is certainly a component of what drives labor productivity, although some countries have high educational and training levels but low productivity per worker. Labor quality has been steadily rising in the United States, but we don’t know the impact on productivity as the baby boomers retire and are replaced.
What is the right mix of labor and technology needed for changing the productivity growth rate? How can we measure the value of the dignity of work, or the personal and social value that work yields? And, what is the role of technical knowledge and product design in determining the productivity of labor?
Then there’s the mysterious role of innovation. Economists think they know that invention and scientific breakthroughs can make massive changes to productivity. However, which innovations transform productivity, and have all the low-lying fruits of productivity enhancement already been harvested?
Despite our strong international showing, analysts who watch these data may be a tad bit concerned with the sluggishness in U.S. productivity growth over the past 10 years. Since 2011, the rate of growth in labor productivity has slowed to one-third of the pace shown between 2000 and 2008, despite acceleration in the past 2 years. Even when we broaden the concept of productivity to include the output attributable to the combination of labor and other productive factors (also known as multifactor productivity), the rate of growth is still one-third of the pace it was in the first decade of this century.
Even with a subsidence in the growth rate, it is worth noting that both labor input and output are on the rise. Since the start of the current business cycle expansion in 2009, the rate of growth in labor input has been five times what it was prior to the Great Recession during the previous expansion.
Output has also grown steadily, but at a slower rate than hours. Because labor productivity is the quotient of output divided by hours, productivity can slow even when both components are rising. The relationship between the relative growth of output and hours is one of the many features that makes productivity both challenging and fascinating to study.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics engages with an extensive network of researchers in and out of the academic community whose mission is, like ours, to better understand and measure the productivity of the U.S. labor force. Labor productivity is an amazing subject because it incorporates so many facets of the nation’s economy into one statistic. By peeling back layers and looking at the details behind the summary number, we can gain valuable insight on the hours and output of our nation’s workforce. We will continue to produce and provide context for these valuable statistics that help tell the story of America’s workers.
That said, we should never lose sight of the big picture. America’s workers lead the world in their capacity to create the goods and services that define our economy and improve our lives. And that, certainly, is something great to celebrate!