Worker Productivity Declines in First Quarter

Washington, DC, June 6, 2012 -- U.S. worker and business productivity fell 0.9% in the first quarter, more than the initial estimate of 0.5%, according to the Labor Department.

Economists had expected productivity to be revised to a 0.8% decline.

The drop in productivity resulted from a decline in the amount of goods and services produced.

Consequently, unit-labor costs climbed 1.3% in the first quarter instead of 0.9% as originally reported.