U.S. manufacturing productivity.

• Author: Davidson, Paul
• Position: ALASKA TRENDS

Manufacturers from bakers to auto makers have been growing ever more productive with their time over the past few decades. 1-he U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes data on manufacturing, including output, hours worked, and productivity (output per hour). The data set for the chart uses indexed values for 1987-2012 with 2005 as the base year and the base level at 100. The Bureau data shows trends of greater productivity and fewer hours worked along with volatile manufacturing output starting in 2000.

Productivity sees relatively consistent improvement and shows a 127.43 percent improvement from 1987 to 2012. Hours worked stagnate for the first half of the data set with the same level in 2000 as in 1987. The level of hours worked then declines roughly 30 percent to the level in 2012. Contrasting hours worked is output with a 60 percent increase from 1987-2000. After 2000, output shows two major reductions in 2001 and 2008, yet by 2012 it has returned to the level of 2000.

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SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov

ALASKA TRENDS Indicator Units Period GENERAL Personal Income-Alaska US$ 4th Q12 Personal Income-United States US$ 4th Q12 Consumer Prices-Anchorage 1982-1984=100 2nd H12 Consumer Prices-United States 1982-1984=100 2nd H12 Bankruptcies Alaska Total Number Filed February Anchorage Total Number Filed February Fairbanks Total NumberFiled February EMPLOYMENT Alaska Thousands February Anchorage & Mat-Su Thousands February Fairbanks Thousands February Southeast Thousands February Gulf Coast Thousands February Sectorial Distribution-Alaska Total Nonfarm Thousands February Goods Producing Thousands February Services Providing Thousands February Mining and Logging Thousands February Mining Thousands February Oil&Gas Thousands February Construction Thousands February Manufacturing Thousands February Seafood Processing Thousands February Trade/Transportation/Utilities Thousands February WholesaleTrade Thousands February Retail Trade Thousands February Food & Beverage Stores Thousands February General Merchandise Stores Thousands February Trans/Warehouse/Utilities Thousands February Air Transportation Thousands February Information Thousands February Telecommunications Thousands February Financial Activities Thousands February Professional & Business Services Thousands February Educational & Health Services Thousands February Health Care Thousands February Leisure & Hospitality Thousands February Accommodation...