labor productivity Archives - Marketplace

What a dip in productivity tells us about the economy

by Savannah Maher

May 5, 2022

For one thing, it's not helpful in the fight against inflation.

"Productivity is an escape hatch for inflation," said Sarah House, an economist at Wells Fargo.

Johannes Eisele/ AFP via Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

SUBSCRIBE

U.S. productivity plummeted in Q4, and reopening the economy might be why

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Mar 4, 2021

The measure fell at the steepest rate in 40 years, but that might not be as ominous as it sounds — if the trend is short term.

Less productive businesses like restaurants have started to reopen, which may be causing national productivity data to decline.

Scott Heins/Getty Images

SUBSCRIBE