Figure B
Labor costs once rose reliably in response to price pressure from non-labor sources: Unit labor cost growth and lagged growth in non-labor costs, 1954–1988
| % change in unit labor costs | % change in unit non-labor costs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 0.40% | -0.60% |
| 1955 | 0.70% | 0.10% |
| 1956 | 0.40% | 0.70% |
| 1957 | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| 1958 | 0.00% | -0.10% |
| 1959 | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 0.20% | 0.30% |
| 1961 | 0.10% | -0.20% |
| 1962 | 0.20% | 0.00% |
| 1963 | 0.10% | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 0.30% | 0.10% |
| 1965 | 0.70% | 0.00% |
| 1966 | 0.60% | 0.70% |
| 1967 | 0.90% | 0.40% |
| 1968 | 1.20% | 0.60% |
| 1969 | 1.00% | 1.30% |
| 1970 | 0.90% | 0.80% |
| 1971 | 1.00% | 0.10% |
| 1972 | 2.20% | 0.70% |
| 1973 | 3.50% | 1.60% |
| 1974 | 2.50% | 2.60% |
| 1975 | 1.60% | 0.60% |
| 1976 | 2.20% | 1.30% |
| 1977 | 2.80% | 1.20% |
| 1978 | 3.60% | 2.10% |
| 1979 | 4.90% | 3.10% |
| 1980 | 4.40% | 2.80% |
| 1981 | 2.30% | 2.20% |
| 1982 | 1.20% | 1.80% |
| 1983 | 1.60% | -0.20% |
| 1984 | 1.00% | 1.00% |
| 1985 | 0.80% | 1.20% |
| 1986 | 1.30% | 1.10% |
| 1987 | 1.90% | 0.50% |
| 1988 | 1.90% | 0.90% |
Note: Both labor costs and non-labor costs are calculated as the contribution of each to overall price changes. Data are measured from the same quarter in the previous year, with the non-labor costs lagged one period.
Source: Data from table 1.15 from the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
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