U.S. productivity rises more than expected in fourth quarter
U.S. worker productivity rose more than expected in the fourth quarter, leading to the biggest annual increase in eight years. The Labor Department said on Thursday non farm productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, increased at a 1.9 percent annualized rate in the last quarter. Data for the third quarter was revised down to show productivity rising at a pace of 1.8 percent instead of the previously reported 2.2 percent rate.