U.S. nonfarm productivity accelerated in the third quarter of 2025, rising 4.9% quarter-over-quarter, up from a 3.3% increase in the prior quarter. The latest data, updated on 29 January 2026, show a marked strengthening in output per hour, suggesting that businesses continued to extract more production from existing labor resources.
Both the current and previous readings relate to quarter-over-quarter changes, with the latest 4.9% gain measured against the 3.3% improvement recorded in the second quarter of 2025. The comparison highlights an upswing in productivity momentum over consecutive quarters, a key factor for potential growth and cost dynamics in the U.S. economy.
The figures underscore that, on this metric, productivity growth in Q3 2025 not only remained positive but also accelerated compared to the pace seen earlier in the year, offering a supportive backdrop for corporate margins and overall economic efficiency heading into 2026.
