Unit labor costs in the United States edged down in the second quarter of 2026, with growth slowing to 1.2% quarter-over-quarter from 1.3% in the previous quarter. The updated data, released on 3 September 2026, indicate a modest moderation in labor cost pressures compared with the first quarter of the year.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the current 1.2% reading reflects a comparison of cost growth in the second quarter to the first quarter of 2026, while the previous 1.3% figure measured the change in the first quarter against the final quarter of 2025. The slight deceleration suggests labor cost growth remains elevated but is not accelerating, a detail closely watched by investors and policymakers assessing underlying inflation dynamics and corporate margin pressures.
