Worker Productivity Rises, Labor Costs Fall

By Martin Crutsinger

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. workers increased their productivity this summer by the largest amount in a year and half, and they cost their employers less. The trend is good for corporate profits but not necessarily for job growth.

The Labor Department says productivity rose at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the July-September quarter after two straight quarterly declines. Labor costs dropped at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the third quarter, the first decline since late 2010.