Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov                    USDL: 97-285
Technical information: (202) 606-5654      For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: (202) 606-5902                  Friday, August 15, 1997


INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 1996

	The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of 
Labor today reported on 1996 developments in manufacturing labor 
productivity (output per hour) and unit labor costs in the 
United States and other industrial economies.

	Manufacturing productivity in the United States increased 
3.2 percent in 1996, the same rate as in 1995.  Of eight foreign 
economies for which data are available, only Germany (former 
West Germany) and Japan had higher rates of productivity growth 
than the United States.  The United Kingdom was the only economy 
in which productivity fell. (See table A and chart 1.)

	U.S. productivity growth in 1996 resulted from a 
combination of a 2.7 percent increase in output and a 0.5 
percent decline in labor input, as measured by hours worked.  In 
Germany, productivity increases were due to large drops in hours 
worked that more than offset declining output, while in Japan 
productivity growth was due solely to a rise in output. 
 
Chart 1. Percent change in output per hour, 1996

PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT

                                                             -2-

	Unit labor costs - the cost of labor input required to 
produce one unit of output - fell 0.3 percent in the United 
States in 1996.  Among the 11 foreign economies for which these 
data are available, only Japan and Taiwan had decreases in unit 
labor costs as measured in their national currencies.  The 
largest increases occurred in Italy, Sweden, and the United 
Kingdom.  (Unit labor costs can be computed either as 
compensation in nominal terms divided by real output or, 
equivalently, as hourly compensation divided by output per 
hour.)

	An increase in productivity represents a decrease in the 
amount of labor input needed to produce a unit of output; thus, 
an increase in productivity can offset an increase in 
compensation per hour when calculating unit labor costs.  The 
3.2 percent increase in productivity in the United States more 
than offset an hourly compensation increase of 2.9 percent, 
leading to a slight decline of 0.3 percent in unit labor costs.

	Relative currency values play a role in international 
competitiveness.  In order to make changes in unit labor costs 
more relevant for discussing competitiveness, foreign countries' 
costs can be converted to U.S. dollars, as in chart 2.

	Currency values relative to the U.S. dollar depreciated in 
most of the foreign economies in 1996, causing unit labor costs 
either to fall or to grow at a slower rate when measured on a 
U.S. dollar basis rather than on a national currency basis.  The 
depreciation of the yen was primarily responsible for a 16 
percent drop in unit labor costs in Japan, the largest drop of 
the economies studied.  The two countries with substantially 
appreciating currencies, Italy and Sweden, were the only 
economies where U.S. dollar-based unit labor costs rose more 
than 10 percent.

Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S.
dollar basis), 1996 

PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT

                                                                -3-

	The 1996 measures of changes in manufacturing productivity, 
unit labor costs, and related variables are summarized in table 
A below. Output and unit labor cost measures are included for 
all 12 economies for which 1996 data are available. Comparable 
productivity figures for Korea and Taiwan are not available.  
Productivity data for Denmark are not shown because the Danish 
national statistical agency has not produced recent data on 
hours worked. (See technical notes.)


Table A.  Manufacturing productivity and labor costs in 12 countries or areas						
				
                               Percent change, 1995-96									
										
              Output                             Hourly  Unit labor costs
Country        per               Employ- Average compen- National  U.S.  Exchange
or area        hour Output  Hours  ment   hours  sation  currency dollars rate (1)
										
										
United States   3.2   2.7  - 0.5  - 0.5    0.0    2.9    - 0.3   - 0.3     ---
										
Canada          1.1   1.3     .2     .9   - .7    4.4      3.2     3.9      .6
Japan           4.5   4.5     .0   - .8     .8    1.5    - 2.9   -16.1   -13.6
Korea (2)        NA   7.4     NA     NA     NA     NA      2.7   - 1.6   - 4.1
Taiwan (2)       NA   5.3     NA     NA     NA     NA    - 3.5   - 6.9   - 3.5
Denmark (3)      NA  - .3     NA  - 1.1     NA     NA      2.6   - 1.0   - 3.5
France          2.1    .8  - 1.3  - 1.4     .1    2.2       .0   - 2.5   - 2.5
										
Germany (4)     4.1  - .5  - 4.4  - 3.0  - 1.5    5.0       .8   - 4.0   - 4.8
Italy           2.3  - .8  - 3.0  -  .9  - 2.2    7.2      4.8    10.7     5.6
Norway           .8   2.8    1.9    2.0  -  .1    4.4      3.5     1.5   - 1.9
Sweden          2.3   2.2  -  .1     .9  - 1.0    6.5      4.1    10.8     6.4
United Kingdom - .2    .5     .6     .3     .4    3.8      4.0     2.8   - 1.1
									
(1)  Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
(2)  Productivity not available because adequate labor input measures have not been developed.
(3)  Labor input data have not been produced for 1994-1996 by the Danish national statistical agency.
(4)  Data relate to the former West Germany.										
NA=Not Available.



	Although the productivity measure relates output to the 
hours of persons employed in manufacturing, it does not measure 
the specific contributions of labor as a single factor of 
production.  Rather, it reflects the joint effects of many 
influences, including new technology, capital investment, 
capacity utilization, energy use, and managerial skills, as well 
as the skills and efforts of the work force.

	Table B (pages 8-12) shows average annual percent changes 
for selected periods starting in 1979 for 14 economies - the 12 
economies in table A plus Belgium and the Netherlands.  Indexes 
of the measures for the United States, Canada, Japan, and the 
European countries are in tables 1-14; output and unit labor 
cost indexes for Korea and Taiwan are in tables 15 and 16. 

                                                                -4-

The U.S. output measure

	The output measure for the United States in this release is the 
chain-weighted value-added index introduced by the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA) in August 1996.  This series is based on 
annually-changing price weights. The chain-weighted series 
replaced the fixed-weighted series as the manufacturing output 
measure published with the national accounts.  For more 
information, see Robert E. Yuskavage, "Improved Estimates of 
Gross Product by Industry, 1959-94," Survey of Current Business, 
August 1996, pp. 133-155.

	The U.S. output series used in this news release for 
international comparisons differs from the output series used in 
last year's news release.  In the July 17, 1996, release on 
international comparisons of manufacturing productivity and unit 
labor cost trends, the U.S. output measure was based on a fixed-
price weight scheme in which the price weights were not changed 
over the entire 1977-95 period.  

	The U.S. output series used for international comparisons also 
differs from the manufacturing series that BLS publishes in its 
news releases on quarterly measures of U.S. productivity and 
costs.  While both series are based on annually-changing price 
weights, the quarterly U.S. manufacturing series is on a 
"sectoral" output basis rather than on a value added basis.  
Sectoral output is gross output less intra-sector transactions. 
(See William Gullickson, "Measurement of productivity growth in 
U.S. manufacturing," Monthly Labor Review, July 1995, pp. 13-28.)  




Productivity, output, and labor input

	Manufacturing productivity (output per hour) increased 3.2 
percent in the United States in 1996.  The combination of an 
output increase of 2.7 percent and a slight decrease in labor 
hours produced the same rate of productivity growth as in 1995.  
In addition to the United States, only Germany and Japan had 
productivity growth rates greater than 2-1/2 percent in 1996.  
Only Germany had a higher rate of productivity growth in 1996 
than in 1995.

	Growth in output in the United States in 1996 was 2.7 
percent, down from a 3.5-percent increase in 1995.  Manufacturing 
output either declined or grew at a slower rate in 1996 than in 
1995 in all countries.  Korea and Taiwan had the largest 
increases in output.

     	Labor input (as measured by total hours worked) 
declined or was essentially unchanged in 1996 in all but two of 
the economies for which data are available.  The United States, 
with a decrease in hours worked of 0.5 percent, was among five 
countries with declining labor input.  Germany (down 4.4 percent) 
and Italy (down 3.0 percent) had the largest declines in hours 
worked.

                                                              -5-

Hourly compensation and unit labor costs

	Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing - which include 
wages and salaries, supplements, and employer payments for 
social security and other employer-financed benefit plans - rose 
2.9 percent in the United States in 1996.  Only France and Japan 
had smaller increases than did the United States.  Increases in 
the remaining countries ranged from about 4 to 7 percent.

	With productivity growth slightly outpacing the increase in 
hourly compensation costs, U.S. unit labor costs edged down in 
1996.  The decline offset the slight increase that occurred in 
1995, leaving U.S. unit labor costs about at their 1994 level.

	Japan and Taiwan were the only foreign economies to have 
decreases in unit labor costs in 1996.  Unit labor costs were 
unchanged in France, but increased in Korea and the remaining 
European countries at rates ranging to nearly 5 percent.


Unit labor costs in U.S. dollars

	The currencies of all but three of the foreign economies 
studied depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar in 1996.  Most 
of these declines were in the range of 1 to 5 percent, but the 
Japanese yen dropped 13-1/2 percent.  Currencies in Canada, 
Italy, and Sweden appreciated relative to the U.S. dollar.

	Changes in currency values relative to the U.S. dollar can 
have an important effect on changes in competitiveness as 
measured by U.S. dollar-based unit labor costs.  In 1996, the 
countries with the largest increases in unit labor costs 
measured on a national currency basis, Italy and Sweden, also 
had the largest increases in relative currency values.  Thus, 
when measured on a U.S. dollar basis, these countries had unit 
labor costs increases of nearly 11 percent, far exceeding those 
of their competitors.  In contrast, Japan had one of the largest 
declines in national currency-based unit labor costs and also 
the largest decline in currency value relative to the dollar.  
Consequently, Japanese unit labor costs measured in U.S. dollars 
plunged 16 percent.


Trade-weighted unit labor costs

	Because the economies covered by the BLS comparative data 
differ greatly in their relative importance to U.S. trade in 
manufactured goods, BLS constructs indexes of U.S. unit labor 
cost trends relative to a trade-weighted average of unit labor 
cost trends in the other economies. (See chart 3.)  

	The construction of the indexes shown in chart 3 is a 
three-step process.  First, the indexes of unit labor costs for 
all economies are rebased to a common year (in this case 
1979=100).  Second, for each year, a "competitors" index is 
calculated as the weighted geometric mean of the indexes for all 
competitor economies.  Finally, the U.S. index number for each 

                                                               -6-

year is divided by the competitors index number (and multiplied 
by 100) to obtain a relative ratio of the United States to the 
competitors.  This process is used to calculate the relative 
trade-weighted unit labor cost indexes on both a national 
currency and a U.S. dollar basis.

	Chart 3 relates the growth of U.S. unit labor costs to the 
growth of foreign competitors' costs.  For example, the solid 
line indicates that U.S. unit labor costs rose faster than 
competitors' costs between 1979 and 1985 on a U.S. dollar basis.  
After 1985, U.S. costs either rose at a slower rate than the 
competitors' costs or fell at a faster rate in most years.

Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 11
competitors, 1979-96

PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT

	U.S. relative unit labor costs on a national currency basis 
fell at a rate of slightly more than 1 percent per year between 
1979 and 1990 before leveling off between 1990 and 1996.  Unit 
labor costs relative to Canada and Europe declined at a faster 
rate through 1990, but were partially offset by rising unit 
labor costs relative to Japan. Since 1990, unit labor costs 
relative to Canada and Japan increased slowly, but these 
increases were negated by declining unit labor costs relative to 
Europe.

	The movement of U.S. relative unit labor costs measured in 
U.S. dollars can be divided into three distinct periods between 
1979 and 1996.  During the first period, between 1979 and 1985,  
the U.S. dollar appreciated 35 percent on a trade-weighted 
basis.  Thus, despite generally declining relative unit labor 
costs during that period on a national currency basis (the 
dashed line), relative unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar basis 
(the solid line) were up 25 percent, attributable entirely to 
appreciation of the dollar.

	Between 1985 and 1988, the value of the U.S. dollar 
plummeted 32 percent from its peak 1985 value.  The falling 
value of the dollar was the main reason that U.S. relative unit 

                                                               -7-

labor costs on a dollar basis dropped 36 percent over the three-
year span.  Compared to their 1979 levels, relative unit labor 
costs had fallen 20 percent by 1988.

	Since 1988, changes in relative currency values and, 
consequently, U.S. relative unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar 
basis have moderated.  The dollar depreciated less than 3 
percent between 1988 and 1996, while relative unit labor costs, 
which rose slightly on a national currency basis, fell less than 
1 percent on a U.S. dollar basis.

	Because 1996 data are not available for Belgium and the 
Netherlands, they have been excluded from this analysis; 
however, these two countries account for only about 4 percent of 
the total trade in manufactured goods between the 13 foreign 
economies and the United States.  The trade weights used in 
chart 3 are discussed in the section "Trade-Weighted Measures" 
in the technical notes on pages 13-15.
	

TECHNICAL NOTES ARE PRESENTED ON PAGES 13-15.

                                                                    -8-

Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96

Average annual rates of change /1

Country               1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993    1994    1995    1996
or area


Output per hour

United States           2.7     3.3     2.2     2.4     1.6     4.2     3.2     3.2

Canada                  1.7     2.4      .4     2.1     1.7     4.4     1.2     1.1
Japan                   3.6     3.5     4.3     3.0      .5     1.3     7.3     4.5
Korea                   NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan                  NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium                 NA      6.1     2.3     NA      4.1     5.7    - .6     NA
Denmark                 NA      2.1      .1     NA      6.8     NA      NA      NA
France                  3.1     3.0     3.4     2.8     1.8     8.5     3.7     2.1

Germany /2              2.3     2.0     2.2     2.6      .4     7.5     2.9     4.1
Italy                   3.7     4.9     2.6     3.4     4.5     2.8     3.1     2.3
Netherlands             NA      4.4     1.9     NA      2.1     9.8     3.4     NA
Norway                  1.7     2.4     1.4     1.1      .6      .8     1.1      .8
Sweden                  3.2     3.0     1.8     4.7     6.7     8.8     5.1     2.3
United Kingdom          4.0     4.4     4.6     3.0     5.6     2.9    - .9    - .2

                                                              Continued on next page

                                                                        -10-

Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96--continued

Average annual rates of change /1

Country               1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993    1994    1995    1996
or area


     Output

United States           2.1     2.0     2.2     2.2     3.0     6.6     3.5     2.7

Canada                  1.6     1.5     1.5     1.8     4.8     7.6     3.8     1.3
Japan                   3.6     4.7     4.8     1.4    -4.0    - .7     5.4     4.5
Korea                   9.8     8.8    13.2     8.0     5.0    10.4    10.8     7.4
Taiwan                  6.6     8.1     7.0     4.9     2.5     5.7     6.0     5.3
Belgium                 NA      2.6     2.6     NA     -3.1     4.5     3.1     NA
Denmark                 1.2     2.9    - .5     1.0     1.1     1.9     2.8    - .3
France                   .8    - .4     2.6      .4    -3.8     5.3     4.0      .8

Germany /2               .4      .2     2.3    -1.1    -8.5     1.8      .3    - .5
Italy                   2.1     1.7     4.0     1.0    -3.4     5.4     5.7    - .8
Netherlands             NA      1.8     3.1     NA     -1.7     5.1     2.3     NA
Norway                   .4      .6    -1.6     2.0     2.7     3.9     3.0     2.8
Sweden                  2.1     2.2     1.2     2.7     1.3    14.1     9.8     2.2
United Kingdom           .7    -1.2     3.4      .3     1.4     4.2     2.2      .5


  Total hours

United States          -0.5    -1.2     0.0    -0.2     1.4     2.4     0.3    -0.5

Canada                 - .1    - .9     1.1    - .3     3.0     3.1     2.6      .2
Japan                    .0     1.1      .5    -1.5    -4.4    -2.0    -1.8      .0
Korea                   NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan                  NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium                 NA     -3.3      .2     NA     -6.8    -1.1     3.7     NA
Denmark                 NA       .8    - .6     NA     -5.3     NA      NA      NA
France                 -2.2    -3.3    - .8    -2.3    -5.5    -2.9      .3    -1.3

Germany /2             -1.9    -1.8      .2    -3.6    -8.9    -5.3    -2.6    -4.4
Italy                  -1.5    -3.1     1.3    -2.3    -7.6     2.6     2.6    -3.0
Netherlands             NA     -2.5     1.2     NA     -3.7    -4.2    -1.0     NA
Norway                 -1.2    -1.8    -2.9      .9     2.1     3.1     1.9     1.9
Sweden                 -1.1    - .8    - .5    -1.9    -5.1     4.9     4.5    - .1
United Kingdom         -3.1    -5.3    -1.2    -2.6    -4.0     1.2     3.2      .6

                                                              Continued on next page

                                                                             -11-

Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96--continued

Average annual rates of change /1

Country               1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993    1994    1995    1996
or area


   Employment

United States          -0.7    -1.4    -0.1    -0.6     0.1     1.3     1.1    -0.5

Canada                 - .2    - .8     1.1    - .7     1.4     2.1     2.2      .9
Japan                    .5     1.2      .8    - .5    -2.1    -2.0    -2.5    - .8
Korea                   NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan                  NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium                 NA     -2.7    - .4     NA     -5.4    -3.7     4.8     NA
Denmark                  .0     1.0    - .1    -1.0    -4.6      .6     3.2    -1.1
France                 -1.9    -2.3    - .9    -2.3    -4.7    -2.8    - .1    -1.4

Germany /2            -1.0    -1.1     1.1    -2.8    -6.0    -5.1    -2.3    -3.0
Italy                  -1.8    -2.9      .3    -2.3    -5.7    - .2    - .5    - .9
Netherlands             NA     -2.3     1.4     NA     -3.7    -4.2    -1.3     NA
Norway                 -1.2    -1.8    -2.7      .7     1.8     2.8     2.8     2.0
Sweden                 -1.7    -1.2    - .8    -2.9    -7.4     1.8     3.5      .9
United Kingdom         -3.0    -4.9    -1.2    -2.5    -3.5      .6     2.4      .3


 Average hours

United States           0.2     0.2     0.1     0.4     1.3     1.1    -0.8     0.0

Canada                   .2    - .1      .0      .5     1.6     1.0      .4    - .7
Japan                  - .5      .0    - .3    -1.0    -2.3      .1      .7      .8
Korea                   NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan                  NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium                 NA     - .6      .7     NA     -1.5     2.7    -1.1     NA
Denmark                 NA     - .3    - .5     NA     - .8     NA      NA      NA
France                 - .3    -1.0      .1      .0    - .8    - .2      .4      .1

Germany /2             - .8    - .7    -1.0    - .8    -3.1    - .3    - .4    -1.5
Italy                    .3    - .1     1.0      .1    -2.0     2.8     3.1    -2.2
Netherlands             NA     - .3    - .2     NA       .0      .0      .3     NA
Norway                   .0      .0    - .2      .2      .3      .2    - .9    - .1
Sweden                   .6      .4      .3     1.0     2.6     3.1     1.0    -1.0
United Kingdom         - .2    - .5      .0      .0    - .5      .6      .8      .4

                                                              Continued on next page

                                                                             -11-

Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96--continued

Average annual rates of change /1

Country               1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993    1994    1995    1996
or area


Hourly compensation /3:  National currency basis

United States           4.9     7.1     3.9     3.5     2.4     2.7     3.5     2.9

Canada                  5.3     8.7     4.1     2.9      .1     2.0     1.8     4.4
Japan                   4.2     4.7     4.6     3.5     4.6     2.1     3.1     1.5
Korea                   NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan                  NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium                 NA      7.8     3.9     NA      5.0     3.3     3.0     NA
Denmark                 NA      8.1     5.4     NA      2.4     NA      NA      NA
France                  6.8    12.8     4.5     3.1     3.6     2.5     1.4     2.2

Germany /2              5.5     5.9     5.0     5.5     6.1     5.7     4.8     5.0
Italy                   9.8    16.7     6.9     5.7     7.1    - .5     2.5     7.2
Netherlands             NA      4.9     2.1     NA      3.8     3.2     2.7     NA
Norway                  7.0    10.0     7.8     3.6     1.5     2.9     4.6     4.4
Sweden                  7.5     9.6     8.5     4.5    -2.0     3.1     6.2     6.5
United Kingdom          8.6    11.8     8.7     5.5     6.6     3.1      .8     3.8


Unit labor costs:  National currency basis

United States           2.2     3.7     1.6     1.1     0.8    -1.4     0.3    -0.3

Canada                  3.5     6.1     3.7      .8    -1.6    -2.3      .6     3.2
Japan                    .7     1.2      .3      .5     4.1      .8    -4.0    -2.9
Korea                   5.3     9.2     6.0      .9    -1.8    - .7    - .6     2.7
Taiwan                  3.8     7.3     3.5      .7      .9     1.1      .1    -3.5
Belgium                 NA      1.6     1.5     NA       .9    -2.3     3.6     NA
Denmark                 4.1     5.9     5.2     1.4    -4.1     2.1     4.4     2.6
France                  3.6     9.5     1.0      .3     1.8    -5.5    -2.3      .0

Germany /2              3.1     3.8     2.7     2.8     5.6    -1.7     1.8      .8
Italy                   5.9    11.2     4.2     2.2     2.5    -3.2    - .6     4.8
Netherlands             NA       .5      .2     NA      1.7    -6.0    - .7     NA
Norway                  5.3     7.4     6.4     2.4      .9     2.1     3.5     3.5
Sweden                  4.1     6.4     6.6    - .1    -8.2    -5.2     1.1     4.1
United Kingdom          4.5     7.1     3.9     2.4     1.0      .1     1.7     4.0

                                                              Continued on next page

                                                                              -12-

Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96--continued

Average annual rates of change /1

Country               1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993    1994    1995    1996
or area


Unit labor costs:  U.S. dollar basis

United States           2.2     3.7     1.6     1.1     0.8    -1.4     0.3    -0.3

Canada                  2.6     3.4     7.1    -1.8    -7.9    -7.7      .2     3.9
Japan                   4.9    - .3    10.8     5.4    18.8     9.5     4.4   -16.1
Korea                   2.2    - .9    10.5    -1.3    -4.5    - .8     3.6    -1.6
Taiwan                  5.5     5.5    12.0      .4    -3.9      .9    - .1    -6.9
Belgium                 NA     -9.7    13.8     NA     -6.2     1.1    17.5     NA
Denmark                 3.5    -5.8    17.2     2.5   -10.8     4.2    18.5    -1.0
France                  2.5    -3.3    11.7     1.3    -4.9    -3.5     8.7    -2.5

Germany /2              4.3    -4.1    15.8     4.0    - .3      .3    15.3    -4.0
Italy                   2.1    -3.2    14.3    -2.0   -19.7    -5.5    -1.7    10.7
Netherlands             NA     -7.6    12.9     NA     -3.8    -4.0    12.6     NA
Norway                  3.8    -1.7    13.3     1.9   -11.7     2.7    15.2     1.5
Sweden                  1.4    -5.2    14.8    -2.2   -31.4    -4.3     9.2    10.8
United Kingdom          2.6    -1.3    10.7      .2   -14.1     2.1     4.8     2.8


Exchange rates /4

United States           0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0

Canada                 - .9    -2.5     3.2    -2.6    -6.3    -5.6    - .4      .6
Japan                   4.2    -1.5    10.5     4.9    14.1     8.7     8.7   -13.6
Korea                  -2.9    -9.3     4.2    -2.1    -2.7    - .1     4.2    -4.1
Taiwan                  1.6    -1.7     8.2    - .3    -4.8    - .2    - .1    -3.5
Belgium                - .3   -11.1    12.2     1.3    -7.0     3.5    13.4    -4.8
Denmark                - .6   -11.0    11.4     1.1    -6.9     2.0    13.5    -3.5
France                 -1.1   -11.7    10.5     1.0    -6.6     2.2    11.2    -2.5

Germany /2              1.2    -7.6    12.7     1.2    -5.6     2.0    13.2    -4.8
Italy                  -3.6   -12.9     9.8    -4.1   -21.7    -2.4    -1.1     5.6
Netherlands             1.0    -8.0    12.7     1.3    -5.4     2.2    13.4    -4.9
Norway                 -1.4    -8.4     6.6    - .5   -12.5      .6    11.4    -1.9
Sweden                 -2.6   -11.0     7.8    -2.1   -25.3     1.0     8.1     6.4
United Kingdom         -1.8    -7.9     6.6    -2.2   -15.0     2.0     3.0    -1.1

1/ Rates of change based on the compound           3/ Adjusted to include employment taxes
 rate method.                                       that are not compensation to employees
                                                    but are labor costs to employers.
2/ Data relate to the former West Germany.
                                                   4/ Value of foreign currency relative to
NA = Not available.                                 the U.S. dollar.


Table 1.  Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950    NA     27.9      NA       NA      22.3     13.9     13.2     11.2     12.3     24.5     19.7     24.9

  1955    NA     34.2      8.7      NA      24.3     17.6     19.7     15.6     15.4     28.5     21.6     26.9

  1960    NA     40.5     14.0     17.8     29.5     23.0     29.2     19.6     19.6     36.7     27.6     30.5
  1961    NA     42.7     15.8     18.1     31.2     24.5     30.6     21.2     20.6     38.0     29.0     30.5
  1962    NA     45.7     16.6     19.0     32.8     26.1     32.7     23.4     21.2     38.0     31.3     31.2
  1963    NA     47.4     18.0     19.7     33.9     27.5     34.1     24.1     22.0     40.0     33.1     32.9
  1964    NA     49.6     20.4     21.0     36.6     29.7     37.0     24.3     23.9     42.2     36.0     35.0
  1965    NA     52.0     21.2     22.1     38.4     31.8     39.3     27.1     25.4     44.7     38.7     36.1
  1966    NA     53.1     23.3     23.6     40.4     34.4     40.9     29.4     27.0     46.6     40.3     37.3
  1967    NA     54.2     26.3     24.9     43.3     36.5     43.4     30.9     29.0     48.3     43.7     39.0
  1968    NA     58.1     29.5     27.1     47.3     40.3     47.0     33.3     32.4     51.3     47.8     41.8
  1969    NA     61.2     33.8     29.6     49.2     42.9     50.4     34.5     35.4     56.1     51.5     42.8

  1970    NA     60.4     38.0     32.7     52.1     45.5     52.1     36.8     38.6     57.8     52.8     43.7
  1971    NA     64.7     40.2     34.6     55.6     48.2     54.1     37.4     41.0     60.1     55.1     45.8
  1972    NA     67.8     44.1     38.6     60.1     50.4     57.4     40.5     44.2     63.6     57.9     48.4
  1973    NA     72.2     48.1     42.6     66.1     53.9     61.1     43.9     48.9     67.6     62.1     51.9
  1974    NA     73.3     49.3     45.0     68.3     55.1     63.3     46.7     52.5     70.6     64.8     52.8
  1975    NA     70.8     50.7     46.8     75.2     57.0     65.9     45.2     51.7     69.7     65.8     51.6
  1976    NA     75.8     53.8     51.5     77.9     60.5     70.7     51.4     57.2     71.9     66.8     53.9
  1977   70.5    79.9     55.9     54.1     79.4     64.1     72.9     52.4     61.9     71.5     65.8     54.4
  1978   71.1    80.8     58.1     57.4     80.6     67.0     75.4     55.8     66.1     72.8     67.6     55.1
  1979   72.1    81.6     62.9     60.5     84.6     70.1     78.7     61.2     69.3     78.1     72.9     55.5

  1980   71.9    78.5     63.9     64.5     89.2     70.5     77.3     64.0     70.0     76.7     74.0     54.9
  1981   75.4    82.3     66.0     68.9     90.7     72.6     78.9     65.5     71.5     76.5     73.5     57.7
  1982   77.7    78.6     68.7     72.9     91.0     77.7     78.5     66.6     72.8     79.7     76.7     60.9
  1983   81.4    84.3     69.6     80.6     95.5     79.4     82.6     70.2     78.5     82.4     81.8     65.7
  1984   84.6    91.4     71.9     84.6     95.0     80.7     85.5     77.1     86.3     87.4     85.6     69.2
  1985   87.7    94.1     77.3     86.3     95.6     83.8     88.9     81.5     89.8     90.2     87.1     71.9
  1986   88.2    92.6     76.9     87.6     90.0     85.2     89.5     82.6     91.2     89.0     88.5     74.7
  1987   94.3    93.5     81.2     88.7     89.6     86.7     88.4     85.0     91.9     93.3     90.1     78.8
  1988   97.8    93.9     84.8     91.7     92.9     92.7     91.6     86.6     93.9     92.1     90.8     83.1
  1989   97.0    94.3     89.5     96.7     96.1     97.4     94.4     89.4     97.3     94.6     93.8     87.1

  1990   97.7    95.8     95.4     96.9     96.0     99.1     99.0     92.8     98.6     96.6     95.0     90.1
  1991   98.2    96.3     99.4     99.1     97.9     98.7    102.0     95.3     99.6     97.5     95.0     94.4
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  101.6   101.7    100.5    104.1    106.8    101.8    100.4    104.5    102.1    100.6    106.7    105.6
  1994  105.8   106.2    101.8    110.0      NA     110.4    108.0    107.4    112.1    101.4    116.1    108.7
  1995  109.2   107.5    109.2    109.3      NA     114.5    111.1    110.7    115.9    102.5    122.0    107.7
  1996  112.7   108.6    114.1      NA       NA     117.0    115.7    113.3      NA     103.3    124.8    107.5

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 2.  Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950    NA     30.1      NA       NA      31.4     17.0     19.2     12.3     16.0     32.0     25.6     29.3

  1955    NA     35.7     10.4      NA      33.6     21.2     28.8     17.7     20.1     37.4     27.9     32.0

  1960    NA     41.9     17.3     22.4     38.7     27.7     38.4     22.4     25.8     46.2     33.7     35.6
  1961    NA     44.0     19.3     22.7     39.7     29.6     39.6     23.9     26.1     47.2     35.1     35.2
  1962    NA     47.6     19.8     23.9     42.1     31.4     41.3     25.7     26.7     47.0     37.5     35.6
  1963    NA     49.5     21.2     24.8     42.8     33.1     42.4     26.5     27.5     49.2     39.3     37.4
  1964    NA     52.1     24.0     26.3     46.6     35.5     46.1     26.8     29.7     52.3     42.3     40.2
  1965    NA     54.5     24.5     27.2     48.9     37.6     48.7     28.8     31.4     54.1     45.1     40.8
  1966    NA     55.4     27.0     28.8     50.4     40.9     50.0     31.6     33.2     56.6     47.0     41.4
  1967    NA     56.2     30.6     30.1     53.4     43.0     51.7     33.7     35.4     58.1     50.1     43.0
  1968    NA     60.4     34.2     32.7     57.0     46.2     56.6     36.4     38.9     60.1     53.6     46.5
  1969    NA     63.3     38.6     35.4     58.6     50.3     60.7     37.4     41.9     64.3     56.8     47.6

  1970    NA     62.1     43.0     38.0     60.0     52.7     62.4     39.1     45.0     65.7     58.1     47.9
  1971    NA     66.1     44.8     39.7     63.9     55.3     63.4     38.6     47.2     67.6     60.5     49.0
  1972    NA     69.3     48.9     43.2     67.6     57.2     66.6     41.6     50.2     70.6     61.8     51.3
  1973    NA     73.4     52.8     46.6     70.4     60.3     70.4     45.6     54.5     74.6     65.2     55.7
  1974    NA     74.1     52.0     47.9     74.1     60.9     71.4     46.8     56.7     76.9     67.3     54.8
  1975    NA     70.8     52.2     47.1     79.0     61.1     72.5     44.5     54.8     75.6     67.0     53.5
  1976    NA     75.6     57.0     52.9     82.2     65.1     79.9     50.6     60.5     76.0     67.2     56.3
  1977   69.2    80.0     59.4     55.2     83.1     68.3     81.1     51.4     65.2     74.4     65.6     57.2
  1978   69.8    81.1     62.0     58.5     83.3     70.8     82.8     54.6     68.9     73.9     65.7     57.7
  1979   70.3    81.2     67.5     61.7     87.4     73.9     86.0     59.4     71.4     78.0     69.8     57.9

  1980   69.3    77.8     68.6     64.7     92.8     74.3     83.5     62.2     72.5     77.1     70.1     55.4
  1981   72.7    80.7     70.3     67.5     93.1     75.5     84.1     63.7     74.5     76.9     70.1     57.4
  1982   73.6    76.1     73.0     73.1     94.9     77.5     83.7     64.7     76.7     79.4     73.4     61.1
  1983   79.1    82.7     74.0     78.7    100.9     79.0     87.9     68.2     82.8     82.5     79.2     66.1
  1984   83.5    90.7     77.3     82.1    100.0     80.3     90.9     74.8     89.7     87.4     84.4     70.2
  1985   86.6    93.3     82.8     85.0     97.3     82.9     93.1     78.4     91.0     89.8     85.2     72.9
  1986   87.1    91.8     81.9     86.3     93.7     84.4     93.0     81.4     92.0     88.7     86.3     75.6
  1987   93.5    93.4     86.7     88.1     91.1     86.5     91.3     85.3     92.2     90.7     88.9     80.3
  1988   98.0    94.0     91.7     92.7     94.6     92.8     94.4     90.0     94.9     90.3     89.4     85.2
  1989   97.2    93.8     95.6     97.2     96.7     97.3     96.2     92.8     97.8     93.3     92.1     89.1

  1990   97.2    95.2    100.5     98.6     95.5     98.5     98.8     94.0     99.0     95.1     94.3     91.6
  1991   97.0    95.2    102.5     99.1     97.6     98.3    101.0     95.4     99.8     96.4     94.3     94.3
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  102.9   103.3     98.1    102.5    106.0    100.9     97.3    102.5    102.1    100.9    109.5    105.1
  1994  108.4   109.0     99.5    111.3    107.3    109.3    104.3    108.2    112.1    102.0    122.7    108.9
  1995  110.9   110.6    107.5    109.4    106.8    113.9    107.0    115.0    116.2    102.1    130.3    108.7
  1996  114.5   111.1    113.2      NA     107.8    116.4    109.8    115.0      NA     102.8    131.9    109.0

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 3.  Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950    NA     22.6      2.2      NA      26.3     19.2     14.5      9.4     16.8     38.2     31.2     50.3

  1955    NA     29.3      4.9      NA      28.9     24.0     27.5     14.6     23.0     46.7     36.1     59.2

  1960    NA     34.2     10.7     30.7     40.1     32.4     41.5     21.5     31.8     56.5     46.5     68.4
  1961    NA     35.6     12.8     32.1     42.3     34.8     44.0     23.7     32.9     58.8     49.6     68.5
  1962    NA     39.7     13.9     34.6     45.9     37.3     46.2     26.2     34.6     59.3     53.4     68.7
  1963    NA     42.3     15.5     36.2     46.5     40.2     47.1     27.9     36.0     62.9     56.0     71.1
  1964    NA     46.5     18.0     39.5     52.0     43.9     51.2     28.3     39.4     67.3     61.0     77.6
  1965    NA     51.2     18.7     40.8     55.4     46.0     55.0     29.7     42.2     70.9     65.3     79.8
  1966    NA     54.5     21.2     43.1     56.5     50.3     55.9     32.4     44.5     75.1     67.1     81.2
  1967    NA     55.8     25.4     43.7     57.1     52.7     54.7     35.7     46.2     77.5     69.3     81.8
  1968    NA     59.5     29.3     46.7     61.5     55.6     60.3     39.0     50.6     79.4     72.9     87.5
  1969    NA     63.7     34.1     52.2     64.9     62.3     67.4     41.5     55.5     85.2     78.6     90.9

  1970    NA     61.0     38.8     57.5     66.8     66.9     70.9     44.8     59.7     89.1     81.7     91.2
  1971    NA     64.8     40.7     60.1     68.2     71.1     71.6     45.5     61.7     92.3     82.2     90.2
  1972    NA     70.1     44.4     64.7     74.0     74.5     73.8     48.0     63.3     96.7     82.7     92.1
  1973    NA     77.6     50.0     70.6     78.1     80.1     78.5     54.1     67.9    102.2     88.5    100.6
  1974    NA     79.9     48.7     73.4     79.3     81.7     77.7     57.6     70.4    107.3     93.3     99.4
  1975    NA     74.6     46.2     67.9     77.4     80.0     74.1     54.3     65.8    105.0     93.6     92.6
  1976    NA     80.0     50.2     73.0     81.1     84.7     79.8     62.4     69.8    105.2     93.6     94.3
  1977   74.9    83.0     51.8     73.2     81.5     88.6     81.3     64.6     73.3    103.0     88.3     96.1
  1978   78.7    86.7     53.3     74.3     81.2     90.7     82.8     67.8     75.5    100.6     85.9     96.6
  1979   81.3    90.0     57.9     76.2     85.9     93.3     87.1     74.8     77.5    104.7     91.4     96.4

  1980   77.4    85.9     59.9     78.2     89.7     92.7     85.3     78.7     77.6    103.6     91.8     88.1
  1981   80.7    89.1     62.1     77.2     86.9     91.2     84.4     77.1     77.7    101.7     88.9     82.7
  1982   76.2    77.6     64.1     80.4     88.3     92.1     81.5     75.9     76.7    101.3     89.8     82.6
  1983   80.6    82.6     66.1     84.5     94.2     92.0     82.7     76.6     79.2     99.9     95.0     84.3
  1984   89.2    93.3     70.4     87.2     98.6     90.9     85.2     80.0     83.7    104.7    101.7     87.4
  1985   91.8    98.5     76.1     88.9    101.7     91.2     88.3     82.6     86.0    108.5    103.9     89.9
  1986   91.0    99.3     74.9     89.0    101.7     91.2     89.7     84.8     88.1    108.1    105.2     91.1
  1987   97.9   104.1     78.4     88.7     97.6     91.1     88.0     88.5     89.3    110.7    107.7     95.3
  1988  104.4   109.4     84.6     93.1     99.1     96.3     90.9     94.8     92.7    105.3    110.2    102.0
  1989  104.0   110.3     90.2     98.9    100.3    101.6     94.0     98.6     96.9    101.3    111.6    106.6

  1990  102.5   106.2     96.3    101.0     99.3    103.5     99.1    100.4    100.1    100.2    110.6    106.4
  1991   98.8    98.7    101.4    100.7     99.2    101.7    102.8     99.7    100.6     98.3    103.6    100.6
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  103.0   104.8     96.0     96.9    101.1     96.2     91.5     96.6     98.3    102.7    101.3    101.4
  1994  109.8   112.8     95.4    101.4    103.0    101.3     93.1    101.9    103.3    106.7    115.7    105.6
  1995  113.6   117.1    100.5    104.4    105.9    105.4     93.4    107.7    105.8    109.9    127.0    108.0
  1996  116.7   118.6    105.0      NA     105.6    106.2     92.9    106.8      NA     112.9    129.8    108.5

NA:  Not Available

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 4.  Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   85.6    81.0      NA       NA     118.1    138.6    109.9     84.2    136.8    156.0    158.5    202.0

  1955   94.7    85.5     55.9      NA     119.2    136.4    139.7     93.3    149.6    164.1    167.3    220.0

  1960   92.2    84.5     76.3    172.1    135.8    140.6    142.4    109.6    162.7    154.0    168.3    224.4
  1961   89.8    83.3     80.8    177.4    135.5    142.0    143.9    111.8    159.8    154.8    171.0    224.5
  1962   93.5    86.9     83.4    181.9    140.0    143.0    141.0    111.7    162.7    156.2    170.8    220.1
  1963   94.5    89.3     86.1    183.4    137.3    146.1    138.0    115.9    163.9    157.3    169.1    216.4
  1964   96.5    93.8     88.2    188.1    141.9    147.7    138.2    116.2    164.9    159.5    169.6    221.5
  1965  102.1    98.6     88.0    184.8    144.1    145.0    140.0    109.7    165.8    158.4    168.8    221.3
  1966  108.7   102.7     91.0    183.1    140.0    146.3    136.7    110.3    164.4    161.1    166.5    218.0
  1967  108.1   103.0     96.3    175.1    132.0    144.2    125.8    115.4    159.5    160.4    158.4    209.6
  1968  109.7   102.3     99.4    172.4    130.2    137.8    128.2    117.0    156.3    154.9    152.6    209.4
  1969  111.0   104.0    100.9    176.4    131.9    145.1    133.8    120.2    156.7    152.0    152.5    212.3

  1970  104.5   100.9    102.3    176.3    128.3    147.0    136.1    121.8    154.5    154.3    154.7    208.6
  1971  100.6   100.2    101.1    173.8    122.6    147.6    132.3    121.6    150.6    153.6    149.1    196.8
  1972  105.2   103.3    100.6    167.7    123.1    147.9    128.5    118.5    143.4    152.1    142.9    190.3
  1973  110.5   107.5    104.0    165.6    118.1    148.7    128.4    123.4    138.7    151.2    142.5    194.0
  1974  108.1   109.0     98.7    163.2    116.1    148.2    122.7    123.4    134.1    152.0    144.0    188.3
  1975   97.3   105.3     91.1    145.1    103.0    140.3    112.4    120.3    127.3    150.5    142.3    179.2
  1976  102.0   105.7     93.3    141.7    104.1    140.0    112.8    121.5    121.9    146.2    140.2    175.0
  1977  106.2   103.8     92.5    135.4    102.6    138.2    111.4    123.2    118.3    144.1    134.2    176.7
  1978  110.7   107.3     91.6    129.4    100.8    135.4    109.8    121.4    114.4    138.3    127.1    175.3
  1979  112.8   110.3     92.0    126.0    101.5    133.0    110.6    122.4    111.8    134.1    125.5    173.6

  1980  107.6   109.5     93.8    121.4    100.6    131.5    110.3    123.0    111.0    135.0    124.0    160.3
  1981  107.1   108.3     94.1    112.1     95.8    125.7    107.0    117.8    108.7    133.0    121.0    143.1
  1982   98.0    98.8     93.3    110.2     97.0    118.6    103.7    113.9    105.4    127.1    117.2    135.5
  1983   99.0    98.1     95.0    104.9     98.6    115.8    100.1    109.1    100.8    121.2    116.1    128.3
  1984  105.4   102.1     97.9    103.1    103.8    112.7     99.6    103.8     97.0    119.7    118.9    126.3
  1985  104.7   104.8     98.4    103.0    106.5    108.9     99.4    101.4     95.8    120.2    119.4    125.1
  1986  103.1   107.2     97.3    101.6    113.1    107.2    100.1    102.7     96.6    121.6    118.9    121.9
  1987  103.9   111.4     96.6    100.0    109.0    105.1     99.6    104.1     97.2    118.6    119.5    120.9
  1988  106.8   116.5     99.8    101.5    106.6    104.0     99.2    109.5     98.7    114.3    121.4    122.7
  1989  107.2   117.0    100.8    102.3    104.3    104.4     99.5    110.2     99.6    107.1    119.0    122.3

  1990  104.9   110.8    100.9    104.3    103.3    104.5    100.1    108.2    101.6    103.7    116.4    118.0
  1991  100.6   102.5    102.0    101.6    101.3    103.0    100.8    104.6    101.0    100.8    109.0    106.6
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  101.4   103.0     95.6     93.2     94.7     94.5     91.1     92.4     96.3    102.1     94.9     96.0
  1994  103.8   106.2     93.7     92.2      NA      91.8     86.2     94.8     92.2    105.2     99.6     97.2
  1995  104.1   108.9     92.0     95.6      NA      92.0     84.0     97.2     91.3    107.2    104.1    100.3
  1996  103.5   109.1     92.0      NA       NA      90.8     80.3     94.3      NA     109.3    104.0    100.9

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 5.  Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   84.4    74.9      NA       NA      83.9    113.5     75.2     76.4    105.0    119.3    122.0    171.7

  1955   93.1    82.0     47.1      NA      86.2    113.1     95.5     82.5    114.5    125.2    129.7    184.7

  1960   92.6    81.6     61.7    136.8    103.5    116.6    108.1     95.9    123.3    122.2    137.8    192.2
  1961   90.0    80.9     66.4    141.3    106.4    117.5    111.3     98.9    126.3    124.8    141.3    194.9
  1962   92.9    83.4     70.0    144.5    109.1    118.7    111.8    102.0    129.6    126.3    142.2    193.1
  1963   93.5    85.5     72.8    145.9    108.7    121.2    111.0    105.3    130.9    127.8    142.4    190.0
  1964   94.9    89.4     75.0    150.1    111.4    123.5    111.0    105.6    133.0    128.8    144.3    193.0
  1965   99.3    94.0     76.1    150.0    113.3    122.3    113.0    103.1    134.1    130.9    144.8    195.5
  1966  105.4    98.5     78.3    149.8    112.2    122.9    111.8    102.5    133.7    132.8    143.0    196.0
  1967  106.7    99.3     82.8    145.2    106.9    122.4    105.8    105.9    130.4    133.5    138.3    190.0
  1968  108.5    98.5     85.7    142.8    108.0    120.3    106.6    107.3    130.0    132.0    136.0    188.2
  1969  110.6   100.5     88.2    147.6    110.8    123.8    111.0    110.9    132.2    132.6    138.4    190.7

  1970  106.3    98.2     90.3    151.5    111.3    127.0    113.6    114.6    132.7    135.6    140.6    190.4
  1971  102.2    98.1     90.7    151.6    106.7    128.6    112.9    117.6    130.7    136.4    135.9    183.9
  1972  105.0   101.1     90.8    149.7    109.5    130.1    110.8    115.4    126.2    136.9    133.8    179.6
  1973  110.5   105.7     94.6    151.6    111.0    132.9    111.5    118.7    124.5    136.9    135.8    180.6
  1974  110.1   107.9     93.7    153.3    107.0    134.3    108.9    123.1    124.2    139.5    138.7    181.3
  1975  100.7   105.4     88.5    144.0     98.0    130.9    102.2    122.1    120.1    138.7    139.8    173.1
  1976  104.3   105.9     88.0    138.1     98.6    130.2     99.9    123.3    115.3    138.4    139.4    167.5
  1977  108.2   103.7     87.1    132.6     98.0    129.7    100.3    125.7    112.3    138.5    134.5    168.1
  1978  112.7   107.0     85.9    127.0     97.5    128.2    100.0    124.1    109.7    136.1    130.7    167.4
  1979  115.6   110.8     85.7    123.6     98.3    126.2    101.2    126.1    108.5    134.2    131.0    166.4

  1980  111.6   110.5     87.4    120.9     96.7    124.7    102.2    126.4    107.0    134.5    130.9    159.0
  1981  111.0   110.5     88.3    114.3     93.3    120.7    100.3    121.1    104.3    132.3    127.0    144.0
  1982  103.5   101.9     87.9    110.0     93.1    118.8     97.4    117.3    100.1    127.5    122.4    135.1
  1983  101.8    99.9     89.3    107.4     93.4    116.5     94.1    112.4     95.6    121.0    119.9    127.5
  1984  106.8   102.9     91.1    106.2     98.6    113.1     93.7    106.9     93.3    119.8    120.5    124.6
  1985  106.0   105.6     91.9    104.6    104.6    110.0     94.9    105.4     94.5    120.7    122.0    123.3
  1986  104.5   108.1     91.4    103.1    108.5    108.1     96.4    104.1     95.8    122.0    121.9    120.4
  1987  104.7   111.4     90.4    100.6    107.1    105.4     96.4    103.7     96.9    122.0    121.1    118.7
  1988  106.6   116.3     92.4    100.4    104.7    103.9     96.3    105.3     97.7    116.6    123.3    119.8
  1989  107.0   117.7     94.3    101.7    103.7    104.4     97.6    106.3     99.1    108.7    121.2    119.6

  1990  105.5   111.6     95.8    102.5    104.0    105.1    100.3    106.8    101.1    105.4    117.2    116.2
  1991  101.8   103.7     98.9    101.6    101.6    103.4    101.8    104.5    100.8    101.9    109.9    106.7
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  100.1   101.4     97.9     94.6     95.4     95.3     94.0     94.3     96.3    101.8     92.6     96.5
  1994  101.3   103.5     95.9     91.1     96.0     92.7     89.3     94.1     92.2    104.7     94.2     97.0
  1995  102.5   105.8     93.5     95.5     99.1     92.6     87.3     93.6     91.0    107.6     97.5     99.3
  1996  102.0   106.7     92.7      NA      98.0     91.2     84.6     92.8      NA     109.8     98.4     99.6

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 6.  Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  101.5   108.2      NA       NA     140.7    122.1    146.1    110.2    130.3    130.8    129.9    117.7

  1955  101.6   104.2    118.7      NA     138.2    120.7    146.2    113.0    130.6    131.1    129.0    119.1

  1960   99.6   103.5    123.5    125.8    131.2    120.5    131.7    114.3    131.9    126.0    122.1    116.7
  1961   99.7   103.0    121.6    125.5    127.3    120.9    129.4    113.1    126.5    124.1    121.1    115.2
  1962  100.7   104.1    119.2    125.8    128.3    120.5    126.2    109.5    125.6    123.7    120.1    114.0
  1963  101.0   104.5    118.2    125.7    126.3    120.5    124.3    110.0    125.2    123.1    118.8    113.9
  1964  101.7   105.0    117.6    125.3    127.4    119.7    124.5    110.0    124.0    123.9    117.5    114.8
  1965  102.8   104.9    115.6    123.2    127.2    118.6    123.9    106.4    123.6    121.0    116.6    113.2
  1966  103.1   104.2    116.2    122.2    124.8    119.1    122.2    107.6    122.9    121.3    116.4    111.2
  1967  101.3   103.7    116.3    120.7    123.4    117.8    118.9    109.1    122.4    120.2    114.5    110.4
  1968  101.1   103.9    116.0    120.7    120.6    114.6    120.3    109.1    120.2    117.3    112.2    111.3
  1969  100.3   103.5    114.4    119.5    119.1    117.2    120.5    108.3    118.5    114.6    110.2    111.3

  1970   98.3   102.7    113.3    116.3    115.3    115.7    119.7    106.4    116.4    113.8    110.0    109.6
  1971   98.5   102.2    111.4    114.6    114.9    114.8    117.2    103.4    115.3    112.6    109.7    107.0
  1972  100.2   102.2    110.8    112.0    112.4    113.6    116.0    102.7    113.6    111.0    106.8    106.0
  1973  100.0   101.7    109.9    109.3    106.4    111.9    115.2    103.9    111.4    110.4    104.9    107.4
  1974   98.1   101.0    105.3    106.4    108.5    110.4    112.7    100.3    108.0    108.9    103.8    103.9
  1975   96.7    99.9    103.0    100.7    105.1    107.1    110.0     98.5    106.0    108.5    101.8    103.6
  1976   97.8    99.8    106.0    102.6    105.6    107.5    113.0     98.5    105.8    105.7    100.6    104.5
  1977   98.2   100.1    106.2    102.1    104.6    106.5    111.1     98.0    105.3    104.0     99.8    105.2
  1978   98.2   100.3    106.7    101.9    103.4    105.6    109.8     97.8    104.3    101.6     97.2    104.7
  1979   97.6    99.5    107.3    102.0    103.3    105.4    109.3     97.1    103.1     99.9     95.8    104.3

  1980   96.4    99.2    107.3    100.4    104.0    105.4    108.0     97.3    103.7    100.4     94.8    100.8
  1981   96.5    98.0    106.5     98.1    102.7    104.1    106.6     97.3    104.2    100.6     95.3     99.4
  1982   94.7    96.9    106.2    100.2    104.2     99.8    106.5     97.1    105.3     99.7     95.7    100.3
  1983   97.3    98.2    106.4     97.7    105.6     99.4    106.3     97.1    105.4    100.1     96.8    100.6
  1984   98.7    99.2    107.4     97.1    105.3     99.6    106.4     97.1    104.0     99.9     98.6    101.4
  1985   98.8    99.2    107.1     98.5    101.8     99.0    104.7     96.2    101.3     99.6     97.9    101.4
  1986   98.7    99.1    106.5     98.6    104.2     99.2    103.9     98.6    100.8     99.7     97.5    101.2
  1987   99.2    99.9    106.8     99.4    101.8     99.8    103.3    100.4    100.3     97.2     98.7    101.9
  1988  100.3   100.2    108.0    101.1    101.8    100.1    103.0    104.0    101.1     98.0     98.5    102.4
  1989  100.2    99.5    106.8    100.6    100.6     99.9    101.9    103.7    100.5     98.6     98.2    102.3

  1990   99.4    99.3    105.3    101.8     99.4     99.4     99.8    101.2    100.5     98.4     99.3    101.6
  1991   98.8    98.9    103.2    100.0     99.7     99.6     99.1    100.1    100.2     98.9     99.2     99.9
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  101.3   101.6     97.7     98.5     99.2     99.2     96.9     98.0    100.0    100.3    102.6     99.5
  1994  102.4   102.6     97.7    101.2      NA      99.0     96.6    100.7    100.0    100.5    105.7    100.2
  1995  101.6   103.0     98.4    100.1      NA      99.5     96.3    103.8    100.3     99.6    106.7    101.0
  1996  101.5   102.3     99.2      NA       NA      99.6     94.9    101.6      NA      99.5    105.7    101.3

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 7.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950   8.7     5.7      NA       NA       2.5      1.6      3.4      0.8      3.1      2.2      1.9      1.6

  1955  11.7     8.1      3.1      NA       3.4      2.9      5.0      1.2      4.6      3.4      3.0      2.3

  1960  14.9    10.5      4.3      5.5      4.6      4.3      8.1      1.6      6.4      4.7      4.1      3.1
  1961  15.3    10.8      5.0      5.9      5.1      4.8      9.1      1.7      7.3      5.2      4.5      3.3
  1962  15.9    11.1      5.7      6.3      5.6      5.3     10.3      2.0      7.9      5.7      5.0      3.5
  1963  16.4    11.6      6.4      7.0      6.1      5.7     11.0      2.4      8.6      6.1      5.6      3.7
  1964  17.1    12.0      7.2      7.9      6.6      6.2     11.9      2.6     10.0      6.5      6.1      3.9
  1965  17.5    12.7      8.1      8.7      7.3      6.8     13.1      2.8     11.2      7.2      6.7      4.3
  1966  18.2    13.7      9.0      9.7      8.3      7.2     14.3      2.9     12.6      7.8      7.3      4.6
  1967  19.2    14.6     10.0     10.5      9.3      7.7     15.0      3.2     13.9      8.7      8.1      4.8
  1968  20.7    15.7     11.7     11.3     10.3      8.7     16.2      3.5     15.5      9.6      8.8      5.1
  1969  22.2    17.0     13.8     12.4     11.6      9.3     17.7      3.8     17.6     10.6      9.6      5.6

  1970  23.8    18.3     16.5     14.1     13.2     10.5     20.8      4.6     20.4     11.8     10.8      6.5
  1971  25.3    19.7     19.0     16.1     15.2     11.7     23.3      5.3     23.3     13.5     12.1      7.4
  1972  26.6    21.2     21.9     18.6     16.8     13.0     25.8      6.0     26.7     15.1     13.5      8.5
  1973  28.6    22.9     26.8     21.6     20.4     14.9     29.1      7.0     31.8     17.0     15.2      9.7
  1974  31.8    26.4     35.1     26.3     24.7     17.7     33.1      9.2     38.0     19.9     17.8     11.6
  1975  35.6    30.2     40.9     31.8     29.4     21.6     36.5     11.6     43.4     23.8     21.9     15.5
  1976  38.6    34.5     44.0     36.1     32.8     24.7     39.3     14.4     48.5     27.5     25.6     17.9
  1977  42.0    38.2     48.6     40.3     36.3     28.1     43.0     17.1     52.9     30.9     28.0     20.3
  1978  45.4    41.1     51.8     43.5     40.0     31.6     46.3     19.7     57.2     34.1     31.2     23.6
  1979  49.8    45.3     55.1     47.3     44.7     35.9     49.7     23.8     61.5     35.8     33.6     28.1

  1980  55.8    50.2     58.6     52.5     49.4     41.3     53.8     27.9     64.8     39.0     37.4     33.9
  1981  61.3    57.7     62.7     58.2     54.4     47.9     57.3     33.8     67.7     43.3     41.3     39.3
  1982  67.2    63.8     65.8     60.8     59.2     56.9     60.4     39.8     71.8     48.2     44.3     43.3
  1983  69.0    67.7     67.6     64.4     63.3     62.7     63.3     46.6     75.0     52.9     48.8     46.5
  1984  71.4    70.9     69.7     69.8     66.9     68.1     66.3     53.5     77.9     57.9     53.0     50.2
  1985  75.3    74.6     72.5     74.1     71.4     73.7     70.1     60.1     82.0     63.4     58.4     54.9
  1986  78.6    77.5     76.1     77.2     72.9     76.8     73.1     62.6     85.2     69.1     63.1     59.7
  1987  80.8    79.8     77.9     79.0     79.7     79.7     76.6     66.1     87.9     78.5     67.3     66.3
  1988  84.0    83.3     79.2     80.6     82.5     82.7     79.6     68.7     87.6     83.3     71.7     70.6
  1989  86.8    86.4     84.2     84.8     87.2     87.2     83.4     75.5     88.4     87.2     79.4     75.2

  1990  91.0    91.3     90.7     89.6     92.6     91.8     89.4     84.0     90.8     92.3     87.6     83.5
  1991  95.7    97.1     95.9     95.3     96.2     96.3     95.1     93.1     95.2     97.5     95.4     93.1
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 102.4   100.1    104.6    105.0    102.4    103.6    106.1    107.1    103.8    101.5     98.0    106.6
  1994 105.1   102.1    106.7    108.4      NA     106.2    112.1    106.6    107.1    104.4    101.1    109.9
  1995 108.8   103.9    110.0    111.7      NA     107.7    117.5    109.2    109.9    109.2    107.4    110.8
  1996 112.0   108.5    111.6      NA       NA     110.0    123.4    117.1      NA     114.0    114.3    115.0

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 8.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950    8.7     6.3      NA       NA       2.2      2.5      1.3      1.6      1.4      1.9      2.1      2.6

  1955   11.7    10.0      1.1      NA       2.9      4.3      1.9      2.3      2.1      2.9      3.3      3.7

  1960   14.9    13.1      1.5      3.6      4.0      4.7      3.1      3.1      3.0      4.1      4.7      5.0
  1961   15.3    12.9      1.8      3.8      4.5      5.1      3.6      3.4      3.6      4.5      5.1      5.3
  1962   15.9    12.6      2.0      4.1      4.9      5.7      4.0      4.1      3.8      4.9      5.7      5.6
  1963   16.4    12.9      2.3      4.5      5.3      6.2      4.3      4.8      4.2      5.3      6.3      5.8
  1964   17.1    13.5      2.5      5.1      5.8      6.7      4.7      5.1      4.9      5.6      6.9      6.2
  1965   17.5    14.2      2.8      5.7      6.4      7.3      5.1      5.5      5.5      6.2      7.6      6.8
  1966   18.2    15.4      3.1      6.2      7.3      7.7      5.6      5.8      6.1      6.8      8.3      7.3
  1967   19.2    16.3      3.5      6.8      8.1      8.3      5.9      6.4      6.8      7.6      9.2      7.4
  1968   20.7    17.6      4.1      7.3      8.3      9.3      6.3      6.8      7.5      8.4     10.0      6.9
  1969   22.2    19.0      4.9      7.9      9.3      9.5      7.0      7.5      8.5      9.2     10.8      7.6

  1970   23.8    21.2      5.8      9.1     10.6     10.0      8.9      9.1      9.9     10.3     12.1      8.8
  1971   25.3    23.6      6.9     10.7     12.4     11.3     10.5     10.6     11.7     11.9     13.8     10.2
  1972   26.6    25.8      9.2     13.6     14.6     13.6     12.6     12.6     14.6     14.2     16.6     12.0
  1973   28.6    27.7     12.5     17.9     20.4     17.7     17.2     14.9     20.1     18.4     20.3     13.4
  1974   31.8    32.6     15.3     21.7     24.5     19.4     20.0     17.4     24.9     22.4     23.5     15.4
  1975   35.6    35.8     17.5     27.9     31.0     26.6     23.2     21.9     30.3     28.4     30.8     19.5
  1976   38.6    42.3     18.8     30.1     32.8     27.4     24.4     21.4     32.3     31.3     34.2     18.3
  1977   42.0    43.5     23.0     36.2     36.5     30.2     28.9     23.8     37.9     36.0     36.5     20.0
  1978   45.4    43.6     31.5     44.4     43.9     37.2     36.0     28.5     46.6     40.4     40.2     25.7
  1979   49.8    46.8     32.0     51.9     51.3     44.6     42.3     35.3     53.9     43.9     45.7     33.8

  1980   55.8    51.8     32.9     57.8     53.0     51.8     46.3     40.3     57.4     49.0     51.5     44.6
  1981   61.3    58.2     36.1     50.6     46.0     46.6     39.7     36.6     47.9     46.9     47.5     45.1
  1982   67.2    62.5     33.5     42.7     42.8     45.7     38.9     36.2     47.3     46.4     41.1     42.9
  1983   69.0    66.4     36.1     40.5     41.8     43.6     38.7     37.8     46.2     45.0     37.1     39.9
  1984   71.4    66.1     37.2     38.8     39.0     41.3     36.4     37.5     42.7     44.1     37.3     38.0
  1985   75.3    66.0     38.5     40.2     40.7     43.5     37.2     38.8     43.4     45.8     39.5     40.4
  1986   78.6    67.4     57.3     55.6     54.3     58.7     52.6     51.7     61.2     58.1     51.6     49.6
  1987   80.8    72.7     68.3     68.0     70.3     70.2     66.5     62.8     76.3     72.3     61.8     61.5
  1988   84.0    81.8     78.4     70.4     73.9     73.5     70.7     65.0     77.9     79.3     68.1     71.2
  1989   86.8    88.2     77.3     69.2     71.9     72.3     69.2     67.8     73.3     78.4     71.7     69.7

  1990   91.0    94.5     79.3     86.2     90.4     89.2     86.4     86.3     87.6     91.7     86.2     84.3
  1991   95.7   102.4     90.3     89.6     90.7     90.3     89.4     92.5     89.4     93.3     91.8     93.2
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  102.4    93.7    119.3     97.6     95.3     96.8    100.1     83.9     98.2     88.8     73.3     90.7
  1994  105.1    90.3    132.4    104.3      NA     101.4    108.0     81.5    103.5     92.0     76.3     95.3
  1995  108.8    91.5    148.4    121.8      NA     114.3    128.2     82.6    120.5    107.1     87.6     99.0
  1996  112.0    96.1    130.1      NA       NA     113.8    128.1     93.5      NA     109.7     99.3    101.6

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 9.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950    NA     20.5      NA       NA      11.1     11.7     25.6      7.4     25.4      9.0      9.5      6.6

  1955    NA     23.8     36.1      NA      13.9     16.3     25.5      7.6     29.6     11.8     13.7      8.7

  1960    NA     25.9     30.9     31.1     15.5     18.7     28.0      8.0     32.9     12.9     14.9     10.3
  1961    NA     25.2     31.8     32.5     16.4     19.4     29.9      8.2     35.7     13.6     15.6     11.0
  1962    NA     24.3     34.6     33.2     17.1     20.2     31.6      8.7     37.0     15.0     16.1     11.3
  1963    NA     24.4     35.7     35.3     18.0     20.9     32.3     10.1     39.3     15.2     16.8     11.2
  1964    NA     24.3     35.4     37.5     18.0     21.0     32.3     10.6     41.9     15.4     16.9     11.2
  1965    NA     24.4     38.3     39.6     19.1     21.3     33.4     10.2     44.1     16.0     17.3     11.9
  1966    NA     25.9     38.5     41.0     20.6     20.8     34.8     10.0     46.5     16.8     18.2     12.5
  1967    NA     26.9     38.1     42.3     21.6     21.1     34.6     10.5     48.1     18.1     18.6     12.3
  1968    NA     27.0     39.6     41.6     21.8     21.7     34.4     10.4     47.9     18.8     18.5     12.3
  1969    NA     27.7     41.0     41.7     23.5     21.7     35.1     11.0     49.7     19.0     18.7     13.1

  1970    NA     30.3     43.3     43.1     25.3     23.0     39.9     12.6     52.7     20.4     20.5     14.8
  1971    NA     30.5     47.3     46.5     27.3     24.4     43.0     14.3     56.8     22.5     22.0     16.0
  1972    NA     31.2     49.6     48.2     28.0     25.7     44.8     14.8     60.4     23.7     23.4     17.6
  1973    NA     31.8     55.7     50.6     30.8     27.6     47.6     16.0     65.0     25.1     24.4     18.7
  1974    NA     36.0     71.1     58.4     36.1     32.0     52.3     19.7     72.4     28.2     27.5     22.1
  1975    NA     42.6     80.6     68.0     39.1     37.8     55.3     25.7     84.0     34.2     33.3     30.0
  1976    NA     45.6     81.9     70.0     42.1     40.8     55.6     28.1     84.7     38.3     38.3     33.3
  1977   59.6    47.8     86.8     74.5     45.7     43.8     58.9     32.6     85.4     43.2     42.6     37.3
  1978   63.8    50.9     89.1     75.7     49.7     47.2     61.3     35.2     86.6     46.8     46.2     42.9
  1979   69.1    55.5     87.5     78.2     52.9     51.1     63.1     39.0     88.7     45.8     46.2     50.6

  1980   77.6    63.9     91.7     81.4     55.3     58.6     69.6     43.7     92.6     50.8     50.6     61.7
  1981   81.3    70.1     95.1     84.6     60.0     66.0     72.6     51.6     94.7     56.6     56.1     68.1
  1982   86.5    81.2     95.8     83.3     65.0     73.2     76.9     59.8     98.7     60.5     57.8     71.1
  1983   84.9    80.3     97.2     79.9     66.3     79.0     76.7     66.4     95.5     64.2     59.7     70.8
  1984   84.4    77.6     96.8     82.5     70.4     84.4     77.6     69.4     90.2     66.3     61.9     72.5
  1985   85.8    79.3     93.8     85.9     74.7     88.0     78.9     73.8     91.3     70.2     67.1     76.4
  1986   89.1    83.6     99.0     88.1     81.0     90.2     81.6     75.8     93.4     77.7     71.3     79.9
  1987   85.7    85.3     96.0     89.1     89.0     92.0     86.7     77.8     95.7     84.1     74.7     84.1
  1988   85.9    88.7     93.4     87.9     88.8     89.3     86.9     79.4     93.3     90.4     79.0     84.9
  1989   89.4    91.7     94.0     87.8     90.7     89.5     88.3     84.4     90.8     92.2     84.7     86.3

  1990   93.1    95.2     95.0     92.5     96.5     92.6     90.3     90.5     92.1     95.6     92.3     92.6
  1991   97.5   100.9     96.5     96.1     98.3     97.6     93.2     97.7     95.5    100.0    100.4     98.6
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  100.8    98.4    104.1    100.9     95.9    101.8    105.6    102.5    101.7    100.9     91.8    101.0
  1994   99.4    96.1    104.9     98.6     97.9     96.2    103.9     99.2     95.5    102.9     87.0    101.1
  1995   99.7    96.7    100.7    102.2    102.2     94.0    105.7     98.6     94.9    106.5     88.0    102.9
  1996   99.3    99.9     97.8      NA     104.9     94.0    106.6    103.3      NA     110.3     91.6    107.0

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 10.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950    NA     22.7      NA       NA       9.7     17.7      9.5     14.6     11.7      7.8     10.7     10.4

  1955    NA     29.1     12.7      NA      12.1     24.6      9.5     15.0     13.7     10.2     15.5     13.8

  1960    NA     32.3     10.9     20.0     13.5     20.2     10.5     15.9     15.4     11.3     16.8     16.3
  1961    NA     30.1     11.2     21.0     14.4     21.0     11.6     16.2     17.3     11.9     17.6     17.4
  1962    NA     27.5     12.1     21.4     15.0     21.8     12.3     17.3     18.0     13.0     18.2     17.9
  1963    NA     27.3     12.5     22.8     15.8     22.5     12.7     19.9     19.2     13.2     18.9     17.7
  1964    NA     27.2     12.4     24.2     15.7     22.7     12.7     20.9     20.4     13.3     19.1     17.7
  1965    NA     27.4     13.4     25.7     16.6     23.0     13.1     20.1     21.6     13.9     19.6     18.8
  1966    NA     29.0     13.5     26.4     18.0     22.5     13.6     19.7     22.6     14.6     20.5     19.7
  1967    NA     30.2     13.3     27.4     18.7     22.7     13.6     20.7     23.5     15.7     21.0     19.1
  1968    NA     30.3     13.9     26.8     17.5     23.2     13.4     20.5     23.3     16.4     20.9     16.6
  1969    NA     31.1     14.5     26.8     18.9     22.1     14.0     21.6     24.1     16.5     21.0     17.7

  1970    NA     35.1     15.3     27.9     20.4     22.0     17.1     24.7     25.6     17.8     23.0     20.0
  1971    NA     36.5     17.3     30.8     22.3     23.4     19.3     28.5     28.6     19.9     25.1     22.2
  1972    NA     38.1     20.8     35.2     24.3     27.0     22.0     31.2     33.1     22.3     28.7     24.9
  1973    NA     38.4     26.1     41.9     30.9     32.9     28.1     34.0     41.1     27.2     32.7     25.9
  1974    NA     44.5     30.9     48.3     35.8     35.1     31.6     37.3     47.5     31.7     36.2     29.2
  1975    NA     50.6     34.5     59.6     41.2     46.7     35.2     48.6     58.6     40.7     46.8     37.7
  1976    NA     55.8     35.0     58.3     42.1     45.3     34.5     41.7     56.4     43.6     51.3     34.0
  1977   59.6    54.4     41.1     66.8     46.0     47.2     39.7     45.5     61.2     50.4     55.5     36.8
  1978   63.8    54.0     54.2     77.4     54.5     55.6     47.8     51.1     70.5     55.5     59.5     46.6
  1979   69.1    57.3     50.9     85.7     60.7     63.6     53.8     57.8     77.8     56.2     62.8     60.8

  1980   77.6    66.1     51.5     89.6     59.4     73.5     59.9     62.9     82.0     63.9     69.6     81.3
  1981   81.3    70.7     54.6     73.4     50.7     64.2     50.3     55.9     66.9     61.3     64.6     78.1
  1982   86.5    79.5     48.8     58.5     47.0     58.9     49.5     54.4     64.9     58.2     53.6     70.4
  1983   84.9    78.8     51.8     50.3     43.7     54.9     46.9     53.8     58.9     54.7     45.3     60.8
  1984   84.4    72.4     51.7     45.9     41.1     51.2     42.6     48.7     49.5     50.5     43.6     54.8
  1985   85.8    70.1     49.9     46.5     42.6     51.9     41.9     47.6     48.4     50.8     45.4     56.2
  1986   89.1    72.7     74.5     63.4     60.4     69.0     58.7     62.6     67.1     65.3     58.3     66.4
  1987   85.7    77.8     84.2     76.7     78.4     81.0     75.3     73.9     83.0     77.5     68.5     78.0
  1988   85.9    87.1     92.4     76.8     79.5     79.3     77.2     75.1     83.0     86.1     75.0     85.6
  1989   89.4    93.6     86.3     71.6     74.8     74.3     73.3     75.8     75.3     82.9     76.4     80.0

  1990   93.1    98.6     83.1     88.9     94.1     90.0     87.2     93.0     88.9     95.0     90.8     93.5
  1991   97.5   106.4     90.9     90.4     92.7     91.5     87.7     97.0     89.8     95.7     96.6     98.7
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  100.8    92.1    118.8     93.8     89.2     95.1     99.7     80.3     96.2     88.3     68.6     85.9
  1994   99.4    85.0    130.1     94.8     93.0     91.8    100.0     75.8     92.4     90.7     65.7     87.7
  1995   99.7    85.2    135.9    111.5    110.2     99.8    115.3     74.6    104.0    104.5     71.8     91.9
  1996   99.3    88.5    114.0      NA     109.1     97.3    110.7     82.5      NA     106.1     79.6     94.5

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 11.  Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1996 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  100.0   110.5     35.2      NA      87.5    151.3     37.2    197.3     46.2     87.1    112.6    158.6

  1955  100.0   122.5     35.2      NA      87.4    151.2     37.1    197.1     46.1     87.0    112.6    158.0

  1960  100.0   124.6     35.2     64.5     87.6    107.9     37.4    198.4     46.6     87.1    112.7    159.0
  1961  100.0   119.4     35.1     64.5     87.4    107.9     38.9    198.4     48.5     87.0    112.7    158.6
  1962  100.0   113.1     35.1     64.6     87.5    108.0     39.1    198.5     48.8     87.1    113.0    159.0
  1963  100.0   112.0     35.1     64.5     87.4    108.0     39.2    198.2     48.8     86.9    112.3    158.5
  1964  100.0   112.0     35.0     64.6     87.3    108.0     39.3    197.3     48.8     86.8    113.1    158.1
  1965  100.0   112.1     35.1     64.8     87.3    108.0     39.1    197.2     48.8     86.9    112.9    158.3
  1966  100.0   112.2     35.0     64.5     87.4    107.7     39.1    197.3     48.6     86.9    112.8    158.1
  1967  100.0   112.0     35.0     64.7     86.5    107.6     39.2    197.4     48.8     86.9    112.9    155.7
  1968  100.0   112.2     35.2     64.4     80.7    106.9     39.1    197.7     48.6     87.0    112.7    135.5
  1969  100.0   112.2     35.4     64.1     80.3    102.2     39.8    196.4     48.5     87.0    112.7    135.3

  1970  100.0   115.8     35.4     64.7     80.5     95.7     42.8    196.5     48.6     86.9    112.3    135.6
  1971  100.0   119.7     36.5     66.2     81.6     96.1     44.9    199.3     50.4     88.3    114.1    138.4
  1972  100.0   122.0     41.8     73.0     86.8    104.9     49.0    211.1     54.8     94.3    122.5    141.6
  1973  100.0   120.8     46.8     82.8    100.2    119.3     59.0    211.8     63.3    108.2    133.8    138.8
  1974  100.0   123.6     43.5     82.7     99.3    109.6     60.5    189.4     65.5    112.6    131.4    132.5
  1975  100.0   118.8     42.7     87.6    105.3    123.6     63.6    188.9     69.7    119.2    140.6    125.8
  1976  100.0   122.6     42.8     83.3     99.9    110.9     62.1    148.4     66.6    113.9    133.7    102.2
  1977  100.0   113.7     47.3     89.7    100.6    107.7     67.3    139.6     71.7    116.8    130.4     98.8
  1978  100.0   106.0     60.8    102.3    109.6    117.6     77.9    145.2     81.4    118.6    129.0    108.6
  1979  100.0   103.2     58.1    109.6    114.8    124.4     85.2    148.3     87.7    122.7    135.9    120.2

  1980  100.0   103.4     56.2    110.1    107.3    125.4     86.0    144.1     88.6    125.9    137.8    131.7
  1981  100.0   100.8     57.5     86.8     84.6     97.3     69.3    108.2     70.7    108.2    115.0    114.6
  1982  100.0    97.9     50.9     70.2     72.3     80.5     64.3     91.0     65.8     96.2     92.7     99.0
  1983  100.0    98.1     53.4     62.9     66.0     69.5     61.2     81.1     61.6     85.1     75.9     85.8
  1984  100.0    93.3     53.4     55.7     58.3     60.6     54.9     70.2     54.8     76.2     70.4     75.7
  1985  100.0    88.5     53.2     54.2     57.0     58.9     53.1     64.6     53.0     72.3     67.7     73.5
  1986  100.0    87.0     75.3     72.0     74.6     76.4     72.0     82.6     71.8     84.0     81.7     83.1
  1987  100.0    91.1     87.7     86.1     88.2     88.0     86.9     95.0     86.8     92.2     91.8     92.8
  1988  100.0    98.2     98.9     87.4     89.6     88.8     88.9     94.6     88.9     95.2     94.9    100.8
  1989  100.0   102.1     91.8     81.6     82.5     83.0     83.0     89.8     82.9     89.9     90.2     92.7

  1990  100.0   103.6     87.4     96.2     97.5     97.2     96.6    102.8     96.6     99.4     98.4    101.0
  1991  100.0   105.5     94.2     94.0     94.3     93.7     94.0     99.3     93.9     95.7     96.3    100.1
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  100.0    93.7    114.1     93.0     93.1     93.4     94.4     78.3     94.6     87.5     74.7     85.0
  1994  100.0    88.4    124.1     96.2     95.0     95.4     96.3     76.5     96.7     88.1     75.5     86.7
  1995  100.0    88.1    134.9    109.1    107.8    106.2    109.1     75.6    109.6     98.1     81.6     89.4
  1996  100.0    88.6    116.5    103.8    104.1    103.5    103.8     79.9    104.3     96.2     86.8     88.4

NA:  Not Available

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 12.  Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950    8.8     6.2      NA       NA       3.5      2.0      4.9      0.9      4.1      2.9      2.4      1.9

  1955   11.9     8.5      3.7      NA       4.7      3.4      7.4      1.3      6.0      4.4      3.8      2.8

  1960   14.8    10.9      5.3      7.0      6.0      5.2     10.7      1.8      8.5      6.0      5.0      3.7
  1961   15.3    11.1      6.1      7.4      6.5      5.8     11.8      2.0      9.3      6.4      5.5      3.9
  1962   16.0    11.6      6.8      7.9      7.2      6.3     13.1      2.2      9.9      7.0      6.1      4.0
  1963   16.6    12.1      7.6      8.8      7.7      6.9     13.7      2.7     10.8      7.5      6.6      4.2
  1964   17.4    12.6      8.5      9.9      8.4      7.5     14.9      2.8     12.4      8.0      7.1      4.5
  1965   17.9    13.3      9.4     10.8      9.3      8.0     16.3      2.9     13.9      8.7      7.8      4.9
  1966   18.8    14.3     10.4     11.8     10.4      8.5     17.4      3.2     15.5      9.5      8.6      5.2
  1967   19.5    15.1     11.7     12.7     11.5      9.1     17.9      3.5     17.1     10.5      9.3      5.3
  1968   20.9    16.3     13.5     13.6     12.4     10.0     19.4      3.8     18.6     11.3      9.9      5.7
  1969   22.3    17.5     15.8     14.8     13.8     10.9     21.3      4.1     20.9     12.2     10.6      6.2

  1970   23.4    18.8     18.6     16.4     15.2     12.1     24.9      4.9     23.7     13.4     11.9      7.1
  1971   24.9    20.1     21.2     18.5     17.4     13.5     27.3      5.5     26.8     15.2     13.3      7.9
  1972   26.6    21.6     24.3     20.8     18.9     14.7     29.9      6.1     30.3     16.7     14.5      9.0
  1973   28.6    23.3     29.4     23.6     21.7     16.6     33.5      7.3     35.4     18.7     15.9     10.4
  1974   31.2    26.7     37.0     27.9     26.8     19.5     37.4      9.2     41.0     21.7     18.5     12.1
  1975   34.5    30.1     42.1     32.1     30.9     23.1     40.1     11.4     46.0     25.8     22.3     16.0
  1976   37.8    34.4     46.7     37.0     34.6     26.6     44.4     14.2     51.3     29.1     25.8     18.7
  1977   41.2    38.2     51.6     41.2     38.0     29.9     47.8     16.7     55.7     32.1     27.9     21.3
  1978   44.6    41.3     55.2     44.3     41.4     33.4     50.8     19.2     59.7     34.6     30.3     24.7
  1979   48.6    45.1     59.1     48.2     46.2     37.8     54.3     23.1     63.4     35.8     32.2     29.3

  1980   53.8    49.7     62.9     52.7     51.4     43.6     58.1     27.2     67.1     39.1     35.4     34.2
  1981   59.1    56.6     66.8     57.1     55.8     49.8     61.1     32.9     70.6     43.6     39.3     39.1
  1982   63.6    61.9     69.9     60.9     61.7     56.8     64.3     38.7     75.6     48.1     42.4     43.5
  1983   67.2    66.5     71.9     62.9     66.8     62.4     67.4     45.3     79.1     53.0     47.3     46.8
  1984   70.5    70.3     74.8     67.7     70.4     67.8     70.6     51.9     80.9     57.9     52.3     50.9
  1985   74.3    74.0     77.6     73.0     72.7     73.0     73.4     57.8     83.1     63.1     57.2     55.7
  1986   77.6    76.8     81.1     76.1     75.9     76.2     75.9     61.7     85.9     68.9     61.5     60.4
  1987   80.2    79.7     83.3     78.5     81.1     79.5     79.1     66.4     88.2     76.3     66.4     67.5
  1988   84.2    83.4     85.6     81.5     84.0     82.8     82.0     71.4     88.6     81.7     70.6     72.3
  1989   86.9    86.0     89.9     85.3     87.7     87.1     85.0     78.3     88.8     86.0     77.9     76.9

  1990   90.4    90.7     95.5     91.2     92.1     91.2     89.2     85.0     91.2     90.9     87.0     84.8
  1991   94.6    96.0     98.9     95.3     95.9     95.9     94.2     93.2     95.4     96.4     94.6     93.0
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  103.7   101.6    102.1    103.4    101.6    102.8    102.8    105.0    103.8    101.8    100.5    106.1
  1994  107.7   104.7    104.3    109.7    105.1    105.2    108.4    107.3    107.1    105.0    106.8    110.1
  1995  110.5   107.0    108.2    111.8    109.2    107.1    113.2    113.4    110.3    108.8    114.6    111.8
  1996  113.7   110.9    110.8      NA     113.0    109.5    117.1    118.9      NA     113.4    120.9    116.6

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 13.  Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   50.6    38.5      NA       NA      28.4     20.1     11.8     18.2     17.2     26.3     25.2     27.1

  1955   61.2    48.3     18.2      NA      31.7     27.1     16.0     21.2     21.4     29.4     30.5     29.7

  1960   70.6    56.8     23.2     25.1     38.5     30.5     23.6     24.3     26.6     36.3     35.3     34.8
  1961   72.0    57.7     25.6     26.3     41.5     32.7     25.8     26.2     30.0     38.7     37.9     36.0
  1962   74.0    58.8     27.4     27.9     42.3     34.5     28.4     29.3     31.3     40.3     40.3     36.2
  1963   75.2    60.1     28.4     30.2     43.6     35.9     29.4     32.4     33.4     42.0     43.3     37.2
  1964   77.3    61.5     30.8     32.7     45.5     37.7     31.1     32.6     36.5     42.5     45.7     38.4
  1965   77.7    63.4     32.2     34.8     47.5     39.9     33.1     33.4     39.4     45.0     48.0     40.1
  1966   79.0    66.1     33.8     37.0     50.6     41.1     34.7     34.9     41.7     47.6     49.4     41.7
  1967   80.8    67.7     36.4     39.2     52.7     43.1     36.1     37.7     44.7     50.9     52.5     42.8
  1968   83.4    70.1     40.2     40.9     53.7     47.0     38.3     39.7     47.9     54.2     56.0     43.9
  1969   85.0    72.4     45.3     43.1     58.4     48.2     41.1     42.4     50.6     58.0     58.8     45.2

  1970   86.1    75.6     50.0     47.3     62.6     51.8     46.8     49.1     56.1     58.3     61.7     48.9
  1971   87.5    79.2     54.4     51.9     68.0     54.9     49.9     53.9     59.6     62.8     64.0     50.8
  1972   89.2    81.2     59.7     56.8     70.6     57.0     52.4     57.2     63.4     65.3     67.4     54.7
  1973   90.5    81.7     65.4     61.6     78.4     60.8     55.5     60.9     69.9     68.5     69.7     57.0
  1974   90.5    84.8     69.5     66.5     82.3     63.6     59.1     66.7     76.3     73.4     74.7     59.1
  1975   93.0    87.5     72.5     71.5     89.6     69.3     61.3     71.8     79.1     78.6     83.5     63.4
  1976   95.2    93.1     71.4     74.3     91.7     72.5     63.3     76.5     81.0     83.2     88.3     63.1
  1977   97.2    95.5     72.8     77.4     91.3     75.2     66.9     75.9     82.9     85.6     86.0     61.4
  1978   97.6    94.3     74.5     79.9     91.4     77.6     70.2     77.8     86.2     87.4     88.8     65.8
  1979   96.2    95.2     76.4     83.3     93.2     79.5     72.6     81.4     88.9     87.6     89.8     68.8

  1980   94.9    95.7     75.4     86.6     91.6     80.6     74.8     78.8     87.9     86.0     87.5     70.5
  1981   94.6    97.9     77.0     89.3     90.3     82.4     74.8     80.3     86.1     84.1     86.2     73.5
  1982   97.7    97.7     78.6     85.7     89.2     87.5     74.9     81.3     86.2     84.1     85.0     74.0
  1983   97.2    98.0     79.2     84.4     89.2     88.1     76.1     82.8     87.6     85.1     84.3     76.0
  1984   96.4    98.3     79.8     86.0     88.7     89.0     77.8     85.9     88.0     87.7     85.0     77.9
  1985   98.1    99.4     81.4     87.1     90.5     90.9     80.7     88.9     90.6     90.8     87.2     80.5
  1986  100.6    99.2     85.0     89.5     89.1     92.2     84.3     87.2     94.0     92.4     90.3     84.5
  1987   99.8    97.9     86.9     90.2     93.7     92.7     88.2     88.1     97.5     96.2     92.3     90.1
  1988   99.6    98.2     87.8     91.0     92.8     93.9     90.6     87.2     96.5     96.0     94.0     91.5
  1989   98.2    97.1     91.1     92.9     93.5     95.4     92.3     89.9     96.2     96.1     98.1     90.4

  1990   97.6    97.8     95.3     94.8     96.9     97.3     96.4     94.3     96.5     97.7     97.4     91.7
  1991   98.6    98.6     97.6     97.6     98.3     98.9     99.0     98.2     98.1     99.8     97.2     96.6
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993   99.4    98.3    103.2    102.2    101.1    101.6    102.3    102.8    101.2     99.2     95.3    105.0
  1994   99.5   100.1    104.7    103.1      NA     102.4    105.2     98.4    101.6    100.7     96.2    105.6
  1995  100.2    99.7    107.9    104.6      NA     102.0    108.4     95.6    102.5    102.8     98.0    102.9
  1996  100.1   102.5    109.4      NA       NA     102.2    112.3     98.9      NA     105.9    103.5    104.3

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 14.  Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                 Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   51.4    41.6      NA       NA      40.0     24.5     17.2     20.1     22.5     34.4     32.8     31.9

  1955   62.2    50.4     21.6      NA      43.8     32.7     23.3     24.0     27.9     38.6     39.3     35.4

  1960   70.3    58.7     28.6     31.6     50.5     36.8     31.1     27.8     35.1     45.8     43.1     40.6
  1961   71.8    59.4     31.1     33.0     52.8     39.5     33.4     29.6     38.0     48.0     45.8     41.5
  1962   74.5    61.3     32.6     35.1     54.2     41.6     35.9     32.1     39.3     49.9     48.4     41.3
  1963   76.0    62.9     33.6     37.9     55.1     43.2     36.6     35.6     41.8     51.7     51.5     42.3
  1964   78.6    64.6     36.2     40.9     58.0     45.1     38.8     35.8     45.3     52.6     53.7     44.1
  1965   79.9    66.5     37.2     42.9     60.3     47.3     41.0     35.6     48.7     54.5     56.0     45.4
  1966   81.5    68.9     39.2     45.2     63.1     49.0     42.4     37.5     51.3     57.8     57.5     46.4
  1967   81.8    70.2     42.3     47.3     65.1     50.8     43.0     41.1     54.7     61.2     60.2     47.2
  1968   84.4    72.8     46.6     49.4     64.8     53.8     46.1     43.3     57.6     63.6     62.8     48.8
  1969   85.3    74.9     51.8     51.5     69.6     56.5     49.5     45.9     60.0     66.5     64.8     50.3

  1970   84.6    77.7     56.6     55.0     72.2     59.9     56.1     52.2     65.3     66.3     67.9     53.5
  1971   86.2    80.9     60.6     59.4     78.1     63.0     58.4     55.7     68.7     70.8     70.2     54.3
  1972   89.4    82.9     66.1     63.6     79.4     64.8     60.8     58.7     72.0     72.5     72.0     57.9
  1973   90.5    83.1     71.9     67.2     83.5     68.0     63.9     63.3     77.9     75.6     73.1     61.2
  1974   88.8    85.7     73.2     70.8     89.4     70.2     66.6     66.9     82.3     80.0     77.5     61.3
  1975   89.9    87.4     74.7     72.0     94.1     74.3     67.4     70.8     83.8     85.3     85.0     65.6
  1976   93.2    92.9     75.7     76.2     96.8     77.9     71.5     75.4     85.7     87.9     88.8     65.9
  1977   95.5    95.5     77.3     79.1     95.6     80.1     74.3     74.4     87.3     89.0     85.9     64.5
  1978   95.9    94.6     79.4     81.5     94.5     82.0     77.1     76.1     89.9     88.8     86.3     68.9
  1979   93.9    94.8     82.0     84.9     96.3     83.8     79.3     79.0     91.6     87.5     86.0     71.8

  1980   91.6    94.9     80.9     87.0     95.3     85.0     80.8     76.7     91.1     86.3     83.0     71.1
  1981   91.2    95.9     82.0     87.6     92.7     85.8     79.8     78.1     89.7     84.6     82.1     73.1
  1982   92.5    94.7     83.5     85.9     93.0     87.3     79.8     79.0     90.7     83.8     81.3     74.3
  1983   94.6    96.2     84.3     82.4     94.3     87.6     80.9     80.4     92.4     85.3     81.7     76.5
  1984   95.2    97.5     85.7     83.5     93.4     88.6     82.8     83.4     91.5     87.7     83.9     79.1
  1985   96.9    98.7     87.2     85.8     92.1     89.9     84.5     85.5     91.8     90.4     85.3     81.6
  1986   99.3    98.4     90.5     88.3     92.8     91.4     87.5     86.1     94.8     92.1     88.0     85.5
  1987   99.1    97.8     92.8     89.7     95.3     92.5     91.1     88.5     97.8     93.5     91.0     91.8
  1988   99.9    98.4     94.8     92.0     94.5     94.0     93.4     90.6     97.5     94.1     92.6     93.7
  1989   98.3    96.5     97.4     93.5     94.1     95.3     94.1     93.2     96.7     94.7     96.3     92.5

  1990   97.1    97.2    100.3     96.5     96.3     96.7     96.2     95.4     96.9     96.2     96.7     93.1
  1991   97.4    97.5    100.6     97.6     97.9     98.5     98.0     98.3     98.3     98.7     96.4     96.5
  1992  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993  100.7    99.9    100.8    100.6    100.3    100.7     99.1    100.8    101.2     99.5     97.8    104.5
  1994  101.9   102.7    102.3    104.3    101.7    101.4    101.6     99.1    101.6    101.2    101.7    105.8
  1995  101.8   102.7    106.2    104.7    103.6    101.5    104.3     99.3    102.8    102.4    104.6    103.9
  1996  101.7   104.8    108.6      NA     105.0    101.8    106.5    100.4      NA     105.4    109.4    105.7

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.


Table 15.  Korea:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1996

(Indexes:  1992=100)

                                             Unit Labor Costs
                                             National         U.S.
                                             currency        dollar        Exchange
  Year          Output        Compensation    basis          basis          rate*

  1970            6.4            0.6            9.9           25.0          251.4
  1971            7.6            0.8           10.5           23.7          224.9
  1972            8.6            1.0           11.7           23.2          198.7
  1973           11.2            1.5           13.8           27.1          196.0
  1974           13.1            2.2           16.9           32.6          193.0
  1975           14.4            2.9           19.8           32.0          161.3
  1976           18.2            4.5           24.7           39.8          161.3
  1977           21.0            6.0           28.7           46.3          161.3
  1978           25.7            8.8           34.1           55.0          161.3
  1979           28.3           11.7           41.5           67.0          161.3
  1980           27.8           14.7           52.7           67.7          128.5
  1981           30.7           18.6           60.7           69.5          114.6
  1982           32.8           21.0           64.0           68.3          106.8
  1983           37.8           25.7           68.0           68.4          100.6
  1984           42.5           31.2           73.2           70.9           96.9
  1985           46.9           33.1           70.5           63.3           89.7
  1986           56.1           39.2           69.9           61.9           88.6
  1987           67.1           49.9           74.4           70.6           94.9
  1988           76.3           63.5           83.3           88.9          106.7
  1989           79.5           70.7           88.9          103.3          116.3
  1990           87.2           82.5           94.5          104.2          110.3
  1991           95.2           94.2           99.0          105.4          106.4
  1992          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0
  1993          105.0          103.1           98.2           95.5           97.3
  1994          116.0          113.1           97.5           94.7           97.2
  1995          128.5          124.6           96.9           98.1          101.2
  1996          138.1          137.3           99.5           96.5           97.0

*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.

Table 16.  Taiwan:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1996

(Indexes:  1992=100)

                                             Unit Labor Costs
                                             National         U.S.
                                             currency        dollar        Exchange
  Year          Output        Compensation    basis          basis          rate*

  1970           13.2            3.0           22.3           14.0           62.9
  1971           16.2            3.8           23.4           14.7           62.9
  1972           19.5            4.6           23.7           14.9           62.9
  1973           22.9            6.3           27.5           18.1           65.8
  1974           21.7            9.0           41.5           27.5           66.2
  1975           22.6            9.5           42.1           27.9           66.2
  1976           27.7           12.1           43.6           28.9           66.2
  1977           31.2           14.2           45.4           30.1           66.2
  1978           37.7           17.3           45.8           31.1           67.9
  1979           40.7           21.2           52.0           36.3           69.8
  1980           44.7           26.9           60.1           42.0           69.8
  1981           48.1           33.6           69.8           47.6           68.3
  1982           49.1           36.6           74.5           47.9           64.3
  1983           54.8           40.0           73.0           45.9           62.8
  1984           62.7           47.8           76.2           48.4           63.5
  1985           64.8           51.4           79.3           50.1           63.1
  1986           74.6           61.4           82.3           54.7           66.5
  1987           84.4           69.2           82.1           65.1           79.3
  1988           87.9           74.0           84.2           74.1           88.0
  1989           91.2           80.2           87.9           83.8           95.3
  1990           90.8           85.6           94.3           88.2           93.5
  1991           96.9           92.6           95.6           89.9           94.0
  1992          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0
  1993          102.5          103.4          100.9           96.1           95.2
  1994          108.4          110.6          102.0           97.0           95.1
  1995          114.9          117.2          102.1           96.9           95.0
  1996          121.0          119.3           98.5           90.3           91.6

*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.



TECHNICAL NOTES

	The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs trend indexes of 
manufacturing labor productivity (output per hour), hourly 
compensation costs, and unit labor costs from three basic 
aggregate measures-output, total labor hours, and total 
compensation.  The hours and compensation measures refer to all 
employed persons, including self-employed persons and unpaid 
family workers, in the United States, Canada, Japan, France, 
Germany, Norway, and Sweden and to all employees (wage and salary 
earners) in the other economies. For all of the countries,  the 
term "hours" refers to hours worked.

	In general, the measures relate to total manufacturing as 
defined by the International Standard Industrial Classification 
(ISIC).  However, the measures for France and Italy (beginning in 
1970) refer to mining and manufacturing less energy-related 
products, and the measures for Denmark include mining and exclude 
manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966.

Output.  For most countries, the output measures are value 
added in manufacturing from the national accounts.  However, 
output for Japan prior to 1970 and for the Netherlands prior to 
1960 are indexes of industrial production.  The national accounts 
measures for the United Kingdom are essentially identical to 
their indexes of industrial production.  While methods of 
deriving national accounts measures differ from country to 
country, BLS has reviewed these methods and determined that the 
series are sufficiently comparable for measuring comparative 
trends in productivity and unit labor costs.

	In this release, the 1977-94 manufacturing output data for the 
United States are the gross product originating (value added) 
measures prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce.  Comparable manufacturing output 
data currently are not available prior to 1977.  The 1994-95 and 
1995-96 percent changes in manufacturing output are based on the 
trend shown by the industrial production index published by the 
U.S. Federal Reserve Board for the manufacturing sector.

	U. S. gross product originating is a chain-type annual-
weighted series.(Footnote 1)  The Japanese value-added series is based
upon one set of fixed price weights for the years 1970 through 1996.  
Output series for other foreign economies also employ fixed price 
weights, but the weights are updated  periodically  (for example, 
every 5 or 10 years).

	To preserve the comparability of the U.S. measures with those 
of the other economies covered, BLS uses gross product 
originating in manufacturing for the United States for these 
comparative measures.  The gross product originating series 
differs from the manufacturing output series that BLS publishes 
in its news releases on quarterly measures of U.S. productivity 
and costs.  The quarterly measures are on a  "sectoral output" 
basis rather than a value-added basis.  Sectoral output is gross 
output less intra-sector transactions.

Labor Input. The total hours measures are developed from 
statistics of manufacturing employment and average hours.  The 
series used for France (from 1970 forward), Norway, and Sweden 
are official series published with the national accounts.  Where 
official total hours series are not available, the measures are 
developed by BLS using employment figures published with the 
national accounts, or other comprehensive employment series, and 
estimates of annual hours worked.  For Germany, BLS uses 
estimates of average hours worked, developed by a research 
institute connected to the Ministry of Labor for use with the 
national accounts employment figures.  For the other countries, 
BLS constructs its own estimates of average hours.

	Denmark has not published estimates of average hours for 1994-
1996 and, therefore, the BLS measure of labor input for Denmark 
ends in 1993.  For Korea and for Taiwan, BLS publishes only 
measures of unit labor costs and the data on output and total 
compensation that underlie the computations of unit labor costs.  
Total hours, and consequently productivity, are not computed for 
Korea and Taiwan because BLS has not yet developed adequate labor 
input series.

Compensation (labor cost).  The compensation measures are from 
the national accounts except those for Belgium, which are 
developed by BLS using statistics on employment, average hours, 
and hourly compensation.  Compensation includes employer 
expenditures for legally required insurance programs and 
contractual and private benefit plans, in addition to all 
payments made in cash or in-kind directly to employees.  For 
France and Sweden, compensation is increased to account for other 
significant taxes on payroll or employment.  For the United 
Kingdom, compensation is reduced between 1967 and 1991 to account 
for subsidies.  Self-employed workers are included in the all-
employed-persons measures by assuming that their hourly 
compensation is equal to the average for wage and salary 
employees.

Current Indicators.  The measures for recent years may be 
based on current indicators of output (such as industrial 
production indexes), employment, average hours, and hourly 
compensation until national accounts and other statistics, 
normally used for the long-term measures, become available.

Trade-Weighted Measures.  The trade weights for Canada, Japan, 
and the European countries were obtained by rescaling a series of 
weights, developed by the International Monetary Fund, based on 
average trade flows over the 1989-91 period.  These  weights are 
based on aggregate trade data for total manufacturing and take 
account of both bilateral trade and the relative importance of 
"third country" markets.  The 1989-91 weights do not include 
Korea and Taiwan.   BLS developed weights for Korea and Taiwan by 
using data from an earlier study from the International Monetary 
Fund and other sources.

	The following weights were used for the entire period for 
which trade-weighted unit labor cost measures are produced:


Country        Weight
Canada          24.97
Japan           30.16
Denmark          0.47
France           5.82
Germany         11.45
Italy            4.54
Norway           0.47
Sweden           1.87
United Kingdom   8.87
Korea            5.66
Taiwan           5.72


Level comparisons.  The BLS measures are limited to trend 
comparisons. BLS does not prepare level comparisons of 
manufacturing productivity and unit labor costs because of data 
limitations and technical problems in comparing the levels of 
manufacturing output among countries.  Each country measures 
manufacturing output in its own currency units.  To compare 
outputs among countries, a common unit of measure is needed.  
Market exchange rates are not suitable as a basis for comparing 
output levels.  What are needed are purchasing power parities, 
which are the number of foreign currency units required to buy 
goods and services equivalent to what can be bought with one unit 
of U.S. currency.

	Purchasing power parities are available for total gross 
domestic product (GDP) from the United Nations International 
Comparisons Project.  However, these parities are derived for 
expenditures made by consumers, business, and government for 
goods and services-not for value added by industry.  Therefore, 
they do not provide purchasing power parities by industry.  The 
parities for total GDP are not suitable for each component 
industry, such as manufacturing.

	Some analysts have constructed "proxy purchasing power 
parities" for manufacturing, using selected expenditure items 
from the United Nations International Comparisons Project.  
However,  the prices used in this method have a number of 
shortcomings because they are based on consumer, business, and 
government final expenditures.  The data reflect sales to final 
users, rather than the output of specific industries, and thus 
prices include indirect taxes, distribution margins, and 
transportation costs.  Further, the purchasing power parities 
exclude items which, although they are outputs of the 
manufacturing sector (e.g. steel, paper, cement, etc.), are only 
intermediate inputs with respect to final sales.  They also do 
not reflect an industry's output because they include imports and 
exclude exports.

	A different approach has been used by researchers at the 
International Comparisons of Output and Productivity project at 
the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.  They develop 
unit value ratios for matched products, based on censuses of 
manufactures data in the various countries.  Unit values are 
obtained by dividing producers' sales values by quantities 
shipped.  This procedure also has shortcomings, primarily because 
only a portion of manufactured products can be matched and the 
matched products may not be adequately representative.  For many 
products, values are reported but not quantities; for some 
products, there is no counterpart in the other country; and other 
products cannot be matched because they represent a different mix 
of product varieties or because of large differences in 
qualities. (Footnote 2)



_______________________
1  For more information on the U. S. measure, see Robert E. Yuskavage,
 "Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry, 1959-94," Survey of 
Current Business, August 1996, pp. 133-55.
2  For an article based on this approach, see Bart van Ark, "Manufacturing
prices, productivity, and labor costs in five economies," Monthly Labor Review,
July 1995, pp. 56-72.