Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov         USDL: 99-63
Technical information: (202) 606-5654          For Release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact: (202) 606-5902                  Tuesday, March 16, 1999




INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 1997 REVISED DATA

Labor productivity in manufacturing increased during 1997 in all of the 
11 countries for which comparable data are available, with the increases 
ranging from 0.5 percent in the United Kingdom to 6.8 percent in France.  
(See table A and chart 1.)  Labor productivity (output per hour) in U.S. 
manufacturing increased 4.2 percent during 1997.  Canada and the U.K. 
reversed the productivity declines they had experienced in 1996. (See table 
B.)

These estimates represent revisions to the preliminary estimates 
contained in a September 1998 news release (USDL: 98-393).  The revisions are 
based on data not available for the earlier news release.  The U.S. output 
series used for international comparisons differs from the manufacturing 
series that BLS publishes on quarterly measures of U.S. productivity and 
costs.


PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
CHART 1. Percent change in manufacturing output per hour, 1997



Unit labor costs - the costs of labor input required to produce one 
unit of output - is computed as the ratio of labor costs in nominal terms 
divided by real output.  It also can be expressed as the ratio of hourly 
compensation to labor productivity.  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 in its effects on unit labor costs.

In 1997, unit labor costs, expressed in national currency units, in 
manufacturing declined in 10 of the 14 countries being compared and rose in 
4. (See table A.)  Unit labor costs in U.S. manufacturing were essentially 
unchanged in 1997.

In order to properly assess international competitiveness trends in 
manufactured products, it is essential to take into account changes in 
exchange rates.  During 1997, the currencies of 12 of the 13 foreign 
countries being compared lost value against the U.S. dollar; the losses in 
value ranged from a -1.5 percent drop in the Canadian dollar to a -15.4 
percent decline in the Korean won. (See table A.)

Thus, when expressed in U.S. dollar terms, only the U.K. recorded a 
1997 increase in unit labor costs in manufacturing.  The British pound 
appreciated by 4.9 percent against the dollar in 1997, resulting in an 8.7 
percent jump in unit labor costs in dollar terms.  Manufacturing unit labor 
costs in all the other countries declined in U.S. dollar terms, from -1.6 
percent in Canada to -19.4 percent in Korea. (See chart 2.)


PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
CHART 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S. dollar 
basis), 1997



The 1997 measures of changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor 
costs, and related variables are summarized in table A below.  Output and 
unit labor cost data are presented for all 14 economies.  Comparable 
productivity data are not available for Korea and Taiwan.  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 14 countries or areas
Percent change, 1996-97

                                                              Unit              
                                                           labor costs          
              Output               Emp-           Hourly  National U.S.   Ex-   
Country         per   Out-         loy-   Average compen-  curr-  doll-  change 
or area        hour   put   Hours  ment   hours   sation   ency    ars   rate(1)


United States  4.2    5.9    1.6    0.9      0.7    4.2    - 0.1  - 0.1   ---

Canada         2.7    6.1    3.3    3.2      0.1    2.7    - 0.1  - 1.6  - 1.5
Japan          4.9    4.0  - 0.8  - 0.2    - 0.6    3.1    - 1.7  -11.7  -10.1
Korea (2)       NA    6.2     NA     NA       NA     NA    - 4.7  -19.4  -15.4
Taiwan (2)      NA    6.7     NA     NA       NA     NA    - 1.6  - 6.0  - 4.5
Belgium        6.1    4.6  - 1.4  - 1.5      0.1    2.2    - 3.7  -16.7  -13.5
Denmark (3)     NA    2.3     NA    1.6       NA     NA      3.2  - 9.5  -12.2
France         6.8    5.0  - 1.7  - 1.3    - 0.5    2.9    - 3.6  -15.6  -12.4

Germany (4)    5.9    3.6  - 2.2  - 2.3      0.2    2.3    - 3.4  -16.2  -13.3
Italy          2.7    2.3  - 0.3  - 0.7      0.4    4.9      2.1  - 7.5  - 9.5
Netherlands    4.6    5.0    0.4    0.4      0.0    2.8    - 1.8  -15.1  -13.6
Norway         0.6    3.1    2.4    2.7    - 0.3    4.5      3.9  - 5.3  - 8.8
Sweden         6.5    5.5  - 1.0  - 1.1      0.1    4.3    - 2.1  -14.1  -12.2
United Kingdom 0.5    1.0    0.5    0.4      0.1    4.0      3.6    8.7    4.9

(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 1994-1997 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 6-10) shows average annual percent changes for selected 
periods beginning in 1979.  Annual indexes of the data are in tables 1-14 
(pages 16-29).


BOX: NOTES ABOUT THE MEASURES

The measures in this news release are based on data available to BLS as of 
January 1999.  Revisions for 1997 and some earlier years were made to the 
measures for several countries to incorporate data not available at the time 
of the September 1998 news release (USDL: 98-393).

The U.S. manufacturing output measure

The output measure for the United States is the chain-weighted index of real 
gross product originating (deflated value-added), introduced by the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA) in August 1996.  This series is based on annually 
changing price weights.

The U.S. output data through 1997 were published by BEA in November 1998.  
The data incorporate the results of the comprehensive revision of the 
national income and product accounts (NIPA's) released in May 1997; the 
estimates for 1995-97 also incorporate the results of the annual NIPA 
revisions released in July 1998.

The U.S. output series used for international comparisons differs from the 
manufacturing series that BLS publishes in its news releases on quarterly 
measures of U.S. productivity and costs. (See technical notes.)  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.)

END OF BOX (NOTES ABOUT THE MEASURES)


Productivity, output, and labor input

The U.S. productivity growth rate of 4.2 percent in 1997 reflects a 5.9 
percent increase in output, offset by a 1.6 percent increase in hours worked.  
The 4.2 percent U.S. productivity increase is less than the preliminary 
estimate of 4.6 percent growth reported in September 1998.  The change is the 
result of an upward revision to the estimated increase in hours worked which 
more than offset a small upward revision in output growth.

The 1997 growth rate of Japanese labor productivity also was revised 
downward to 4.9 percent from a preliminary estimate of 6.1 percent, due to a 
1.3 percentage point downward revision in the estimate of output growth.  The 
downward revision of 0.4 percentage points to the estimate of productivity 
growth for the U.K. was due to a downward revision in output growth; for 
Belgium, the upward revision of half a percentage point in productivity 
growth was due to a revision in hours.

Manufacturing labor productivity increased during 1997 in all of the 11 
countries for which comparable data are available, with the increases ranging 
from 0.5 percent in the United Kingdom to 6.8 percent in France.  This was 
fueled by increased manufacturing output, which went up during 1997 in all of 
the countries being compared, ranging from a 1.0 percent increase in the U.K 
to 6.7 percent growth in Taiwan.  The U.S. output growth of 5.9 percent was 
above the average.  This is the sixth consecutive year that manufacturing 
output has grown in the U.S.  Among the countries being compared, the U.S. 
string of consecutive increases is only surpassed by Korea and Taiwan and 
matched by Canada and Norway. (See table 3.)

Labor input is measured by the total hours worked in manufacturing.  In 
1997, hours worked increased only in the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, 
Norway, and the U.K.  In all the other countries, manufacturing labor hours 
declined between 1996 and 1997, resulting in labor productivity growth rates 
larger than the growth rates in output.

Of the two factors determining changes in aggregate hours worked - 
changes in employment and average hours - the employment effect is the 
predominant one in the foreign countries studied, with the exception of 
Japan.  For the U.S., employment and average hours grew at about the same 
rate. (See table A.)

Hourly compensation and unit labor costs

Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing include wages and salaries, 
supplements, and employer payments for social security and other employer-
financed benefit plans.  Increases in hourly compensation are offset by 
increases in productivity when determining changes in unit labor costs.  In 
1997, hourly compensation in U.S. manufacturing went up 4.2 percent, while 
labor productivity increased the same amount, leaving unit labor costs 
essentially unchanged.

In 1997, manufacturing unit labor costs, expressed in national currency 
units, declined in 10 of the 14 countries being compared and rose in 4.  This 
occurred despite the fact that hourly compensation in manufacturing, 
expressed in national currency units, rose in all the countries.  In 1997, 
increases in hourly compensation averaged between 2 and 5 percent, with the 
4.2 percent U.S. increase falling into the upper half of this range.  
Positive labor productivity growth in all the countries reduced the amount of 
unit labor cost increases and caused them to decline in most countries. (See 
table A.)

Unit labor costs in U.S. dollars

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 1997, the currencies of 12 of the 13 countries 
being compared lost value against the U.S. dollar, from a 1.5 percent drop in 
the Canadian dollar to a 15.4 percent decline in the Korean won.

In absolute value terms, changes in exchange rates exceeded the changes 
in unit labor costs in all countries - in most cases by a large amount.  
Thus, the change in exchange rates was the predominant factor leading to 
changes in unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars.  In most countries, 
these exchange rate movements reinforced reductions in unit labor costs.  In 
three countries, the exchange rate changes offset unit labor cost increases.  
In U.S. dollar terms, manufacturing unit labor costs declined in all the 
countries except the U.K.;  the declines ranged from 1.6 percent in Canada to 
19.4 percent in Korea. (See table A.)

Note: 1997 unit labor costs in national currencies have been revised 
from the estimates in September 1998 for the United States (upward by 0.9 
percentage points), Japan (upward by 1.2 percentage points), Taiwan (downward 
by 0.5 percentage points), Belgium (downward 0.4 percentage points), Denmark 
(upward 2.2 percentage points), and the United Kingdom (upward by 0.7 
percentage points).



Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-97

                            Average annual rates of change (1)

Country          1979-97 1979-85 1985-90 1990-97 1994    1995    1996    1997
or area

                                    Output per hour

United States     3.0     3.3     2.2     3.2     6.1     6.1     2.1     4.2

Canada            1.9     2.3     1.2     2.0     2.3     2.5    -1.6     2.7
Japan             3.5     3.5     4.3     3.0     1.3     7.4     2.3     4.9
Korea             NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan            NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium           3.7     6.1     2.3     2.7     5.7    -1.0     1.0     6.1
Denmark           NA      2.1      .5     NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
France            3.3     3.0     3.4     3.5     8.5     3.6     3.1     6.8

Germany (2)       2.5     2.0     2.2     3.0     7.2     3.0     3.5     5.9
Italy             3.7     4.9     2.6     3.4     2.8     6.0      .4     2.7
Netherlands       3.6     4.4     1.9     4.1    12.0     5.0     3.8     4.6
Norway            1.6     2.4     1.4      .9      .8      .5      .6      .6
Sweden            3.4     3.0     1.8     5.0     8.8     5.4     2.5     6.5
United Kingdom    3.8     4.4     4.6     2.6     3.4    -1.7    -1.2      .5

                                                         Continued on next page




Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-97--continued

                              Average annual rates of change (1)

Country          1979-97 1979-85 1985-90 1990-97 1994    1995    1996    1997
or area


                                      Output

United States     2.6     2.0     2.2     3.3     8.4     6.6     1.7     5.9

Canada            2.0     1.4     1.8     2.5     6.4     4.9     1.1     6.1
Japan             3.5     4.7     4.8     1.6    - .7     5.5     2.6     4.0
Korea             9.6     8.8    13.2     7.7    10.5    10.8     7.5     6.2
Taiwan            6.6     8.1     7.0     5.0     5.7     6.0     4.5     6.7
Belgium           2.0     2.6     2.5     1.1     4.5     2.7      .0     4.6
Denmark           1.9     2.9    - .2     2.5    10.4     5.3     3.4     2.3
France            1.1    - .4     2.6     1.2     5.3     3.9     2.1     5.0

Germany (2)        .5      .2     2.3    - .5     1.8      .2    -1.3     3.6
Italy             2.1     1.7     4.0     1.1     5.4     5.6    -1.3     2.3
Netherlands       2.3     1.8     3.0     2.1     6.1     3.5     2.6     5.0
Norway             .5      .6    -1.6     2.0     3.9     2.1     2.3     3.1
Sweden            2.4     2.2     1.2     3.5    14.1    12.5     2.2     5.5
United Kingdom     .8    -1.2     3.4      .5     4.7     1.5      .4     1.0


                                    Total hours

United States    -0.4    -1.2     0.0     0.1     2.2     0.4    -0.4     1.6

Canada             .1    - .8      .6      .5     4.0     2.4     2.7     3.3
Japan              .0     1.1      .5    -1.4    -2.0    -1.8      .2    - .8
Korea             NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan            NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium          -1.6    -3.3      .2    -1.6    -1.1     3.7    -1.0    -1.4
Denmark           NA       .8    - .6     NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
France           -2.2    -3.3    - .8    -2.2    -2.9      .3    - .9    -1.7

Germany (2)      -1.9    -1.8      .2    -3.4    -5.0    -2.7    -4.7    -2.2
Italy            -1.5    -3.1     1.3    -2.2     2.6    - .4    -1.7    - .3
Netherlands      -1.3    -2.5     1.1    -1.8    -5.3    -1.4    -1.2      .4
Norway           -1.0    -1.8    -2.9     1.0     3.1     1.5     1.7     2.4
Sweden           -1.0    - .8    - .5    -1.5     4.9     6.7    - .3    -1.0
United Kingdom   -2.9    -5.3    -1.2    -2.0     1.2     3.2     1.6      .5

                                                         Continued on next page




Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-97--continued

                        Average annual rates of change (1)

Country          1979-97 1979-85 1985-90 1990-97 1994    1995    1996    1997
or area


                                  Employment

United States    -0.6    -1.4    -0.1    -0.3     1.3     1.1    -0.3     0.9

Canada           - .1    - .8      .4      .3     3.4     2.8     2.5     3.2
Japan              .4     1.2      .8    - .5    -2.0    -2.5    - .6    - .2
Korea             NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan            NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium          -1.6    -2.7    - .4    -1.4    -3.7     4.8    -1.4    -1.5
Denmark            .0     1.0    - .2    - .9      .3     2.0    -1.2     1.6
France           -1.8    -2.3    - .9    -2.1    -2.8    - .1    -1.2    -1.3

Germany (2)      -1.1    -1.1     1.1    -2.7    -5.1    -2.2    -3.1    -2.3
Italy            -1.7    -2.9      .3    -2.1    - .2    - .5    - .9    - .7
Netherlands      -1.1    -2.3     1.3    -1.8    -5.3    -1.7    -1.1      .4
Norway           -1.0    -1.8    -2.7      .9     2.8     2.4     2.0     2.7
Sweden           -1.7    -1.2    - .8    -2.7     1.8     4.8    - .7    -1.1
United Kingdom   -2.7    -4.9    -1.2    -2.0      .6     2.4     1.3      .4


                                 Average hours

United States     0.3     0.2     0.1     0.4     0.9    -0.7    -0.1     0.7

Canada             .1      .0      .2      .2      .5    - .4      .2      .1
Japan            - .5      .0    - .3    - .9      .1      .7      .8    - .6
Korea             NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan            NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium          - .1    - .6      .7    - .1     2.7    -1.1      .4      .1
Denmark           NA     - .3    - .5     NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
France           - .3    -1.0      .1      .0    - .2      .4      .3    - .5

Germany (2)      - .8    - .7    -1.0    - .7      .0    - .5    -1.6      .2
Italy              .2    - .1     1.0    - .1     2.8      .1    - .8      .4
Netherlands      - .2    - .3    - .2      .0      .0      .3    - .1      .0
Norway             .0      .0    - .2      .1      .2    - .9    - .3    - .3
Sweden             .7      .4      .3     1.2     3.1     1.8      .4      .1
United Kingdom   - .2    - .5      .0      .0      .6      .8      .2      .1

                                                         Continued on next page




Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-97--continued

                            Average annual rates of change (1)

Country          1979-97 1979-85 1985-90 1990-97 1994    1995    1996    1997
or area


                 Hourly compensation (3):  National currency basis

United States     4.8     7.1     3.9     3.4     2.8     2.4     2.2     4.2

Canada            5.3     8.3     5.1     2.8      .6     3.2     2.2     2.7
Japan             4.1     4.7     4.6     3.3     2.1     2.6     1.0     3.1
Korea             NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Taiwan            NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
Belgium           5.1     7.8     3.8     3.8     3.3     3.0     2.2     2.2
Denmark           NA      8.1     5.3     NA      NA      NA      NA      NA
France            6.6    12.8     4.5     3.0     2.5     1.4     1.6     2.9

Germany (2)       5.3     5.9     5.0     5.1     5.5     5.3     5.1     2.3
Italy             9.7    16.7     6.9     5.9    - .5     5.4     6.3     4.9
Netherlands       3.6     4.9     2.1     3.7     4.4     2.2     3.0     2.8
Norway            6.9    10.0     7.8     3.8     2.9     4.6     4.8     4.5
Sweden            7.2     9.6     8.5     4.4     3.1     5.0     6.8     4.3
United Kingdom    8.4    11.8     8.9     5.1     3.1     1.6     1.2     4.0


                    Unit labor costs:  National currency basis

United States     1.7     3.7     1.6     0.2    -3.1    -3.5     0.1    -0.1

Canada            3.3     5.9     3.8      .8    -1.7      .7     3.9    - .1
Japan              .6     1.2      .3      .3      .8    -4.5    -1.3    -1.7
Korea             4.7     9.2     6.0      .1    - .7    - .2     2.7    -4.7
Taiwan            3.7     7.3     3.5      .9     1.1      .1    - .2    -1.6
Belgium           1.3     1.5     1.5     1.1    -2.2     4.0     1.2    -3.7
Denmark           3.4     5.9     4.8      .3    -7.1      .5    -1.1     3.2
France            3.2     9.5     1.0    - .5    -5.5    -2.1    -1.4    -3.6

Germany (2)       2.8     3.8     2.7     2.0    -1.6     2.2     1.6    -3.4
Italy             5.8    11.2     4.2     2.4    -3.2    - .5     5.9     2.1
Netherlands        .1      .5      .2    - .3    -6.9    -2.6    - .8    -1.8
Norway            5.3     7.4     6.4     2.8     2.1     4.0     4.2     3.9
Sweden            3.7     6.4     6.6    - .6    -5.2    - .3     4.2    -2.1
United Kingdom    4.5     7.1     4.1     2.5    - .2     3.3     2.4     3.6

                                                         Continued on next page




Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-97--continued

                           Average annual rates of change (1)

Country           1979-97 1979-85 1985-90 1990-97 1994   1995   1996   1997
or area


                       Unit labor costs:  U.S. dollar basis

United States      1.7      3.7    1.6     0.2   -3.1   -3.5    0.1    -0.1

Canada             2.4      3.2    7.1    -1.6   -7.2     .3    4.5    -1.6
Japan              3.9     - .3   10.8     2.9    9.5    3.8  -14.8   -11.7
Korea               .9     - .9   10.5    -4.0   - .8    3.9   -1.5   -19.4
Taiwan             5.0      5.5   12.0    - .1     .9   - .1   -3.7    -6.0
Belgium             .2     -9.7   13.8      .1    1.1   17.9   -3.7   -16.7
Denmark            2.1     -5.8   16.6    - .7   -5.2   14.0   -4.6    -9.5
France             1.4     -3.3   11.7    -1.5   -3.4    8.9   -3.9   -15.6

Germany (2)        3.1     -4.1   15.8     1.0     .4   15.7   -3.3   -16.2
Italy              1.6     -3.2   14.3    -2.6   -5.5   -1.6   11.8    -7.5
Netherlands         .2     -7.6   12.9    -1.3   -4.8   10.4   -5.7   -15.1
Norway             3.3     -1.7   13.3     1.0    2.7   15.8    2.2    -5.3
Sweden              .4     -5.2   14.8    -4.2   -4.3    7.7   10.9   -14.1
United Kingdom     3.0     -1.3   10.9     1.3    1.8    6.4    1.2     8.7


                                 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    -2.4   -5.6   - .4     .6    -1.5
Japan              3.3     -1.5   10.5     2.6    8.7    8.7  -13.6   -10.1
Korea             -3.7     -9.3    4.2    -4.1   - .1    4.2   -4.1   -15.4
Taiwan             1.3     -1.7    8.2    - .9   - .2   - .1   -3.5    -4.5
Belgium           -1.1    -11.1   12.2    -1.0    3.5   13.4   -4.8   -13.5
Denmark           -1.3    -11.0   11.4    - .9    2.0   13.5   -3.5   -12.2
France            -1.7    -11.7   10.5    -1.0    2.2   11.2   -2.5   -12.4

Germany (2)         .3     -7.6   12.7    -1.0    2.0   13.2   -4.8   -13.3
Italy             -3.9    -12.9    9.8    -4.9   -2.4   -1.1    5.6    -9.5
Netherlands         .2     -8.0   12.7    -1.0    2.2   13.4   -4.9   -13.6
Norway            -1.8     -8.4    6.6    -1.8     .6   11.4   -1.9    -8.8
Sweden            -3.2    -11.0    7.8    -3.6    1.0    8.1    6.4   -12.2
United Kingdom    -1.4     -7.9    6.6    -1.2    2.0    3.0   -1.1     4.9

(1) Rates of change based on the compound rate method.
(2) Data relate to the former West Germany.
(3) Adjusted to include employment taxes that are not compensation to employees
    but are labor costs to employers.
(4) Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

NA = Not available.



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 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.  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.  In most years between 1985 and 1995, U.S. costs either rose at 
a slower rate than the competitors' costs or fell at a faster rate.  Since 
1995, however, the strength of the U.S. dollar has once again caused relative 
U.S. unit labor costs to rise.

The data underlying this chart are shown in table C.


PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT: 
CHART 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 13 
competitors, 1979-97



Table C. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 13 competitors, 1979-97


                  Unit Labor Costs               Unit Labor Costs
                National Currency Basis          U.S. Dollar Basis
  Year         Own    Competitors'           Own    Competitors'
              Index     Index     Ratio     Index     Index     Ratio

  1979        100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0
  1980        112.3     111.8     100.4     112.3     110.4     101.7
  1981        117.6     120.9      97.3     117.6     109.7     107.2
  1982        125.1     129.2      96.9     125.1     106.2     117.8
  1983        122.8     131.1      93.7     122.8     104.7     117.3
  1984        122.2     131.6      92.8     122.2      99.3     123.1
  1985        124.2     132.9      93.4     124.2      97.1     127.9
  1986        128.9     138.4      93.2     128.9     121.6     106.0
  1987        124.1     140.3      88.4     124.1     139.5      88.9
  1988        124.3     141.5      87.8     124.3     151.9      81.8
  1989        129.4     145.2      89.2     129.4     151.4      85.5
  1990        134.6     151.0      89.2     134.6     162.9      82.7
  1991        141.0     157.2      89.7     141.0     172.2      81.9
  1992        144.7     161.6      89.5     144.7     180.4      80.2
  1993        145.9     163.2      89.4     145.9     177.7      82.1
  1994        141.3     161.4      87.6     141.3     178.4      79.2
  1995        136.4     160.1      85.2     136.4     187.0      72.9
  1996        136.5     162.2      84.1     136.5     179.9      75.9
  1997        136.4     160.3      85.1     136.4     164.3      83.0


Table 1.  Output per hour in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

      United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   NA     28.0      NA       NA       NA       NA      22.6     13.9     13.2     11.2     12.3     24.5     19.7     24.7

  1955   NA     34.3      8.7      NA       NA       NA      24.6     17.6     19.7     15.6     15.4     28.5     21.6     26.6

  1960   NA     40.7     14.0      NA       NA      17.9     29.9     23.0     29.2     19.6     19.5     36.7     27.6     30.2
  1961   NA     42.9     15.8      NA       NA      18.1     31.6     24.5     30.6     21.2     20.6     38.0     29.0     30.2
  1962   NA     46.3     16.6      NA       NA      19.0     33.2     26.1     32.7     23.4     21.2     38.0     31.3     30.9
  1963   NA     48.1     18.0      NA       NA      19.8     34.3     27.5     34.1     24.1     21.9     40.0     33.1     32.5
  1964   NA     50.4     20.4      NA       NA      21.0     37.1     29.7     37.0     24.3     23.9     42.2     36.0     34.7
  1965   NA     52.9     21.2      NA       NA      22.1     38.9     31.8     39.3     27.1     25.4     44.7     38.7     35.7
  1966   NA     53.7     23.3      NA       NA      23.6     40.8     34.4     40.9     29.4     27.0     46.6     40.3     36.9
  1967   NA     54.3     26.3      NA       NA      24.9     43.8     36.5     43.4     30.9     28.9     48.3     43.7     38.6
  1968   NA     57.6     29.5      NA       NA      27.1     47.8     40.3     47.1     33.3     32.3     51.3     47.8     41.4
  1969   NA     60.5     33.8      NA       NA      29.6     49.8     42.9     50.4     34.5     35.3     56.1     51.5     42.4

  1970   NA     59.2     38.0      NA       NA      32.7     52.7     45.5     52.1     36.8     38.6     57.8     52.8     43.3
  1971   NA     62.7     40.2      NA       NA      34.6     56.3     48.2     54.1     37.4     40.9     60.1     55.1     45.4
  1972   NA     65.6     44.1      NA       NA      38.6     60.8     50.4     57.4     40.5     44.1     63.6     57.9     47.9
  1973   NA     69.6     48.1      NA       NA      42.7     66.9     53.9     61.1     43.9     48.8     67.6     62.1     51.4
  1974   NA     70.8     49.3      NA       NA      45.0     69.1     55.1     63.3     46.7     52.4     70.6     64.8     52.2
  1975   NA     68.1     50.7      NA       NA      46.8     76.1     57.0     65.9     45.2     51.6     69.7     65.8     51.1
  1976   NA     73.0     53.8      NA       NA      51.6     78.8     60.5     70.7     51.4     57.1     71.9     66.8     53.3
  1977  70.6    77.1     55.9      NA       NA      54.1     80.4     64.1     73.0     52.4     61.8     71.5     65.8     53.8
  1978  71.1    78.4     58.1      NA       NA      57.4     81.6     67.0     75.4     55.8     65.9     72.8     67.6     54.5
  1979  72.1    78.3     62.9      NA       NA      60.6     85.6     70.1     78.8     61.2     69.2     78.1     72.9     55.0

  1980  71.9    75.2     63.9      NA       NA      64.5     90.3     70.5     77.3     64.0     69.8     76.7     74.0     54.4
  1981  75.5    77.0     66.0      NA       NA      68.9     91.8     72.6     78.9     65.5     71.4     76.5     73.5     57.2
  1982  77.8    75.2     68.7      NA       NA      73.0     92.1     77.7     78.6     66.6     72.7     79.7     76.7     60.3
  1983  81.4    79.7     69.6      NA       NA      80.6     96.6     79.4     82.6     70.2     78.4     82.4     81.8     65.0
  1984  84.6    86.5     71.9      NA       NA      84.6     96.1     80.7     85.5     77.1     86.1     87.4     85.6     68.5
  1985  87.8    89.7     77.3      NA       NA      86.6     96.7     83.8     88.9     81.5     89.7     90.2     87.1     71.1
  1986  88.3    89.2     76.9      NA       NA      87.8     91.1     85.2     89.6     82.6     91.0     89.0     88.5     73.9
  1987  94.4    91.1     81.2      NA       NA      88.9     90.6     86.7     88.4     85.0     91.7     93.3     90.1     78.1
  1988  98.0    91.0     84.8      NA       NA      92.0     94.1     92.7     91.6     86.6     93.8     92.1     90.8     82.6
  1989  97.1    92.4     89.5      NA       NA      96.9     99.6     97.4     94.5     89.4     97.2     94.6     93.8     86.2

  1990  97.8    95.2     95.4      NA       NA      96.9     99.1     99.1     99.0     92.8     98.6     96.6     95.0     89.2
  1991  98.3    95.0     99.4      NA       NA      99.1     99.6     98.7    101.9     95.3     99.6     97.5     95.0     93.9
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 102.1   103.3    100.5      NA       NA     104.1    104.5    101.8    100.6    104.5    101.9    100.6    106.7    105.6
  1994 108.3   105.7    101.8      NA       NA     110.0      NA     110.4    107.9    107.4    114.2    101.4    116.1    109.2
  1995 114.9   108.4    109.3      NA       NA     108.9      NA     114.3    111.2    113.9    119.9    102.0    122.4    107.4
  1996 117.3   106.6    111.9      NA       NA     110.0      NA     117.9    115.1    114.4    124.4    102.6    125.4    106.1
  1997 122.3   109.6    117.4      NA       NA     116.7      NA     125.9    121.8    117.4    130.2    103.2    133.6    106.6

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, March 1999.

Table 2.  Output per employed person in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

        United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year   States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   NA     30.0      NA       NA       NA       NA      31.8     17.0     19.2     12.3     16.0     32.0     25.6     29.0

  1955   NA     35.5     10.4      NA       NA       NA      34.0     21.2     28.8     17.7     20.1     37.3     27.9     31.7

  1960   NA     41.8     17.3      NA       NA      22.4     39.2     27.7     38.4     22.4     25.8     46.2     33.7     35.3
  1961   NA     43.8     19.3      NA       NA      22.7     40.2     29.6     39.6     23.9     26.0     47.2     35.1     34.8
  1962   NA     47.7     19.8      NA       NA      23.9     42.6     31.4     41.3     25.7     26.6     47.0     37.5     35.2
  1963   NA     49.7     21.2      NA       NA      24.8     43.3     33.1     42.4     26.5     27.5     49.2     39.3     37.1
  1964   NA     52.3     24.0      NA       NA      26.3     47.2     35.5     46.1     26.8     29.6     52.3     42.3     39.8
  1965   NA     54.9     24.5      NA       NA      27.2     49.5     37.6     48.7     28.8     31.4     54.1     45.1     40.4
  1966   NA     55.4     27.0      NA       NA      28.8     51.0     40.9     50.0     31.6     33.2     56.6     47.0     41.0
  1967   NA     55.9     30.6      NA       NA      30.1     54.1     43.0     51.7     33.7     35.4     58.1     50.1     42.6
  1968   NA     59.2     34.2      NA       NA      32.7     57.7     46.2     56.6     36.4     38.8     60.1     53.6     46.1
  1969   NA     62.0     38.6      NA       NA      35.4     59.3     50.3     60.7     37.4     41.9     64.3     56.8     47.2

  1970   NA     60.3     43.0      NA       NA      38.0     60.8     52.7     62.4     39.1     44.9     65.7     58.1     47.5
  1971   NA     63.6     44.8      NA       NA      39.7     64.6     55.3     63.4     38.6     47.1     67.6     60.5     48.6
  1972   NA     66.7     48.9      NA       NA      43.2     68.4     57.2     66.6     41.6     50.1     70.6     61.8     50.8
  1973   NA     70.2     52.8      NA       NA      46.6     71.2     60.3     70.4     45.6     54.4     74.6     65.2     55.2
  1974   NA     70.9     52.0      NA       NA      47.9     75.0     60.9     71.4     46.8     56.6     76.9     67.3     54.3
  1975   NA     67.4     52.2      NA       NA      47.1     79.9     61.1     72.5     44.5     54.7     75.6     67.0     53.0
  1976   NA     72.3     57.0      NA       NA      52.9     83.2     65.1     79.9     50.6     60.4     76.0     67.2     55.7
  1977  69.2    76.3     59.4      NA       NA      55.3     84.1     68.3     81.1     51.4     65.1     74.4     65.6     56.6
  1978  69.8    78.1     62.0      NA       NA      58.5     84.3     70.8     82.8     54.6     68.8     73.9     65.7     57.2
  1979  70.3    77.7     67.5      NA       NA      61.7     88.4     73.9     86.0     59.4     71.3     78.0     69.8     57.4

  1980  69.3    74.0     68.6      NA       NA      64.7     93.9     74.3     83.5     62.2     72.4     77.1     70.1     54.9
  1981  72.7    75.8     70.3      NA       NA      67.5     94.3     75.5     84.1     63.7     74.4     76.9     70.1     56.8
  1982  73.6    73.5     73.0      NA       NA      73.1     96.0     77.5     83.7     64.7     76.5     79.4     73.4     60.5
  1983  79.1    79.0     74.0      NA       NA      78.7    102.1     79.0     87.9     68.2     82.6     82.5     79.2     65.4
  1984  83.5    85.7     77.3      NA       NA      82.1    101.2     80.3     90.9     74.8     89.5     87.4     84.4     69.5
  1985  86.6    89.1     82.8      NA       NA      85.2     98.4     82.9     93.1     78.4     90.8     89.8     85.2     72.2
  1986  87.1    88.9     81.9      NA       NA      86.5     94.9     84.4     93.0     81.4     91.8     88.7     86.3     74.9
  1987  93.5    91.5     86.7      NA       NA      88.3     92.2     86.5     91.3     85.3     92.0     90.7     88.9     79.7
  1988  98.0    92.9     91.7      NA       NA      92.9     95.8     92.8     94.4     90.0     94.8     90.3     89.4     84.7
  1989  97.2    93.4     95.6      NA       NA      97.4    100.2     97.3     96.2     92.8     97.6     93.3     92.1     88.2

  1990  97.2    95.6    100.5      NA       NA      98.6     98.4     98.5     98.8     94.0     99.0     95.1     94.3     90.7
  1991  97.0    94.9    102.5      NA       NA      99.1     99.3     98.3    101.0     95.4     99.8     96.4     94.3     93.8
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 103.4   104.8     98.1      NA       NA     102.6    103.6    100.9     97.6    102.5    101.9    100.9    109.5    105.2
  1994 110.7   107.8     99.5      NA       NA     111.3    114.0    109.3    104.7    108.2    114.2    102.0    122.7    109.5
  1995 116.7   110.0    107.6      NA       NA     109.1    117.7    113.7    107.3    114.8    120.2    101.6    131.7    108.5
  1996 119.1   108.5    111.0      NA       NA     110.6    123.2    117.5    109.3    114.4    124.7    101.9    135.5    107.5
  1997 124.9   111.5    115.7      NA       NA     117.5    124.1    125.0    116.0    117.9    130.4    102.2    144.5    108.1

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, March 1999.

Table 3.  Output in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   NA     22.6      2.2      NA       NA       NA      26.8     19.2     14.5      9.4     16.9     38.2     31.2     49.9

  1955   NA     29.3      4.9      NA       NA       NA      29.4     24.0     27.5     14.6     23.1     46.7     36.1     58.6

  1960   NA     34.2     10.7      NA       NA      30.7     40.8     32.4     41.5     21.5     31.9     56.5     46.5     67.8
  1961   NA     35.6     12.8      NA       NA      32.1     43.0     34.8     44.0     23.7     33.0     58.8     49.6     67.9
  1962   NA     39.7     13.9      NA       NA      34.6     46.7     37.3     46.2     26.2     34.6     59.3     53.4     68.1
  1963   NA     42.4     15.5      NA       NA      36.2     47.3     40.2     47.1     27.9     36.1     62.9     56.0     70.4
  1964   NA     46.5     18.0      NA       NA      39.5     52.9     43.9     51.2     28.3     39.5     67.3     61.0     76.9
  1965   NA     51.0     18.7      NA       NA      40.8     56.3     46.0     55.0     29.7     42.2     70.9     65.3     79.1
  1966   NA     54.4     21.2      NA       NA      43.2     57.5     50.3     55.9     32.4     44.5     75.1     67.1     80.4
  1967   NA     55.5     25.4      NA       NA      43.7     58.1     52.7     54.7     35.7     46.3     77.5     69.3     81.0
  1968   NA     59.1     29.3      NA       NA      46.7     62.6     55.6     60.3     39.0     50.7     79.4     72.9     86.7
  1969   NA     63.1     34.1      NA       NA      52.2     66.0     62.3     67.4     41.5     55.6     85.2     78.6     90.0

  1970   NA     60.5     38.8      6.4     13.2     57.6     68.0     66.9     70.9     44.8     59.8     89.1     81.7     90.4
  1971   NA     64.3     40.7      7.6     16.2     60.1     69.4     71.1     71.6     45.5     61.8     92.3     82.2     89.4
  1972   NA     69.7     44.4      8.6     19.5     64.7     75.3     74.5     73.8     48.0     63.5     96.7     82.7     91.3
  1973   NA     76.8     50.0     11.2     22.9     70.6     79.5     80.1     78.5     54.1     68.0    102.2     88.5     99.7
  1974   NA     78.7     48.7     13.1     21.7     73.4     80.7     81.7     77.7     57.6     70.5    107.3     93.3     98.4
  1975   NA     73.0     46.2     14.4     22.6     67.9     78.7     80.0     74.1     54.3     65.9    105.0     93.6     91.7
  1976   NA     78.9     50.2     18.2     27.7     73.0     82.5     84.7     79.8     62.4     69.9    105.2     93.6     93.4
  1977  74.9    81.5     51.8     21.0     31.2     73.3     82.9     88.6     81.3     64.6     73.4    103.0     88.3     95.2
  1978  78.7    86.1     53.3     25.7     37.7     74.3     82.7     90.7     82.8     67.8     75.7    100.6     85.9     95.7
  1979  81.3    89.5     57.9     28.3     40.7     76.2     87.4     93.3     87.1     74.8     77.6    104.7     91.4     95.5

  1980  77.3    85.4     59.9     27.8     44.7     78.2     91.3     92.7     85.3     78.7     77.8    103.6     91.8     87.2
  1981  80.7    87.5     62.1     30.7     48.1     77.2     88.4     91.2     84.4     77.1     77.9    101.7     88.9     81.9
  1982  76.2    77.7     64.1     32.8     49.1     80.4     89.8     92.1     81.5     75.9     76.9    101.3     89.8     81.8
  1983  80.5    81.8     66.1     37.8     54.8     84.6     95.8     92.0     82.7     76.6     79.3     99.9     95.0     83.5
  1984  89.1    92.7     70.4     42.5     62.7     87.2    100.3     90.9     85.2     80.0     83.9    104.7    101.7     86.6
  1985  91.8    97.5     76.1     46.9     64.8     89.1    103.5     91.2     88.3     82.6     86.2    108.5    103.9     89.0
  1986  91.0    98.6     74.9     56.1     74.6     89.1    103.5     91.2     89.7     84.8     88.3    108.1    105.2     90.2
  1987  97.9   103.2     78.4     67.1     84.4     88.8     99.3     91.1     88.0     88.5     89.5    110.7    107.7     94.5
  1988 104.5   109.3     84.6     76.3     87.9     93.3    100.8     96.3     90.9     94.8     92.8    105.3    110.2    101.5
  1989 104.0   110.8     90.2     79.5     91.2     99.1    104.3    101.6     94.0     98.6     96.9    101.3    111.6    105.5

  1990 102.5   106.6     96.3     87.2     90.8    101.0    102.7    103.5     99.1    100.4    100.1    100.2    110.6    105.4
  1991  98.7    98.8    101.4     95.2     96.9    100.7    101.7    101.7    102.8     99.7    100.6     98.3    103.6    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    100.0    100.0
  1993 103.5   105.9     96.0    105.0    102.5     97.0     99.0     96.2     91.8     96.6     98.2    102.7    101.3    101.5
  1994 112.2   112.7     95.4    116.0    108.4    101.4    109.3    101.3     93.5    101.9    104.2    106.7    115.7    106.2
  1995 119.6   118.3    100.6    128.5    114.9    104.2    115.1    105.3     93.7    107.5    107.8    109.0    130.1    107.8
  1996 121.6   119.5    103.2    138.1    120.0    104.2    119.0    107.5     92.5    106.1    110.6    111.4    132.9    108.3
  1997 128.8   126.8    107.3    146.7    128.0    109.0    121.7    112.8     95.8    108.6    116.1    114.8    140.3    109.3

NA:  Not Available

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 1999.

Table 4.  Total hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

      United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  85.5    80.8      NA       NA       NA       NA     118.7    138.6    109.9     84.2    137.3    156.0    158.5    202.2

  1955  94.6    85.2     55.9      NA       NA       NA     119.8    136.4    139.7     93.3    150.2    164.1    167.3    220.2

  1960  92.1    84.2     76.3      NA       NA     172.0    136.5    140.6    142.4    109.6    163.3    154.0    168.3    224.6
  1961  89.7    83.0     80.8      NA       NA     177.3    136.2    142.0    143.9    111.8    160.4    154.8    171.0    224.7
  1962  93.4    85.9     83.4      NA       NA     181.7    140.7    143.0    141.0    111.7    163.4    156.2    170.8    220.3
  1963  94.4    88.0     86.1      NA       NA     183.2    138.0    146.1    138.0    115.9    164.5    157.3    169.1    216.6
  1964  96.4    92.3     88.2      NA       NA     188.0    142.6    147.7    138.2    116.2    165.5    159.5    169.6    221.7
  1965 102.0    96.5     88.0      NA       NA     184.6    144.9    145.0    139.9    109.7    166.5    158.4    168.8    221.5
  1966 108.6   101.2     91.0      NA       NA     183.0    140.8    146.3    136.7    110.3    165.0    161.1    166.5    218.2
  1967 108.0   102.2     96.3      NA       NA     175.0    132.7    144.2    125.8    115.4    160.2    160.4    158.4    209.8
  1968 109.6   102.6     99.4      NA       NA     172.2    130.9    137.8    128.2    117.0    157.0    154.9    152.6    209.6
  1969 110.9   104.3    100.9      NA       NA     176.3    132.7    145.1    133.7    120.2    157.3    152.0    152.5    212.4

  1970 104.4   102.2    102.3      NA       NA     176.1    129.0    147.0    136.1    121.8    155.1    154.3    154.7    208.8
  1971 100.5   102.6    101.1      NA       NA     173.7    123.3    147.6    132.3    121.6    151.2    153.6    149.1    196.9
  1972 105.1   106.2    100.6      NA       NA     167.6    123.8    147.9    128.5    118.5    143.9    152.1    142.9    190.5
  1973 110.4   110.4    104.0      NA       NA     165.5    118.8    148.7    128.4    123.4    139.3    151.2    142.5    194.1
  1974 107.9   111.2     98.7      NA       NA     163.0    116.7    148.2    122.7    123.4    134.6    152.0    144.0    188.5
  1975  97.2   107.1     91.1      NA       NA     144.9    103.5    140.3    112.4    120.3    127.8    150.5    142.3    179.3
  1976 101.9   108.1     93.3      NA       NA     141.6    104.7    140.0    112.8    121.5    122.4    146.2    140.2    175.1
  1977 106.1   105.8     92.5      NA       NA     135.3    103.1    138.2    111.4    123.2    118.8    144.1    134.2    176.9
  1978 110.6   109.7     91.6      NA       NA     129.3    101.4    135.4    109.8    121.4    114.8    138.3    127.1    175.4
  1979 112.7   114.3     92.0      NA       NA     125.9    102.1    133.0    110.6    122.4    112.2    134.1    125.5    173.7

  1980 107.5   113.6     93.8      NA       NA     121.3    101.1    131.5    110.3    123.0    111.4    135.0    124.0    160.5
  1981 107.0   113.6     94.1      NA       NA     112.0     96.3    125.7    106.9    117.8    109.1    133.0    121.0    143.3
  1982  97.9   103.3     93.3      NA       NA     110.2     97.5    118.6    103.7    113.9    105.8    127.1    117.2    135.6
  1983  98.9   102.5     95.0      NA       NA     104.9     99.2    115.8    100.1    109.1    101.2    121.2    116.1    128.4
  1984 105.3   107.1     97.9      NA       NA     103.0    104.4    112.7     99.6    103.8     97.4    119.7    118.9    126.4
  1985 104.6   108.7     98.4      NA       NA     103.0    107.0    108.9     99.3    101.4     96.1    120.2    119.4    125.2
  1986 103.0   110.6     97.3      NA       NA     101.5    113.7    107.2    100.1    102.7     97.0    121.6    118.9    122.0
  1987 103.8   113.2     96.6      NA       NA      99.9    109.6    105.1     99.6    104.1     97.6    118.6    119.5    121.0
  1988 106.6   120.2     99.8      NA       NA     101.4    107.2    104.0     99.2    109.5     98.9    114.3    121.4    122.8
  1989 107.1   120.0    100.8      NA       NA     102.3    104.7    104.4     99.5    110.2     99.7    107.1    119.0    122.4

  1990 104.8   112.0    100.9      NA       NA     104.2    103.7    104.5    100.1    108.2    101.6    103.7    116.4    118.1
  1991 100.4   103.9    102.0      NA       NA     101.6    102.1    103.0    100.9    104.6    101.0    100.8    109.0    106.6
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 101.4   102.5     95.6      NA       NA      93.2     94.8     94.5     91.3     92.4     96.4    102.1     94.9     96.1
  1994 103.6   106.6     93.7      NA       NA      92.2      NA      91.8     86.7     94.8     91.3    105.2     99.6     97.3
  1995 104.0   109.1     92.0      NA       NA      95.6      NA      92.0     84.3     94.4     90.0    106.9    106.3    100.4
  1996 103.7   112.1     92.2      NA       NA      94.7      NA      91.2     80.4     92.8     88.9    108.6    106.0    102.0
  1997 105.3   115.8     91.4      NA       NA      93.3      NA      89.7     78.6     92.5     89.2    111.3    105.0    102.5

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, March 1999.

Table 5.  Employment in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  84.3    75.2      NA       NA       NA       NA      84.4    113.5     75.2     76.4    105.4    119.3    122.0    171.7

  1955  93.1    82.3     47.1      NA       NA       NA      86.7    113.1     95.5     82.5    115.0    125.2    129.7    184.7

  1960  92.6    81.9     61.7      NA       NA     136.8    104.1    116.6    108.1     95.9    123.8    122.2    137.8    192.2
  1961  90.0    81.2     66.4      NA       NA     141.3    107.0    117.5    111.3     98.9    126.8    124.8    141.3    194.9
  1962  92.8    83.4     70.0      NA       NA     144.5    109.7    118.7    111.8    102.0    130.1    126.3    142.2    193.1
  1963  93.5    85.2     72.8      NA       NA     145.9    109.3    121.2    111.0    105.3    131.4    127.8    142.4    190.0
  1964  94.9    88.9     75.0      NA       NA     150.1    112.0    123.5    111.0    105.6    133.5    128.8    144.3    193.0
  1965  99.3    93.0     76.1      NA       NA     150.0    113.9    122.3    113.0    103.1    134.7    130.9    144.8    195.5
  1966 105.4    98.3     78.3      NA       NA     149.8    112.8    122.9    111.8    102.5    134.2    132.8    143.0    196.0
  1967 106.7    99.2     82.8      NA       NA     145.2    107.5    122.4    105.8    105.9    130.9    133.5    138.3    190.0
  1968 108.5    99.8     85.7      NA       NA     142.8    108.5    120.3    106.6    107.3    130.5    132.0    136.0    188.2
  1969 110.6   101.8     88.2      NA       NA     147.6    111.4    123.8    111.0    110.9    132.7    132.6    138.4    190.7

  1970 106.3   100.3     90.3      NA       NA     151.5    111.9    127.0    113.6    114.6    133.3    135.6    140.6    190.4
  1971 102.2   101.1     90.7      NA       NA     151.6    107.3    128.6    112.9    117.6    131.2    136.4    135.9    183.9
  1972 105.0   104.5     90.8      NA       NA     149.7    110.1    130.1    110.8    115.4    126.7    136.9    133.8    179.6
  1973 110.5   109.5     94.6      NA       NA     151.6    111.6    132.9    111.5    118.7    125.0    136.9    135.8    180.6
  1974 110.1   111.0     93.7      NA       NA     153.3    107.6    134.3    108.9    123.1    124.7    139.5    138.7    181.3
  1975 100.6   108.3     88.5      NA       NA     144.0     98.5    130.9    102.2    122.1    120.6    138.7    139.8    173.1
  1976 104.2   109.1     88.0      NA       NA     138.1     99.2    130.2     99.9    123.3    115.7    138.4    139.4    167.5
  1977 108.2   106.9     87.1      NA       NA     132.6     98.5    129.7    100.3    125.7    112.8    138.5    134.5    168.1
  1978 112.7   110.2     85.9      NA       NA     127.0     98.0    128.2    100.0    124.1    110.1    136.1    130.7    167.4
  1979 115.6   115.2     85.7      NA       NA     123.6     98.8    126.2    101.2    126.1    108.9    134.2    131.0    166.4

  1980 111.6   115.5     87.4      NA       NA     120.9     97.2    124.7    102.2    126.4    107.5    134.5    130.9    159.0
  1981 111.0   115.4     88.3      NA       NA     114.3     93.8    120.7    100.3    121.1    104.7    132.3    127.0    144.0
  1982 103.5   105.7     87.9      NA       NA     110.0     93.6    118.8     97.4    117.3    100.5    127.5    122.4    135.1
  1983 101.8   103.5     89.3      NA       NA     107.4     93.9    116.5     94.1    112.4     96.0    121.0    119.9    127.5
  1984 106.8   108.1     91.1      NA       NA     106.2     99.1    113.1     93.7    106.9     93.7    119.8    120.5    124.6
  1985 106.0   109.5     91.9      NA       NA     104.6    105.2    110.0     94.9    105.4     94.9    120.7    122.0    123.3
  1986 104.5   111.0     91.4      NA       NA     103.1    109.1    108.1     96.4    104.1     96.2    122.0    121.9    120.4
  1987 104.7   112.8     90.4      NA       NA     100.6    107.7    105.4     96.4    103.7     97.3    122.0    121.1    118.7
  1988 106.6   117.7     92.4      NA       NA     100.4    105.3    103.9     96.3    105.3     97.9    116.6    123.3    119.8
  1989 107.0   118.7     94.3      NA       NA     101.7    104.1    104.4     97.6    106.3     99.2    108.7    121.2    119.6

  1990 105.4   111.5     95.8      NA       NA     102.5    104.3    105.1    100.3    106.8    101.1    105.4    117.2    116.2
  1991 101.8   104.1     98.9      NA       NA     101.6    102.4    103.4    101.8    104.5    100.8    101.9    109.9    106.7
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 100.1   101.1     97.9      NA       NA      94.6     95.5     95.3     94.0     94.3     96.4    101.8     92.6     96.5
  1994 101.3   104.5     95.9      NA       NA      91.1     95.8     92.7     89.3     94.1     91.3    104.7     94.2     97.0
  1995 102.5   107.5     93.5      NA       NA      95.5     97.8     92.6     87.3     93.6     89.7    107.2     98.8     99.4
  1996 102.2   110.2     92.9      NA       NA      94.2     96.6     91.5     84.6     92.8     88.7    109.4     98.1    100.7
  1997 103.1   113.7     92.7      NA       NA      92.7     98.1     90.3     82.6     92.1     89.0    112.4     97.1    101.2

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, March 1999.

Table 6.  Average annual hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950 101.4   107.4      NA       NA       NA       NA     140.7    122.1    146.1    110.2    130.3    130.8    129.9    117.8

  1955 101.5   103.4    118.7      NA       NA       NA     138.2    120.7    146.2    113.0    130.6    131.1    129.0    119.2

  1960  99.5   102.8    123.5      NA       NA     125.7    131.2    120.5    131.7    114.3    131.9    126.0    122.1    116.8
  1961  99.6   102.2    121.6      NA       NA     125.4    127.3    120.9    129.4    113.1    126.5    124.1    121.1    115.3
  1962 100.6   103.0    119.2      NA       NA     125.7    128.3    120.5    126.1    109.5    125.6    123.7    120.1    114.1
  1963 100.9   103.3    118.2      NA       NA     125.6    126.3    120.5    124.3    110.0    125.2    123.1    118.8    114.0
  1964 101.6   103.8    117.6      NA       NA     125.2    127.4    119.7    124.5    110.0    124.0    123.9    117.5    114.9
  1965 102.7   103.8    115.6      NA       NA     123.1    127.2    118.6    123.8    106.4    123.6    121.0    116.6    113.3
  1966 103.0   103.0    116.2      NA       NA     122.2    124.8    119.1    122.2    107.6    122.9    121.3    116.4    111.3
  1967 101.2   103.1    116.3      NA       NA     120.6    123.4    117.8    118.9    109.1    122.4    120.2    114.5    110.5
  1968 101.0   102.9    116.0      NA       NA     120.6    120.6    114.6    120.3    109.1    120.2    117.3    112.2    111.4
  1969 100.2   102.5    114.4      NA       NA     119.4    119.1    117.2    120.5    108.3    118.5    114.6    110.2    111.4

  1970  98.2   101.8    113.3      NA       NA     116.2    115.3    115.7    119.7    106.4    116.4    113.8    110.0    109.7
  1971  98.4   101.5    111.4      NA       NA     114.5    114.9    114.8    117.1    103.4    115.3    112.6    109.7    107.1
  1972 100.0   101.6    110.8      NA       NA     111.9    112.4    113.6    116.0    102.7    113.6    111.0    106.8    106.1
  1973  99.9   100.8    109.9      NA       NA     109.2    106.4    111.9    115.1    103.9    111.4    110.4    104.9    107.5
  1974  98.0   100.1    105.3      NA       NA     106.4    108.5    110.4    112.7    100.3    108.0    108.9    103.8    104.0
  1975  96.6    98.9    103.0      NA       NA     100.7    105.1    107.1    110.0     98.5    106.0    108.5    101.8    103.6
  1976  97.7    99.0    106.0      NA       NA     102.5    105.6    107.5    112.9     98.5    105.8    105.7    100.6    104.5
  1977  98.1    98.9    106.2      NA       NA     102.1    104.6    106.5    111.1     98.0    105.3    104.0     99.8    105.2
  1978  98.1    99.5    106.7      NA       NA     101.8    103.4    105.6    109.8     97.8    104.3    101.6     97.2    104.8
  1979  97.5    99.3    107.3      NA       NA     101.9    103.3    105.4    109.3     97.1    103.1     99.9     95.8    104.4

  1980  96.3    98.3    107.3      NA       NA     100.3    104.0    105.4    108.0     97.3    103.7    100.4     94.8    100.9
  1981  96.4    98.4    106.5      NA       NA      98.0    102.7    104.1    106.6     97.3    104.2    100.6     95.3     99.5
  1982  94.6    97.7    106.2      NA       NA     100.1    104.2     99.8    106.5     97.1    105.3     99.7     95.7    100.4
  1983  97.2    99.1    106.4      NA       NA      97.6    105.6     99.4    106.3     97.1    105.4    100.1     96.8    100.7
  1984  98.6    99.1    107.4      NA       NA      97.0    105.3     99.6    106.3     97.1    104.0     99.9     98.6    101.5
  1985  98.7    99.3    107.1      NA       NA      98.4    101.8     99.0    104.7     96.2    101.3     99.6     97.9    101.5
  1986  98.6    99.6    106.5      NA       NA      98.5    104.2     99.2    103.9     98.6    100.8     99.7     97.5    101.3
  1987  99.1   100.3    106.8      NA       NA      99.4    101.8     99.8    103.3    100.4    100.3     97.2     98.7    102.0
  1988 100.0   102.1    108.0      NA       NA     101.0    101.8    100.1    103.0    104.0    101.1     98.0     98.5    102.5
  1989 100.0   101.1    106.8      NA       NA     100.5    100.6     99.9    101.9    103.7    100.5     98.6     98.2    102.4

  1990  99.4   100.4    105.3      NA       NA     101.7     99.4     99.4     99.8    101.2    100.5     98.4     99.3    101.7
  1991  98.7    99.8    103.2      NA       NA     100.0     99.7     99.6     99.1    100.1    100.2     98.9     99.2    100.0
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 101.3   101.4     97.7      NA       NA      98.5     99.2     99.2     97.0     98.0    100.0    100.3    102.6     99.6
  1994 102.2   102.0     97.7      NA       NA     101.2      NA      99.0     97.1    100.7    100.0    100.5    105.7    100.3
  1995 101.5   101.5     98.4      NA       NA     100.1      NA      99.5     96.5    100.8    100.3     99.7    107.6    101.0
  1996 101.5   101.7     99.2      NA       NA     100.6      NA      99.7     95.0    100.0    100.2     99.3    108.0    101.3
  1997 102.1   101.8     98.6      NA       NA     100.7      NA      99.3     95.2    100.4    100.2     99.0    108.2    101.4

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, March 1999.

Table 7.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada*  Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950   8.7     5.7      NA       NA       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       NA       NA       3.4      2.9      5.0      1.2      4.6      3.4      3.0      2.3

  1960  14.9    10.4      4.3      NA       NA       5.6      4.6      4.3      8.2      1.6      6.4      4.7      4.1      3.1
  1961  15.4    10.7      5.0      NA       NA       5.9      5.2      4.8      9.1      1.7      7.3      5.2      4.5      3.3
  1962  15.9    11.1      5.7      NA       NA       6.3      5.6      5.3     10.3      2.0      7.8      5.7      5.0      3.4
  1963  16.4    11.6      6.4      NA       NA       7.0      6.1      5.7     11.0      2.4      8.6      6.1      5.6      3.6
  1964  17.1    12.1      7.2      NA       NA       7.9      6.6      6.2     11.9      2.6     10.0      6.5      6.1      3.8
  1965  17.5    12.8      8.1      NA       NA       8.8      7.4      6.8     13.1      2.8     11.2      7.2      6.7      4.2
  1966  18.3    13.7      9.0      NA       NA       9.7      8.4      7.2     14.3      2.9     12.6      7.8      7.3      4.5
  1967  19.3    14.5     10.0      NA       NA      10.6      9.4      7.7     15.0      3.2     13.9      8.7      8.1      4.7
  1968  20.7    15.4     11.7      NA       NA      11.3     10.3      8.7     16.2      3.5     15.5      9.6      8.8      5.0
  1969  22.2    16.6     13.8      NA       NA      12.4     11.6      9.3     17.7      3.8     17.6     10.6      9.6      5.5

  1970  23.8    17.8     16.5      NA       NA      14.1     13.3     10.5     20.8      4.6     20.3     11.8     10.8      6.3
  1971  25.3    18.9     19.0      NA       NA      16.2     15.2     11.7     23.3      5.3     23.3     13.5     12.1      7.2
  1972  26.6    20.2     21.9      NA       NA      18.7     16.9     13.0     25.8      6.0     26.7     15.1     13.5      8.3
  1973  28.7    22.0     26.8      NA       NA      21.7     20.5     14.9     29.1      7.0     31.8     17.0     15.2      9.5
  1974  31.8    25.5     35.1      NA       NA      26.4     24.8     17.7     33.1      9.2     38.0     19.9     17.8     11.4
  1975  35.7    29.2     40.9      NA       NA      32.0     29.6     21.6     36.5     11.6     43.4     23.8     21.9     15.1
  1976  38.7    33.4     44.0      NA       NA      36.3     33.0     24.7     39.3     14.4     48.4     27.5     25.6     17.5
  1977  42.0    37.0     48.6      NA       NA      40.5     36.5     28.1     43.0     17.1     52.8     30.9     28.0     19.8
  1978  45.4    39.8     51.8      NA       NA      43.7     40.2     31.6     46.3     19.7     57.2     34.1     31.2     23.1
  1979  49.9    43.2     55.1      NA       NA      47.5     45.0     35.9     49.7     23.8     61.4     35.8     33.6     27.4

  1980  55.8    47.7     58.6      NA       NA      52.7     49.6     41.3     53.9     27.9     64.7     39.0     37.4     33.1
  1981  61.3    53.3     62.7      NA       NA      58.5     54.6     47.9     57.3     33.8     67.6     43.3     41.3     38.4
  1982  67.3    59.9     65.8      NA       NA      61.0     59.5     56.9     60.4     39.8     71.7     48.2     44.3     42.3
  1983  69.1    63.7     67.6      NA       NA      64.7     63.6     62.7     63.4     46.6     74.9     52.9     48.8     45.4
  1984  71.5    66.1     69.7      NA       NA      70.1     67.2     68.1     66.4     53.5     77.8     57.9     53.0     49.0
  1985  75.3    69.9     72.5      NA       NA      74.5     71.7     73.7     70.2     60.1     81.9     63.4     58.4     53.6
  1986  78.7    72.5     76.1      NA       NA      77.6     73.2     76.8     73.1     62.6     85.1     69.1     63.1     58.2
  1987  80.9    75.3     77.9      NA       NA      79.3     80.1     79.7     76.6     66.1     87.8     78.5     67.3     64.7
  1988  84.2    77.9     79.2      NA       NA      81.0     82.9     82.7     79.6     68.7     87.7     83.3     71.7     68.9
  1989  86.9    82.5     84.2      NA       NA      85.2     87.7     87.2     83.4     75.5     88.5     87.2     79.4     73.6

  1990  91.0    89.5     90.7      NA       NA      89.9     92.7     91.8     89.4     84.0     90.8     92.3     87.6     82.2
  1991  95.8    94.7     95.9      NA       NA      95.5     95.9     96.3     95.1     93.1     95.2     97.5     95.4     92.1
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 102.9    99.8    104.6      NA       NA     104.9    104.6    103.6    105.9    107.1    103.7    101.5     98.0    105.9
  1994 105.8   100.4    106.7      NA       NA     108.4      NA     106.2    111.7    106.6    108.2    104.4    101.1    109.2
  1995 108.3   103.7    109.5      NA       NA     111.6      NA     107.7    117.7    112.3    110.6    109.2    106.2    110.9
  1996 110.7   106.0    110.5      NA       NA     114.1      NA     109.4    123.7    119.4    113.9    114.4    113.4    112.2
  1997 115.3   108.8    114.0      NA       NA     116.5      NA     112.6    126.6    125.2    117.0    119.6    118.3    116.8

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, March 1999.

Table 8.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada*  Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950   8.7     6.3      NA       NA       NA       NA       2.2      2.5      1.3      1.6      1.4      1.9      2.1      2.5

  1955  11.7     9.9      1.1      NA       NA       NA       3.0      4.3      1.9      2.3      2.1      2.9      3.3      3.6

  1960  14.9    13.0      1.5      NA       NA       3.6      4.0      4.7      3.1      3.1      3.0      4.1      4.7      4.9
  1961  15.4    12.7      1.8      NA       NA       3.8      4.5      5.1      3.6      3.4      3.6      4.5      5.1      5.2
  1962  15.9    12.5      2.0      NA       NA       4.1      4.9      5.7      4.0      4.1      3.8      4.9      5.7      5.5
  1963  16.4    13.0      2.3      NA       NA       4.5      5.4      6.2      4.3      4.8      4.2      5.3      6.3      5.7
  1964  17.1    13.5      2.5      NA       NA       5.1      5.8      6.7      4.7      5.1      4.9      5.6      6.9      6.0
  1965  17.5    14.3      2.8      NA       NA       5.7      6.4      7.3      5.1      5.5      5.5      6.2      7.6      6.6
  1966  18.3    15.4      3.1      NA       NA       6.3      7.3      7.7      5.6      5.8      6.1      6.8      8.3      7.2
  1967  19.3    16.2      3.5      NA       NA       6.9      8.1      8.3      5.9      6.4      6.8      7.6      9.2      7.3
  1968  20.7    17.3      4.1      NA       NA       7.3      8.3      9.3      6.3      6.8      7.5      8.4     10.0      6.8
  1969  22.2    18.7      4.9      NA       NA       8.0      9.3      9.5      7.0      7.5      8.5      9.2     10.8      7.4

  1970  23.8    20.6      5.8      NA       NA       9.1     10.7     10.0      8.9      9.1      9.9     10.3     12.1      8.5
  1971  25.3    22.6      6.9      NA       NA      10.7     12.4     11.3     10.5     10.6     11.7     11.9     13.8      9.9
  1972  26.6    24.7      9.2      NA       NA      13.6     14.7     13.6     12.6     12.6     14.6     14.2     16.6     11.7
  1973  28.7    26.5     12.5      NA       NA      17.9     20.5     17.7     17.2     14.9     20.1     18.4     20.3     13.1
  1974  31.8    31.5     15.3      NA       NA      21.8     24.6     19.4     20.0     17.4     24.9     22.4     23.5     15.0
  1975  35.7    34.7     17.5      NA       NA      28.0     31.1     26.6     23.2     21.9     30.2     28.4     30.8     19.0
  1976  38.7    40.9     18.8      NA       NA      30.2     32.9     27.4     24.4     21.4     32.2     31.3     34.2     17.9
  1977  42.0    42.1     23.0      NA       NA      36.3     36.7     30.2     28.9     23.8     37.9     36.0     36.5     19.5
  1978  45.4    42.2     31.5      NA       NA      44.7     44.1     37.2     36.0     28.5     46.5     40.4     40.2     25.1
  1979  49.9    44.6     32.0      NA       NA      52.1     51.6     44.6     42.4     35.3     53.8     43.9     45.7     33.0

  1980  55.8    49.3     32.9      NA       NA      58.0     53.2     51.8     46.3     40.3     57.3     49.0     51.5     43.6
  1981  61.3    53.7     36.1      NA       NA      50.8     46.2     46.6     39.7     36.6     47.8     46.9     47.5     44.0
  1982  67.3    58.6     33.5      NA       NA      42.9     43.0     45.7     38.9     36.2     47.2     46.4     41.1     41.9
  1983  69.1    62.5     36.1      NA       NA      40.7     42.0     43.6     38.7     37.8     46.2     45.0     37.1     38.9
  1984  71.5    61.7     37.2      NA       NA      39.0     39.2     41.3     36.4     37.5     42.6     44.1     37.3     37.1
  1985  75.3    61.8     38.5      NA       NA      40.4     40.9     43.5     37.3     38.8     43.4     45.8     39.5     39.4
  1986  78.7    63.0     57.3      NA       NA      55.8     54.6     58.7     52.6     51.7     61.1     58.1     51.6     48.4
  1987  80.9    68.7     68.3      NA       NA      68.3     70.6     70.2     66.5     62.8     76.2     72.3     61.8     60.0
  1988  84.2    76.5     78.4      NA       NA      70.8     74.3     73.5     70.8     65.0     78.0     79.3     68.1     69.5
  1989  86.9    84.2     77.3      NA       NA      69.5     72.3     72.3     69.3     67.8     73.4     78.4     71.7     68.3

  1990  91.0    92.7     79.3      NA       NA      86.4     90.4     89.2     86.4     86.3     87.7     91.7     86.2     83.0
  1991  95.8    99.9     90.3      NA       NA      89.7     90.5     90.3     89.4     92.5     89.4     93.3     91.8     92.1
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 102.9    93.5    119.3      NA       NA      97.6     97.4     96.8    100.0     83.9     98.1     88.8     73.3     90.0
  1994 105.8    88.8    132.4      NA       NA     104.3      NA     101.4    107.6     81.5    104.6     92.0     76.3     94.7
  1995 108.3    91.3    147.7      NA       NA     121.8      NA     114.3    128.3     84.9    121.2    107.1     86.6     99.1
  1996 110.7    93.9    128.8      NA       NA     118.4      NA     113.2    128.4     95.4    118.8    110.0     98.5     99.2
  1997 115.3    94.9    119.4      NA       NA     104.6      NA     102.1    114.0     90.6    105.4    104.9     90.1    108.3

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.

* 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, March 1999.

Table 9.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   NA     20.3      NA       NA       NA       NA      11.0     11.7     25.6      7.4     25.5      9.0      9.5      6.5

  1955   NA     23.5     36.1      NA       NA       NA      13.8     16.3     25.5      7.6     29.7     11.8     13.7      8.6

  1960   NA     25.6     30.9      NA       NA      31.2     15.4     18.7     28.0      8.0     33.0     12.9     14.9     10.1
  1961   NA     24.9     31.8      NA       NA      32.6     16.3     19.4     29.9      8.2     35.7     13.6     15.6     10.8
  1962   NA     24.0     34.6      NA       NA      33.3     17.0     20.2     31.6      8.7     37.0     15.0     16.1     11.1
  1963   NA     24.1     35.7      NA       NA      35.5     17.9     20.9     32.3     10.1     39.4     15.2     16.8     11.0
  1964   NA     24.0     35.4      NA       NA      37.7     17.9     21.0     32.3     10.6     41.9     15.4     16.9     11.0
  1965   NA     24.2     38.3      NA       NA      39.8     18.9     21.3     33.4     10.2     44.2     16.0     17.3     11.7
  1966   NA     25.6     38.5      NA       NA      41.1     20.5     20.8     34.8     10.0     46.5     16.8     18.2     12.3
  1967   NA     26.7     38.1      NA       NA      42.5     21.4     21.1     34.6     10.5     48.2     18.1     18.6     12.1
  1968   NA     26.8     39.6      NA       NA      41.8     21.6     21.7     34.4     10.4     48.0     18.8     18.5     12.1
  1969   NA     27.5     41.0      NA       NA      41.9     23.4     21.7     35.1     11.0     49.8     19.0     18.7     12.9

  1970   NA     30.0     43.3      9.9     22.3     43.2     25.2     23.0     39.9     12.6     52.7     20.4     20.5     14.6
  1971   NA     30.2     47.3     10.5     23.4     46.7     27.1     24.4     43.0     14.3     56.9     22.5     22.0     15.8
  1972   NA     30.8     49.6     11.7     23.7     48.4     27.8     25.7     44.8     14.8     60.5     23.7     23.4     17.3
  1973   NA     31.6     55.7     13.8     27.5     50.8     30.6     27.6     47.6     16.0     65.1     25.1     24.4     18.4
  1974   NA     36.0     71.1     16.9     41.5     58.6     35.9     32.0     52.3     19.7     72.5     28.2     27.5     21.8
  1975   NA     42.9     80.6     19.8     42.1     68.3     38.9     37.8     55.3     25.7     84.1     34.2     33.3     29.5
  1976   NA     45.7     81.9     24.7     43.6     70.3     41.8     40.8     55.6     28.1     84.7     38.3     38.3     32.8
  1977  59.6    48.0     86.8     28.7     45.4     74.8     45.4     43.8     59.0     32.6     85.5     43.2     42.6     36.8
  1978  63.8    50.7     89.1     34.1     45.8     76.0     49.3     47.2     61.4     35.2     86.7     46.8     46.2     42.3
  1979  69.1    55.2     87.5     41.5     52.0     78.5     52.5     51.1     63.1     39.0     88.8     45.8     46.2     49.9

  1980  77.6    63.4     91.7     52.7     60.1     81.7     55.0     58.6     69.6     43.7     92.7     50.8     50.6     60.9
  1981  81.3    69.2     95.1     60.7     69.8     84.9     59.5     66.0     72.6     51.6     94.8     56.6     56.1     67.2
  1982  86.5    79.6     95.8     64.0     74.5     83.6     64.6     73.2     76.9     59.8     98.8     60.5     57.8     70.1
  1983  84.9    79.9     97.2     68.0     73.0     80.3     65.8     79.0     76.7     66.4     95.6     64.2     59.7     69.8
  1984  84.4    76.4     96.8     73.2     76.2     82.8     69.9     84.4     77.6     69.4     90.3     66.3     61.9     71.5
  1985  85.8    77.9     93.8     70.5     79.3     86.1     74.2     88.0     78.9     73.8     91.3     70.2     67.1     75.4
  1986  89.1    81.3     99.0     69.9     82.3     88.3     80.4     90.2     81.6     75.8     93.5     77.7     71.3     78.8
  1987  85.7    82.6     96.0     74.4     82.1     89.3     88.4     92.0     86.7     77.8     95.8     84.1     74.7     82.8
  1988  85.9    85.6     93.4     83.3     84.2     88.0     88.2     89.3     86.9     79.4     93.5     90.4     79.0     83.4
  1989  89.5    89.3     94.0     88.9     87.9     87.9     88.1     89.5     88.3     84.4     91.1     92.2     84.7     85.5

  1990  93.1    94.0     95.0     94.5     94.3     92.7     93.6     92.6     90.3     90.5     92.1     95.6     92.3     92.1
  1991  97.5    99.7     96.5     99.0     95.6     96.3     96.3     97.6     93.3     97.7     95.6    100.0    100.4     98.1
  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    100.0    100.0
  1993 100.8    96.6    104.1     98.2    100.9    100.8    100.1    101.8    105.3    102.5    101.8    100.9     91.8    100.3
  1994  97.7    95.0    104.9     97.5    102.0     98.6     93.0     96.2    103.6     99.2     94.8    102.9     87.0    100.1
  1995  94.3    95.7    100.1     97.2    102.1    102.5     93.4     94.2    105.9     98.6     92.3    107.1     86.8    103.3
  1996  94.3    99.4     98.8     99.8    101.8    103.7     92.3     92.8    107.5    104.4     91.5    111.5     90.4    105.8
  1997  94.3    99.3     97.1     95.1    100.3     99.8     95.3     89.4    103.9    106.6     89.9    115.9     88.5    109.5

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan, 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, March 1999.

Table 10.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950   NA     22.4      NA       NA       NA       NA       9.6     17.7      9.5     14.6     11.8      7.8     10.7     10.3

  1955   NA     28.8     12.7      NA       NA       NA      12.0     24.6      9.5     15.0     13.7     10.2     15.5     13.6

  1960   NA     31.9     10.9      NA       NA      20.1     13.5     20.2     10.5     15.9     15.4     11.3     16.8     16.1
  1961   NA     29.7     11.2      NA       NA      21.0     14.3     21.0     11.6     16.2     17.3     11.9     17.6     17.2
  1962   NA     27.1     12.1      NA       NA      21.5     14.9     21.8     12.3     17.3     18.1     13.0     18.2     17.7
  1963   NA     26.9     12.5      NA       NA      22.9     15.7     22.5     12.7     19.9     19.2     13.2     18.9     17.5
  1964   NA     26.9     12.4      NA       NA      24.3     15.6     22.7     12.7     20.9     20.4     13.3     19.1     17.4
  1965   NA     27.1     13.4      NA       NA      25.7     16.5     23.0     13.1     20.1     21.6     13.9     19.6     18.6
  1966   NA     28.7     13.5      NA       NA      26.5     17.9     22.5     13.6     19.7     22.6     14.6     20.5     19.4
  1967   NA     29.9     13.3      NA       NA      27.5     18.5     22.7     13.6     20.7     23.5     15.7     21.0     18.8
  1968   NA     30.0     13.9      NA       NA      26.9     17.4     23.2     13.4     20.5     23.3     16.4     20.9     16.4
  1969   NA     30.9     14.5      NA       NA      26.9     18.8     22.1     14.0     21.6     24.1     16.5     21.0     17.4

  1970   NA     34.8     15.3     25.0     14.0     28.0     20.3     22.0     17.1     24.7     25.6     17.8     23.0     19.7
  1971   NA     36.1     17.3     23.7     14.7     30.9     22.1     23.4     19.3     28.5     28.7     19.9     25.1     21.9
  1972   NA     37.6     20.8     23.2     14.9     35.3     24.1     27.0     22.0     31.2     33.1     22.3     28.7     24.5
  1973   NA     38.1     26.1     27.1     18.1     42.1     30.7     32.9     28.1     34.0     41.2     27.2     32.7     25.5
  1974   NA     44.5     30.9     32.6     27.5     48.4     35.6     35.1     31.7     37.3     47.5     31.7     36.2     28.8
  1975   NA     51.0     34.5     32.0     27.9     59.8     40.9     46.7     35.2     48.6     58.6     40.7     46.8     37.2
  1976   NA     56.0     35.0     39.8     28.9     58.6     41.8     45.3     34.5     41.7     56.4     43.6     51.3     33.6
  1977  59.6    54.6     41.1     46.3     30.1     67.1     45.7     47.2     39.7     45.5     61.2     50.4     55.5     36.3
  1978  63.8    53.8     54.2     55.0     31.1     77.7     54.1     55.6     47.8     51.1     70.6     55.5     59.5     45.9
  1979  69.1    56.9     50.9     67.0     36.3     86.0     60.3     63.6     53.8     57.8     77.9     56.2     62.8     60.0

  1980  77.6    65.6     51.5     67.7     42.0     90.0     58.9     73.5     59.9     62.9     82.1     63.9     69.6     80.1
  1981  81.3    69.7     54.6     69.5     47.6     73.7     50.4     64.2     50.3     55.9     67.0     61.3     64.6     77.0
  1982  86.5    77.9     48.8     68.3     47.9     58.7     46.7     58.9     49.5     54.4     65.0     58.3     53.6     69.4
  1983  84.9    78.4     51.8     68.4     45.9     50.5     43.4     54.9     46.9     53.8     58.9     54.7     45.3     59.9
  1984  84.4    71.3     51.7     70.9     48.4     46.1     40.8     51.2     42.6     48.7     49.5     50.5     43.6     54.1
  1985  85.8    68.9     49.9     63.3     50.1     46.6     42.3     51.9     41.9     47.6     48.4     50.8     45.4     55.4
  1986  89.1    70.7     74.5     61.9     54.7     63.6     60.0     69.0     58.7     62.6     67.1     65.3     58.3     65.5
  1987  85.7    75.3     84.2     70.6     65.1     76.8     77.9     81.0     75.3     73.9     83.1     77.5     68.5     76.9
  1988  85.9    84.1     92.4     88.9     74.1     76.9     79.0     79.3     77.2     75.1     83.1     86.1     75.0     84.1
  1989  89.5    91.1     86.3    103.3     83.8     71.7     72.6     74.3     73.3     75.8     75.5     82.9     76.4     79.3

  1990  93.1    97.3     83.1    104.2     88.2     89.2     91.3     90.0     87.3     93.0     88.9     95.0     90.8     93.0
  1991  97.5   105.1     90.9    105.4     89.9     90.6     90.8     91.5     87.8     97.0     89.8     95.7     96.6     98.2
  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    100.0    100.0
  1993 100.8    90.5    118.8     95.5     96.1     93.7     93.2     95.1     99.4     80.3     96.3     88.3     68.6     85.3
  1994  97.7    84.0    130.1     94.7     97.0     94.8     88.3     91.8     99.8     75.8     91.6     90.7     65.7     86.8
  1995  94.3    84.2    135.1     98.4     96.9    111.8    100.7    100.0    115.5     74.6    101.2    105.0     70.8     92.3
  1996  94.3    88.1    115.1     96.9     93.3    107.6     96.1     96.1    111.6     83.4     95.4    107.3     78.5     93.4
  1997  94.3    86.7    101.7     78.1     87.7     89.6     87.0     81.1     93.5     77.1     81.0    101.6     67.5    101.5

NA:  Not Available

Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan, 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, March 1999.

Table 11.  Exchange rates, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950 100.0   110.5     35.2      NA       NA       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       NA       NA      87.4    151.2     37.1    197.1     46.1     87.0    112.6    158.0

  1960 100.0   124.6     35.2      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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      NA       NA      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    251.4     62.9     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    224.9     62.9     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    198.7     62.9     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    196.0     65.8     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    193.0     66.2     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    161.3     66.2     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    161.3     66.2     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    161.3     66.2     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    161.3     67.9    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    161.3     69.8    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    128.5     69.8    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    114.6     68.3     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    106.8     64.3     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    100.6     62.8     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     96.9     63.5     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     89.7     63.1     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     88.6     66.5     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     94.9     79.3     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    106.7     88.0     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    116.3     95.3     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    110.3     93.5     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    106.4     94.0     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    100.0    100.0
  1993 100.0    93.7    114.1     97.3     95.2     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     97.2     95.1     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    101.2     95.0    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     97.0     91.6    103.8    104.1    103.5    103.8     79.9    104.3     96.2     86.8     88.4
  1997 100.0    87.3    104.7     82.1     87.4     89.8     91.3     90.7     90.0     72.3     90.1     87.7     76.2     92.7

NA:  Not Available

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 1999.

Table 12.  Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada*  Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*

  1950   8.8     6.1      NA       NA       NA       NA       3.5      2.0      4.9      0.9      4.1      2.9      2.4      1.9

  1955  11.9     8.3      3.7      NA       NA       NA       4.7      3.4      7.4      1.3      6.0      4.4      3.8      2.7

  1960  14.8    10.7      5.3      NA       NA       7.0      6.0      5.2     10.7      1.8      8.5      6.0      5.0      3.6
  1961  15.3    10.9      6.1      NA       NA       7.4      6.6      5.8     11.8      2.0      9.3      6.4      5.5      3.8
  1962  16.0    11.4      6.8      NA       NA       8.0      7.2      6.3     13.1      2.2      9.8      7.0      6.1      3.9
  1963  16.6    12.0      7.6      NA       NA       8.8      7.8      6.9     13.7      2.7     10.8      7.5      6.6      4.1
  1964  17.4    12.5      8.5      NA       NA       9.9      8.5      7.5     14.9      2.8     12.4      8.0      7.1      4.4
  1965  17.9    13.3      9.4      NA       NA      10.8      9.4      8.0     16.3      2.9     13.9      8.7      7.8      4.7
  1966  18.8    14.2     10.4      NA       NA      11.8     10.4      8.5     17.4      3.2     15.4      9.5      8.6      5.0
  1967  19.5    14.9     11.7      NA       NA      12.8     11.6      9.1     17.9      3.5     17.0     10.5      9.3      5.2
  1968  20.9    15.9     13.5      NA       NA      13.7     12.5     10.0     19.5      3.8     18.6     11.3      9.9      5.6
  1969  22.3    17.0     15.8      NA       NA      14.8     13.8     10.9     21.3      4.1     20.8     12.2     10.6      6.1

  1970  23.4    18.1     18.6      NA       NA      16.4     15.3     12.1     24.9      4.9     23.7     13.4     11.9      6.9
  1971  24.9    19.2     21.2      NA       NA      18.5     17.5     13.5     27.3      5.5     26.8     15.2     13.3      7.7
  1972  26.6    20.6     24.3      NA       NA      20.9     19.0     14.7     29.9      6.1     30.3     16.7     14.5      8.8
  1973  28.6    22.1     29.4      NA       NA      23.6     21.8     16.6     33.5      7.3     35.4     18.7     15.9     10.2
  1974  31.2    25.5     37.0      NA       NA      28.1     26.9     19.5     37.4      9.2     41.0     21.7     18.5     11.8
  1975  34.5    28.9     42.1      NA       NA      32.2     31.1     23.1     40.1     11.4     46.0     25.8     22.3     15.6
  1976  37.8    33.0     46.7      NA       NA      37.2     34.8     26.6     44.4     14.2     51.2     29.1     25.8     18.3
  1977  41.2    36.6     51.6      NA       NA      41.3     38.2     29.9     47.8     16.7     55.6     32.1     27.9     20.8
  1978  44.6    39.6     55.2      NA       NA      44.5     41.6     33.4     50.8     19.2     59.6     34.6     30.3     24.2
  1979  48.6    42.9     59.1      NA       NA      48.4     46.5     37.8     54.3     23.1     63.3     35.8     32.2     28.6

  1980  53.8    46.9     62.9      NA       NA      52.9     51.6     43.6     58.2     27.2     67.1     39.1     35.4     33.4
  1981  59.1    52.4     66.8      NA       NA      57.3     56.1     49.8     61.1     32.9     70.5     43.6     39.3     38.2
  1982  63.6    58.5     69.9      NA       NA      61.1     62.0     56.8     64.3     38.7     75.6     48.1     42.4     42.5
  1983  67.2    63.2     71.9      NA       NA      63.2     67.2     62.4     67.4     45.3     79.0     53.0     47.3     45.7
  1984  70.5    65.5     74.8      NA       NA      68.0     70.8     67.8     70.6     51.9     80.9     57.9     52.3     49.7
  1985  74.3    69.4     77.6      NA       NA      73.3     73.0     73.0     73.5     57.8     83.0     63.1     57.2     54.4
  1986  77.6    72.2     81.1      NA       NA      76.4     76.3     76.2     76.0     61.7     85.8     68.9     61.5     59.0
  1987  80.2    75.6     83.3      NA       NA      78.8     81.5     79.5     79.1     66.4     88.1     76.3     66.4     66.0
  1988  84.2    79.5     85.6      NA       NA      81.8     84.4     82.8     82.0     71.4     88.6     81.7     70.6     70.6
  1989  86.9    83.4     89.9      NA       NA      85.6     88.2     87.1     85.0     78.3     89.0     86.0     77.9     75.4

  1990  90.5    89.9     95.5      NA       NA      91.4     92.1     91.2     89.2     85.0     91.2     90.9     87.0     83.6
  1991  94.6    94.6     98.9      NA       NA      95.4     95.6     95.9     94.3     93.2     95.4     96.4     94.6     92.0
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 104.3   101.2    102.1      NA       NA     103.4    103.8    102.8    102.8    105.0    103.7    101.8    100.5    105.5
  1994 108.2   102.4    104.3      NA       NA     109.7    106.0    105.2    108.5    107.3    108.2    105.0    106.8    109.5
  1995 110.0   105.3    107.7      NA       NA     111.8    110.0    107.1    113.6    113.3    110.9    108.8    114.3    112.1
  1996 112.3   107.8    109.7      NA       NA     114.7    113.8    109.1    117.6    119.5    114.1    113.6    122.5    113.7
  1997 117.7   110.7    112.4      NA       NA     117.3    118.2    111.8    120.5    125.8    117.3    118.4    127.9    118.4

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, March 1999.

Table 13.  Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  50.7    38.7      NA       NA       NA       NA      28.6     20.1     11.8     18.2     17.2     26.3     25.2     26.5

  1955  61.3    48.7     18.2      NA       NA       NA      31.9     27.0     16.0     21.2     21.3     29.4     30.5     29.0

  1960  70.7    57.2     23.2      NA       NA      25.2     38.7     30.5     23.6     24.3     26.6     36.3     35.3     34.0
  1961  72.1    58.1     25.6      NA       NA      26.4     41.7     32.6     25.9     26.2     30.0     38.7     37.9     35.1
  1962  74.1    59.7     27.4      NA       NA      28.0     42.5     34.5     28.4     29.3     31.3     40.3     40.3     35.4
  1963  75.3    61.2     28.4      NA       NA      30.3     43.9     35.8     29.4     32.4     33.3     42.0     43.3     36.3
  1964  77.4    62.7     30.8      NA       NA      32.8     45.7     37.7     31.2     32.6     36.5     42.5     45.7     37.5
  1965  77.8    64.9     32.2      NA       NA      35.0     47.7     39.9     33.1     33.4     39.3     45.0     48.0     39.1
  1966  79.1    67.1     33.8      NA       NA      37.1     50.8     41.1     34.7     34.9     41.7     47.6     49.4     40.7
  1967  80.9    68.2     36.4      NA       NA      39.4     53.0     43.1     36.1     37.7     44.6     50.9     52.5     41.7
  1968  83.5    69.9     40.2      NA       NA      41.1     54.0     47.0     38.3     39.7     47.9     54.2     56.0     42.8
  1969  85.1    72.2     45.3      NA       NA      43.3     58.7     48.1     41.1     42.4     50.6     58.0     58.8     44.1

  1970  86.2    74.6     50.0      NA       NA      47.5     62.9     51.8     46.8     49.1     56.0     58.3     61.7     47.7
  1971  87.6    77.0     54.4      NA       NA      52.1     68.3     54.9     49.9     53.9     59.6     62.8     64.0     49.6
  1972  89.3    78.6     59.7      NA       NA      57.0     71.0     57.0     52.4     57.2     63.3     65.3     67.4     53.4
  1973  90.6    79.4     65.4      NA       NA      61.8     78.8     60.8     55.5     60.9     69.8     68.5     69.7     55.6
  1974  90.6    83.0     69.5      NA       NA      66.9     82.7     63.5     59.1     66.7     76.2     73.4     74.7     57.6
  1975  93.1    85.9     72.5      NA       NA      71.8     90.0     69.3     61.3     71.8     79.0     78.6     83.5     61.8
  1976  95.3    91.2     71.4      NA       NA      74.6     92.1     72.4     63.3     76.5     81.0     83.2     88.3     61.6
  1977  97.3    93.7     72.8      NA       NA      77.8     91.8     75.2     66.9     75.9     82.8     85.6     86.0     59.9
  1978  97.7    92.3     74.5      NA       NA      80.3     91.9     77.5     70.2     77.8     86.1     87.4     88.8     64.2
  1979  96.4    91.9     76.4      NA       NA      83.7     93.7     79.4     72.6     81.4     88.8     87.6     89.8     67.2

  1980  95.0    92.1     75.4      NA       NA      87.0     92.0     80.6     74.8     78.8     87.8     86.0     87.5     68.8
  1981  94.7    91.3     77.0      NA       NA      89.8     90.7     82.3     74.8     80.3     86.0     84.1     86.2     71.8
  1982  97.8    92.5     78.6      NA       NA      86.1     89.7     87.4     74.9     81.3     86.1     84.1     85.0     72.3
  1983  97.4    93.1     79.2      NA       NA      84.8     89.7     88.0     76.1     82.8     87.5     85.1     84.3     74.2
  1984  96.5    92.5     79.8      NA       NA      86.4     89.2     88.9     77.9     85.9     87.9     87.7     85.0     76.1
  1985  98.2    94.0     81.4      NA       NA      87.5     90.9     90.8     80.7     88.9     90.6     90.8     87.2     78.5
  1986 100.7    93.7     85.0      NA       NA      90.0     89.5     92.2     84.3     87.2     93.9     92.4     90.3     82.5
  1987  99.9    93.2     86.9      NA       NA      90.6     94.1     92.7     88.2     88.1     97.4     96.4     92.3     87.9
  1988  99.9    92.6     87.8      NA       NA      91.4     93.2     93.8     90.7     87.2     96.6     96.0     94.0     89.3
  1989  98.3    93.4     91.1      NA       NA      93.3     94.1     95.4     92.3     89.9     96.3     96.1     98.1     88.5

  1990  97.7    95.9     95.3      NA       NA      95.1     96.9     97.3     96.4     94.3     96.5     97.7     97.4     90.3
  1991  98.7    96.1     97.6      NA       NA      97.8     98.0     98.9     99.0     98.2     98.1     99.8     97.2     95.5
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 100.0    98.0    103.2      NA       NA     102.1    103.3    101.5    102.1    102.8    101.1     99.2     95.3    104.3
  1994 100.1    98.4    104.7      NA       NA     103.1      NA     102.4    104.8     98.4    102.7    100.7     96.2    105.0
  1995  99.7    99.5    107.4      NA       NA     104.6      NA     102.0    108.5     98.4    103.1    102.7     96.8    103.1
  1996  99.0   100.1    108.4      NA       NA     104.7      NA     101.6    112.6    100.9    104.2    106.3    102.7    101.8
  1997 100.8   101.1    109.8      NA       NA     105.3      NA     103.3    113.0    103.8    104.8    108.3    105.8    102.6

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, March 1999.

Table 14.  Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1997
(Indexes:  1992=100)

       United                                                                                   Nether-                    United
 Year  States  Canada   Japan    Korea    Taiwan   Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom

  1950  51.4    41.6      NA       NA       NA       NA      40.2     24.5     17.2     20.1     22.4     34.4     32.8     31.2

  1955  62.2    50.4     21.6      NA       NA       NA      44.0     32.6     23.3     24.0     27.9     38.6     39.3     34.6

  1960  70.3    58.7     28.6      NA       NA      31.7     50.7     36.8     31.1     27.8     35.1     45.8     43.1     39.7
  1961  71.8    59.4     31.1      NA       NA      33.2     53.1     39.5     33.4     29.6     37.9     48.0     45.8     40.5
  1962  74.5    61.5     32.6      NA       NA      35.2     54.5     41.5     35.9     32.1     39.3     49.9     48.4     40.4
  1963  76.0    63.3     33.6      NA       NA      38.1     55.4     43.2     36.6     35.6     41.7     51.7     51.5     41.4
  1964  78.7    65.1     36.2      NA       NA      41.1     58.3     45.1     38.8     35.8     45.2     52.6     53.7     43.1
  1965  79.9    67.3     37.2      NA       NA      43.1     60.6     47.3     41.0     35.6     48.6     54.5     56.0     44.3
  1966  81.5    69.2     39.2      NA       NA      45.4     63.4     48.9     42.4     37.5     51.2     57.8     57.5     45.3
  1967  81.9    70.3     42.3      NA       NA      47.5     65.4     50.8     43.0     41.1     54.6     61.2     60.2     46.1
  1968  84.4    71.9     46.6      NA       NA      49.6     65.1     53.8     46.1     43.3     57.6     63.6     62.8     47.7
  1969  85.3    74.0     51.8      NA       NA      51.7     69.9     56.4     49.5     45.9     59.9     66.5     64.8     49.1

  1970  84.6    76.0     56.6      NA       NA      55.2     72.5     59.9     56.1     52.2     65.2     66.3     67.9     52.3
  1971  86.2    78.1     60.6      NA       NA      59.7     78.5     63.0     58.5     55.7     68.7     70.8     70.2     53.1
  1972  89.4    79.9     66.1      NA       NA      63.9     79.8     64.8     60.8     58.7     72.0     72.5     72.0     56.6
  1973  90.5    80.0     71.9      NA       NA      67.5     83.9     68.0     63.9     63.3     77.8     75.6     73.1     59.8
  1974  88.8    83.1     73.2      NA       NA      71.1     89.8     70.1     66.6     66.9     82.2     80.0     77.5     59.9
  1975  89.9    85.0     74.7      NA       NA      72.3     94.6     74.2     67.4     70.8     83.7     85.3     85.0     64.1
  1976  93.2    90.3     75.7      NA       NA      76.5     97.3     77.8     71.5     75.4     85.7     87.9     88.8     64.4
  1977  95.5    92.7     77.3      NA       NA      79.4     96.0     80.1     74.3     74.4     87.2     89.0     85.9     63.0
  1978  95.9    91.9     79.4      NA       NA      81.8     95.0     81.9     77.1     76.1     89.8     88.8     86.3     67.3
  1979  93.9    91.3     82.0      NA       NA      85.3     96.8     83.7     79.3     79.0     91.5     87.5     86.0     70.1

  1980  91.6    90.6     80.9      NA       NA      87.3     95.7     85.0     80.8     76.7     91.0     86.3     83.0     69.5
  1981  91.2    89.8     82.0      NA       NA      88.0     93.2     85.7     79.8     78.1     89.6     84.6     82.1     71.4
  1982  92.5    90.4     83.5      NA       NA      86.2     93.5     87.2     79.8     79.0     90.6     83.8     81.3     72.5
  1983  94.6    92.3     84.3      NA       NA      82.8     94.7     87.5     81.0     80.4     92.3     85.3     81.7     74.7
  1984  95.2    91.7     85.7      NA       NA      83.8     93.9     88.6     82.8     83.4     91.4     87.7     83.9     77.2
  1985  96.9    93.4     87.2      NA       NA      86.1     92.5     89.9     84.5     85.5     91.7     90.4     85.3     79.7
  1986  99.3    93.3     90.5      NA       NA      88.6     93.3     91.4     87.5     86.1     94.7     92.1     88.0     83.5
  1987  99.1    93.5     92.8      NA       NA      90.0     95.8     92.5     91.1     88.5     97.7     93.7     91.0     89.7
  1988  99.9    94.6     94.8      NA       NA      92.3     94.9     93.9     93.4     90.6     97.6     94.1     92.6     91.5
  1989  98.3    94.4     97.4      NA       NA      93.8     94.6     95.3     94.1     93.2     96.8     94.7     96.3     90.6

  1990  97.1    96.3    100.3      NA       NA      96.8     96.3     96.7     96.2     95.4     96.9     96.2     96.7     91.8
  1991  97.4    95.9    100.6      NA       NA      97.8     97.6     98.5     98.2     98.3     98.3     98.7     96.4     95.5
  1992 100.0   100.0    100.0      NA       NA     100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
  1993 101.3    99.4    100.8      NA       NA     100.6    102.5    100.7     99.1    100.8    101.1     99.5     97.8    103.9
  1994 102.4   100.4    102.3      NA       NA     104.3    102.6    101.4    101.7     99.1    102.7    101.2    101.7    105.3
  1995 101.3   101.0    105.7      NA       NA     104.7    104.3    101.4    104.8     99.2    103.4    102.4    104.1    104.1
  1996 100.4   101.8    107.5      NA       NA     105.3    105.7    101.3    107.0    100.9    104.5    105.6    111.0    103.1
  1997 102.9   102.9    108.2      NA       NA     106.0    107.4    102.5    107.6    104.3    105.0    107.3    114.4    104.1

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, March 1999.
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.
In this release, the 1977-97 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.
U. S. gross product originating is a chain-type annual-weighted series 
(1). The Japanese value-added series is based upon one set of fixed price 
weights for the years 1970 through 1997.  Output series for most 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 1994-1997 and, 
therefore, the BLS measure of labor input for Denmark ends in 1993.  
Adequate employment and average hours data are not available for Korea or 
Taiwan; therefore BLS does not calculate labor input for these economies.

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 Canada, 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                Country             Weight

      Canada           23.94                Netherlands          2.13
      Japan            28.91                Norway               0.45
      Belgium           2.02                Sweden               1.79
      Denmark           0.45                United Kingdom       8.50
      France            5.58                Korea                5.43
      Germany          10.98                Taiwan               5.48
      Italy             4.35   


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 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 
(OECD).  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 GDP purchasing 
power parities.  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 
limited portion of manufactured products can be matched and the matched 
products may not be adequately representative of total manufacturing.  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 (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.