FX.co ★ U.S. Nonfarm Productivity Accelerates to 1.4% in Q2 2026, Rebounding From Weak Start to the Year

U.S. nonfarm productivity strengthened in the second quarter of 2026, rising 1.4% quarter-over-quarter, according to data updated on 6 August 2026. The gain marks a notable acceleration from the first quarter of 2026, when productivity increased by just 0.3%.

The figures indicate that output per hour in the nonfarm business sector improved more robustly in the second quarter, reversing the sluggish momentum seen at the start of the year. On a quarter-over-quarter comparison basis, the “actual” measure now reflects this sharper Q2 increase relative to Q1, while the “previous” measure had captured the modest 0.3% rise in the first quarter versus the final quarter of 2025.

The pickup in productivity growth is likely to be watched closely by investors and policymakers as they assess the underlying strength and efficiency of the U.S. economy in 2026, particularly in the context of labor costs, corporate profitability, and the broader trajectory of economic expansion.