[PEN-L:3156] BLS Daily Report

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BLS DAILY REPORT, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1999

RELEASED TODAY:  Preliminary productivity data - as measured by output per
hour of all persons - for the fourth quarter advanced 3.9 percent in the
business sector as output grew 6.6 percent and hours worked rose less-2.6
percent (seasonally adjusted annual rates).  In the nonfarm business sector,
productivity rose 3.7 percent as output increased 6.8 percent and hours grew
3.0 percent. ...  Annual average increases for 1997-1998 were 2.3 percent
for the business sector and 2.2 percent for the nonfarm business sector. ...


Despite improvements, over half of all union locals still have no organizing
program, says the organizing chief at the Service Employees International
Union.  Unions gained a modest 101,000 members in a booming economy in 1998,
BLS reported; but it was only the fourth rise since a 1979 peak, as unions'
share of U.S. employment fell further to 13.9 percent. ...  (Wall Street
Journal's "Work Week" feature, page A1).

A survey of 660 Americans finds that a pay raise is the most powerful
incentive for workers to continue working for their current employer.  The
telephone survey, conducted in late December by Market Facts Inc. for the
Irvine, Calif., management search firm Bridgegate, found that 43 percent of
respondents would continue working for their current employer if given a
raise.  Improved benefits were listed by 23.1 percent of respondents as a
company action that would cause them to stay, while 14.1 percent cited a
more flexible work schedule, 8.6 percent listed stock options, and 4.7
percent listed better training as a reason to stay with their current
employer. ...  (Daily Labor Report, page A-8).

Businesses announced in January that they would cut 79,667 jobs, a 10
percent increase from January 1998, according to data released by
outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.  In December, Challenger
tracked 103,166 job-cut announcements, the largest one-month total since
January 1994.  The 1998 layoff total hit 677,795, the largest number of
announced workforce reductions in the decade. ...  (Daily Labor Report, page
A-7).

Gasoline prices fell almost a penny per gallon in the 2 weeks that ended
Friday, according to the Lundberg Survey. The average price of all grades,
including taxes, was $1.0141 per gallon.  Adjusted for inflation, that is
the lowest price in the history of the retail gasoline market and follows
months of declines linked to an oversupply of crude oil and refined
products. ...  (Washington Post, page E11).

Dallas is the most productive U.S. city, considering factors like employment
growth, income levels, and availability of skilled workers, says a study
commissioned by Sprint Business, a Sprint marketing division based in
Dallas.  Next in order in the study of 313 metropolitan areas - done by
research firm Decision Analyst in Arlington, a Dallas suburb - came San
Francisco, San Jose, Houston, and Atlanta. ...  (Wall Street Journal's "Work
Week" feature, page A1).

By today, the average household will have earned enough in 1999 to buy its
food for the year, says a graph in USA Today (page 1A).  The graph shows
that in 1930, it took 91 days to buy the year's food or 25 percent of the
average household income. In 1960, it took 64 days or 17 percent of
household income.  In 1990, it took 43 days or 12 percent of household
income.  In 1999, it took 40 days or 11 percent of household income.

DUE OUT TOMORROW:  Major Work Stoppages, 1998


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