Busy bees abound

U.S. productivity increased in Q2, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The second quarter saw a 1.8 percent rise in nonfarm business productivity and a 2.6 percent increase in the business sector compared to 0.7 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of the year. The second quarter also saw productivity increases in manufacturing by 1.6 percent and 4.7 percent in durable goods manufacturing, but decreased by 1.9 percent in nondurable goods manufacturing.