Every release since 4 Feb 2016: 44 on record, actual against forecast. Medium impact for the USD. Updated within the hour of each release.
The last US Unit Labour Costs QoQ (Q3 2026 · preliminary, released 5 Nov 2026) came in at -0.7%, below the 0.6% forecast; the previous reading was 1.3%.
Since 2016, US Unit Labour Costs QoQ has come in above forecast 50% of the time and below 43% (44 releases with a forecast); over the last 12 it beat 42%. It has now come in below forecast 3 releases in a row.
The average miss against forecast over the last 24 releases was 1.03%: higher than expected is good for the USD.
| Released | Period | Actual | Forecast | Previous | Vs forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov 2026 08:30 | Q3 2026 · preliminary | -0.7% | 0.6% | 1.3% | below |
| 6 Aug 2026 08:30 | Q2 2026 · preliminary | 1.3% | 2.1% | 2.3% | below |
| 7 May 2026 08:30 | Q1 2026 · preliminary | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.8% | below |
| 5 Mar 2026 08:30 | Q4 2025 · preliminary | 2.8% | 2% | -1.9% | above |
| 8 Jan 2026 08:30 | Q3 2025 · preliminary | -1.9% | 1% | 1.6% | below |
| 7 Aug 2025 08:30 | Q2 2025 · preliminary | 1.6% | 1.5% | 5.7% | above |
| 8 May 2025 08:30 | Q1 2025 · preliminary | 5.7% | 5.1% | 3% | above |
| 6 Feb 2025 08:30 | Q4 2024 · preliminary | 3% | 3.4% | 1.9% | below |
| 7 Nov 2024 08:30 | Q3 2024 · preliminary | 1.9% | 1% | 0.9% | above |
| 1 Aug 2024 08:30 | Q2 2024 · preliminary | 0.9% | 1.8% | 4.7% | below |
| 2 May 2024 08:30 | Q1 2024 · preliminary | 4.7% | 3.3% | 0.5% | above |
| 1 Feb 2024 08:30 | Q4 2023 · preliminary | 0.5% | 1.6% | -0.8% | below |
| 2 Nov 2023 08:30 | Q3 2023 · preliminary | -0.8% | 0.7% | 1.6% | below |
| 3 Aug 2023 08:30 | Q2 2023 · preliminary | 1.6% | 2.6% | 6.3% | below |
| 4 May 2023 08:30 | Q1 2023 · preliminary | 6.3% | 5.5% | 1.1% | above |
| 2 Feb 2023 08:30 | Q4 2022 · preliminary | 1.1% | 1.5% | 3.5% | below |
| 3 Nov 2022 08:30 | Q3 2022 · preliminary | 3.5% | 4.1% | 10.8% | below |
| 9 Aug 2022 08:30 | Q2 2022 · preliminary | 10.8% | 9.5% | 11.6% | above |
| 5 May 2022 08:30 | Q1 2022 · preliminary | 11.6% | 9.9% | 0.3% | above |
| 3 Feb 2022 08:30 | Q4 2021 · preliminary | 0.3% | 1.5% | 8.3% | below |
| 4 Nov 2021 08:30 | Q3 2021 · preliminary | 8.3% | 7% | 1% | above |
| 10 Aug 2021 08:30 | Q2 2021 · preliminary | 1% | 1.1% | -0.3% | below |
| 6 May 2021 08:30 | Q1 2021 · preliminary | -0.3% | -0.8% | 6.8% | above |
| 4 Feb 2021 08:30 | Q4 2020 · preliminary | 6.8% | 4% | -8.9% | above |
| 5 Nov 2020 08:30 | Q3 2020 · preliminary | -8.9% | -11.5% | 12.2% | above |
| 14 Aug 2020 08:30 | Q2 2020 · preliminary | 12.2% | 6.2% | 4.8% | above |
| 7 May 2020 08:30 | Q1 2020 · preliminary | 4.8% | 4% | 1.4% | above |
| 6 Feb 2020 08:30 | Q4 2019 · preliminary | 1.4% | 1.4% | 3.6% | in line |
| 6 Nov 2019 08:30 | Q3 2019 · preliminary | 3.6% | 2.2% | 2.4% | above |
| 15 Aug 2019 08:30 | Q2 2019 · preliminary | 2.4% | 2% | -0.9% | above |
| 2 May 2019 08:30 | Q1 2019 · preliminary | -0.9% | 1.5% | 2% | below |
| 7 Mar 2019 07:30 | Q4 2018 · preliminary | 2% | 2% | 1.2% | in line |
| 1 Nov 2018 08:30 | Q3 2018 · preliminary | 1.2% | 1% | -0.9% | above |
| 15 Aug 2018 08:30 | Q2 2018 · preliminary | -0.9% | 0.3% | 2.7% | below |
| 3 May 2018 08:30 | Q1 2018 · preliminary | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2% | below |
| 1 Feb 2018 08:30 | Q4 2017 · preliminary | 2% | 0.8% | 0.5% | above |
| 2 Nov 2017 08:30 | Q3 2017 · preliminary | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | in line |
| 9 Aug 2017 08:30 | Q2 2017 · preliminary | 0.6% | 1.2% | 3% | below |
| 4 May 2017 08:42 | Q1 2017 · preliminary | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | above |
| 2 Feb 2017 08:38 | Q4 2016 · preliminary | 1.7% | 1.9% | 0.3% | below |
| 3 Nov 2016 08:30 | Q3 2016 · preliminary | 0.3% | 1.3% | 2% | below |
| 9 Aug 2016 08:30 | Q2 2016 · preliminary | 2% | 1.8% | 4.1% | above |
| 4 May 2016 08:30 | Q1 2016 · preliminary | 4.1% | 3.3% | 4.5% | above |
| 4 Feb 2016 08:30 | Q4 2015 · preliminary | 4.5% | 3.9% | 1.4% | above |
The last US Unit Labour Costs QoQ (Q3 2026 · preliminary, released 5 Nov 2026) came in at -0.7%, below the 0.6% forecast; the previous reading was 1.3%.
US Unit Labour Costs QoQ is released quarterly by BLS. CRTLAB has 44 releases on record since 4 Feb 2016.
Since 2016, US Unit Labour Costs QoQ has come in above forecast 50% of the time and below 43% (44 releases with a forecast); over the last 12 it beat 42%. It has now come in below forecast 3 releases in a row.
The highest was 12.2% (Q2 2020) and the lowest -8.9% (Q3 2020). The five-year average is 2.83%.
Usually yes: a reading above forecast is the good surprise for the USD, and the bigger the surprise the bigger the move. On this page, green marks a release that was good for the USD against its forecast, red one that was bad.
Output data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau ofthe U.S. Department of Commerce; the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.