Q1 productivity fell 2.7% in the preliminary reading (consensus -0.1%) following a revised 1.6% increase in the prior reading (from 1.7%).
Q1 unit labor costs rose 6.3% in the preliminary reading (consensus 3.9%) following a revised 3.3% increase in the prior reading (from 3.2%).
Weekly initial jobless claims totaled 242,000 (consensus 245,000) from a revised count of 229,000 (from 230,000) Continuing claims totaled 1.805 million from a prior revised 1..843 million (from 1.858 million).