US labor productivity in both wholesale and retail trade increased in 2025, reflecting stronger output and improved efficiency across much of the sector, reports the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wholesale trade productivity rose 4.4% while retail trade productivity increased 2.9%, as many businesses produced more output with fewer hours worked. Unit labor costs declined in both sectors, indicating productivity gains outpaced labor cost increases.
Among major industries, clothing stores, appliance and electric goods wholesalers, electronic markets, and used merchandise stores posted some of the strongest productivity gains. Long-term trends continue to show rising productivity across most trade industries since 1987, driven by technology, operational efficiency, and shifts toward e-commerce and automation. Industries tied to online retail, including electronic shopping and mail-order houses, recorded some of the fastest productivity growth rates in recent years, while traditional department stores continued to struggle with declining output and productivity.
