American business productivity rose 3.6% in 1984.

It was the biggest gain since 1971. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the increase was due to the strongest advances in output and hours worked since the 1950s and a substantial advance in agricultural productivity. The last time productivity including agriculture rose so much in one year was in 1971. Excluding agriculture, business productivity rose 3.1% in 1984, down from the 3.5% increase in 1983 but nonetheless reflecting a resurgence in the economy. In non-farm business in 1984, output grew 8.5% and hours rose 5.2%. Productivity in the manufacturing sector was up 4.7% last year, the biggest one-year gain since 1973.

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