--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-16/the-state-of-data-for-services-productivity-measurement-in-the-united-states/" title: "The State of Data for Services Productivity Measurement in the United States" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T06:54:04+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T06:54:04+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Spring 2008" ipm_keyword: - "BEA" - "BLS" - "data" - "measurement" - "MFP" - "producer price indexes" - "recommendations" - "services productivity" - "United States" ipm_research_theme: - "Measurement and methodology" ipm_country_focus: - "Europe" - "United States" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # The State of Data for Services Productivity Measurement in the United States Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-16/the-state-of-data-for-services-productivity-measurement-in-the-united-states/ # The State of Data for Services Productivity Measurement in the United States [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-16-4-Triplett-Bosworth.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Triplett, Jack, and Barry Bosworth. 2008. “The State of Data for Services Productivity Measurement in the United States.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 16 (Spring 2008): 53–70. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-16/the-state-of-data-for-services-productivity-measurement-in-the-united-states/ ## Authors: - Jack Triplett Brookings Institution - Barry Bosworth Brookings Institution ## IPM Issue 16 Spring 2008 pp. 53–70 ## Related IPM articles [Is the SNA Still Useful? 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We conclude that the state of U.S. data for services industry productivity measurement is far better than it was even around 1990. However, our list of more than 40 suggested improvements indicates that, despite the substantial progress the U.S. statistical agencies have made in a relatively brief time, much more work needs to be done. The size of the services sector in GDP and its importance as a contributor to recent productivity advance justifies a further expansion of resources to bring the measurement of services industries fully up to the standard met by the goods-producing industries. L ABOUR PRODUCTIVITY (LP) IN THE United Dans cet article, nous présentons un bref historique du développement des données sur les industries de services aux États-Unis, passons en revue les progrès substantiels réalisés au cours de la dernière décennie et demie, et formulons des recommandations pour les améliorations supplémentaires nécessaires. Nous concluons que l’état des données américaines pour la mesure de la productivité dans les industries de services est bien meilleur qu’il ne l’était autour de 1990. Cependant, notre liste de plus de 40 améliorations suggérées indique que, malgré les progrès substantiels réalisés par les organismes statistiques américains en un temps relativement court, beaucoup reste à faire. L’ampleur du secteur des services dans le PIB et son importance en tant que contributeur aux récents gains de productivité justifient une expansion supplémentaire des ressources pour amener la mesure des industries de services pleinement au niveau atteint par les industries productrices de biens. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-16-4-Triplett-Bosworth.pdf)