Unit labour costs in the total economy rose 0.3% in OECD countries in the third quarter of 2009, the same rate of growth as in the previous quarter.

In the major seven economies, unit labour costs rose 0.2% in the third quarter of 2009, unchanged from the previous quarter. In the Euro area cost growth slowed to 0.1%, from 0.7% in the second quarter.

In industry, unit labour costs fell 0.2% in the OECD area in the third quarter, dropped 0.4% in the major seven economies and were down 0.1% in the Euro area. In market services, labour costs remained unchanged in the Euro area in the third quarter, were slightly higher in OECD area and slightly lower across the major seven economies.

Across most OECD countries year-on-year growth rates were lower in the third quarter than in the second.