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Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 1.9 percent annual rate during the third quarter of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked by all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Output increased 3.0 percent and hours worked increased 1.1 percent in the third quarter. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) Productivity increased 2.5 percent over the last four quarters, as output rose 4.1 percent and hours worked rose 1.6 percent.

G20 leaders must remain vigilant against the risk that tensions over current account imbalances could slow investment or degenerate into a protectionist spiral, according to the OECD and UNCTAD.

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 212 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 143 areas, and unchanged in 17 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 10 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in September was 9.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.5 percent a year earlier.

Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 1.7% in the year to September 2010, up from 1.6% in August. This small pick-up in inflation mainly reflects higher food and energy prices, which increased by 2.3% and 5.2% respectively in September, compared with 1.4% and 4.8% in August.

The pace of the global economy recovery has slowed since earlier this year while public debt in most OECD countries is set to reach all-time highs, according to an OECD economic assessment presented ahead of the G20 Summit in Seoul.

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in October for the 10th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

A recent survey of 14,066 people looking for jobs worldwide found that 41% would be insulted to be offered a low bonus. (7% of those respondents stated that they’d rather receive nothing instead of a low bonus). Alternatively, 34% of respondents indicated that any incentive would be welcome and additionally 25% don’t automatically expect to receive one at all.

A macro-economic indicator, SpendingPulse reports on national retail and services sales and is based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network, coupled with survey-based estimates for certain other payment forms, such as cash and check. MasterCard SpendingPulse does not represent MasterCard financial performance. SpendingPulse is provided by MasterCard Advisors, the professional services arm of MasterCard Worldwide.

comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending September 2010. The report ranked the leading mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone operating system (OS) platforms in the U.S. according to their share of current mobile subscribers ages 13 and older, and reviewed the most popular activities and content accessed via the subscriber’s primary mobile phone. The September report found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 23.5 percent market share, while RIM led among smartphone platforms with 37.3 percent market share.

Online advertised vacancies rose 113,700 in October to 4,409,800, following an increase of 59,900 in September, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine™ (HWOL) Data Series. The nation’s Supply/Demand rate stood at 3.44 unemployed for every advertised vacancy in September (the last available unemployment data), a figure that is down from a peak of 4.73 in October 2009. Nationally, there are 10.5 million more unemployed than advertised vacancies.