The State of Data for Services Productivity Measurement in the United States

In this article, we present a brief history of the development of services industry data in the United States, review the substantial progress that has been made over the past decade and a half, and present recommendations for needed additional improvements. 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.