Productivity is on the upswing

Productivity is on the upswing

May 7, 2026 · 8 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the recent growth in labor productivity and its potential connection to AI, along with topics like tariffs against the EU and investments from Gulf countries.

Labor productivity has been on a growth streak for the past year and a half. It increased 0.8% in the first quarter of this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is up almost 3% from a year ago. How much of this boils down to AI? Also on the show: threatened tariffs against the European Union and a conversation about U.S. dollars, the oil shock, and investment from Gulf countries.

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