The U.S. Labor Department released non-farm productivity figures on Thursday. Productivity in the U.S. non-farm businesses grew at a 2.0% annual rate in the third quarter, exceeding expectations for a 0.9% increase, after a 2.9% gain in the second quarter. The second quarter's figure was revised up from a 2.3% rise.

Unit labor costs increased 0.3% in the third quarter, missing expectations for a 1.0% rise, after a 0.5 decline in the second quarter. The second quarter's figure was revised down from a 0.1% fall.