US productivity fell at 2 percent rate Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 8:27 am, Thursday, February 7, 2013 Labor costs were rising more rapidly before the Great Recession, which triggered millions of layoffs and reduced workers' bargaining power. Mild inflation has allowed the central bank to keep interest rates at record lows in an effort to boost economic growth and fight high unemployment. Paul Ashworth, chief U.S.