A modest 1.4% rise in unit labor costs in Q3 was dramatically below the expected (and hope-strewn) 2.5% growth and means unit labor costs have missed expectations for the 3rd quarter in a row for the first time since 2003. Perhaps just as bad, historical (weak) data was revised notably lower but of course, as Yellen and Fisher have made clear - none of this matters for the data-un-dependent Fed's December decision.
Not exactly escape velocity...
[4]
Charts: Bloomberg
