U.S. and European productivity growth was relatively slow in 2006, according to The Conference Board's annual analysis of global productivity trends, raising concerns about the long-term effects of information and communication technology (ICT) as a continued impetus for productivity growth. U.S. labor productivity growth in 2006 was the lowest in more than a decade and, despite a strong business cycle, the enlarged European Union saw modest productivity gains of only 1.5% last year.
