Industrial production rises
Industrial production increased 0.3 percent in December after having risen 1.0 percent in November.
The Federal Reserve reported that manufacturing output advanced 0.8 percent in December following a gain of 1.3 percent in November; production edged up at an annual rate of 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter. Within manufacturing, increases were widespread in December across both durable and nondurable goods industries. The factory operating rate rose to 77.4 percent, a rate 1.4 percentage points below its long-run average.
The production of durable goods advanced 1.0 percent in December and increased at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter. Output rose in December for most major categories of durables, with gains of more than 1 percent in the indexes for nonmetallic mineral products, for primary metals, for computer and electronic products, for motor vehicles and parts, and for miscellaneous manufacturing. The output of fabricated metal products was unchanged in December, and the indexes both for wood products and for electrical equipment, appliances, and components decreased after having posted strong gains in November. Capacity utilization for durable goods manufacturing in December was 77.8 percent, a rate 0.7 percentage point above its long-run average.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The May/June issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about GHX Industrial. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
