Posted October 20, 2011
Industrial production up in September
Industrial production increased 0.2 percent in September after having been unchanged in August.
Manufacturing output increased 0.4 percent in September to a level that was 3.9 percent higher than a year earlier. The factory operating rate moved up to 75.1 percent, a rate 10.7 percentage points above its trough in June 2009, but still 3.9 percentage points below its long-run average.
The output of durable goods manufacturing increased 0.6 percent in September and was 7.9 percent above its year-earlier level. Output gains of more than 2 percent were recorded in wood products and in aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment, while output gains of at least 1 percent were recorded for computer and electronic products; electrical equipment, appliances, and components; and miscellaneous manufacturing. Production for four major components of durables declined: nonmetallic mineral products, primary metals, fabricated metal products, and furniture and related products.
