Posted May 18, 2011
Industrial production remains unchanged
Industrial production was unchanged in April after having increased 0.7 percent in March.
In April, the Federal Reserve said manufacturing output fell 0.4 percent after increasing 0.6 percent in March. The rates of change for manufacturing were also revised down for both January and February; lower estimates for the production of cigarettes, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, microprocessors, and military aircraft contributed to the downward revisions. The index for manufacturing in April was 4.6 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization for manufacturing moved down 0.4 percentage point to 74.4 percent, a rate 10.0 percentage points above its trough in June 2009 but still 4.6 percentage points below its average from 1972 to 2010.
The production index for durable goods dropped 1.0 percent in April. The output of motor vehicles and parts fell 8.9 percent after increasing 3.6 percent in March. In addition, in April, significant losses in output were recorded in the following industries: primary metals; electrical equipment, appliances, and components; and furniture and related products. Durable goods industries with gains in output included nonmetallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, machinery, computer and electronic products, and aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment.
