Industrial production rose 0.4 percent in July to 145.3 percent of its 1992 average. Manufacturing output increased 0.5 percent while unseasonably mild weather in July caused electric utility output to fall 3.3 percent. The strength in manufacturing has come from technology industries such as computers, semiconductors and communication equipment. The gain in industrial production came despite reduced production of new cars and trucks as automakers shut down to retool for the 2001 models. New car assemblies dropped to an annual rate of 12.4 million from 13.4 million in June. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, July industrial production rose by 0.7 percent, up from a revised 0.3 percent in June.
Total capacity utilization edged slightly higher in July to 82.3 percent from 82.2 percent in June, a level 0.3 percent above the average for 1967 to 1999. The utilization rate for manufacturing climbed to 81.6 percent, up 0.5 percent from its 1967-99 average.
Monthly Reports
Industrial Production Index 1992=100 *revisions possible for previous months |
April | May | June | July | |
Total Index | 143.5 | 144.4 | 144.8 | 145.3 |
Manufacturing | 149.3 | 150.2 | 150.7 | 151.6 |
Durable | 186.8 | 189.0 | 190.3 | 191.4 |
Nondurable | 113.5 | 113.2 | 113.1 | 113.7 |
Utilities | 114.9 | 117.8 | 114.8 | 111.0 |
Market Groups, Losers and Gainers
Industrial Production *revisions possible for previous months | ||||
April | May | June | July | |
Automotive Products | 148.7 | 146.8 | 149.5 | 139.6 |
Chemical Products | 124.2 | 124.7 | 125.5 | 126.1 |
Industrial Equipment | 140.1 | 140.4 | 139.7 | 141.6 |
Basic Metals | 126.9 | 126.3 | 125.8 | 125.9 |
Semiconductors | 2454.0 | 2616.1 | 2758.4 | 2883.7 |