According to figures released by the Federal Reserve, total industrial output in the US in April was unchanged from March. Industrial output in March had risen 0.7 percent from February.
No change in April output is a result of a 0.4 percent decline in manufacturing during the month, after nine consecutive monthly increases. Less automotive production drove the manufacturing decline as motor vehicle assemblies dropped from an annual rate of 9 million units in March to 7.9 million units in April, mostly because of parts shortages that resulted from the earthquake in Japan. But excluding motor vehicles and parts, factory production rose 0.2 percent in April and the output of mines advanced 0.8 percent.