The US Federal Reserve said Wednesday that industrial production increased 1.1 percent in April; output was also reported to have dropped 0.6 percent in March and increased 0.4 percent in February, after earlier reports industrial production was unchanged in both months. Manufacturing output was up 0.6 percent last month, driven by a 4 percent increase in production of motor vehicles and parts. Meanwhile, production at mines rose 1.6 percent and utilities output improved 4.5 percent. Total industrial production for April was 5.2 percent above its year-earlier level.
The overall industrial capacity utilization rate increased 3.1 percentage points from April 2011 to 79.2 percent. Much of the increase in durable materials in April came from consumer parts, which advanced 2.7 percent and was boosted by an increase in the output of motor vehicle parts for use in newly assembled vehicles. The production of equipment parts moved up 1.3 percent, and the index for other durable materials rose 0.3 percent.