Aug. industrial output up 0.2% vs. 0.9% gain July
Aug. industrial output up 0.2% vs. 0.9% gain July (by Greg Robb)
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose 0.2% in August after a strong 0.9% gain in the prior month, the Federal Reserve said Thursday. The August gain was bigger than the flat reading expected by analysts. Factory activity alone rose 0.5% in August after a 0.6% increase in July. Production of motor vehicle and parts rose 1.7% in August after a 4.5% gain in the prior month. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, factory production rose 0.1% in August. Capacity utilization - a gauge of slack in the economy - rose to 77.4% in August from 77.3% in July. Capacity utilization has been rising slowly and is at its highest level since August 2008.