La produccion industrial subio en Setiembre ligeramente. A la economia le falta vigor. Aumento solo 0.2%, la produccion en Agosto no presento cambio, se habia reportado una alza de 0.2%.
La utilizacion de la capacidad instalada subio de 77.3% a 77.4%, pero debajo del promedio de 1972-2010.
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Industrial Output Posts Modest Gain
By JEFF BATER And TOM BARKLEY
U.S. industrial production grew in September but the gain was small, underscoring the economy's lack of vigor.
Production rose by 0.2%, with a modest gain in manufacturing and a sharp drop in utilities caused by moderating weather. The Federal Reserve report on Monday showed overall production was flat in August, revised down from a previously estimated 0.2% increase.
The Fed data said industries used 77.4% of their capacity last month, a number that was up from 77.3% in August but below its 1972-2010 average.
The report was about in line with expectations. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 0.2% increase in output and a capacity utilization rate of 77.5%.
Manufacturing production in September increased by 0.4%, with gains in cars, home electronics and business equipment. Clothing and appliances dropped.
Mining production rose 0.8%, but utilities output fell 1.8%. "Temperatures in September moderated following an unseasonably hot August," the Fed said.
Manufacturers in the U.S. have been feeling the weight of a lackluster economy, hamstrung by high unemployment. While it is still growing, the factory sector has, with the overall economy, slowed. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 51.6 in September, up from 50.6 the month before. Readings above 50 indicates expanding activity. Yet the latest reading was much lower than the 61.2 recorded in March.
Restrained spending by consumers has hurt the overall economy, which grew a paltry 0.4% in the first quarter of the year and 1.3% in the second quarter. A government report last week showed U.S. business inventories in August rose more than expected as their sales slowed. That was a sign companies were stuck with goods they could not sell and weren't aggressively building up supplies because of uncertainty about the economy's strength.
The report Monday showed that year over year, industrial production increased by 3.2% since September 2010.
Output by the service sector, which makes up most of the U.S. economy, isn't reflected in the industrial production data.