Industrial production stays steady in May

July 1, 2007
Industrial production was unchanged in May 2007 after a downwardly revised increase of 0.4% in April. Output in the manufacturing sector edged up 0.1%

Industrial production was unchanged in May 2007 after a downwardly revised increase of 0.4% in April.

Output in the manufacturing sector edged up 0.1% in May, and mining output moved up 0.5% after declining 0.6% in April. The output of utilities fell 1.3% in May after being elevated in April because of unusually cold temperatures.

At 112.7% of its 2002 average, overall industrial production for May was 1.6% above its year-earlier level. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry fell 0.2 percentage points to 81.3%, a level 0.3 percentage point above its 1972-2006 average.