Posted on 16 Dec 2009
The report showed output at US factories, mines and utilities was lifted by a 1.1 percent surge in manufacturing, led by gains in automobiles, appliances, home furnishings as well as consumer goods.
Mining output jumped 2.1 percent while utility output fell 1.8 percent due to mild weather that reduced demand for heating.
Even with the latest rise, industrial production is down 5.1 percent from a year ago, reflecting the deep recession.
But the industrial sector has been largely leading the recovery, and the latest month's report points to ongoing strength.
Capacity utilisation - a sign of slack in the industrial economy - rose 0.7 percentage points to 71.3 percent. This is a level 9.6 percentage points below the average for the period from 1972 through 2008.
