U.S. Industrial Output Grows In October

Industrial production figures for October showed a mixed picture as manufacturing output eased after several strong months, Federal Reserve data showed. Output at the nation’s factories, mines and utilities rose 0.1% after an average gain of 0.9% in the prior three months.

Manufacturing output fell 0.1% in the past month, after a jump of 0.8% in September. Factory production had also surged 1.4% in August and 1.2% in July, fueled by rising motor vehicle and parts production and a general pickup in economic activity.

Capacity utilization, a sign of slack in the industrial economy, moved up 0.2% to 70.7%. This is 10.2% below its average for 1972 through 2008.