INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION AND CAPACITY UTILIZATION
[2007 Revision Notice Below]
Industrial production decreased 0.5�percent in October after having increased 0.2 percent in
September. At 114.0 percent of its 2002 average, total industrial production in October was 1.8 percent
above its year-earlier level. Output in the manufacturing sector fell 0.4�percent in October. The output
of utilities dropped 1.6�percent, primarily because of a decline in gas utilities; the output at mines fell
0.6�percent, reversing September's gain. Capacity utilization for total industry declined to 81.7 percent,
a rate equal to its year-earlier level but 0.7 percentage point above its 1972-2006 average.
Industrial production |
2002=100 | Percent change | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 2007 | Oct. '06 to Oct. '07 |
|||||||
July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | ||
Total index | 114.2 | 114.4 | 114.6 | 114.0 | .6 | .1 | .2 | -.5 | 1.8 |
Previous estimates | 114.2 | 114.3 | 114.4 | .6 | .0 | .1 | |||
Major market groups | |||||||||
Final Products | 115.4 | 115.1 | 115.2 | 114.6 | .6 | -.2 | .1 | -.5 | 1.9 |
Consumer goods | 109.7 | 109.6 | 109.4 | 108.7 | .5 | -.1 | -.2 | -.7 | 1.3 |
Business equipment | 133.9 | 133.3 | 134.4 | 134.3 | 1.3 | -.4 | .9 | -.1 | 4.6 |
Nonindustrial supplies | 111.2 | 111.6 | 111.8 | 111.0 | .0 | .3 | .2 | -.7 | .1 |
Construction | 109.9 | 109.6 | 108.9 | 108.5 | -.2 | -.3 | -.6 | -.4 | .1 |
Materials | 114.2 | 114.7 | 115.0 | 114.5 | .9 | .4 | .3 | -.4 | 2.3 |
Major industry groups | |||||||||
Manufacturing (see note below) | 116.6 | 116.1 | 116.3 | 115.8 | .8 | -.4 | .2 | -.4 | 2.1 |
Previous estimates | 116.6 | 116.1 | 116.2 | .8 | -.4 | .1 | |||
Mining | 101.3 | 101.3 | 101.9 | 101.3 | .9 | .0 | .6 | -.6 | .4 |
Utilities | 106.2 | 111.8 | 111.7 | 109.9 | -1.0 | 5.2 | -.1 | -1.6 | .1 |
Capacity utilization |
Percent of capacity |
Capacity growth Oct. '06 to Oct. '07 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average 1972-2006 |
1994-95 High |
2001-02 Low |
2006 Oct. |
2007 | |||||
July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | ||||||
Total industry | 81.0 | 85.1 | 73.6 | 81.7 | 82.2 | 82.2 | 82.2 | 81.7 | 1.9 |
Previous estimates | 82.2 | 82.1 | 82.1 | ||||||
Manufacturing (see note below) | 79.8 | 84.6 | 71.6 | 80.1 | 81.0 | 80.5 | 80.5 | 80.1 | 2.2 |
Previous estimates | 81.0 | 80.5 | 80.4 | ||||||
Mining | 87.4 | 88.9 | 84.8 | 91.0 | 90.9 | 90.9 | 91.5 | 90.9 | .5 |
Utilities | 86.7 | 93.7 | 83.8 | 88.0 | 84.0 | 88.3 | 88.1 | 86.7 | 1.6 |
Stage-of-process groups | |||||||||
Crude | 86.5 | 89.5 | 82.0 | 89.1 | 90.0 | 90.1 | 91.0 | 90.2 | .4 |
Primary and semifinished | 82.2 | 88.2 | 74.6 | 83.3 | 82.5 | 83.0 | 82.8 | 82.2 | 2.3 |
Finished | 77.8 | 80.5 | 70.0 | 77.6 | 79.3 | 78.7 | 78.7 | 78.3 | 1.9 |
Market Groups
The output of consumer goods dropped 0.7 percent in October; the decreases were widespread. Among durable consumer goods, the production index for automotive products moved down 0.6 percent, its third consecutive monthly decline; even so, the index was 5.2 percent above its year-earlier level. Elsewhere, the production indexes both for home electronics and for appliances, furniture, and carpeting fell more than 0.5 percent, and the output of miscellaneous durable goods declined more than 1 percent. The production of nondurable non-energy consumer goods declined 0.5�percent because of losses in all its major components: consumer chemical products, paper products, clothing, and foods and tobacco. After having edged down 0.1 percent in September, the index for consumer energy goods fell 1.1 percent in October, as the output of gas utilities was held down by relatively warm weather.
The index for business equipment edged down 0.1 percent in October. The output of transit equipment rose 1.7 percent; the gain was led by continued strength in assemblies of civilian aircraft. The index for information processing equipment fell 0.3 percent; the decrease was led by declines in the output of electromedical equipment and of broadcasting, wireless, and other communications equipment. The index for industrial and other equipment decreased 0.7 percent as a result of a large drop in the production of construction equipment, which had jumped in September. The output of defense and space equipment advanced 0.4 percent in October.
In October, the index for construction supplies moved down 0.4 percent, its fourth consecutive monthly decline; nevertheless, the index remained 0.1 percent above its year-earlier level. The index for business supplies dropped 0.8�percent in October; the output of both non-energy business supplies and commercial energy products fell.
The production of materials fell 0.4 percent in October after having risen 0.3 percent in September. Within non-energy materials, the index for durable materials edged down 0.1�percent in October. A gain in equipment parts was offset by a decline in consumer parts, which reflected lower output of motor vehicle parts, and by a decrease in other durable materials. The output of nondurable materials fell 0.6 percent, as a decrease in chemical materials outweighed a rise in paper materials. The index for energy materials dropped 0.7 percent after having risen 0.3 percent in September.
Industry Groups
Manufacturing output decreased 0.4 percent in October after having increased 0.2 percent in September. The factory operating rate declined 0.4 percentage point, to 80.1 percent, a rate that is 0.3�percentage point above its 1972-2006 average. The production of durable goods moved down 0.2�percent. Notable decreases were recorded in wood products; nonmetallic mineral products; fabricated metal products; machinery; electrical equipment, appliances, and components; motor vehicles and parts; and miscellaneous products. Increases occurred in primary metals, computer and electronic products, and aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment. The production of nondurable goods decreased 0.4 percent after having risen the same amount in September. Significant declines were registered for food, beverage, and tobacco products; apparel and leather; printing and support; and chemicals. These decreases more than offset increases in the output of paper and of petroleum and coal products. The output of non-NAICS industries (logging and publishing) fell 1.5�percent.
The output of utilities decreased 1.6 percent in October. The output of natural gas utilities tumbled 7.7 percent; the output of electric utilities moved down 0.5 percent. The operating rate at utilities dropped 1.4 percentage points, to 86.7 percent, a rate equal to its 1972-2006 average. The output of mines decreased 0.6�percent, and the capacity utilization rate for mining fell to 90.9 percent, a rate 3.5�percentage points above its long-run average.
In October, by stage of process, capacity utilization for industries at the crude stage fell 0.8
percentage point, to 90.2 percent, a rate 3.7 percentage points above its 1972-2006 average. The operating
rate for industries at the primary and semifinished stages decreased 0.6 percentage point, to 82.2 percent,
a rate equal to its long-run average. The operating rate for industries at the finished stage moved down
0.4 percentage point, to 78.3�percent, 0.5 percentage point above its long-run average.
Notice
Ascii | Screen reader | Summary: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization | Chart | Chart 1: Industrial Production, Capacity, and Capacity Utilization | Chart | Chart 2: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization | Chart | Chart 3: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization, High Technology Industries |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 1: Industrial Production: Market and Industry Groups (percent change) |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 2: Industrial Production: Special Aggregates and Selected Detail (percent change) |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 3: Motor Vehicle Assemblies |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 4: Industrial Production Indexes: Market and Industry Group Summary |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 5: Industrial Production Indexes: Special Aggregates |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 6: Diffusion Indexes of Industrial Production |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 7: Capacity Utilization: Manufacturing, Mining, and Utilities |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 8: Industrial Capacity: Manufacturing, Mining, and Utilities (percent change) |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 9: Industrial Production: Gross Value of Products and Nonindustrial Supplies |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 10: Gross-Value-Weighted Industrial Production: Stage-of-Process Groups |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 11: Historical Statistics for IP, Capacity, and Utilization: Total Industry |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 12: Historical Statistics for IP, Capacity, and Utilization: Manufacturing |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 13: Historical Statistics for IP, Capacity, and Utilization: Total Industry excluding Selected High-Technology Industries |
Ascii | Screen reader | Table 14: Historical Statistics for IP, Capacity, and Utilization: Manufacturing excluding Selected High-Technology Industries |