In August, industrial production rose 0.8 percent after falling 0.9 percent in July. Similarly, the output of manufacturing increased 0.9 percent in August after decreasing 0.7 percent during the previous month. This pattern was due in part to a recovery in the index of motor vehicles and parts, which jumped nearly 10 percent in August after dropping roughly 9 percent in July. The index for manufacturing excluding motor vehicles and parts moved up 0.3 percent in August. The index for mining climbed 0.8 percent, while the index for utilities was flat. At 103.1 percent of its 2017 average, total industrial production in August was the same as its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization moved up to 78.0 percent in August, a rate that is 1.7 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2023) average
emphasis added
Click on graph for larger image.
This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and above the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic).
Capacity utilization at 78.0% is 1.7% below the average from 1972 to 2022. This was above consensus expectations.
Note: y-axis doesn’t start at zero to better show the change.
The second graph shows industrial production since 1967.
Industrial production increased to 103.1. This is above the pre-pandemic level.
Industrial production was above consensus expectations.