Overall industrial production decreased 0.5 percent in April after having increased 0.2 percent in March and 0.9 percent in February. Manufacturing output fell 0.4 percent in April, while the output of mines increased 0.9 percent. Another downward pull on the overall index for April was a 3.7 percent decrease in the output of utilities in April, as heating demand fell back to more typical seasonal levels after being elevated in March, the result of unseasonably cold weather.

Production Indices for Selected Series, Seasonally adjusted

Additional detail:

  • Manufacturing output fell 0.4 percent in April, a result of a 0.6 percent decline in the output of durable goods, as well as a smaller dip in the production of nondurable goods of less than 0.1 percent.
  • The output of business equipment fell by 0.5 percent in April after adding roughly 2 percent over the two months of February and March.
  • After adding 2.4 percent to its level of output in March, the production of motor vehicles and parts fell 1.4 percent in April.