Rise in motor vehicle output sparks manufacturing growth

Manufacturing output increased 0.2 percent in November amid a 3.5 percent rise in the index for motor vehicles and parts, according to the Federal Reserve. .The indexes for mining and utilities fell 0.9 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. Industrial production dropped 0.1 percent in November, which followed a 0.4 percent fall the previous month. Total industrial production was 102 percent of its 2017 average, which was still 0.9 percent under its year-earlier mark. Industrial capacity utilization fell to 76.8 percent, which was nearly 3 percentage points under its 51-year average. ."Major market groups posted mixed results in November," according to the Federal Reserve. "The output of consumer goods was unchanged; the index for durable consumer goods rose, supported by gains in the output of appliances, furniture and carpeting as well as automotive products.".The index for nondurable manufacturing fell 0.3 percent last month, sparked by drops in the output of apparel and leather, paper, and petroleum and coal products. The index for publishing and logging fell 1 percent. Mining output dropped 0.9 percent in November, following a 0.1 percent fall in October. The index for utilities dropped 1.3 percent, with dips in the indexes for natural gas and electric utilities. .The indexes for construction supplies and business supplies fell 0.2 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. The index for materials fell 0.3 percent, as a 1 percent drop in the output of energy materials more than made up for a 0.2 percent increase in the output of non-energy materials. .The index for durable manufacturing increased 0.7 percent due to increasing outputs in motor vehicles and parts along with machinery. "Despite the resolution of a work stoppage at a major civilian aircraft manufacturer early in November, the output of aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment declined 2.6 percent, largely because of declines in the manufacturing of aircraft parts," according to the Federal Reserve. .Manufacturing capacity utilization increased 0.1 percentage point in November to 76.0 percent, which was 2.3 percentage points under its long-term average. The mining operating rate fell 0.7 percentage point to 88.8 percent, while the operating rate for utilities fell 1.2 percentage points to 70.0 percent.