US
factory production fell in May by the most since January 2014, weighed down by
fewer truck assemblies and still consistent with a steady outlook for
manufacturing, Federal Reserve data showed on Friday.
Highlights of industrial production (May)
• Factory
output fell 0.7% (est. unchanged) after rising an upwardly revised 0.6% gain.
• Total
industrial production, which also includes mines and utilities, decreased 0.1%
(est. 0.2% rise) after an upwardly revised 0.9% gain.
•
Capacity utilisation, measuring the amount of a plant that is in use, dipped
down to 77.9% (est. 78.1%) from 78.1%.
Key takeaways
The
pullback in factory output largely reflects a disruption in truck assemblies
due to a major fire at a parts supplier, the Fed said in the report. Excluding
motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing production fell just 0.2% following a
0.8% gain the prior month.
The Fed's
monthly data are volatile and often get revised. Manufacturing, which
makes up 75% of total industrial production, accounts for about 12% of the US
economy.
Other
recent reports have indicated factories are on steadier ground. US
manufacturing expanded at a faster pace in May, with order backlogs rising by
the most in 14 years, while prices for materials continued to pick up,
according to a survey released earlier this month by the Institute for Supply
Management.
Along
with supply constraints that are pushing up materials prices, escalating
concerns about tariffs pose a headwind to manufacturing.
A
stronger dollar also threatens to undermine demand for US exports. At the same
time, lower corporate and consumer taxes and a strong job market that's
boosting household demand will underpin business investment in coming months.
The
factory-use rate cooled to 75.3% from 75.9% a month earlier and remains 3
percentage points below its long- run average.
Other details
• Utility output rose 1.1% after climbing 3.2% the prior month.
• Production of motor vehicles and parts decreased 6.5% after falling
2.2% the prior month; excluding autos and parts, total industrial output rose
0.3%.
• Mining production rose 1.8%; oil and gas well drilling increased 3.9%.
• Production of consumer goods fell 1%, and output of business equipment
dropped 1.1%.
• Construction output rose 0.1%.
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