Factories across America increased their collective output four-tenths of a percentage in January, matching their revised gain in December 2004, the Federal Reserve Board reported on Feb. 16. The board previously reported a seven-tenths percentage point gain for manufacturing in December.
Capacity utilization among manufacturers rose to 78% in January, three tenths of a percentage higher than in December.
U.S. manufacturing outperformed the larger industrial sector of the economy, which, in addition to manufacturing, includes mining and utilities. U.S. industrial production showed no growth between December 2004 and January 2005, while capacity utilization actually fell to 79% from 79.1%.
