US industrial production rose to a larger-than-expected 0.8 per cent in April as companies made more semiconductors, computers, furniture, and appliances, according to a Federal Reserve report released today.
The increase in production at the nation's factories, mines, and utilities last month follows a revised 0.1 per cent decrease in March, the Fed said in Washington.
The proportion of industrial capacity in use rose to 76.9 per cent, the highest since July 2001, from 76.5 per cent.
Factory output, which makes up more than four-fifths of overall industrial production, gained 0.7 per cent as factories operated at their fastest rate since May 2001 - 75.7 percent of full capacity.
Mining output rose by 0.8 per cent while utilities production bounced back from two monthly declines, gaining 1.5 per cent.