US industrial production rose 0.1 per cent in January as expected and manufacturing output was unchanged, while manufacturing capacity utilization was at its lowest in almost a year, a Federal Reserve report showed today.
Capacity utilization overall - including at mines and utilities - was 81.5 per cent in January, matching the revised December level, and above the 35-year average of 81 per cent.
But capacity use at factories dipped to 79.7 per cent, the lowest since a 79.6 per cent level in February 2007, and below the 35-year average for manufacturing capacity use of 79.8 per cent.
Lower output of motor vehicles and parts offset small output gains at factories elsewhere, including of computers and electronic products, the Fed said.
Output at utilities climbed 2.2 per cent. Mine production moved down 1.8 per cent.
US import prices rose 1.7 per cent in January, while export prices increased 1.2 per cent, the largest rise since January 1989, another
US government report showed today. The Labor Department revised its estimate of December import prices to show a 0.2 per cent decline, after previously reporting them unchanged. December export prices stood at 0.4 per cent.
Petroleum and food were key factors behind the rise in overall imports prices. Prices for imported petroleum increased 5.5 per cent in January and were up 66.9 per cent over the past the 12 months the largest 12-month gain since October 2004.
The year-to-year rise in import prices was 13.7 per cent, the biggest 12-month change since 1982 when the department began tracking this data.