US manufacturing output rises 0.2 percent in February
US factory output rose 0.2% in February as gains in motor vehicles offset machinery weakness. The Federal Reserve noted a 1.3% increase from a year earlier.
WASHINGTON — Manufacturing production in the United States experienced a marginal increase in February, as gains in the motor vehicle sector were tempered by a decline in machinery output. According to data released by the Federal Reserve on Monday, factory production rose by 0.2% last month, following a revised 0.8% increase in January. This result slightly exceeded the 0.1% growth forecast by economists polled by Reuters. On a year-over-year basis, factory output advanced by 1.3% in February. The manufacturing sector, which accounts for 10.1% of the national economy, showed resilience despite the mixed performance across different industries. While the automotive sector provided a significant boost, the weakness in machinery manufacturing at firms like HCC limited the overall expansion of the sector during the period.
