Posted on 03/17/2017 7:43:09 AM PDT by Olog-hai
U.S. factories cranked out more autos, steel and computers in February, the sixth straight monthly increase in manufacturing output.
Factory production rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent last month from January, the Federal Reserve said Friday. That followed another 0.5 percent gain the previous month.
Factories are benefiting from greater consumer and business optimism since last fall’s presidential election. Companies are spending more on big-ticket items such as industrial machinery, and Americans are buying cars at near-record levels. Overseas growth has spurred more exports.
Mining output rose 2.7 percent in February, spurred partly by more oil and gas drilling. Utility production plunged 5.7 percent as unseasonably warm weather reduced the need for heating. Overall industrial production, which includes manufacturing, mining and utilities, was unchanged in February. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I’m surprised this comes from the AP. Usually they could not have an article full of good news about the economy without including some type of dig at Trump or dire warning of doom around the corner.
The worst they could say is that the sector is coming out of a “rough patch” and blame it on low oil prices.
WINNING!!!?
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