Free Republic

The nation’s industrial production rose 0.2% in September, capping a third-quarter rebound in activity for the manufacturing sector, the Federal Reserve reported Monday. Though the headline gain was stronger than the 0.1% that economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast, August’s reading tracking output by factories, mines and utilities was downwardly revised to zero from an initially reported 0.2% growth.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The output of the nation’s factories, mines and utilities surged 0.9% in July as auto assemblies rebounded and consumers turned on their air conditioners, the Federal Reserve said Tuesday. The gain, the biggest since last December, was in line with economists’ expectations. The key question is whether the increase can be sustained in future months. Output in June was revised up to a 0.4% gain from the prior estimate of a 0.2% gain and output in May was also revised higher.