Industrial production and capacity utilization for July 2000

Released for publication August 15

Industrial production increased 0.4 percent in July. Manufacturing output increased 0.5 percent, and mining output rose 1.7 percent; but with unseasonably mild July weather, electric utility output fell more than 3 percent. At 145.3 percent of its 1992 average,

MARKET GROUPS

The output of consumer goods fell 0.5 percent in July, as the production of consumer durables fell sharply. The production of automotive products dropped 6.6 percent, a decline reflecting a large decrease in motor vehicle assemblies. The output of other durable goods fell 0.6 percent; the sector, particularly household appliances, has been weak over the past several months. During the first half of this year, the output of consumer durable goods was up 41/4 percent from a year earlier; with the large drop in July, output was just even with its level of July 1999. Nondurable consumer goods moved up 0.3 percent in July; widespread increases in the production of non-energy products were partially offset by a 2.0 percent drop in the output of energy goods as mild July weather reduced residential sales of electricity.