Industrial production and capacity utilization for November 1999

Released for publication December 15

Industrial production advanced 0.3 percent in November after a 0.8 percent increase in October. At 139.5 percent of its 1992 average, industrial production in November was 4.3 percent higher than in November 1998. The rate of capacity utilization for total

MARKET GROUPS

The output of consumer goods ticked up 0. 1 percent in November after having risen 1.6 percent in October. The production of durable consumer goods fell 0.3 percent, pulled down by a drop in home appliances and televisions. After having advanced nearly 11/2 percent in October, the output of nondurable non-energy consumer goods rose 3/4 percent, led by increases in food, tobacco, and consumer chemical production. A 3.6 percent decline in the output of energy products reflected an unusually warm November as well as disruptions at a couple of petroleum refineries.