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The numbers: Industrial production rose 0.4% in August, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.
The gain was above expectations of a 0.2% gain, according to a survey by The Wall Street Journal.
Capacity utilization rose to 79.7% in August from 79.5% in the prior month.
The capacity utilization rate reflects the limits to operating the nation’s factories, mines and utilities.
Economists had forecast a 79.3% rate.
Key details: Manufacturing inched 0.1% in August after a 0.4% gain in the prior month. The gain was held back by a 5% drop in the output of motor vehicles and parts. Excluding autos, factory output rose 0.6%.
Mining output, which includes oil and natural gas, jumped 1.4% in August. The gain was primarily due to an increase of over 3% in the index for oil and gas extraction.
Utilities output rose 0.9% in August after a sharp 4.4% gain in the prior month as hot summer temperatures cooled a bit.