Industrial Production Jumps 0.7%, Capacity Use Up to 79.6% in Feb.

WASHINGTON — Industrial production rose 0.7% in February after a revised flat reading the previous month, while capacity utilization edged up to 79.6% from a revised 79.2% in January, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.

The February gain in industrial production was higher than the 0.4% increase projected by economists polled by Thomson Reuters, and the increase in capacity utilization was above the 79.3% predicted.

The numbers for January were revised from an originally reported 0.1% dip for industrial production and 79.1% for capacity utilization.

Manufacturing output was up 0.8% for February following a revised 0.3% decline the previous month, originally reported as a 0.4% decrease.

Utilities rose 1.6% in February after surging a revised 4.9% in January, originally reported as a 3.5% gain, the Fed reported.

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