WASHINGTON - Industrial production increased 0.2% in June, the first rise in three months, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.
Capacity utilization was unchanged in June at 76.7%.
May industrial production fell 0.1%, matching a 0.1% decline in April.
Economists expected industrial production would rise 0.3% and capacity utilization would increase to 77.0%, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
June manufacturing output was flat following a 0.1% gain in May. Utility output increased 0.9% after a 2.0% drop in May.
For the second quarter, industrial production increased 0.8% at an annual rate. Supply chain disruptions stemming from the Japan crises in March curtailed auto production and restrained output on related industries, the Fed said.
