WASHINGTON: US industrial output rebounded modestly in January after slowing the previous month, with production of business and consumer goods and utility output offsetting the oil and gas sector slowdown.
The Federal Reserve's monthly industrial production index released Wednesday rose 0.2 percent to 106.2 in January, and was up 4.8 percent over 12 months.
The mining sector overall fell 1.0 percent month-on-month as activity slowed due to the oil glut, but utility output rose 2.3 percent as the winter got into full gear.
Production of business equipment rose 0.8 percent and consumer goods 0.2 percent.
Production of construction supplies and defense equipment slowed.
The manufacturing sector gained 0.2 percent in the month, and capacity utilization rose to 78.1 percent, still 0.5 percent below the long-run average.
The Federal Reserve also trimmed its previous estimates of growth for the September-December period but said industrial production still grew at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the final quarter.
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