U.S. Industrial Production Climbs 0.7% In February, Much More Than Expected

RTTNews | 63 days ago
U.S. Industrial Production Climbs 0.7% In February, Much More Than Expected

(RTTNews) - The Federal Reserve released a report on Tuesday showing industrial production in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of January.

The report said industrial production climbed by 0.7 percent in February after climbing by a downwardly revised 0.3 percent in January.

Economists had expected industrial production to rise by 0.2 percent compared to the 0.5 percent growth originally reported for the previous month.

The bigger than expected increase by industrial production partly reflected a substantial rebound by mining output, which surged by 2.8 percent in February after plunging by 3.2 percent in January.

Manufacturing output also climbed by 0.9 percent in February after inching up by 0.1 percent in January, led by a 8.5 percent spike in the production of motor vehicles and parts.

Meanwhile, the report said utilities output tumbled by 2.5 percent in February after soaring by 6.1 percent in the previous month.

The report also said capacity utilization in the industrial sector rose to 78.2 percent in February from a downwardly revised 77.7 percent in January.

Economists had expected capacity utilization to come in unchanged compared to the 77.8 percent originally reported for the previous month.

Capacity utilization in the mining and manufacturing sectors increased to 90.3 percent and 77.0 percent, respectively, while capacity utilization in the utilities sector fell to 73.9 percent.

read more
U.S. Leading Economic Index Slumps More Than Expected In April

U.S. Leading Economic Index Slumps More Than Expected In April

The Conference Board released a report on Monday showing its reading on leading U.S. economic indicators slumped by more than expected in the month of April. The report said the leading economic index tumbled by 1.0 percent in April after sliding by a downwardly revised 0.8 percent in March.
RTTNews | 22h 46min ago
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Unexpectedly Continues To Deteriorate In May

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Unexpectedly Continues To Deteriorate In May

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has unexpectedly continued to deteriorate in the month of May, according to preliminary data released by the University of Michigan on Friday. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index dipped to 50.8 in May after slumping to 52.2 in April. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 53.4.
RTTNews | 3 days ago
U.S. Import, Export Prices Unexpectedly Inch Higher In April

U.S. Import, Export Prices Unexpectedly Inch Higher In April

The Labor Department released a report on Friday unexpectedly showing modest increases by both U.S. import and export prices in the month of April. The report said import prices crept up by 0.1 percent in April after falling by a downwardly revised 0.4 percent in March.
RTTNews | 3 days ago
U.S. Business Inventories Inch Up Slightly Less Than Expected In March

U.S. Business Inventories Inch Up Slightly Less Than Expected In March

The Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing a slight increase by U.S. business inventories in the month of March. The report said business inventories crept up by 0.1 percent in March after rising by 0.2 percent in February. Economists had expected business inventories to rise by another 0.2 percent.
RTTNews | 4 days ago
U.S. Homebuilder Confidence Unexpectedly Slumps In May

U.S. Homebuilder Confidence Unexpectedly Slumps In May

Reflecting growing uncertainties stemming from elevated interest rates, tariff concerns, building material cost uncertainty and the cloudy economic outlook, the National Association of Home Builders released a report on Thursday showing an unexpected slump by U.S. homebuilder confidence in the month of May.
RTTNews | 4 days ago