Fed: U.S. Industrial Production Rose 0.7% in September, Manufacturing Output Up 0.3%, Capacity Utilization at 76.9%
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve Board released its latest Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization report (G.17) on Oct. 16: U.S. industrial production rose 0.7 percent in September 2026, after edging up a revised 0.1 percent in August; manufacturing output rose 0.3 percent; and capacity utilization for the industrial sector moved up to 76.9 percent, from 76.4 percent in August. The figures are seasonally adjusted, and the September data are preliminary.
By industry, mining output rose 0.2 percent in September and utilities output increased 3.5 percent. Total industrial production in September stood at 104.0 percent of its 2017 average and was 2.2 percent above its year-earlier level. In the third quarter as a whole, industrial production increased at an annual rate of 2.8 percent.
Within manufacturing, durable goods output ticked up 0.1 percent in September, with gains of 1 percent or more in primary metals; machinery; and electrical equipment, appliances, and components, while output of motor vehicles and parts fell 3.0 percent. Nondurable manufacturing output rose 0.4 percent, led by printing and support activities and by chemicals. Manufacturing output increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the third quarter; durable manufacturing rose at a 3.8 percent annual rate, driven in part by a 28.4 percent gain in semiconductors and related electronic components, while nondurable manufacturing output fell 1.6 percent.
For capacity utilization, the manufacturing operating rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 75.9 percent in September, 2.3 percentage points below its long-run (1972-2025) average. The rate for mining ticked up to 87.5 percent, and the rate for utilities rose to 73.8 percent. The overall industrial rate of 76.9 percent was 2.5 percentage points below its long-run average.
Among market groups, all major groups posted gains in September except business equipment, which was unchanged: consumer goods output rose 0.7 percent, defense and space equipment rose 0.4 percent, construction supplies increased 1.0 percent, business supplies rose 0.9 percent, and materials output moved up 0.7 percent.
The Federal Reserve notes that the release covers output, capacity, and capacity utilization in the U.S. industrial sector, which comprises manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities. The Board also said it plans to issue its annual revision of the industrial production and capacity utilization indexes on Nov. 24, 2026, with 2022 as the new base year for the revised indexes.
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization (G.17), released Oct. 16, 2026, federalreserve.gov.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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