Washington, D.C. July 17, 2006--U.S. factory output, along with output in utilities and mines rose 0.8% in June, as capacity use also rose, possibly stirring inflation fears.
Capacity use increased to 82.4%, the highest since 82.5% in June 2000, the Federal Reserve reported on Monday.
Experts predicted a 0.4 % rise in industrial production and an 81.9% capacity use reading.
The 6.6% rise in industrial production in 2Q was the largest quarterly increase since a 7.7% rise in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Increased automobile production boosted manufacturing output to 0.7% in June, mining output increased 1.2%, and utilities rose 0.7%.
