Industrial Ouput Nearly Matches October Slide

Washington, DC, March 17, 2008--Industrial output fell last month by the biggest amount in four months.

The Federal Reserve said Monday that output at factories, mines and utilities dropped by 0.5 percent in February, the biggest decline since a 0.6 percent fall in October.

It was a weaker reading than analysts had been expecting and provided more evidence of a slowing economy.

After the Federal Reserve moved over the weekend to contain damage in the financial , it is expected to follow with another cut in interest rates Tuesday.