Manufacturing Increases Again in March

Washington, DC, April 15, 2011 -- Manufacturing activity rose for the ninth straight month in March, the Federal Reserve said Friday.

Output at factories, mines and utilities increased 0.8% last month after edging up 0.1% in February.

Factory production, the largest single segment of industrial production, increased 0.7% last month.

Construction goods showed the largest increase of any major market group, rising 1.5%. However, production of construction goods is still 25% below December 2006.