Manufacturing Leads Rise in Industrial Production

Washington, DC, Aug. 17, 2010--Industrial production rose in July on the strength of U.S. manufacturing, according to the Federal Reserve.

Output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities increased 1.0 percent last month.

Factory output, the largest single component of industrial production, grew 1.1 percent. It was the biggest jump in nearly a year. Boosting output were auto plants that kept operating when they normally shutter for summer renovations. Even without the auto sector, factory output rose 0.6 percent.

U.S. factories were operating at 74.8 percent of their capacity, a .7 percent increase from June but still well below the historical average of 80.6 percent.