U.S. Factory Output Lower Than Expected In October

November 17, 2009 3:25 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Production at U.S. factories, mines and utilities grew slightly in October, the Federal Reserve reported Tuesday.

Output rose 0.1 percent. Analysts had expected an increase of 0.4 percent. Cooler weather was largely responsible for the gain, pushing utility output up 1.6 percent.

Industrial production rose 0.6 percent in September.

Production of motor vehicles and part slowed 1.7 percent after accelerating 8.1 percent the previous month. Excluding that category, manufacturing decreased 0.1 percent.

Capacity edged up 0.2 percent to 70.7 percent.

Production of consumer goods was unchanged.

Mining output fell 0.2 percent after three months of gains, while capacity dropped 0.1 percent to 83.5 percent.