Industrial production and capacity utilization data for February 2022 are now available.Total industrial production rose 0.5 percent in February to a level that is 103.6 percent of its 2017 average. Manufacturing output increased 1.2 percent after having been little changed in each of the previous two months. In February, the index for utilities declined 2.7 percent, and the output of mines edged up 0.l percent.Total industrial production in February was 7.5 percent higher than its year-earlier level, but severe winter weather in February 2021 significantly suppressed industrial activity that month. A more useful comparison shows that the index has advanced a still-strong 4.2 percent since January 2021. Capacity utilization for the industrial sector increased 0.3 percentage point in February to 77.6 percent, a rate that is 1.9 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2021) average.]]]>
