Industrial production and capacity utilization data for August 2017 are now available.
Industrial production declined 0.9 percent in August following six consecutive monthly gains. Hurricane Harvey, which hit the Gulf Coast of Texas in late August, is estimated to have reduced the rate of change in total output by roughly 3/4 percentage point. The index for manufacturing decreased 0.3 percent; storm-related effects appear to have reduced the rate of change in factory output in August about 3/4 percentage point. The manufacturing industries with the largest estimated storm-related effects were petroleum refining, organic chemicals, and plastics materials and resins.
A technical Q&A discussing the effect of Hurricane Harvey on industrial production for August will be published on the Board's website at https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/g17_technical_qa.htm#hurricaneharvey2017.]]>
