US capacity utilization increased to 76.2% in January 2026 from a downwardly revised 75.7% in December but slightly below analysts' forecasts of 76.5%. Despite remaining 3.2 percentage points below the 1972–2025 average, this was the strongest reading since July 2025. Capacity utilization for manufacturing increased 0.4 percentage points in January to 75.6%, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run average. The operating rate for mining ticked down 0.1 percentage point to 84.4%, and the operating rate for utilities moved up 1.3 percentage points to 72.9%. The utilization rates for mining and utilities were 0.8 percentage points and 11.1 percentage points below their long-run averages, respectively. source: Federal Reserve

Capacity Utilization in the United States increased to 76.20 percent in January from 75.70 percent in December of 2025. Capacity Utilization in the United States averaged 79.84 percent from 1967 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 89.40 percent in January of 1967 and a record low of 64.10 percent in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Capacity Utilization - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Capacity Utilization - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Capacity Utilization in the United States increased to 76.20 percent in January from 75.70 percent in December of 2025. Capacity Utilization in the United States is expected to be 76.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Capacity Utilization is projected to trend around 77.00 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-16 02:15 PM
Capacity Utilization
Dec 76.3% 76.1% 76% 76.2%
2026-02-18 02:15 PM
Capacity Utilization
Jan 76.2% 75.7% 76.5% 76.4%
2026-03-16 01:15 PM
Capacity Utilization
Feb 76.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Capacity Utilization 76.20 75.70 percent Jan 2026
Car Production 9.82 9.74 Million Units Jan 2026
Industrial Production YoY 2.30 1.30 percent Jan 2026
Industrial Production MoM 0.70 0.20 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 2.40 1.50 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 0.60 0.00 Percent Jan 2026
Mining Production 2.50 0.40 percent Jan 2026


United States Capacity Utilization
Capacity utilization rate is used to measure the rate at which potential output levels are being met or used. The capacity indexes cover all facilities located in the United States, regardless of their ownership; and are constructed for 89 detailed industries (71 in manufacturing, 16 in mining, and 2 in utilities).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
76.20 75.70 89.40 64.10 1967 - 2026 percent Monthly
Seasonally Adjusted

News Stream
US Capacity Utilization Hits 6-Month High
US capacity utilization increased to 76.2% in January 2026 from a downwardly revised 75.7% in December but slightly below analysts' forecasts of 76.5%. Despite remaining 3.2 percentage points below the 1972–2025 average, this was the strongest reading since July 2025. Capacity utilization for manufacturing increased 0.4 percentage points in January to 75.6%, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run average. The operating rate for mining ticked down 0.1 percentage point to 84.4%, and the operating rate for utilities moved up 1.3 percentage points to 72.9%. The utilization rates for mining and utilities were 0.8 percentage points and 11.1 percentage points below their long-run averages, respectively.
2026-02-18
US Capacity Utilization Edges Higher in December
US capacity utilization increased to 76.3% in December 2025, up from 76.1% in November and slightly above market expectations of 76.0%. Despite the modest improvement, the overall rate remained 3.2 percentage points below its long-run average for the period 1972–2024, indicating continued slack in productive capacity. Capacity utilization in the manufacturing sector was unchanged at 75.6%, standing 2.6 percentage points below its long-run average. Meanwhile, utilization in mining declined by 0.5 percentage point to 85.7%, while the utilities operating rate rose by 1.6 percentage points to 72.3%. Relative to historical norms, mining utilization remained 0.5 percentage point above its long-run average, whereas utilities utilization continued to be well below its long-run average.
2026-01-16
US Capacity Utilization Edges Up
US capacity utilization edged up to 76.0% in November 2025, following a delayed release of October’s reading of 75.9%. The overall rate remains 3.5 percentage points below its long-term average (1972–2024). In the manufacturing sector, capacity utilization held steady at 75.4%, 2.8 points below its historical norm. Mining activity climbed to 86.3%, 1.1 points above its long-term average, while the utilities sector slipped 0.5 point to 70.9%, remaining well below typical levels.
2025-12-23