US Capacity Utilization Reaches Highest in a Year

US capacity utilization edged up to 76.3% in July 2026, the highest level in a year, from an upwardly revised 76.2% in June, matching market expectations. Despite the modest increase, the utilization rate remained 3.1 percentage points below its 1972-2025 historical average. Among the major sectors, utilities utilization rose the most, increasing 0.2 percentage points to 70%, although it also remained below its historical average. Manufacturing utilization increased 0.1 percentage point to 76%. Mining utilization also rose 0.1 percentage point to 86.1%, staying 0.9 percentage points above its long-term average.

US capacity utilization stood at 76.1% in June 2026, unchanged from the previous month following a downward revision and slightly below market expectations of 76.2%. The reading marked a third consecutive month of stable capacity utilization, remaining 3.3 percentage points below its long-run average for 1972–2025. Among the major sectors, the operating rate for utilities edged up 0.2 percentage points to 69.5%, though it remained 14.5 percentage points below its historical average. Mining utilization also increased, rising 0.4 percentage points to 87.4%. By contrast, manufacturing capacity utilization edged down to 75.7%, remaining 2.5 percentage points below its long-run average.

US capacity utilization rose to 76.2% in May 2026, up from 76.1% in April and in line with market expectations. Manufacturing utilization remained largely unchanged at 75.7%, remaining below its long-run averge of 78.2%. Mining utilization rose to 86.5%, 1.3 percentage points above its long-run average, while the rate for utilities fell to 70.6%, remained substantially below its long-run average, at 13.4 percentage points lower. Meanwhile, the operating rate for mining increased by 1.2 percentage points to 86.5%, while the utilities operating rate declined to 70.6%.