US Manufacturing Output Rises Most in 11 Months

Manufacturing output in the United States rose 0.6% in January 2026, the most since February 2025 and more than market expectations of 0.4%. Durable manufacturing output increased 0.8%, with gains in nearly all component industries, including increases of at least 1% in the production of nonmetallic mineral products, machinery, computer and electronic products, miscellaneous durable goods, and motor vehicles and parts, which increased for the first time since August 2025. Nondurable manufacturing output rose 0.4%, with mixed results among component industries: Gains in the production of paper, printing and support, chemicals, and plastics and rubber products more than offset declines in the remaining industries. Capacity utilization for manufacturing increased 0.4 percentage point in January to 75.6%, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2025) average.

Manufacturing output in the United States increased 0.2% month-over-month in December 2025, beating market expectations for a 0.2% drop. The durable manufacturing index edged up 0.1% with large contributions from growth in the output of primary metals (2.4 percent); electrical equipment, appliances, and components (1.7%); as well as aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment (1.5%). Wood products, nonmetallic mineral products, and motor vehicles and parts all posted declines of at least 1%. The nondurable manufacturing index increased 0.3%, with increases for food, beverage, and tobacco products, petroleum and coal products, and plastics and rubber products offsetting decreases in the other nondurable manufacturing indexes. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was unchanged in December at 75.6 percent, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2024) average.

Manufacturing output in the United States was flat in November 2025 after dropping 0.4% in October. The index for durables dropped 0.5% in October and then ticked down 0.1% in November. During October and November output declined in most industry groups within durables, including a drop in motor vehicles and parts of 5.1% in October and 1% in November. Notable exceptions include the index for aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment, which rose 3.2% across the two months, and the index for computer and electronic products, which gained 2.3%. The index for nondurables decreased 0.2% in October but ticked up 0.1% in November with mixed results among industry groups within nondurables. Among the largest nondurable goods industry groups by weight, in October and November, the index for food, beverages, and tobacco products rose 1.5%, while the index for chemicals declined 1.5%. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was 75.4% in November, unchanged from October.