US Manufacturing Output Falls in March

Manufacturing output in the United States decreased 0.1% month-over-month in March 2026, missing market expectations for a 0.1% gain and after moving up 0.4% in February. In March, a decrease of 0.2% in the production of durable goods reflected weaker output of motor vehicles and parts, which fell 3.7%, as well as declines in the output of primary metals, machinery, and furniture and related products. Nondurable manufacturing output edged down 0.1%, with more industry groups posting losses than posting gains. In particular, only the indexes for petroleum and coal products, for plastics and rubber products, and for paper increased, while all other nondurable indexes decreased.

Manufacturing output in the United States rose 0.2% month-over-month in February 2026, more than market expectations of 0.1% and after moving up 0.8% in January. Durable manufacturing output edged up 0.1%, with mixed results across categories; the index for motor vehicles and parts posted the largest gain, and the index for machinery posted the largest loss. Nondurable manufacturing output rose 0.2%, with gains in the production of chemicals, of plastic and rubber products, and of paper products outweighing declines in the output of petroleum and coal products and of food, beverage, and tobacco products. The output of publishing and logging rose 1.3%. Capacity utilization for manufacturing remained flat in February at 75.6%, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2025) average.

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.