US Manufacturing Output Falls in March

Manufacturing output in the United States rose 0.6% in April 2026, the most since February 2025 and more than market expectations of a 0.2% gain. The production of durables increased 1.2%, with gains in most categories. The largest increase was in the output of motor vehicles and parts, which jumped 3.7%. Nondurable manufacturing production edged down 0.1%, as declines in several categories—notably the indexes for chemicals and for plastics and rubber products, which both decreased 0.9%, were mostly offset by increases in the indexes for food, beverage, and tobacco products, for printing and support, and for petroleum and coal products. Capacity utilization for manufacturing moved up 0.4 percentage point to 75.8% in April and is now 2.4 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2025) average.

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.