US industrial production shifted into higher gear in November, with factories pumping out more goods, especially motor vehicle products and energy products, official data showed Monday.
Industrial output increased 1.3 percent as manufacturing production rose 1.1 percent, well above its average monthly pace of 0.3 percent over the prior five months, the Federal Reserve said.
The central bank revised higher the October industrial output reading to a 0.1 percent increase from a 0.1 percent decline.
The output of electric and gas utilities leaped 5.1 percent in November as unusually cold weather for the month boosted heating demand, the Fed said.
Mining output slipped 0.1 percent.
Compared with a year ago, industrial output was up 5.2 percent and capacity utilization rose 0.8 percentage point to 80.1 percent, bringing it in line with its long-run average rate.
Consumer goods production jumped 2.5 percent, the largest increase since August 1998. The production of all major durable and non-durable categories of consumer goods rose, with the strongest gains seen in consumer energy products and automotive products.
Output of consumer energy products rose 1.7 percent. Motor vehicles and parts production surged 5.1 percent, led by a 9.3 percent increase in cars and trucks output.