Industrial Production Rises 0.9% in November

Industrial production in the United States rose 0.9% in November, the biggest rise since October 1999, the Federal Reserve said Tuesday.

The increase in production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities followed a revised 0.4% gain in October. The proportion of industrial capacity in use rose to 75.7%, the highest since September 2002, from October's 75.1%.

Work at factories, which accounts for about 90% of industrial production, rose 0.9% percent last month, also the biggest since October 1999, after rising 0.3% in October.

The manufacturing sector is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers, and when it is growing, the demand for trucking services generally rises.

Production of consumer durable goods, which includes automobiles, rose 0.4% after no change the previous month.

Business equipment production, which includes transportation and information processing equipment, rose 1.7% in November after decreasing 0.2% the previous month.