Industrial Production Rises in July

The rise in activity at factories, mines and utilities followed a revised 0.1% gain in June that was originally reported as a 0.4% gain.

Economists had projected a 0.5% increase, Bloomberg reported.

Manufacturing, which makes up 75% of the total, rose 0.5%.

Production of motor vehicles climbed 3.3% in July after a 1.9% increase the month before.

Factory production excluding autos increased 0.2%.

Capacity utilization, which measures plant output, increased to 79.3%, from 78.9% in June.

Manufacturing accounts for about an eighth of the U.S. economy and the factory sector is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.