The Econoday consensus expected a bounce in manufacturing of +0.4%. They got the number right, unfortunately with the wrong sign. Without a boost in utilities, the overall number would have been negative.

The Federal Reserve G.17 Industrial Production Report for February shows Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February after decreasing 0.4 percent in January.

Manufacturing production fell 0.4 percent in February for its second consecutive monthly decline. The index for utilities rose 3.7 percent, while the index for mining moved up 0.3 percent.

Market Groups

The major market groups recorded mixed results in February: Increases for materials, for business supplies, and for defense and space equipment were accompanied by decreases for consumer goods, for business equipment, and for construction supplies. The output of consumer goods just edged down, reflecting a small drop in non-energy nondurable goods. The index for business equipment fell more substantially, with losses for transit equipment and for industrial and other equipment. The increase for materials reflected gains for both durable materials and energy materials; the output of nondurable materials fell.