Manufacturing output in the United States declined in May after three months of averaging almost 1 percent growth, according to the latest data by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
“Manufacturing output slipped 0.1 percent in May; even so, the index has advanced 4.8 percent over the past 12 months. In May, the index for nondurable manufacturing moved up 0.1 percent, while the indexes for durable manufacturing and for other manufacturing (publishing and logging) each moved down 0.2 percent,” a June 17 news release by the Fed stated.
Among durables, manufacturing activity in wood products saw the largest drop, with a decline of 2.6 percent, followed by a 2.1 percent decrease in machinery. Among nondurables, petroleum and coal products saw manufacturing activity rise by 2.5 percent, outweighing the 1 percent declines in food, beverage, paper, tobacco products, and printing and support….