December Gain in U.S. Manufacturing Output Wraps Up Weak Year

U.S. factory production unexpectedly increased in December, a bright spot in an otherwise weak year for manufacturing.

The 0.2% increase in manufacturing output followed a revised 1% gain in November, Federal Reserve data showed Friday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 0.1% decline. For all of 2019, factory production fell 0.2%, the first decrease in three years.
December factory output was held back by motor vehicle manufacturing, which fell 4.6%. Excluding cars, factory production rose 0.5%, the most in four months. Total industrial production, which includes mines and utilities, declined 0.3% as warmer weather reduced demand for heating.

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