US industrial output fell in September for the second month in a row, the Federal Reserve reported today.
The Fed said output at US factories, mines and utilities edged down by 0.1 per cent in September after dropping by 0.3 per cent in August.
Manufacturing output, the largest segment in the report, dropped by 0.3 per cent last month, after declining the previous month.
September's decline in industrial output was unexpected. Economists in a Reuters poll forecast, on average, that industrial production would actually inch up 0.1 per cent.
Businesses also ran at a slower pace last month, operating at 75.9 per cent of total capacity, the lowest level since May.
Initial claims for regular state unemployment benefits rose 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 411,000 for the week ended October 12th from the previous week, the US Labor Department said. The rise in claims was in line with market expectations.