Industrial output falls 0.1% unexpectedly amid supply issues

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Friday, January 14th, 2022 8:00am

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. industrial production fell 0.1% in December, the first decline since September, with weakness in factory output showing that manufacturers are still struggling with snarled supply chains.

The 0.1% decline was unexpected.

Many economists had been forecasting a small increase, helped by a further rebound in manufacturing.

Instead manufacturing output fell by 0.3% while as output at auto plants was down 1.3%.

Automakers have been hurt by supply chain problems, especially shortages of the semiconductors that go into cars.

Output at utilities was down 1.5% in December, reflecting unusually warm weather for the month.

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