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Industrial production was unchanged in April. Meanwhile, manufacturing output dipped 0.4%. Growth in wood products; aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment; fabricated metal products; and furniture and related products was more than offset by declines in most other major categories, particularly nonmetallic mineral products; motor vehicles and parts; and apparel and leather. At 103.9% of its 2017 average, total industrial production in April rose 1.5% from the same month last year. Capacity utilization slipped to 77.7%, down 0.1 percentage point from March, but increased 1.4% over the past year. Capacity remains 1.9 percentage points below its long-term average from 1972 to 2024.

In April, major market groups had mixed growth. Among consumer goods, the production of durables decreased 1.3%, with declines in every major category, while the index for nondurables inched up 0.1%, with the greatest improvement in energy goods (3.2%). The business equipment index advanced 0.2% in April, driven by a 0.9% increase in industrial and other business equipment.

Durable goods manufacturing fell 0.2% in April, with a decline in motor vehicles and parts (-1.9%) partially offset by an increase in wood products (1.3%). Meanwhile, nondurable goods manufacturing decreased 0.6% in April. Manufacturing capacity utilization fell 0.4 percentage points to 76.8% and remains 1.4 percentage points below the long-term average.