Sept. factory output sustains growth as economy reopens.

The manufacturing sector in the United States has been showing signs of recovery as the economy reopens after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest data from the Federal Reserve, factory output sustained growth in September, marking the fourth consecutive month of expansion.

The report showed that industrial production rose by 0.6% in September, following a 0.4% increase in August. The growth was driven by a 1.7% increase in manufacturing output, which accounts for about 75% of total industrial production. The gains were broad-based, with 13 of the 19 major manufacturing industries posting increases.

The strong performance of the manufacturing sector is a positive sign for the overall economy, as it indicates that businesses are ramping up production to meet rising demand. This is particularly important as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout.

The manufacturing sector was hit hard by the pandemic earlier this year, as factories were forced to shut down or reduce operations to comply with social distancing guidelines. However, as the economy has reopened, manufacturers have been able to resume production and hire back workers.

The September data also showed that capacity utilization, a measure of how much of the country’s industrial capacity is being used, increased to 71.5%, up from 71.1% in August. This suggests that there is still room for growth in the manufacturing sector, as businesses continue to ramp up production.

Despite the positive news, there are still challenges facing the manufacturing sector. The pandemic has disrupted global supply chains, making it difficult for manufacturers to get the raw materials and components they need to produce goods. Additionally, the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have created uncertainty for businesses.

However, the sustained growth in factory output is a promising sign for the economy as a whole. As businesses continue to adapt to the new normal, it is likely that the manufacturing sector will play a key role in driving the country’s economic recovery.