Industrial production advanced 1.6% in December, with gains of 0.9% for manufacturing, 1.6% for mining, and 6.2% for utilities. The increase for utilities resulted from a rebound in demand for heating after unseasonably warm weather in November. For the fourth quarter as a whole, total industrial production rose at an annual rate of 8.4%.

Manufacturing output advanced 0.9% in December for its eighth consecutive monthly gain. For the fourth quarter, manufacturing production rose at an annual rate of 11.2%. The production of durable goods other than motor vehicles and parts rose 1.5%.