The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) decreased 0.5 percent in April, to a seasonally adjusted level of 95.9 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was up 0.3 percent in March.
The Federal Reserve Board's industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) moved down 0.4 percent in April. Regional output rose 3.3 percent in April from a year earlier, and national output increased 1.7 percent.
The region's auto sector production declined 0.9 percent in April after increasing 1.9 percent in March. National auto production decreased 0.7 percent in April. The Midwest's automotive output was up 5.8 percent in April relative to its year-ago level, and national automotive output was up 3.6 percent.
The region's steel sector output decreased 0.9 percent in April, following a decline of 1.1 percent in the previous month. The nation's steel output was down 0.5 percent in April. Regional steel output was up 2.0 percent from its April 2012 level, and national steel output was up 0.8 percent.
The Midwest's machinery sector production moved down 0.3 percent in April after decreasing 0.4 percent in March. The nation's machinery production decreased 0.1 percent in April. Regional machinery output was up 1.0 percent in April from its year-ago level, and national machinery output was up 1.5 percent.
The Midwest resource sector's output improved 0.1 percent in April after moving down 0.2 percent in March. The national resource sector's output increased 0.2 percent in April. Production in the regional resource sector's food and chemical subsectors increased from March to April, while production in its wood, paper, and nonmetallic mineral subsectors decreased. Compared with a year ago, regional resource output was up 1.9 percent in April, and national resource output was up 1.2 percent.
