The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 0.1 percent in January, to a seasonally adjusted level of 97.0 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was up 1.9 percent in December. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing moved down 0.3 percent in January. Regional output rose 6.4 percent in January from a year earlier, and national output increased 2.4 percent.
Production in two of the four regional sectors increased in January.
The region’s auto sector production rose 0.7 percent in January after increasing 3.1 percent in December. National auto production decreased 1.3 percent in January. The Midwest’s automotive output was up 15.2 percent in January relative to its year-ago level, and national automotive output was up 6.2 percent.
The Midwest’s machinery sector production improved 0.4 percent in January after increasing 0.7 percent in December. The nation’s machinery production decreased 0.1 percent in January. Regional machinery output was up 2.8 percent in January from its year-ago level, and national machinery output was up 1.6 percent.
The Midwest resource sector’s output moved down 0.3 percent in January after moving up 1.8 percent in December. The national resource sector’s output was down 0.2 percent in January. Production in the regional resource sector’s wood, paper, chemical, and nonmetallic mineral subsectors decreased from December to January, while production in its food subsector increased. Compared with a year ago, regional resource output was up 1.5 percent in January, and national resource output was up 1.1 percent.
The region’s steel sector output declined 0.5 percent in January, following a gain of 1.4 percent in the previous month. The nation’s steel output was unchanged in January. Regional steel output was up 3.1 percent from its January 2012 level, and national steel output was up 1.9 percent.
