The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 0.7 percent in October, to a seasonally adjusted level of 85.5 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index increased 0.2 percent in September. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) increased 0.5 percent in October.

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Regional output in October rose 7.3 percent from a year earlier, and national output increased 4.5 percent. Production in three of the four regional sectors increased in October.

The region’s auto sector production increased 2.3 percent in October after increasing 0.3 percent in September. National auto output rose 2.2 percent in October. The Midwest’s automotive output was up 11.0 percent in October relative to its year-ago level, and national automotive output was up 9.0 percent.

The Midwest resource sector’s output rose 0.5 percent in October after increasing 0.6 percent in the previous month. The national resource sector’s output increased 0.3 percent in October. The food and chemical subsectors of the regional resource sector increased from September to October, but the wood, paper, and nonmetallic subsectors decreased. Compared with a year ago, regional resource output was down 0.4 percent in October but national resource output was up 0.5 percent.

The Midwest’s machinery sector production moved up 0.3 percent in October after decreasing 0.2 percent in September. The nation’s machinery production rose 0.5 percent in October. Regional machinery output in October was up 11.6 percent from its year-earlier level, and national machinery output was up 6.5 percent.

The region’s steel sector output decreased 0.4 percent in October after moving down 0.7 percent in the previous month. In contrast, the nation’s steel output increased 0.4 percent in October. Regional steel output was up 14.3 percent from its October 2010 level, and national steel output was up 9.4 percent.