September’s growth in US industry is really a downshift, if you look closely

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Just-released industrial production data for the US didn’t look so bad at first. Month-over-month, industrial output expanded by 0.6% in September, slightly better than expected.

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But the better-than-expected news was largely driven by a weather-related rebound in utility production.

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Meanwhile, manufacturing production rose a disappointing 0.1% in September, compared to August. And excluding manufacturing of autos and auto parts, it was dead flat.

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