Industrial production surges, fueling recovery

[HughMoran]

updated 1 hour, 4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Industrial production logged a stronger-than-expected gain in April, more evidence that manufacturing is playing a lead role in powering the economic recovery.

The 0.8 percent increase in output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities reported by the Federal Reserve on Friday marked an improvement from the 0.2 percent rise registered in March. It marked the best showing since a 1.2 percent jump in January. The performance of the industrial sector in April was even stronger than the 0.6 percent gain that economists were predicting.

Factories -- the single biggest slice of industrial activity -- ratcheted up production by a brisk 1 percent for the second straight month, the Fed reported.
...

Stronger manufacturing activity has prompted factories to step up hiring.

Manufacturers added 44,000 jobs in April, the most since 1998, the government reported last week. Businesses that produce fabricated metal products, machinery, electrical equipment and appliances, plastics, food, and paper products all posted job gains.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37147097/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/
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As I've said previously, good news for the economy is good news for the Democrats in the fall.

[jody]

1. One should use % cautiously. If a statistic is 100 and decreases by 50, the % decrease is 50%.

To return to the original 100 from 50 would require a 100% increase.

[hayu_lol]

2. Until the longterm jobless have jobs to go to...

there is no recovery worth mentioning. Much of the increases that we see are undoubtedly 'war production' which continues to rise in certain areas both geographically and economically.

Orders for machinery are usually for the newest hi tech equipment that raise productivity at the expense of the labor force.

This is a depression...we are going to be living this way for years.

[phleshdef]

5. War production? What a load of horse shit. We've been at war for 8 years now!

Maybe I misunderstand what you mean by war production. Because if you mean that in the literal sense, then you need to explain why Bush didn't have the most productive economy in history.

[cornermouse]

6. Bush did.

Unfortunately for us his war production was based in China. Don't you remember the fit he threw when the uniforms and other war paraphernalia were held up at the docks because the dock workers were on strike?

And by the way, I'd like to know what manufacturing jobs the article is referring to. Most of those jobs are already overseas. They were in fact the first to go.

[Clio the Leo]

3. kick! NT

[TwilightGardener]

4. Good to hear.

[NJmaverick]

7. K & R!