Industrial Production Rises 0.8%

Industrial production rose for a second straight month in August, gaining 0.8%, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

The upturn in production at factories, mines and utilities followed a 1% increase in July that was more than previously forecast.

Economists had predicted a 0.6% gain, Bloomberg reported. The amount of industrial capacity in use rose to 69.6%, the highest since February, from 69% in July.

Factory output, which accounts for about four-fifths of production, rose 0.6%, following a 1.4% increase the previous month.

The factory sector is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.