Manufacturing output in the United States increased 0.2% month-over-month in December 2025, beating market expectations for a 0.2% drop. The durable manufacturing index edged up 0.1% with large contributions from growth in the output of primary metals (2.4 percent); electrical equipment, appliances, and components (1.7%); as well as aerospace and miscellaneous transportation equipment (1.5%). Wood products, nonmetallic mineral products, and motor vehicles and parts all posted declines of at least 1%. The nondurable manufacturing index increased 0.3%, with increases for food, beverage, and tobacco products, petroleum and coal products, and plastics and rubber products offsetting decreases in the other nondurable manufacturing indexes. Capacity utilization for manufacturing was unchanged in December at 75.6 percent, a rate that is 2.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2024) average.
