Factory output down for third straight month

Washington

FACTORY production in the United States declined in February for a third consecutive month, a sign cutbacks in manufacturing will hold back economic growth this quarter.

The 0.2 per cent decrease at manufacturers followed a 0.3 per cent drop in January that was initially estimated as a gain, figures from the Federal Reserve in Washington showed on Monday. Total industrial production, which also includes mines and power plants, climbed 0.1 per cent, propelled by a record surge in utility use as temperatures plummeted.