US manufacturing output slows sharply in August

[WASHINGTON] Production at US factories slowed more than expected in August amid disruptions from Hurricane Ida and lingering shortages of raw materials and labor as the Covid-19 pandemic drags on.

Manufacturing output increased 0.2 per cent last month, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday. Data for July was revised to show production surging 1.6 per cent instead of 1.4 per cent as previously reported.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast manufacturing production would gain 0.4 per cent.

The raw materials crunch has been worsened by the latest wave of infections driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus, primarily in Southeast Asia, as well as by congestion at ports in China.

General Motors Co said it would cut production at its plants in Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee this month because of an ongoing microchip shortage. Ford Motor is also reducing truck production.

Some of the slowdown in manufacturing reflects the rotation in spending back to services from goods because of Covid-19 vaccinations. Manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9 per cent of the US economy, remains underpinned by businesses desperate to replenish stocks after inventories were drawn down sharply in the first half of the year.

REUTERS