Total industrial production in the United States fell 11.2% in April, the Federal Reserve reported Friday, the largest monthly drop on record since the central bank began tracking it more than 100 years ago.
The index measures output from industrial sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and utilities, where the coronavirus pandemic has forced many factories to slow or suspend operations throughout the month.
The virus has hit manufacturing very hard. Output dropped 13.7% from March, its largest decline on record. Output for utilities and mining decreased by 0.9% and 6.1%, respectively.
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A chief reason for the historic fall in manufacturing was that the output of motor vehicles and parts fell more than 70% while production elsewhere in manufacturing dropped 10.3%.
A 28% monthly drop in oil and gas well drilling contributed mightily to the decline in mining. That is the largest drop on record since the Federal Reserve began tracking it in 1972.
For utilities, the slight drop in output was because the decline in consumer energy products at places of work was partly offset by an increase in sales by utilities to residences.
