U.S. industrial production rises

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. industrial production rose a stronger-than-expected 0.4 percent in December, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

Economists had generally expected a 0.1 percent December production rise.

Output fell a revised 0.1 percent in November from a previously estimated 0.2 percent increase.

The rate of capacity utilization -- viewed as a key measure of industrial inflation -- rose to 81.8 percent, 0.8 percentage points above its 1972-2005 average.

For the entire year, industrial production -- the output of U.S. factories, mines and utilities -- advanced 3 percent.

The industrial production data do not include services sectors, which make up most of the U.S. economy.