WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. industrial production slowed in April after a marginal rise in March, the U.S. Federal Reserve said Thursday.

Industrial production fell 0.7 percent in April. In March production increased 0.2 percent.

Manufacturing output declined 0.8 percent in the month, pushed by slowdowns in vehicle and auto parts, the Fed said in a statement.

"Strikes and strike-related parts shortages" contributed to the declines, the central bank said.

Excluding vehicles and auto parts, manufacturing production slowed 0.4 percent on the month.

From April 2007, industrial production has gained slightly, up 0.2 percent, while the rate of capacity utilization fell to 79.7 percent, 1.3 percent below its historic average measured in the previous 25 years.