WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. industrial production rose for the fifth consecutive month in December, the Federal Reserve said Friday.
The increase was 0.3 percent for the month.
Industrial production in the final three months of 2013 climbed at an annual rate of 6.8 percent, the largest quarterly gain since the second quarter of 2010, the Fed said.
Industrial production is made up of mining, manufacturing, and utilities.
At the nation's mines, production rose 0.8 percent in December, contributing to an advance of 6.6 percent over the past year.
At factories, production climbed 0.4 percent, putting that sector 2.6 percent above December 2012.
Utility companies had a drop in output of 1.4 percent month-to-month after three consecutive months of gains.
