Media reports -US boosts production- Capacity Utilization: - as if "good

So the index that Clinton had - 80.1, is now 76.6, so jobs are coming back. Why can this administration and its media whores not give out clean data - or note the true implications? 76.6 is indeed better than 75.9, but could they note this about 15% of the US economy?, or that Clinton gave Bush a starting number of 80.1, or the the increase reflects inventory build-up?

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAPBAPQURD.html

Industrial Production Grows by 0.7 Percent in February, Good Sign for Economy By Jeannine Aversa Associated Press Writer
Published: Mar 15, 2004
WASHINGTON (AP) - Big industry production rose by a strong 0.7 percent in February, an encouraging sign that the nation's manufacturers may be getting a stronger grip on their own recovery.
The increase in output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities came after a 0.8 percent jump in activity in January, the Federal Reserve reported Monday.

Last month's industrial production performance was even better than the 0.4 percent increase that some economists were forecasting. Gains were widespread in February, with production rising for automotive products, home electronics, business equipment, machinery, food products and chemicals.

"This breadth of the recovery bodes well for future production," said Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist at the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a research group


The latest figures showed US industry used 76.6 percent of its total capacity, up from 76.1 in January. Data is from the Fed http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/

Historical Statistics for Industrial Production, Capacity, and Utilization: Total Industry
Seasonally adjusted

Utilization (percent)

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.| Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4| Annual


1991 | 79.8 79.1 78.6 78.6 79.3 80.0 79.8 79.8 80.3 80.0 79.8 79.4 | 79.2 79.3 80.0 79.7 | 79.6
1992 | 78.8 79.4 79.9 80.3 80.4 80.3 80.8 80.4 80.3 80.8 81.1 80.9 | 79.4 80.3 80.5 80.9 | 80.3
CLINTON 1993 | 81.1 81.3 81.3 81.3 80.9 80.9 81.1 80.9 81.2 81.6 81.8 82.1 | 81.2 81.1 81.1 81.8 | 81.3
1994 | 82.4 82.3 82.8 83.0 83.3 83.6 83.5 83.7 83.6 83.9 84.2 84.8 | 82.5 83.3 83.6 84.3 | 83.4
1995 | 84.8 84.5 84.2 83.8 83.7 83.6 82.8 83.6 83.6 83.0 82.9 82.9 | 84.5 83.7 83.3 82.9 | 83.6
| | |
1996 | 81.9 82.6 82.0 82.3 82.5 82.8 82.3 82.5 82.6 82.3 82.7 82.8 | 82.1 82.5 82.5 82.6 | 82.4
1997 | 82.7 83.5 83.4 83.4 83.3 83.3 83.4 83.8 84.0 84.2 84.3 84.1 | 83.2 83.3 83.7 84.2 | 83.6
1998 | 84.0 83.7 83.5 83.5 83.4 82.6 81.9 83.2 82.6 82.9 82.3 82.0 | 83.7 83.1 82.6 82.4 | 83.0
1999 | 82.2 82.1 82.2 82.1 82.3 82.1 82.3 82.6 82.1 82.7 82.8 83.2 | 82.2 82.2 82.3 82.9 | 82.4
2000 | 82.8 83.0 83.0 83.3 83.5 83.3 82.7 82.3 82.4 81.8 81.5 81.0 | 82.9 83.4 82.4 81.4 | 82.6
| | |
BUSH 2001 | 80.1 79.5 79.0 78.6 78.1 77.5 77.0 76.7 76.1 75.8 75.3 75.1 | 79.5 78.0 76.6 75.4 | 77.4
2002 | 75.4 75.4 75.6 75.8 75.8 76.2 76.0 75.9 75.7 75.4 75.4 74.9 | 75.4 75.9 75.8 75.2 | 75.6
2003 | 75.2 75.4 74.8 74.2 74.1 74.0 74.5 74.5 74.9 75.0 75.7 75.6 | 75.1 74.1 74.6 75.4 | 74.8
2004 | 76.1 76.6

Average
1972-2003 1982
Low 1988-89
High 2003
Feb. 2003 2004
Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

Total industry 81.1 70.9 85.2 75.4 75.7 75.6 76.1 76.6

http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/fullpub.html
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL TRADE AND FOOD SERVICES FEBRUARY 2004

http://www.census.gov/mtis/www/current.html
MANUFACTURING AND TRADE INVENTORIES AND SALES JANUARY 2004

http://www.census.gov/indicator/www/m3/
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ON MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES, AND ORDERS
January 2004 Released 10:00 A.M. EST March 4, 2004 (M3-1(04)-01)
Note: All figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars
Summary: New orders for manufactured goods in January decreased $1.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $343.2 billion, the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.8 percent December increase. Shipments, up five consecutive months, increased $1.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $350.1 billion. This followed a 2.1 percent December increase. Unfilled orders, down following five consecutive increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $505.8 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase. Inventories, up three of the last four months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $439.4 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent December increase. (NEW ORDERS DROPPED IN JANUARY PER MARCH 4,2004 DATA)


http://www.commerce.gov/economic_analysis.html

at least thus far in my lifetime (40 years). Everytime we have a repug in office, there is either a recession, as with Ray-gun, Bush I and II, or excessive inflation, as with Ford in the seventies. Things are better with a Dem in office, IMO.

:-)