updated 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Industrial production logged a stronger-than-expected gain in April, more evidence that manufacturing is playing a lead role in powering the economic recovery.
The 0.8 percent increase in output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities reported by the Federal Reserve on Friday marked an improvement from the 0.2 percent rise registered in March. It marked the best showing since a 1.2 percent jump in January. The performance of the industrial sector in April was even stronger than the 0.6 percent gain that economists were predicting.
Factories -- the single biggest slice of industrial activity -- ratcheted up production by a brisk 1 percent for the second straight month, the Fed reported.
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Stronger manufacturing activity has prompted factories to step up hiring.
Manufacturers added 44,000 jobs in April, the most since 1998, the government reported last week. Businesses that produce fabricated metal products, machinery, electrical equipment and appliances, plastics, food, and paper products all posted job gains.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37147097/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/_____________________________________________________________________________________________
As I've said previously, good news for the economy is good news for the Democrats in the fall.