Durable Goods Production Up 1.4 Percent in October

The durable goods industrial production index was 109.6 in October 2015. In October, the one-month rate of change was 1.4 percent, which was the fifth month in a row that it was below 2.0 percent. The annual rate of growth decelerated to 2.8 percent, which was the eighth straight month that the growth rate decelerated. This was the slowest rate of annual growth since June 2014.

The best leading indicators for durable goods production are housing permits, durable goods new orders, and consumer durable goods spending. Housing permits have grown at an accelerating rate recently. The one-month rate of change in durable goods new orders has contracted for eight months and the annual rate of change contracted in August for the third month in a row. Durable goods spending is still growing at a relatively strong rate and above its historical average. 

We track industrial production and its leading indicators for a number of industries. Click on the links below to see how each industry is faring.

Accelerating Growth: aerospace; automotive; food/beverage; petrochemical processors; printing; textiles/clothing/leather goods

Decelerating Growth: appliances; construction materials; custom processors; durable goods; electronics/computers/telecommunications; forming/fabricating (non-auto); furniture manufacturing; hardware; HVAC; industrial motors/hydraulics/mechanical components; machinery/equipment; medical; off-road/construction machinery; plastic/rubber products; power generation; ship building; wood/paper products

Accelerating Contraction: metalcutting job shops; oil/gas-field/mining machinery; primary metals; pumps/valves/plumbing products

Decelerating Contraction: military