Manufacturing production -a part of industrial production that focuses on the transformation of raw materials into finished products- rose 1.0%, after the data December will be revised downward, from -1.3% to -1.8%, according to the report published on Wednesday.
A Reuters poll pointed to the manufacturing industry figure rising 0.8% in January.
Retail trade up
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said that US retail sales in January rose 3.0% compared to the previous month, better than expected.
In December the index had shown a decrease of 1.1%. A Reuters poll of analysts had forecast the retail sales figure to rise 1.8% in January.
The core retail sales figure – excluding building materials, vehicles and vehicle parts, gas stations and food services – rose 1.7% on a month-on-month basis, versus a 0.8% increase expected the analysts.
The core retail sales figure excluding vehicles and vehicle parts, but including food services, rose 2.3%. A Reuters poll suggested that this figure would rise 0.8% in January.
