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FEDERAL RESERVE statistical release
G.3 (402)
For Immediate release
CAPACITY UTILIZATION
Manufacturing, Mining, Utilities, and Industrial Materials
August 17, 1983
Capacity utilization in manufacturing, mining, and utilities increased
1«2 percentage points in July to 75.8 percent, the highest rate since late
1981.
The manufacturing utilization rate also rose to 75.8 percent, and the
rates for mining and for utilities increased to 70.1 percent and 82.0 percent,
respectively. Producers of industrial materials utilized 76.0 percent of
capacity in July, up 1.6 percentage points from the June rate.
Within manufacturing, gains in operating rates were widespread again in July,
led by large increases in activity among producers of primary metals and
autos. The utilization of domestic auto plants jumped almost 7 percentage
points to 77.3 percent—the highest rate in four years—and the operating rate
for the iron and steel industry rose more than 2 percentage points to almost
61 percent.
Among producers of industrial materials, those producing durable goods
utilized 71.9 percent of capacity in July, up 1.8 percentage points since
June. The rate for producers of nondurable goods materials rose somewhat
less, by 1.2 percentage points to 80.3 percent. After remaining relatively
flat since February, the operating rate for producers of energy materials
increased 2.0 percentage points in July to 80.9 percent.
Capacity Utilization: Summary
Percent of capacity, seasonally adjusted
Series
Total Industry
Manufacturing
Durable
Nondurable
Mining
Utilities
Industrial Materials
1967
-82
1983
AVEH.
APB
69.6
82.4.
73.1
87.5
89.4
87.2
68.8
64.8
73.8
81.8.
80.5.
83.9.
86. 0
82. 0
90.4
86.8
69.6
79. 0
69.3
88.9
66.6
1978
-80
1973
HIGH
1975
LOW
88.4^
71.1
87.3
87.9
87.9
89.1
69.0
67.6
71.0
91.8
94.9
92.6
1982
LOW
HIGH
1
HAT
!
JUNE I
JULT
73.9
74.6
75.8
72.9
69.7
76.9
73.7
70.7
77.6
74.5
71.6
78.3
75.8
73.2
79.0
86.5.
88.6.
67.5
80.9
68.4
81.0
68.8
81.0
70. 1
82.0
83.3.
72.5
73. 5
74.4
76.0
CAPACITY UTILIZATION
JULY DATA
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, PERCENT
110
TOTAL INDUSTRY
TOTAL MATERIALS
90
70
I
I
!
!
!
i
1
50
110
j
UTILITIES
MINING
90
70
i
I
i
50
110
MANUFACTURING
90
NONDURABLE
REFINED PETROLEUM
PROOUCTS
70
i i i i i i i : i i
50
I IIIII I
110
MOTOR VEHICLES
AND PARTS
90
70
50
1 1 1!
1968
1971
1974
Ml IM M
30
1977
1980
1983
1968
1971
1974
1977
1980
I I
1983
MANUFACTURING, MINING AND UTILITIES
Table 1
Capacity Utilization
Monthly, seasonally adjusted, percent of capacity
1973 | 1975 | 1978 1 1982 | 1967 | TEAS |
Series
| -80
HIGH j LOW
j LOII | -82 | AGO |
| HIGH j
IV ER. 1 HONTH 1
198?
MOT 1
Total Industry
88.4 I
71. a i
69.6
Manufacturing
87.9 j
69.0 j 87.5 j
1
68.2
91.4 |
69.4 i 85.9 i
\
67.6 I 89.4 |
64.0 I '90.4 |
69.2 | 97.5 |
60.8 | 98.2
65.7 | 90.0 |
83.1 |
71.8
62.3 | 90.6
5 1 . 3 1 94.5 |
91.6 |
MA
93.9 |
68.0
7 3 . 7 1 92.3 I
Primary processing
Advanced processing
Durable manufacturing
Stone, clay and glass products
Iron and steel, subtotal
Nonferrous metals, subtotal
Fabricated metal products
Nonelectrical machinery
Electrical machinery
Motor vehicles and parts
Autos
Aerospace and misc. trans, eqp.
Instruments
Nondurable manufacturing
Foods
Textile mill products
Paper and products
Chemicals and products
Petroleum products
Rubber and plastics products
Mining
Utilities
Electric utilities
1
1983
JAM I
FE6 |
HAH
APB |
RAT |
JUKEI
JOLT
70.7
71.0
71.8
73.1
M.9
74.6
75.8
70.0
70.6
71.6
72.9
73.7
74.6
75.8
68.6
70.9
70.8
70.8
72.1
71.5
73.4
72-5
74.6
73.3
75.4
74.1
76.8
75.2
66.4
64.2
49.1
66.2
60.9
61.0
76.4
58.7
57.8
69.4
72.6
67.1
66.0
53.6
68.7
62.4
60.1
76.0
63.5
63.9
67.8
72.0
68.3
67.8
55.7
71.8
64.3
61.0
77.9
63.7
59.5
68.1
72.2
69.7
69.1
57.0
73.6
65.0
62.9
79.3
65.0
61.2
68.2
72.6
70.7
69.5
57.8
75.8
65.0
64.0
A0.4
67.7
64.0
68.1
72.9
71.6
69.7
58.5
76.4
66.1
65.2
81.1
70.8
70.5
67.8
72.4
73.2
70.6
60.8
78.5
67.4
66.7
82.9
74.1
77.3
68.3
72.8
|I
I
|
|
I
I
I
I
I
64.8
64.0
39.5
62.1
60.7
62.0
74.9
52.3
46.2
69.5
7 3. 5
DEC I
1
69.71
1
68.91
66.2|
70.4|
1
65.11
63.0|
38.81
63.0|
60.81
61.61
74.71
56.0|
52.3|
69.4|
73.1J
I
I
|
|
I
|
I
73.8
77.7
75.2
88.1
64.0
72.9
74.7
73.8f
77.91
74.61
86.1|
64.8|
72.2|
74.51
74.5
78.5
76.9
90.4
65.2
69.2
76.3
75.1
77.6
79.9
88.5
66.5
68.2
78.6
75.8
76.9
80.7
88.8
67.4
70.2
80.9
76.9
77.5
83.6
89.1
68.2
73.9
84. 1
77.6
77.8
85.4
91.5
68.7
75.4
85.8
78.3
78.7
86.9
91.5
69. 1
75.7
86.9
79.0
78.6
88.5
93.0
69.7
76.7
88.0
91.8 I 86.0 I 90.4 I 69.6 I 86.5 I 72.9 |
1
94.9 | 82.0 | 86.8 | 79.0 | 88.6 | 81.3 |
97.6 I 8 2 . 1 | 87.0 | 77.9 | 89.8 1 80.1 |
70.8
71.7|
73.8
69.9
68.1
67.5
68.4
68.8
70.1
80.9
80.1
81.0
80.1
81.0
80.0
82.0
81.1
93.7 ;
85.5 I
87.9
88.0
103.3
99.0
86.3
88.3
88.7
98.7
MA
76.0
89.6
89.1
85.7
95.4
96.7
86.2
99.1
97.4
jI
I
|
I
|
I
|
I
t
|
|
|
|
I
|
|
71.0
77.2
61.3
69. 1
65.9
84.6
62. 1
87.3 | 69.6 j 82.4 | 7 2 . 1 |
I
|
|
I
|
|
|
87.2
85.2
91.3
95.1
83.6
93.0
91.5
I
|
|
|
|
I
|
68.8 | 81.8 j 71.4
1
66.2 j 84.0 j 68.2
70.0 | 80.6 | 73.0
!
64.8 1 80.5 | 68.8
63.0 | 78.4 i 64.1
38.8 | 82.3
47-8
83.8 1 67.0
62. 1
60.7 ( 79.6 | 65.9
61.6 | 79.8 | 65.8
74.7 | 80.0 | 77.7
46. 1
78.6 | 65.2
67.7
3 5 . 8 | MA
70.4
78.1
69.1
78.5
73.1
83.5
73.8
76.5
73.0
84.2
64.0
71.5
74.0
83.9
I 83.3
86.2
| 89.6
I 78.7
! 89.6
I 88.3
I
I
i
i
|
I
1
|
68.8
66.4
70.0
74.6
77.9
75.8
84.3
65.2
75.2
77.0
80.4
79.2
79.0|
77.9|
78.4
77.2
77.7
76.5
79.4
78.5
|
i
Table 2
Output, Capacity, and Capacity Utilization
Quarterly, seasonally adjusted
00TP0T
Series
1983
1982
111^
If
1
I
I
CAPACItT
1982
II
1
144.31 191.9
1983
III
If
I
Total Industry
139. 4
138.2
1
135.31 138.5
192.8
193.7J 194. 6
Manufacturing
138. 1
137.7
134.51 138.4
145.01 192.9
193.9
132.3
141.2
132.4
140.5
144.9| 192.3
144.9) 193.2
193.0
194.3
Durable manufacturing
Stone, clay and glass products
Iron and steel, subtotal
Nonfenrous metals, subtotal
Fabricated metal products
Nonelectrical machinery
Electrical machinery
Motor vehicles and parts
Autos
Aerospace and misc. trans, eqp.
Instruments
126.1
126.0
61.8
97.9
116.6
150. 4
171. 3
118.2
9 5. 1
100.7
163.8
124.8
128.7
57.3
101.1
114.0
146.4
169.0
119.1
100.7
98.1
164.2
124.2
131.8
63.4
102.3
110.6
137.6
170.7
120.0
101.4
97.9
154.0
131.01
139.21
69.4|
111.71
116.1)
146.01
179.81
130.7|
109.51
98. 11
155.51
182.5
197.4
122.0
148.4
174.8
222. 6
218.2
195.4
170.0
140.0
209.9
183.3
198. 1
121.3
148.4
175.5
223.9
219.6
194. 9
169.1
141.0
210.9
194.8|
I
193.7J
195.4|
1
184.01
198.81
120.5|
148.4|
176.21
225.3!
220.91
194.41
168.21
142.1]
212.01
195.7
137.0
139.7
Nondurable manufacturing
Foods
Textile mill products
Paper and products
Chemicals and products
Petroleum products
Rubber and plastics products
155.5
150. 4
124.5
147.7
19 5. 1
122. 4
257.0
156.4
150.2
125.4
151.3
195.4
122.9
260.0
159.0
153.1
129.5
156.9
201.9
113.3
264.1
165.11
155.01
139.4|
159.91
210.7|
122.21
288.31
208.0
192.9
164.2
174.0
295.5
166.3
332. 5
209.3
194.4
164.0
174.6
298.4
165. 4
333.7
164.8
206.5
236.5
210.51
195.81
163.8|
175.31
301.31
164.6|
335-01
•
165.11
•
207.4|
237.71
Mining
128. 8
117.2
129.31
137.31
1
119.8)
126.9|
49.4|
94.3|
107.31
139.7|
165.51
104.5|
81.7|
98.7|
156.1|
1
155.71
152.11
123.7J
153.51
194.31
120.81
252.1)
1
117. 0|
116.7
112.91 164.6
Utilities
Electric utilities
170.4
192.7
167.9
189.1
166.21 163.6
187.41 185.2
169.81 205.7
193. 11 235.2
Primary processing
Advanced processing
1
i
III
I
195.5!
•
196.61
0TILIZATIOM
1982
1983
III
If
72.6
71.7
71. 2
73. 8
II
I
II
71.6
71. 0
69.81
1
69.0)
70. 7
73. 7
68. 6
72. 3
66.81
70.21
70. 5
71. 1
74. 4
73. 3
68. 1
65.1|
63.8|
41.0|
63.6|
60.9f
62.0|
74.91
53.8|
48.6|
69.5|
73. 71
74.0!I
67. 2
66. 0
70.
69.
57.
75.
65.
211.7
197.2
163.6
175.9
304.1
163.8
336. 0
194.81 68.8
197.61 73.1
•
185.4| 69.1
200.4| 63.8
120.1| 50.7
148.4| 66.0
177.61 66.7
228. 11 67.6
224.11 78.5
192.7! 60.5
167.8) 55.9
144.2) 71.9
214.11 78.0
•
212.8) 74.7
198.71 78.0
163.4) 75.8
176.4| 84.9
306.9) 66.0
163.0| 73.6
336.8! 77.3
•
77.
79.
89.
66.
69.
7fl. 6
85 >o
165.2
165.31
78.3
71 . 1
77.7|
75.51
87.61
64.5)
73.4)
75.3|
!
70.9!
70. 6
68 . 3
208.5
239.2
209.*!
241.11
82.9
81.9
81 . 3
80 . 0
80. 1|
78.81
78.5
80.9
77.
80 . i
194.3
196.5
184.7
199.6
120.1
148.4
176. 9
226.7
222. 4
193.7
167.8
143. 1
213.0
65.0
47.2
68. 1
64.
6 5 . .4
77.0
6 1 .. 1
59 . 6
69.6
77 • '
74 . 3
77 . 3
76 . 5
86 . 6
65 . 5
74 . 3
77 . 9
52. 8
68. 9
62. 5
60. 7
76-a
62.
60.
68.
72.
0
4
4
3
75.1
b
1
2
4
2
7
5
8
3
4
64. u
80. .1
67 , 8
65, 2
68 0
72. 6
77, 6
7 8 .. 0
85. J
90. i
68. /
75.0
INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS
Table 3
Capacity Utilization
Monthly, seasonally adjusted, percent of capacity
1973 | 1975 | 1978 1 1982 | 1967 | YEAR |
Series
| AGO j
HIGH J LOH | -80 \ LOH ! - 8 2
HIGH 1
1 AVER.]LJIOMTHJ
1
1
Industrial Materials
9 2 . 6 j 6 9 . 3 ! 88.9 | 66.6 | *L».3 1 69.7 |
Metal materials
Raw steel
Aluminum
Textile, paper, and chemical materials
1983
JAR I
PEB |
HAH |
APR |
HAT |
JOIEI
JOLT
70*1
71.5
72. 5
73.5
f$
74.4
76.0
64.2
66.0
67.7
68.9
70.1
71.9
53.3
56. 1
5«.8
59.9
60.8
62.4
64.6
4 0 . 2 | 47.9
5 7 . 9 | 59.0
1
1
7I.6J 73.4
•
71.4
70.0|
52.1
58.3
55.7
59.8
56.9
60.5
58.0
63.0
58.2
64.5
63.3
65.7
75.3
76.8
77.2
78. 7
79.1
80.3
91.4
63.5
88.4 1 59.8 ] 7 9 . 7
64.9
59.8
97,8 |
6 8 . 0 1 95.4 | 46.2 | 82.2
51.3
46.2
46.8f
107.1 ,
96.8
Nondurable goods materials
1
1
DEC |
6 6 . 6 | 68.7
I
1
5 9 . 8 | 62.3
j
Durable goods materials
1982
HOV |
]
67.0
(
84.8 { 47.2
6 8 .0 102.9 { 40.2
73.4 | 97.9 J 57.9 1 90.6 | 64.6
|
41.3
57.9
94.4
67.4
91.7
70.7
86.5
70.7
72.5
95.1
65.4
92.3
68.6
66.5
I 68.6
70.5
74. 1
75.8
76.4
78.1
78.5
79.6
87.41
65.4|
1
90.9
66.4
90.8
69.9
90.3
71.9
91.0
72.6
93.0
74.1
91.8
74.4
93.8
75.2
7.8.51
80.1
79.2
79.2
78.9
78.7
78.9
80.9
•
Paper materials
Chemical materials
99.4
95.5
94.5
Energy materials
91.1
93.4 1 87.0
86.3
[ 6 4 . 0 | 8 5 . 1 I 64.0 ! 65.4
1
|
1
I 84.4 ! 88.9 [ 7 8 . 5 I 8 8 . 5 I 8 2 . 5 I 7 9 . 2
1
i
72.4
64.2
97.9
91.3
Table 4
Output, Capacity, and Capacityr Utilization
Quarterly, seasonally adjusted
OUTPUT
Series
1982
II
III
1983
I
IV
117.1J 125.2
194.4
78.6
8 5 . 4 | 140.8
140.6
140.3|
140.2
4 9 . 9 | 61.9
9 7 . 5 | 99.0
1
1
157.0| 163.7
6 8 . 7 | 120.2
105.11 167.4
I
1
171.4) 214.5
120.0
167.5
119.71
167.61
1
1
216.9|
1
228.3|
1
164.4|
292.8|
1
119.4
167.7
132.6
.Durable goods materials
124.7
73.0
Raw steel
Aluminum
62.4
116. 1
55.2
104.9
156. 8
155.1
Nondurable goods materials
66.5|
•
Textile, paper and chemical materials
Paper materials
Chemical materials
Energy materials
1
•
215.6
•
160.5
158.4
150.81 169.3
179.01 225.4
226.8
142.0
194.0
145.9
188.5
123.8
152.7| 162.7
218.51 288.4
1
1
121.6! 152.3
163.6
290.6
125.5
147.6| 149.9
191.91 204.7
I
1
121.51 122.2
1
Definition. This release contains estimates of output, capacity, and capacity utilization for the
nation's factories, mines, and electric and gas utilities. Estimates of actual output and capacity output are expressed as percentages of 1967 actual output. Estimates of capacity utilization
are calculated as ratios, in percent, of the Federal Reserve's seasonally adjusted indexes of industrial production to the indexes of capacity. The capacity indexes are based on a variety of
data, including capacity data in physical units, surveys of capacity growth and utilization rates,
and estimates of capital stock growth. Instead of a formal definition of capacity the concept of
practical capacity is applied, which is the greatest level of output that a plant can maintain
within the framework of a realistic work pattern, taking account of normal downtime, and
assuming sufficient availability of inputs to operate machinery and equipment in place. When
the capacity indexes for individual industries are aggregated—for example to total manufacturing—no explicit account is taken of possible general equilibrium constraints such as emerging
industry bottlenecks.
Groupings. Estimates of capacity and industrial production for manufacturing industries are
aggregated to primary processing and advanced processing industries, to durable and nondurable manufacturing industries, and to total manufacturing. The mining, manufacturing, and
utilities estimates aggregate to the total index. Industrial materials are items produced and used as inputs by manufacturing plants, mines, and utilities, industrial materials include many of
the Items included In the primary processing grouping of manufacturing, as well as some of the
output of the advanced processing industries, mines, and utilities—such as iron ore, crude oil,
semiconductors, and electricity sold to industry.
1983
I
IV
191.0
134.7
7 7 .0
III
190.4
1
1
134.81 194.0
Industrial Materials
127.1
CAPACITY
1982
II
1
191.71 192.3
1
1
194.81 195.2
1
128.7| 134.8
1
Metal materials
1
1
III
152.8
217.8
1
1
III
UTILIZATION
1982
II
III
IV
1983
I
1
67.1|
1
70.1
73.5
60.2|
1
47.4|
64.2
68.9
56. 1
61.0
41.71
58.1|
1
1
72.4|
•
70.5|
1
89.7|
65.5|
\
1
79.21
51.9
59.0
57.7
62.7
192.9!
1
70.7
69.4
195.6|
*
139.9|
65.5
64.2
54.7
51.9
119.11 .-5-1.9
167.7J 69.4
1
1
218.8) 73.1
46.0
62.6
71.9
•
229.4
230.7|
71.2
69.8
165.3
294.8
166.1|
296.61
87.3
67.2
89.1
64.9
153.31 153.9
154.31
1
82.4
81.0
II
75.2
78.3
73.8
77.6
90.7
69.4
91.9
73.7
79.5
78.8
Perspective. The historical highs and lows in capacity utilization shown in the tables above are
specific to each series and did not ail occur in the same month. Industrial plants usually
operate at capacity utilization rates that are well below 100 percent: none of the broad aggregates has ever reached 100 percent. For mining, manufacturing, and utilities as a whole, and
for total manufacturing, utilization rates as high as 90 percent have been exceeded only in wartime.
Revisions. The first estimates for a month are published about the 17th of the following month.
These estimates may revise in each of the next three months as new data become available.
After the fourth month no further revisions are undertaken until an annual or benchmark revision. The median of the revisions in the total manufacturing utilization rate between the first
and fourth estimate is 0.3 of a percentage point; that is, in about half of the cases, the absolute
value of the revision from the first to the fourth estimate is less than 0.3 of a percentage point.
Sources. The methodology used to estimate the series is discussed in New Federal Reserve
Measures of Capacity and Capacity Utilization, Federal Reserve Bulletin, July 1983 Revised
data from 1967-82 are included in the statistical supplement to the July 1983 capacity utilization release, which may be obtained from Publications Services, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, Washington, O.C. 20551.
Rounding. The rounding algorithms applied to the capacity, output, and utilization rate series
are independent. Aggregates are derived from unrounded detailed components.
Release schedule for 1983. Approximately 11 a.m. on August 17, September 16, October 17,
November 16 and December 16.
@FedFRASER