Industrial Production Rises for Fourth Straight Month
The Federal Reserve's industrial production index climbed to 102.551 in February, a 0.15% gain from January and the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
The Federal Reserve reported that industrial production rose to an index level of 102.551 in February 2026, up 0.15% from January's revised 102.396. The increase marks four straight months of expansion in the manufacturing, mining, and utilities sectors.
Industrial Production Index
| Month | Index | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 102.551 | +0.15% |
| January 2026 | 102.396 | +0.71% |
| December 2025 | 101.678 | +0.31% |
| November 2025 | 101.361 | -- |
Context
Industrial production has been one of the more volatile economic indicators in recent years, swinging between contraction and expansion as supply chains normalized and interest rates rose. The current four-month streak of gains is the longest since mid-2024.
The index level of 102.551 is referenced to 2017 output levels (2017 = 100), meaning U.S. industrial output is roughly 2.5% above its 2017 baseline. While positive, this represents modest growth over eight years, reflecting the economy's ongoing shift toward services and technology.
February's 0.15% gain was the weakest in the current streak, suggesting the manufacturing recovery may be decelerating. However, the four-month cumulative gain of 1.17% (from November's 101.361) indicates genuine momentum rather than statistical noise.