Automotive fall-off affects March factory operating rate.

A dip in the pace of motor-vehicle production in March affected the overall factory operating rate in the U.S., but most other industries posted gains in the rate at which they used their operating capacity.

The motor-vehicle, machinery, and miscellaneous-manufacturing industries are running ahead of their long-term averages (last column).

Capacity Utilization, % of Theoretical Max.

                                                  '72-'04
Industry Group, NAICS        Mar.   Feb.   Jan.     Avge.

Durable Manufacturing        75.7   76.0   75.5     78.0
Fabricated metal pdts, 332   70.0   70.0   70.3     76.6
Machinery, 333               80.1   79.0   79.4     78.8
Computer & electrnx, 334     73.3   73.1   72.5     78.7
Electr. eqpt, 335            80.6   80.3   81.1     82.7
Motor vehicles, 3361-3       82.3   85.5   81.5     77.8
Aerospace etc., 3364-9       66.8   66.0   66.4     72.4
Furniture & related, 337     72.6   75.6   73.3     78.7
Miscellaneous, 339           78.2   77.9   78.0     76.5

Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C. 202-482-1986.