U.S. factory output remained unchanged in September, constrained by ongoing import tariffs.

Data released by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday showed no growth or decline in manufacturing output for September, while August’s output was revised to a 0.1% increase. Manufacturing accounts for 10.1% of the U.S. economy, and economists surveyed earlier by Reuters had anticipated a modest 0.1% rise in September. Year-over-year, factory output grew by 1.5%.

In the third quarter of this year, U.S. manufacturing output expanded at an annualized rate of 1.3%, slowing from the 2.4% growth seen in the second quarter.

The release of this economic report was delayed by 43 days—a record postponement due to the government shutdown. President Donald Trump’s widespread tariff policies have hindered manufacturing, though surging investments in artificial intelligence have provided a boost to other sectors.

Trump has defended the tariffs as essential for revitalizing America’s long-declining industrial base. However, economists argue that industrial recovery is unlikely in the short term, citing persistent challenges such as high production and labor costs.

A survey by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Monday revealed that the U.S. manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained in contraction territory for the ninth consecutive month in November, with multiple industries citing tariffs as a key constraint on growth.

Sector-specific data showed a 2.2% decline in automotive and parts production in September, following a 3.0% rebound in August. Durable goods manufacturing output edged up 0.1%, while non-durable goods output dipped 0.1%. Mining output was flat after a 0.4% increase in August.

Utility output rebounded by 1.1% in September after a 3.0% drop in August. Consequently, overall U.S. industrial production rose 0.1% in September following a 0.3% decline in August. Year-over-year, industrial output grew by 1.6%, with third-quarter output expanding at an annualized rate of 1.1%.

Industrial capacity utilization—a measure of resource efficiency—held steady at 75.9% in September, 3.6 percentage points below the 1972–2024 average. Manufacturing capacity utilization slipped slightly to 75.5% from 75.6% in August, remaining 2.7 percentage points below its long-term average.