U.S. Industrial Production Increases for Sixth Straight Month

The recovery in the U.S. industrial sector continued in December, as output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose 0.6% -- the sixth straight monthly output gain, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced Friday. The December gain was boosted by a large increase in output by electric and natural gas utilities, which were producing power at a high pace due to the bitterly cold start to the winter. Also, industrial production increased at a 7.0% annualized rate in the fourth quarter.