First drop since April for U.S. industrial production

U.S. industrial production fell

0.6 percent in September, the weakest showing since spring and a sign that the economy’s recovery from the pandemic recession may be faltering just as confirmed viral infections are resurging in much of the country.

The Federal Reserve reported Friday that industrial production suffered its first decline since a 12.7 percent drop in April during the spring lockdowns of businesses that paralyzed the economy. The key category that reflects manufacturing output fell 0.3 percent. At the same time, mining output, which includes oil and gas exploration, fell

5.6 percent. Production at utilities rose 1.7 percent.

Industrial production has recovered more than half of its spring declines but remains 7.1 percent below its prepandemic level in February.