by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2008 09:17:00 AM

From MarketWatch: U.S. Sept industrial output down 2.8%, biggest since Dec '74

The output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities plunged 2.8% in September, the Federal Reserve said Thursday. This is the biggest decline in output since December 1974. ... A strike at Boeing Co had a negative impact on production, as did Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. ... Capacity utilization fell to 76.4% from 78.7%.

More evidence of a sharp slowdown in the U.S. economy in September.