Capacity Utilization measures the percentage of an economy's total productive capacity that is currently being used by industries such as manufacturing, mining, and utilities. It provides insight into the overall health of the industrial sector and the degree of slack in the economy. High utilization rates, typically above 82-85%, can signal supply constraints and potential inflationary pressures. Conversely, low utilization suggests economic weakness and a lack of demand.
The rate is calculated as the ratio of the Industrial Production Index to an index of full-capacity output. The Federal Reserve estimates capacity based on surveys of plant operations and capital investment data.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2026 | 82.30 | 82.00 | +0.30 |
| Jul 15, 2026 | 82.20 | 80.50 | +1.70 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 78.50 | 78.40 | +0.10 |
| Dec 12, 2025 | 78.50 | 79.30 | -0.80 |
| Sep 12, 2025 | 79.30 | 78.80 | +0.50 |
| Jun 13, 2025 | 80.10 | 79.80 | +0.30 |
| Mar 7, 2025 | 79.80 | 79.30 | +0.50 |
| Dec 13, 2024 | 79.30 | 78.90 | +0.40 |
| Sep 13, 2024 | 79.10 | 78.40 | +0.70 |
| Jun 7, 2024 | 78.50 | 78.80 | -0.30 |
| Mar 8, 2024 | 78.70 | 80.20 | -1.50 |
| Dec 8, 2023 | 79.70 | 81.00 | -1.30 |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 81.40 | 82.30 | -0.90 |
| Jun 9, 2023 | 81.90 | 82.20 | -0.30 |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 81.70 | 82.30 | -0.60 |
| Dec 9, 2022 | 82.60 | 82.20 | +0.40 |
| Sep 9, 2022 | 83.80 | 82.10 | +1.70 |
| Jun 10, 2022 | 82.00 | 82.30 | -0.30 |
| Mar 11, 2022 | 82.90 | 82.20 | +0.70 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | 81.40 | 83.00 | -1.60 |
| Sep 10, 2021 | 82.00 | 81.20 | +0.80 |
| Date | First print | Current | Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2026 | 82.5 | 82.2 | -0.30 ↓ |
