U.S. industrial production falls for three months running

The U.S. industrial production fell for the third consecutive month in November due to the sluggish mining and utilities output.

The U.S. industrial production, an indicator of manufacturing, mines, and utilities output, fell 0.6 percent in November, following a 0.4 percent decrease in the previous month, said the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

The manufacturing output, the largest component of the overall industrial production, was unchanged in November, following an increase of 0.3 percent in October.

The index for mining fell 1.1 percent in November. The Fed attributed the decrease to the declines for coal mining and for oil and gas well drilling and servicing.

Utilities output dropped 4.3 percent in the month, compared to a decrease of 2.8 percent in October.

U.S. dollar appreciation and the falling energy prices continue to weigh on the U.S. industrial production. The Fed will conclude the two-day policy meeting Wednesday afternoon. Investors widely expected the Fed will start to raise interest rate at this meeting. Endit