U.S. manufacturing production rose 0.6% month-over-month in April 2026, reversing a modest contraction recorded in March, according to data updated on 15 May 2026. The improvement follows a 0.1% decline in March 2026, signaling a recovery in factory output after a weak start to the spring.
The April reading, measured on a month-over-month basis, compares the change in production from April to March, while the previous figure captured the change from March to February. The shift from a -0.1% contraction to 0.6% growth suggests a strengthening in industrial activity and may point to improving momentum in the U.S. manufacturing sector as the second quarter progresses.
