Manufacturing output at U.S. factories surged in February, far exceeding expectations and reinforcing optimism about President Donald Trump’s promised manufacturing revival.
Factory output climbed 0.9 percent last month, triple the 0.3 percent growth forecast by economists polled by Reuters, following a 0.1 percent gain in January, the Federal Reserve reported on March 18.
On an annual basis, manufacturing output rose 0.7 percent, a sign that the sector—accounting for 10.3 percent of the U.S. economy—is rebounding after more than two years of contraction.
The economy played an important role in Trump’s 2024 election victory, with voters backing his agenda to expand energy production and revive domestic manufacturing. Even before his inauguration in January, business optimism soared, driven by expectations that Trump’s policies would improve market conditions….