The decline in
This is the first time the USGS has publicly released the same data provided to the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors used to prepare its index of industrial production, a principal economic indicator.
According to the USGS, "This index measures the output of factories, mines, and electric and gas utilities. Output reflects changes in price and demand for mineral commodities used by industries such as construction, transportation equipment and agriculture. Output is an important early indicator of changes in economic activity in those industries."