AlQa'dah 30, 1433, Oct 16, 2012, SPA -- U.S. industrial production increased only modestly in September, held back by weak growth in factory output, the Federal Reserve (Fed) reported Tuesday. The Fed said that output at factories, mines, and utilities rose 0.4 percent in September. That followed a 1.4 percent decline in August, which partly reflected precautionary shutdowns before Hurricane Isaac hit the Gulf Coast. Factory output, the most important component of industrial production, rose only 0.2 percent in September. Meanwhile, for the July-September quarter, factory output fell at an annual rate of 0.9 percent, making it the first quarterly decline since the spring of 2009, when the country was still in recession. Slower global growth hurt demand for American exports. Many companies are also more cautious about investing. They are worried about pending tax increases and government spending cuts that could take effect in January if Congress fails to reach a deal and the economy weakens.
