The level of industrial production in the US increased by 0.9% in December last year, more than double the anticipated 0.4% rise.
It is expected the success was due to unseasonably cold weather that resulted in a higher demand for heating.
However, the US’s manufacturing output remained fairly stagnant, only rising by 0.1% in the final month of 2017.
The Federal Reserve reported a strong demand for utilities which in turn supported the rise in consumer spending in the final quarter of last year.
