What the Industrial Production Index Tells Us About Growth

Lucas and Luna drill into the industrial production index, a less-hyped but vital economic indicator. With the index at 102.6 and capacity utilisation at 76.2% as of May 2026, they explore what factory output and slack tell us about GDP momentum and inflation. They discuss why the 2.1% real GDP growth rate feels underwhelming despite positive headlines, and how industrial production offers a real-time check on whether that growth has legs. The hosts also unpick the recent decline in wholesale prices alongside sticky core inflation, using industrial capacity as a lens to understand the disconnect. Expect specific numbers, a walk through the Fed's Beige Book reference to World Cup effects, and a clear takeaway on why production data matters more than most realise for the second half of 2026. #IndustrialProduction #CapacityUtilisation #GDP #Inflation #CoreCPI #FederalReserve #Manufacturing #SupplyChain #WholesalePrices #EconomicIndicators #MacroData #BusinessCycle #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #IndustrialOutput #FactoryOutput #ProductionData Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo