According to the Federal Reserve, industrial production advanced 0.4% in August after having been unchanged in July. The Fed said the gains were broadly based and followed a decrease in July of 0.4%, which was steeper than previously reported, manufacturing production rose 0.7% in August.

The output of mines moved up 0.3%, its fifth consecutive monthly increase, and the production of utilities fell 1.5%, its fifth consecutive monthly decrease. At 99.4% of its 2007 average, total industrial production in August was 2.7% above its year-earlier level.

The Fed said capacity utilization for the industrial sector increased 0.2 percentage point in August to 77.8%, a rate 0.6 percentage points above its level of a year earlier and 2.4 percentage points below its long-run (1972-2012) average.

The Wall Street Journal said in a related story, that the latest figures from the Fed echo other reports suggesting renewed strength.

The Institute for Supply Management earlier this month said the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded at its quickest pace in more than two years. The Journal noted that stronger activity has led to more jobs. Manufacturing employment rose by 14,000 in August, the first increase in six months.

Automobile manufacturing was the strongest category among industry groups in August. Production of motor vehicles and parts surged 5.2% following a 4.5% dip in July, the Fed said. The Journal noted that Households have been trading in old cars for new vehicles in recent months, returning sales to a level that hasn’t been seen since before the financial crisis.

To read the Wall Street Journal story click here.