New Reports Signal Economic Slowdown

A scant rise in industrial production added to mounting evidence that the economy is growing at a moderate pace.

Industrial production rose just 0.1 percent in July , the government reported Thursday.

The government also said the nation’s industries were operating at 83.2 percent of capacity, down from 83.4 percent a month earlier.

Economists contend that capacity utilization of 85 percent or more threatens production bottlenecks that could lead to shortages and higher prices.

Also Thursday, the Labor Department said new claims for jobless benefits rose by 5,000 to 321,000, well below the 370,000 just six weeks ago.