U.S. industrial production flat in March

(April 17, 2012) -- Industrial production in the United States was unchanged for a second consecutive month in March 2012 although this followed an upwardly revised 0.7 percent increase in January, RBC Economics Research reported today.  Canadian manufacturing sales disappointingly dropped 0.3 percent in February 2012 following a downwardly revised 1.3 percent decline in January. The weakness was led by declines in the motor vehicle component where activity fell 8.7 percent.