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Updated: April 15, 2020

American factories just had their worst month since 1946

By Anneken Tappe and Chris Isidore, CNN Business

US factories just suffered their steepest one-month slowdown since 1946.

Back then, wartime production was ramping down after the end of World War II. This time around, factories have shut down or slowed production due to the coronavirus pandemic.

US industrial production plunged 5.4% in March as work at factories that make autos, aircraft and many other goods was halted to protect workers from the outbreak of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. The industrial production index measures output from the manufacturing, mining and electric and gas utilities industries.

It was the largest drop since January 1946, when American industries were shutting to shift production from wartime to consumer products following the end of World War II.

The manufacturing part of the report showed factory output fell 6.3% in March, the largest monthly decline since February 1946.

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