By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities fell 0.1% in January, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. The data was weaker than expected. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected a 0.4% increase. Ouput was pushed lower by a sharp 1.6% drop in utility output in January. Factory activity alone rose 0.3% in January. Excluding autos, factory output was up 0.1%. Capacity utilization - a gauge of slack in the economy - fell to 76.1% in January from 76.2% in December.
