• Production of autos and auto parts fell by 1.3% last month following a smaller 0.2% drop in April.
• The rate of capacity utilization for total industry fell 0.2 percentage points, to 81.7%, compared to long-run (1972-2005) average of 81%.
• The capacity utilization rate for utilities edged up, to 86.5%, in May but remained slightly below its 1972-2005 average.

Although the US economy expanded at a sizzling pace of 5.3% in the first quarter, analysts believe that will slow to around 3% in the April-June quarter, as consumers struggle with rising interest rates, soaring gasoline prices and cooling home sales (AP).