WASHINGTON—U.S. manufacturing output rose a solid 0.3 percent last month, led by increased production of cars, electronics and appliances. The Federal Reserve said last week that overall industrial production—which includes output at mines and utilities as well as factories—increased 0.1 percent in July after climbing 1 percent in June.
Factory production has risen at a healthy pace this year, though economists worry that it may not last. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel imports and on $34 billion of products from China has sparked retaliatory duties, which may limit exports. And the dollar has increased in value against other currencies, which could further hurt exports by making U.S. products more expensive overseas.