Despite all the media flailing about recession, the US industrial production index according the Federal Reserve data looks strong. The index was 109.92 as of August 2019. This is up slightly from 109.52 as of a year ago. It is up sharply, a total of 7.3%, from the level at August 2016 of 102.04. This is a positive indication of the strength of US manufacturing activity. Despite the wall of worry including tariffs, more tariffs, softer consumer spending, and geopolitical concerns, the production numbers are high.