By Steve Goldstein
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Industrial production increased in March as consumers cranked up the heating, capping off a first quarter which saw an annualized growth rate of 5%, the best in a year for output. The Federal Reserve said industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in March, and February's growth was revised higher to 1.1% from the initially reported 0.8% advance. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a 0.3% monthly gain. The March gain wasn't necessarily a great sign for the economy - utilities output rose 5.3% due to unusually cold weather, and manufacturing and mining output actually decreased. Capacity utilization edged up to 78.5% in March from 78.3% in February.
