# U.S. Electrical Equipment Output Fell 9%; Broader Utilization Hit 87% By Simon Yoon Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/40319 Published: 2026-10-24T20:40:43.000Z Updated: 2026-10-24T20:40:43.000Z Section: Technology > The production measure covers transformers, motors, generators and switchgear; the utilization figure covers a wider category that also includes appliances and lighting. U.S. electrical-equipment production was 9% below its 2019 level in the latest 2026 chart observation, while utilization in a broader category reached 87%, its highest rate since 2008, amid demand for data-center power equipment. Electrical equipment was an outlier, with declining capacity and production alongside rising utilization. The 9% production decline covers NAICS 3353, which includes transformers, motors, generators and switchgear. A separate capacity measure for broader NAICS 335, which also includes appliances and lighting, was about 9% below its 2019 level. Utilization in NAICS 335 reached 87%, its highest rate since 2008. Production measures output, while capacity estimates the sustainable maximum output from installed capital. Since 2019, producer prices rose 91% for power and distribution transformers and 85% for switchgear and switchboards. Prices across all manufacturing increased 40% over the same period. Transformer and switchgear import volume was estimated at about 80% above its 2019 level after customs values were adjusted with a broad electrical-equipment import-price index. A narrower index produces an estimate of about 50% growth. From December 2019 to July 2026, the broad index rose 7%, while the narrower index increased 31%. Senior economist Nida Çakır Melek said, “Where AI build-out demand is most concentrated, adjustment has come through higher utilization, prices, and imports rather than broad new U.S. capacity.” Data centers add near-term demand for transformers, switchgear, generators and servers. Pandemic-era disruptions, tariffs, commodity costs and grid modernization also affect equipment prices. The figures do not establish that AI demand caused the production decline or all of the price increases. The manufacturing data add an equipment dimension to [U.S. data-center power constraints](). ## Links in this article - [U.S. data-center power constraints](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/36854)