US industrial output unchanged in December

WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production was flat in December versus expectations for a slight decline, a Federal Reserve report showed on Wednesday, but for last year as a whole it notched the weakest reading since 2003.

Economists polled by Reuters ahead of the data had forecast total industrial output to fall 0.2 percent after a 0.3 percent rise in November. Industrial production was up 2.1 percent for 2007, the slowest growth since a 1.1 percent gain in 2003.

Manufacturing output was also flat last month following a revised 0.3 percent rise in November, the data showed. This was originally reported as a 0.4 percent rise. (Reporting by Alister Bull; editing by Neil Stempleman)