(Reuters) – U.S. manufacturing output fell in February for the third straight month as automobile production tumbled, pointing to slower economic growth in the first quarter.

Factory production slipped 0.2 percent last month after a revised 0.3 percent decline in January, the Federal Reserve said on Monday. Auto production fell 3.0 percent last month.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast that manufacturing output would edge up 0.1 percent in February after a previously reported 0.2 percent gain in January.  Read more