News In Brief

US economy still growing, but at a slower rate

The nation's factories, mines, and utilities operated at 81.7 percent of capacity in May, up only slightly from the April rate, the government reported Monday.

Other economic statistics have also appeared to show a slackening in the formerly robust recovery, including a May increase of just 0.2 percent in retail sales.

In another development, the Commerce Department said Monday that the United States ran up a record trade deficit of $19.4 billion in the first three months of 1984.