With output at US factories, mines and utilities at an all-time high and capacity utilization at 79.2%, tantalizing close to the 80% level at which firms invest in new plant, increased capital spending will singlehandedly boost GDP by 0.25%, or $35 billion, in 2014. Capital spending has been stuck in neutral for so long because as recently as 6/09 capacity utilization was a horrific 66.9%. Another sign of recovery.