NEW YORK — U.S. raw steel output totaled 1,756,000 net tons last week, down 3.9 percent from 1,827,000 tons the previous week, as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 72.6 percent.

In the corresponding week a year earlier, mills produced 1,902,000 tons at an average utilization rate of 76.9 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington.

The capability utilization figures for 2013 reflect a change in the overall capacity of the market due to "the closure of several steelmaking facilities in 2012, new facilities coming online and improvements made to existing facilities to increase their capability," the AISI said.