Gold was slightly higher and silver slightly lower Friday morning following reports on U.S. consumer prices, industrial production and capacity utilization. Spot gold was up 0.01% as of 11:25 a.m., having traded as high as $1,663.40 and as low as $1,639.10, according to Kitco market data. The London afternoon reference price was fixed at $1,658, $10 an ounce higher than Thursday’s reference price.

Spot silver was showing a 0.03% loss, bid at $32.53 with an ask price of $32.63. The morning high as of time of writing was $32.82 and the low was $32.07. Friday’s reference price was set at $32.27 in the London a.m., 9 cents an ounce below Thursday’s reference price.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.4% in February, 0.1% more than the market consensus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Consumer prices have increased 2.9% over the last 12 months. Rising gasoline prices accounted for more than 80% of the rise in the All Items index, while the Food at Home index was unchanged for the second consecutive month. Less food and energy, the All Items index rose 0.1% in February.

The Federal Reserve Board reported that industrial production was unchanged in February, much lower than market expectations, following a sharp 0.4% upward revision to January’s figure. February manufacturing output rose 0.3%, with the index for motor vehicles and parts falling 1.1% after jumping 8.6% in January. Total industrial production came in at 96.2% of its 2007 average, 4% above its year-ago level. Total February capacity utilization edged lower, to 78.7%, 0.2% below market expectations, 1.2% above its year-ago level and 1.6% below its long-run (1972-2011) average.

The price of gold bullion fell to $1,641 an ounce in London morning trading Friday, down 4.4% for the week, according to BullionVault’s London Gold Market report. “Gold still appears to be taking a hit,” according to a report from German refiner Heraeus. “If it is to escape the downward trend in the short term, it will have to overcome the price resistance at $1,726 per ounce…only then will it begin moving up again.”

Gold trusts were moving between small gains and losses, while the iShares Silver Trust was higher.

The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) was moving between small gains and losses.
The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) was down less than 0.1%.
The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) was up between 0.2% and 0.35%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs were showing losses to close out the week.

The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) was showing losses of around 0.2%.
The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) was showing losses of nearly 0.4%.
The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) was down slightly, around 0.05% lower.

Gold mining shares were mixed.

Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) was showing gains of nearly 2.3%.
Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) was down between 0.1% and 0.2%.
Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO) was down around 1.8%.
Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) was lower, down some 0.6%.
Kinross Gold Corp. USA (NYSE:KGC) was up around 1.1%.
Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) was down some 0.2%.
NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG) was up between 0.15% and 0.3%.
Yamana Gold (USA) (NYSE:AUY) was up nearly 0.2%.

Silver mining shares also were mixed.

Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) was showing losses of around 0.9%.
Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) was up more than 0.4%.
Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) was showing losses of 0.55%.
Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) was down nearly 0.9%.
Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) was up some 0.55%.

As of this writing, Andrew Burger did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of BullionVault contributed to this report.