McClatchy (1/3, Hall) reports the ISM Manufacturing Index came in with a reading of 57 last month. The new orders and production components of the manufacturing index came in above 60 in December. “The index for new orders has exceeded 60 for five straight months, indicating an extremely healthy pace for sales growth,” Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, said in the Shopfloor (1/3) blog.
IndustryWeek (1/3, Minter) reports Moutray noted in the blog that “manufacturing PMI measures averaged 56.3 in the second half of 2013, a nice improvement from the 51.5 average seen in the first half of the year.”
Bloomberg News (1/3, Chandra) reports the ISM number means “manufacturing grew in December at the second-fastest pace in more than two years,” and that “factory purchasing managers said orders were the strongest since April 2010.”
The AP (1/2, Rugaber) reports production and a measure of manufacturers’ stockpiles dropped in December. A gauge of hiring rose to its highest level since June 2011.
The Wall Street Journal (1/3, Cronin, Subscription Publication), MarketWatch (1/3, Bartash), the Philadelphia Inquirer(1/3, Naroff) and other media sources also cover the story.
Markit Final Index Of Manufacturing Rose In December. Bloomberg News (1/3, Chandra) reports the Markit Economics final index of manufacturing rose to 55 last month from 54.7 the previous month.
Reuters (1/3) reports that a huge increase in output boosted growth in the manufacturing sector and increased demand for factories and machinery.
Comments