Manufacturing grows in December

ACEEE (Kaufman) - According to a new report released by the Institute for Supply Management, in December the U.S. manufacturing sector grew for the fifth straight month. The ISM's index of national factory activity rose to 55.9 from 53.6, putting it at its highest level since April 2006.  See the Reuters article for details.

Fifth consecutive month of expansion
IndustryWeek (AFP) - "The U.S. manufacturing sector concluded 2009 on something of a high note," said Cliff Waldman, Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI. "New orders and production growth both strengthened impressively. Disappointingly however, the backlog of orders, an indicator of the short-term demands on production, grew at a slower rate and now sits right at 50%, the dividing line between growth and contraction.

The ISM report showed nine industry sectors growing, including transportation, computers, apparel and foods. Seven sectors contracted including wood, plastics and chemicals.