Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December for the 29th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 31st consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued Tuesday by Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “The PMI registered 53.9 percent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from November’s reading of 52.7 percent, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 29th consecutive month,” Holcomb says. “The New Orders Index increased 0.9 percentage point from November to 57.6 percent, reflecting the third consecutive month of growth after three months of contraction. Prices of raw materials continued to decrease for the third consecutive month, with the Prices Index registering 47.5 percent, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the November reading of 45 percent. Manufacturing is finishing out the year on a positive note, with new orders, production and employment all growing in December at faster rates than in November, and with an optimistic view toward the beginning of 2012 as reflected by the panel in this month’s survey.” Several industries connected to the housing industry reported declines, however. Those include wood products, fabricated metal products and electrical equipment, appliances and components.
