WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturing grew at a healthy pace in December as factories stepped up hiring and received more orders. The expansion suggests solid growth at the end of the year.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Thursday that its index of manufacturing activity slipped to 57 from 57.3 in November. But that’s still the second-highest reading in the past 2 ½ years. And any reading above 50 signals growth.
A measure of new orders rose to the highest level since April 2010.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.