Manufacturing in U.S. Settles In at Solid Pace of Expansion
A worker uses a power drill while assembling a railroad crossing signal at the Siemens Rail Automation Corp. manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 16, 2017.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergAmerican factories are settling back into a solid pace of expansion after a post-election run-up that saw the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing gauge hit an almost three-year high, figures released Thursday showed.
Stronger orders growth represents resilient sales that will keep manufacturing driving forward. Factory managers have registered more optimism about conditions so far in 2017 amid steady domestic demand and global growth that looks more promising. The ISM’s employment figures are consistent with projections that the Labor Department on Friday will report a pickup in factory payrolls.