January Factory Activity Nears Two-Year High - Markit

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

January factory activity nears two-year high-Markit

Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:15am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manufacturing got off to a strong start in 2013 as rising domestic demand helped the sector grow this month at its fastest clip in nearly two years.

Financial information firm Markit said its U.S. "flash," or preliminary, manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index rose to 56.1 in January, its best showing since March 2011. It stood at 54.0 last month. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Output grew at its fastest pace since March 2012, with the subindex rising to 57.2 from 54.5 in December.

Firms tied the growth surge to higher demand from U.S. customers, reflected in the index's new orders component, which rose to 57.7, the highest level since May of 2010.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE90N0MI20130124

[fasttense]

1. Output grew but did our wages grow?

Did we make more money for our every increasing productivity?

NO

The only way to make wages equal our "output" is to PROTEST in the streets and factories.

[jschurchin]

2. Somethings not right.

Retailers across the nation have been reporting falling sales. Somebody's being dishonest here. Consumer sentiment is shit, people aren't spending, so exactly where is the manufacturing going.

Oh shit, wait, I forgot, fast food joints "manufacture" sandwiches. My bad, carry on.

[oldhippie]

3. Not sandwiches, manufacturers of guns and ammo ......

... and just about any "black gun" accessory are operating 24/7 to fill the demand since Dec 14.

[pampango]

4. "so exactly where is the manufacturing going"

If manufacturing output is increasing and if "Americans aren't spending" and buying this output, it is either going into warehouses or to (the dreaded) foreigners.

"fast food joints "manufacture" sandwiches" - That was an idiotic suggestion floated in 2004 by President Obama's republican predecessor (you know - ol' what's his name) but never actually adopted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/business/20jobs.html?pagewanted=print&position=

Fast Food (or beverage) workers are classified as service workers by the government...

http://econfuture.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/manufacturing-jobs-automation-and-future-assumptions/