Manufacturing lifts recovery with year of growth

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's a rare bright spot in an otherwise troubled economy: The nation's manufacturing sector has now grown for a solid year, and more of its companies say they're ready to hire.

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The report, which comes out on the first business day of the month, surveys production managers at about 400 companies around the country, makers of products ranging from furniture and computers to food and tobacco.

Manufacturing growth has cooled for the past three months, but most of that was expected. The industry experienced strong growth last year because companies were replenishing their stockroom shelves after the recession.

Manufacturing accounts for about a fifth of U.S. economic activity, so it can't carry the recovery on its own. But at a time when the housing market, consumer spending and other sectors of the economy are limping along, any sustained growth is welcome news.


Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Manufacturing-lifts-recovery-apf-714493832.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=6&asset=&ccode=

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This may be filtered because it conflicts with the prevailing narrative that we need to preserve the Bush tax cuts to prevent an economic slowdown the deficit be damned. Of course, if we discuss unemployment, then the deficit is the foremost concern.