Manufacturing growth slows

[jswordy]

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Manufacturing growth slowed in February, coming in below forecasts on Wall Street, a closely watched survey of purchasing managers showed Tuesday.

The Institute of Supply Management said its purchasing managers index fell to 55.3 from 56.4 in February. Any reading above 50 indicates growth in the sector.

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast the index would rise to 57.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/01/news/economy/ism/index.htm

[kcwayne]

1. I guess the Atkins diet suppressed McDonald's burger sales

causing the manufacturing index to fail to meet projections. The government says they are going to add estimated weight loss of the population to the statistic next quarter, since dieting and forced starvation manufactures more space in everyone's cloths. This should give a bright outlook to the index over the next several quarters as millions of unemployed workers continue to cut back on food consumption.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. But but but

The economy is recovered! It's all Clinton's fault! Look, Syria has nuclear terra cooties!

[tritsofme]

3. This was actually a pretty good report

Lots of people are edgy about inflation after that huge PPI number last week.

[jswordy]

6. Uh, inflation is old news...

...and has been flying high for about a year and a half now. It just doesn't get picked up in the distorted so-called "core rate." Real inflation is above 5% NOW.

[tritsofme]

7. Real inflation was 3.3% in 2004 IIRC nt

[mermaid]

4. Wassa Matter? Ain't They Opening Up Any More Mickey D's?? n/t

[VegasWolf]

5. McD's is about the only manufacturing job left in the USA. Manufacturing

hamburgers by the millions.