Midwest business jumps near four-year highs in December

[ProSense]

Midwest business jumps near four-year highs in December

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Business activity in the U.S. Midwest expanded far more than expected in December, hitting its highest in nearly four years on a massive recovery in employment and accelerating new orders.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said on Wednesday its business barometer rose to 60.0 from 56.1 in November, marking its highest reading since January 2006.

The result was much better than analysts' median forecast of 55.0, and was marked by an eye-popping jump in the report's gauge of employment, which has been the top worry as the economy slowly recovers from the worst recession in decades.

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The Employment index vaulted to 51.2 from November's 41.9. That was its highest since November 2007 and also the first time it has been in expansionary territory since then.

Boding well for the future, the new orders index rose to 63.5 from 62.8.

[Kdillard]

1. Good news hopefully the rest of the country will experience it.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Recovery in employment is welcome news.

Here's hoping this trend continues.

[Zynx]

3. 60 is an unambiguously good number.

[lunatica]

4. That's good but in which job sectors? And does Obama's stimulus

count in this? Are the new jobs permanent? Why don't they say?

Geez, I've become so jaded.

[Clio the Leo]

5. kick NT