Factories Operate Near 20-Year High

[RamboLiberal]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=749&e=1&u=/nm/20040301/bs_nm/economy_manufacturing_dc

U.S. factories boomed at close to a 20-year high in February, according to a survey released on Monday that also suggested a turnaround in hiring may be on the horizon after a three-year struggle.

The Institute for Supply Management said its monthly manufacturing index fell to 61.4 in February from January's two-decade high of 63.6, showing the ninth straight month of expansion in the sector that makes up less than a fifth of the U.S. economy.

<snip>

The employment index jumped to 56.3 in February -- the highest since December 1987 -- from January's 52.9. ISM's Ore said more and more factories were reporting hiring though it has yet to show up in government employment statistics.

Even as the ISM report and other regional surveys have shown a pick-up in jobs during the past two months, the government's payrolls survey showed a 38,000 decline in manufacturing jobs nationwide.

Ore said there are "a lot of comments about people doing some hiring." The February U.S. payrolls report will be released Friday and economists forecast a 125,000 rise.

Two things are worrying manufacturers, ISM said -- the rapid rise in energy prices and a growing shortage of steel.

[Caution]

1. Does this include the burger output?

[w4rma]

11. Heh. That's right, fast food is now being labeled as "manufacturing" (n/t)

[mac2]

2. All lies. Manufacturing is moving...

[DK666]

4. Nope

Some MFG will stay. We are still trying to save it its a fight every day.

From the trenches.

[DK666]

3. That number is...

FACTORY ORDERS. Not actually Domestic Factory orders.

[mhr]

5. Fewer Factories, Fewer Workers, More Output Per Factory, Duh!

eom

[AndyP]

8. Exactly

they aren't producing more, just getting more efficient at doing whatever they do.

[UpInArms]

6. OMG! It's a "miracle"!

with a loss of 2.6 million factory jobs in the US in the past 3 years - the factories must be making "spiritual" items!

What a load of freakin' tripe.

:nuke:

[Crachet2004]

7. They use phony numbers...

And the economy is gonna crash even worse as fuel prices steadily rise.

I don't think they can keep the charade going much longer.

[JPace]

9. No jobs

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[Dogmudgeon]

10. We are winning the war against Eurasia

We have always been at war with Eurasia.

--bkl

[schultzee]

12. Bush's new reclassified hamburger Mac Factories?