US manufacturing grows for first time in 4 months
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Buy SPH photosWASHINGTON (AP) - United States (US) manufacturing grew for the first time in four months, buoyed by a jump in new orders. The increase was a hopeful sign the economy is improving.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, says its index of factory activity rose to 51.5. That's up from 49.6 in August.
A reading above 50 signals and below indicates contraction. The index had been below that threshold from June through August.
A measure of employment also increased, suggesting manufacturers added workers last month.
