Wall Street Journal (09/03/13) Kathleen Madigan
According to the most recent survey of manufacturers by the Institute for Supply Management, the new orders index reached its highest level in August since April 2011, rising from 58.3 in July to 63.2. This marked the third-straight monthly gain in demand. Only miscellaneous manufacturing saw a decline in orders in August.
Meanwhile, the purchasing managers index climbed from 55.4 in July to 55.7 in August, with readings over 50 indicative of expanding activity. The ISM production index, however, fell to 62.4 from a nine-year high of 65 in July.