Institute for Supply Management

Optimism Among Small-Business Owners Fell in March

Optimism among small-business owners took a dive last month as expectations for their companies' sales and the economy fell, according to a new survey.

Rise in Demand for Aircraft Pushes Factory Orders Up 3% in February

Orders to U.S. factories rose sharply in February from January on a surge in volatile demand for commercial aircraft, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Stocks Weaken After Manufacturing Growth Slows

Stocks were slipping on Wall Street Monday morning after an industry group reported that U.S. manufacturing growth cooled in March and was weaker than economists had forecast.

U.S. Stock Futures Swing Back Up on Strong Data from Europe

Stock futures are heading higher after the biggest sell-off this year, with strong economic data coming out of Europe and the U.S. service industry expected to show further expansion, though at a slower pace.

U.S. Factory Orders Rose 1.8% in December, but Signals Are Mixed

U.S. factory orders increased 1.8 percent in December, but demand for core capital goods, a category considered a proxy for business investment plans, dipped 0.3 percent in December following strong gains in November and October.

U.S. Factory Orders Likely to Indicate Strengthening Economy

U.S. factory orders likely rose 2 percent in December, and a preliminary report on durable manufactured goods suggests that business investment plans increased for the third straight month.

US Durable Goods Orders Up 0.7 Percent

U.S. companies increased their orders for long-lasting manufactured goods in November, with a second consecutive monthly gain in a key category that reflects businesses' investment plans.

U.S. Industrial Output Rose 0.6% in July, Fourth Straight Increase

U.S. factories made more cars, computers and airplanes last month, a hopeful sign that manufacturing is recovering after a weak spring. Industrial production increased 0.6 percent in July from June, the fourth straight monthly increase, the Fed reports.

Factory Output Surge Lifted U.S. Economy in December

U.S. factory output surged in December by the most in year. Stronger demand for business equipment, vehicles and energy offered the most visible evidence that manufacturing has roared back from the depths of the recession. The Fed said Wednesday that manufacturing increased 0.9% in December, the biggest gain since December 2010.

U.S. Factory Activity Intensifies in December

The manufacturing sector expanded for the 17th straight month in December, with new orders rising faster than inventories. When combined with improvements in other sector components, the data suggest the factory sector will continue to support the U.S. economy expansion through at least the first quarter of 2011.

U.S. Manufacturing Grew a Bit Slower in November

A key U.S. manufacturing index unexpectedly dipped slightly in November, but it remained at a level that indicates that the industrial expansion continues. Led by export demand, the factory sector expanded for the 16th consecutive month.

Philly Fed Index Hits a High
for This Year

Manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly surged in November. The Philly Fed's Business Outlook Survey index jumped to 22.5 in November from 1 in October, its highest reading since December 2009.

Strong News From the Services Sector

The ISM services index grew at a better-than-expected pace in September, signaling continued economic growth -- and lowering the risk of a double-dip recession. Stock markets are reacting with a powerful surge.

Factory Index Dipped in September, but Still Indicates Expansion

Manufacturing activity slowed in September, but the sector continues to expand, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday. What%u2019s more, key component data for new orders point to weaker industrial growth in the fourth quarter, the group added.

Factory Orders Rise, but Not as Much as Expected

Factory orders rose just 0.1% in July, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Thursday in a report that further clarified that the manufacturing sector's expansion slowed down this summer. While the statistic did indicate tepid growth, it was less than the 0.3% gain economists had predicted.

Services Sector Index Unexpectedly Rose in July

The Institute for Supply Management's July reading showed the vital U.S. services sector expanding faster in July, reducing the risk of a double-dip recession. July's data also point to an increase in hiring.

ISM Manufacturing Report Shows Cause for Caution

When the ISM's manufacturing reading is combined with its services reading, a different -- and far less positive -- picture of the U.S. economy emerges.

Service Sector Growth Slows in June

The June service sector report from the the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) shows slower growth heading into the second half of the year. The group's non-manufacturing index fell from a more robust reading in May. Despite the drop, the June number still indicates growth, just at a lower rate.