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US manufacturing shows encouraging signs of life
The December US ISM manufacturing index has come in stronger than predicted, rising to 49.3 from 48.4 in November versus the 48.2 consensus. Regional indicators had been mixed, but we don't have any regional metrics for west of the Rocky Mountains, so it seems that activity on the West Coast has outperformed the rest of the country. The improvement was led by a rise in the production component to 50.3 from 46.8 which may have been boosted by the return to work of formerly striking Boeing workers. This was the first reading above 50 since May – remember 50 is the break-even level consistent with flat activity so ... (full story)