Manufacturing Is Surprising Bright Spot in U.S. Economy

[ProSense]

Manufacturing Is Surprising Bright Spot in U.S. Economy

By FLOYD NORRIS

For the first time in many years, manufacturing stands out as an area of strength in the American economy.

When the Labor Department reports December employment numbers on Friday, it is expected that manufacturing companies will have added jobs in two consecutive years. Until last year, there had not been a single year when manufacturing employment rose since 1997.

And this week the Institute for Supply Management, which has been surveying American manufacturers since 1948, reported that its employment index for December was 55.1, the highest reading since June. Any number above 50 indicates that more companies say they are hiring than say they are reducing employment.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/business/us-manufacturing-is-a-bright-spot-for-the-economy.html?_r=1&hp

Manufacturing Revival

Employment in manufacturing jobs rose in 2010 and 2011, and manufactured exports also rose. A monthly survey of manufacturers shows more were hiring than firing for 27 consecutive months, the third-longest string since the survey began in 1948.



http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/05/business/Manufacturing-Revival.html?ref=business

[BeFree]

1. That's good

Best that we make our own junk, right here where there are good environmental laws and union wages. Buying American makes good sense. And, of course, the fact that we are buying less overall is a good thing.

Don't go shopping!!

[girl gone mad]

2. This is good.

The payroll tax holiday had a positive impact.

I think manufacturers have shifted production ahead, which means slowdown is inevitable from this point without further stimulus.

[arcane1]

3. Does this include the "manufacture" of Big Macs?

[ProfessorGAC]

6. No, It Does Not

Food service is a SERVICE sector industry. It's not manufacturing, but i think you already knew that.

[arcane1]

11. My question came from this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/20/politics/main601336.shtml

[ProfessorGAC]

12. It Says Right in That Article

About one-third into your cite, it says burger making is not manufacturing. It also says the group recommended against conflating the definition.

The sector defintions are far more accepted and understood than this article would lead one to believe.
GAC

[arcane1]

13. Eh, it was funnier yesterday when I posted the remark

[NNN0LHI]

7. Probably does

Thanks to a lot of very stupid Americans who helped encourage our factories to move offshore over the past years.

Lot of people went from having good union jobs available that paid top scale the day they were hired to flipping burgers.

I have a neighbor who is constantly complaining that his two adult sons still living at home with him can't get a decent job paying decent wages. He is constantly blaming President Obama for the predicament he has now found himself in. He is sure this is Obama's fault. Ask him and he will tell you.

Same guy has owned nothing but imported cars for the over 20 year we have been neighbors.

Oh, did I mention this fellow isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer?

Don

[ProSense]

4. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

5. Make it 28 consecutive months:

Unemployment rate falls to 8.5 pct., hiring surges

Employers add 200,000 jobs, unemployment rate falls to 8.5 percent, lowest in nearly 3 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011.

The Labor Department said Friday that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months.

The hiring gains cap a six-month stretch in which the economy generated 100,000 jobs or more in each month. That hasn't happened since April 2006.

<...>

Manufacturing added 23,000 jobs, as did the health care industry. Transportation and warehousing added 50,000 jobs. Retailers added 28,000 jobs. Even the beleaguered construction industry added 17,000 workers.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/unemployment-rate-falls-8-5-140336271.html

[T S Justly]

8. Let's hear it for the Military Industrial Technology Complex! All right! (nt) (nr)

[ProSense]

9. Hey

"Let's hear it for the Military Industrial Technology Complex! All right! "

...haven't you heard?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002122996

[T S Justly]

10. I see things ...

That don't agree with what I hear. Now, that's a problem for the messagers, isn't it?

[ProSense]

15. True

"That don't agree with what I hear. Now, that's a problem for the messagers, isn't it?"

...but it's obvious others sometimes see things differently. One thing that's indisputable is that when the economy is at zero jobs, adding jobs is a positive.

Manufacturing has been at zero net jobs since 1997. That trend ended in 2010.

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

[eridani]

16. Only if you think that losing 32% of the manufacturing jobs we had in 2000 is a good thing n/t

[ProSense]

17. No,

"Only if you think that losing 32% of the manufacturing jobs we had in 2000 is a good thing "

...here's what's a "good thing": Manufacturing has been at zero net jobs since 1997. That trend ended in 2010.

The 2010 trend needs to continue.