US manufacturing grows at fastest pace in 3½ years

September 2, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. manufacturing grew in August at the strongest pace in more than three years as factories cranked out more goods and new orders rose.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, says its manufacturing index rose to 59 from 57.1 in July. Anything above 50 signals that manufacturing is growing.

A gauge of production rose to the highest level in four years, and a measure of new orders jumped to its highest in 10 years. That suggests that the sector should continue to grow in the coming months.