2 Sep 2011

US manufacturing slowing

9:09 am on 2 September 2011

Manufacturing output in the United States slowed to its lowest rate of growth in two years in August.

The Institute for Supply Management's index of national factory activity declined to 50.6 last month from 50.9 in July.

With a reading of 50 or above indicating growth, output is still expanding.

But it has now slowed for six consecutive months.

The August reading is the worst since July 2009.