U.S. manufacturing sector expands at faster-than-expected rate in

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 1, 2007 | by Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The nation's manufacturing sector showed surprising strength in April, growing at a faster-than-expected pace and pushing up prices for fuel, metals and corn-based products, a trade group said Tuesday.

The Institute for Supply Management, based in Tempe, Ariz., said its manufacturing index registered 54.7, above the March reading of 50.9 and Wall Street's expectation of 51. It was the highest reading in 11 months, when it also registered 54.7.

A reading above 50 indicates growth for the sector, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

A sharp spike in the prices paid index fueled ongoing concerns over inflation and interest rates, however.

The prices paid index surged to 73 in April, compared to 65.5 the previous month. Prices rose for commodities including gasoline, aluminum, corn, diesel fuel and steel. No commodities fell in price, the report said.

The prices paid index reached 78.5 in July of last year, but had fallen to 47.5 by December.

"So it's quite a sharp change," said Nigel Gault, economist with Global Insight.

Even though the U.S. economy has been fairly sluggish, the steep climb in prices shows the global economy is still holding up well and that manufacturers are facing steeper costs, Gault said. Higher fuel prices also contributed to the spike.

"The question always is, to what extent do higher prices paid get passed on to the consumer? And how does that affect the inflation numbers the Fed is looking at?" Gault said.

The Federal Reserve, which meets May 9, is expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it has of late, reflecting various comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues that their primary worry remains the threat that the slowing economy will not cause inflation to moderate.

The overall economy grew for the 66th consecutive month, driven by new orders, production and employment.

The ISM's manufacturing sector index has bounced above and below the break-even point of 50 for several months, an indication of the overall economy's uncertain path. It showed contraction in November, rebounded in December, fell back again in January, then expanded modestly in February and in March.

The ISM report and data showing a weak housing market unnerved investors.

The National Association of Realtors said pending sales of existing homes fell by 4.9 percent in March to their lowest point in four years.

In morning trading, the Dow rose 13.25, or 0.10 percent, to 13,076.16.

Broader stock indicators were down. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.89, or 0.19 percent, to 1,479.48, and the Nasdaq composite index was off 7.98, or 0.32 percent, to 2,517.11.