WASHINGTON—Assuming Congress can come to an agreement to cut spending and raise the debt limit by late February, the manufacturing sector can expect slow growth heading into 2013, according to MAPI.
WASHINGTON—U.S. manufacturing grew slightly last month and factory hiring increased. The modest gain suggests the economy entered the new year with some momentum. The Institute for Supply Management said its index of manufacturing activity rose in December to 50.7. That’s up from a reading of 49.5 in November, which was the lowest reading since July 2009, one month after the recession ended.
MCGREGOR, TX—Behlen Manufacturing Co. will begin manufacturing farm and ranch equipment at a new assembly plant here. The facility will employ more than 50 people by the end of 2013.
DEARBORN, MI—Ford is spending about $773 million to expand six Michigan assembly plants while adding 2,350 factory jobs in the state, part of a broader investment plan announced last year. Ford aims to invest $6.2 billion in U.S. facilities and add 12,000 factory jobs across the country by 2015.