WASHINGTON—Manufacturing expanded in May at the fastest pace this year, as American assembly-line workers responded to increased orders by cranking up production. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 55.4 from the prior month’s 54.9. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration has named 12 regions of the U,S. that will receive special attention under a new federal program designed to help make them more attractive to manufacturing companies.

TEMPE, AZ—Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the 11th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 59th consecutive month, according to the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management.

BOSTON—A new ranking of the competitiveness of the world’s top 25 exporting countries says the United States is once again a “rising star” of global manufacturing thanks to falling domestic natural gas prices, rising worker productivity and a lack of upward wage pressure.

WASHINGTON—U.S. factory orders rose in February after two straight months of declines. New orders for manufactured goods rose 1.6 percent from January to $488.8 billion, the Commerce Department said.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. manufacturing expansion accelerated in March, driven by gains in production and orders, in the latest sign that the economy is shaking off its winter doldrums and building momentum into the second quarter. The Institute for Supply Management’s index increased to 53.7 from 53.2 a month earlier. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.

WASHINGTON—Manufacturing CEOs are more optimistic this year, but they’re worried about rising energy costs and slowing growth in new markets, according to a new survey conducted by consulting firm PWC.

WASHINGTON—Despite blizzards, ice storms and floods, U.S. manufacturing conditions improved significantly in February. The Institute for Supply Management found that new factory orders, deliveries and inventories improved during February to create an overall index of 53.2, up from 51.3 in January. Any index figure over 50 signals economic growth.

WASHINGTON—Factory employment jumped 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, more than compensating for losses earlier in the year. The sector’s resurgence in the traditionally strong manufacturing states of the Midwest and Southeast accounted for most of last quarter’s growth. At more than 12 million jobs nationwide, manufacturing employment is now the highest it has been since 2009.

LONDON—Manufacturing executives are more optimistic about economy than they were at this time last year, according to a PWC’s quarterly manufacturing barometer. Sixty-eight percent of executives are optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2014 and 47 percent are optimistic about the global economy.