(MENAFN- The Peninsula) US manufacturing continued to growth at a sluggish pace in April, partly hurt by the strong dollar but supported by cheap energy, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.
The ISM purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector was unchanged from March at 51.5, and remained well below the 12-month average of 55.2.
A reading above 50 on the PMI, based on a survey of 18 manufacturing industries, indicates expansion.
Two of the 18 sectors said activity had contracted in the month: apparel, leather and related products; and computer and electronic products.
There were some signs of improvement in the month: new orders and production both picked up pace, and prices gained.
But employment and inventories both contracted.
Exports surged but that was in part related to clearing the backlog from West Coast ports after the end of a three-month strike in late February.
"International shipments still being delayed by the strikes," said one survey respondent from the computer industry.
"Foreign exchange is reducing revenue, but volume has remained consistent," said one from the chemicals sector.
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