Daylife/Getty Images used by permission

Companies in the U.S. expanded in January at the fastest pace in more than four years as orders and employment increased.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago Inc. said today its business barometer climbed to 61.5, the highest level since November 2005, from 58.7 last month. Readings greater than 50 signal expansion.

Government stimulus has spurred gains in demand here and abroad that are reducing inventories, paving the way for manufacturers to step up output. Ford Motor Co. is among companies that are beginning to hire again, setting the stage for stronger spending in coming months…

The group’s gauge of orders climbed to 66.4 from 64.4 the prior month and its measure of employment jumped to 59.8, the highest level since April 2005, from 47.6…

Economists watch the Chicago index for an early reading on the outlook for overall U.S. manufacturing…

The world’s largest economy expanded at a 5.7 percent pace from October through December, its fastest growth in six years, the Commerce Department reported today. Economists surveyed this month forecast the world’s largest economy will grow 2.7 percent this year.

Everything from planning to investing, economics to traffic management decisions depends on accurate information, useful forecasting.

People who fear learning, who distrust information sources that aren’t ideological – or ideologically friendly – probably didn’t get this far in the post.




  1. NoEtard says:

    Must be Bush’s fault, eh E-Tard? Oh wait….

  2. jpfitz says:

    The only reason for this increase is the manufacturing of weapon systems which will be sold to foreign countries.

    Typically this time of year is slow going for machine shops.

  3. Breetai says:

    “Government stimulus has spurred gains in demand here and abroad that are reducing inventories, paving the way for manufacturers to step up output.”

    Where’s the BEEF you lying mother fuckers!? Just More jobless recovery BS.

  4. Guyver says:

    3, They likely meant Chinese manufacturing.

  5. Father says:

    “Everything from planning to investing, economics to traffic management decisions depends on accurate information, useful forecasting.”

    Claiming to be able to forcast the future, using past data, is a fool’s errand.

  6. Alf says:

    When ever the expression “largest economy in the world” is used we all should remember that means we are spending more than any other country on crap.

    #2 & #4 are right. We are trying to sell weapon systems to Taiwan…China is not happy.

  7. chris says:

    Let’s hope so, but I don’t know if that 5.7% gdp growth number is going to hold up.

  8. deowll says:

    #7 has a point. It also looks like companies have done what the need to do to get along without a lot of former employees. That figures because the cost of employees went up and looks to be going up even more. You’ve got to watch the bottom line. If you can’t buy influence and government favors you are on your own.

    As much money as has been spent you would expect something to happen.They could have dropped payroll taxes for a year for what the last stimulus package contains.

    It is interesting to note that Ford is one of the companies doing better? What happened to GM and Crapped out?

  9. Cap'nKangaroo says:

    Look at the guys in the picture. Must be an economist testifying. They could make the raunchiest, bodice-ripping romance novel sound dry and uninteresting.

  10. Moneybags jones says:

    Ahh humm…Yeah We heard this before Mr. Bernanke, but 8 Trillion handed to the administration by the one and only “W’? is something..Thanks.


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