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U.N. says greenhouse gases reach record high in 2008
Strickland to veto casino rule if local control not protected
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo
Mauer near-unanimous pick for American League MVP
Man pleads not guilty in ESPN reporter videos case
Mom says son in coma heard everything for 23 years
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Burglars going to the dogs; reports from Akron police - Nov. 23
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Browns find another way to lose
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Kangaroo tries to drown dog, attacks owner
Browns lose game they never should have lost
City, county may ban bias based on sexual orientation
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Sunday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns sick after sick loss in Detroit
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Post-game defensive quotes
Kent State Sports:
Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (70) Savings in Medicare Advantage
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press economics writer
POSTED: 11:26 a.m. EDT, May 02, 2008
WASHINGTON: U.S. factories saw demand for their products rebound in March, following a two-month slump.
The Commerce Department reported today that orders placed with U.S. manufacturers rose 1.4 percent in March. That was an improvement from the 0.9 percent dip reported in February and the 2.3 percent drop in January.
The latest snapshot of manufacturing activity was better than many economists were forecasting. They were predicting a smaller, 0.2 percent rise in orders.
Most of the pickup in March came from ''nondurable'' goods — a broad category including food, paper products, and petroleum and coal products. Orders for nondurables rose 2.6 percent in March, following a 1.1 percent drop in February. Higher prices factored into the rise.
Meanwhile, demand for ''durable'' goods, big-ticket items, including airplanes, machinery and cars, edged up 0.1 percent in March, compared with a 0.6 percent decline in the previous month.
A more forward-looking report, released Thursday, said that manufacturing activity contracted in April. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing barometer held steady at 48.6 last month, unchanged from March. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while a reading above 50 signals growth.
Factories — especially those making things related to housing — have been hit hard by the collapse of the once high-flying housing market. Demand at home for building materials and furnishings has taken a hit.
On the other hand, U.S. exports of goods and services has been thriving, one of the main reasons why the economy managed to keep afloat in the first three months of this year. The falling value of the dollar has made U.S. merchandise less expensive and thus more attractive to foreign buyers.
Still, U.S. factories are managing to meet customers' demands with fewer workers.
A Labor Department report released today showed that manufacturers continued to shed jobs, cutting 46,000 in April alone.
WASHINGTON: U.S. factories saw demand for their products rebound in March, following a two-month slump.
The Commerce Department reported today that orders placed with U.S. manufacturers rose 1.4 percent in March. That was an improvement from the 0.9 percent dip reported in February and the 2.3 percent drop in January.
The latest snapshot of manufacturing activity was better than many economists were forecasting. They were predicting a smaller, 0.2 percent rise in orders.
Most of the pickup in March came from ''nondurable'' goods — a broad category including food, paper products, and petroleum and coal products. Orders for nondurables rose 2.6 percent in March, following a 1.1 percent drop in February. Higher prices factored into the rise.
Meanwhile, demand for ''durable'' goods, big-ticket items, including airplanes, machinery and cars, edged up 0.1 percent in March, compared with a 0.6 percent decline in the previous month.
A more forward-looking report, released Thursday, said that manufacturing activity contracted in April. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing barometer held steady at 48.6 last month, unchanged from March. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while a reading above 50 signals growth.
Factories — especially those making things related to housing — have been hit hard by the collapse of the once high-flying housing market. Demand at home for building materials and furnishings has taken a hit.
On the other hand, U.S. exports of goods and services has been thriving, one of the main reasons why the economy managed to keep afloat in the first three months of this year. The falling value of the dollar has made U.S. merchandise less expensive and thus more attractive to foreign buyers.
Still, U.S. factories are managing to meet customers' demands with fewer workers.
A Labor Department report released today showed that manufacturers continued to shed jobs, cutting 46,000 in April alone.
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