US Manufacturing Grows At Fastest Pace In 2½ Years

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing grew in November at the fastest pace in 2½ years as factories ramped up production, stepped up hiring and received orders at a healthy clip.

The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity rose to 57.3. That was up from 56.4 in October and was the highest since April 2011. A reading above 50 signals growth.

One component of the index, a measure of hiring, rose to its highest level in nearly 18 months. And a gauge of export orders reached its highest level in nearly two years. Overseas demand is benefiting from modest recoveries in Europe, Japan and China.

Manufacturing activity has now expanded for six straight months after hitting a rough patch in the spring. The steady gains suggest that growth is remaining healthy in the current October-December quarter.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20131202_ap_4978c48d3b504648b48b0acc2f267984.html#flx0Btf732s7obLS.99

Pottsville Based Yuengling Becomes Largest U.S.-Owned Brewery

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D.G. Yuengling and Son, which proudly bills itself as America’s oldest brewery, has something new to brag about.

The Pottsville company, whose sales surged last year when it entered Ohio, has become the largest American beer-maker by surpassing Boston Beer in 2011 sales.

That’s right. A beer launched by a German immigrant in 1829 to quench the thirst of Pennsylvania coal miners can claim a distinction once held by Anheuser-Busch, maker of the iconic Budweiser brand, which got gobbled up by a Belgian company a few years ago.

It’s a surprising story about how an underdog prevailed while much larger American brewers fell under foreign ownership. Even beer market experts could not have foreseen such rapid changes.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-allentown-yuengling-sales-20120112,0,287571.story

US Manufacturing Grows For 17th Straight Month

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Interesting article from the Lansdale Reporter about manufacturing in the United States.  Easy read, not too long.  Good summary of our nation’s manufacturing status.

http://hosted2.ap.org/PALAP/02db2d7cf27349608ffb3d3ba8872aa0/Article_2011-01-03-Economy%20Manufacturing/id-d18bc859f52a433ea533a7590eccacf0