Most had expected a drop.The key economic sectors for manufacturing-housing and automotive-have been sluggish and high gas prices were expected to take a toll on consumer spending and new orders to manufacturers.Yet May turned in actual growth for manufacturing.The Tempe,AZ-based Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported an increase it its monthly index-a very reliable gauge-to 55 from 54.7 in April.And ISM's new orders index jumped to 59.6 from 58.5 in April.
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