US Manufacturing Rises Nearly Three Points in January

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- U.S. manufacturing jumped in January to its highest level since last April, the Institute for Supply Management reported Friday.

The index rose 2.9 points to 53.1 last month as factories are seeing a greater demand for goods.  Anything over the 50 percent mark indicates growth.

Economists say the second-month-in-a-row gain shows the economy is starting to thrive again after struggling most of last year.

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