WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Activity among the nation's manufacturing firms in July slowed to the worst level since December, according to a closely followed survey of top executives released Monday.
The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index fell to 55.5% in July from 56.2% in June. This was above the 55.0% expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch but the third decline in succession. See calendar and forecasts of all major U.S. indicators. Stocks added to their climb after the report was released because the headline was better than expected.
