Manufacturing Continues To Expand in March

Washington, DC, April 1, 2011 -- The U.S. manufacturing sector posted its 20th consecutive month of expansion in March, although growth slowed down slightly, according to the Institute for Supply Management index.

The Index fell to 61.2% last month from 61.4% in February, IsM said Friday. Any reading over 50 indicates that more manufacturers are expanding instead of shrinking.

Economists had forecast a reading of 61.3% last month from 61.4% in February. Last month, the index hit the highest level since May 2004.