The U.S. manufacturing sector rose unexpectedly last month, after three consecutive months of contraction, indicating industry within the sector are stabilizing. The Institute for Supply Management reported that the ISM manufacturing PMI rocketed to 51.5, up from 49.6 in August, while analysts had expected factory index to remain under 50, a level which indicates industry contraction, for the fourth straight month, at 49.7.
"This report removes some of the concern that manufacturing is contracting, even though we're definitely seeing slower growth," said Gus Faucher, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services Group Inc. in Pittsburgh.