ISM Manufacturing Index Slips in September

U.S. manufacturing activity declined in September but continued to show expansion, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday.

ISM’s monthly factory index fell to a 54.4 reading, from 56.3 in August, the group said. Figures of more than 50 indicate expansion.

The reading was within the range of economists’ forecasts, Bloomberg reported.

Orders and production readings fell to the lowest levels in more than a year.

The ISM factory index measures manufacturing components of the economy.