2014.12.0204:36:24UTC+00US factories maintain strength despite global slowdown

The growth of the manufacturing sector in the US remained strong last month and held near the highest level in three years with the biggest economy in the world beating economic slowdown overseas.

The factor index by the Institute of Supply Management was mostly unchanged for the month of November at 58.7, the second highest since April 2011, from the 59 mark in October. The figures released today indicate that factory activity levels are still expanding by staying above the 50 level the separates growth from contraction.

Over the past four months, domestic demand from American clients has grown to offset the dip from overseas customers. Concerns, however, were raised when retail data for the holiday’s first weekend shopping spree were lower than expected, opening up the possibility of being unable to maintain its current pace in 2015.

US economist Guy Berge from RBS Securities Inc. says that, “Whatever is happening abroad, this sector seems to be shrugging it off. There’s still a fair amount of momentum in the U.S. manufacturing sector.”

Manufacturers in other parts of the world have struggled recently with France, Italy, and Germany seeing their sectors contract in November, based on their purchasing managers’ index. In China, factory shutdowns in anticipation of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum is further slowing down its economy.