U.S. manufacturing activity ended 2020 on a strong note

Engineered Medical Systems Inc., which makes emergency airway kits, tracheostomy tubes, continuous positive airway pressure masks and other respiratory management products, said earlier this year that orders were soaring. (IBJ photo/Eric Learned)

Manufacturing activity grew again in December, ending 2020 at the strongest position it had been all year, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

The ISM manufacturing index stood at 60.7 in December, up from 57.5 in November and 47.8 in December 2019. A number above 50 indicates growth in the manufacturing sector, while a number below 50 indicates contraction.

The index last January and February was just above 50 before plunging to 41.5 in April in the pandemic. The index has increased each month since, with the exception of decreases in September and November.

ISM bases its manufacturing index on a variety of metrics, such as new customer orders, production volumes and employment.•