WASHINGTON: U.S. manufacturing activity expanded at a slower pace in April, indicating that low oil prices and a strong U.S. dollar continue to weigh on the industry, according to statistics released Monday.
The manufacturing index, also known as the purchasing managers’ index, registered 50.8 in April, a decrease of one point from March’s reading of 51.8, the Institute for Supply Management said in a report.
A reading above 50 indicates the sector is generally expanding, while a reading below that level indicates contraction.
The new orders index went down 2.5 points from the previous month to 55.8, while the employment index rose 1.1 points to 49.2, but still below the boom-to-bust 50 level.
The expectations of industries surveyed were mixed, with energy-related companies forecasting slow growth ahead.
Analysts noted that the manufacturing industry is expected to see slow growth in the future due to the lagged effect of dollar appreciation and low oil prices.
