Manufacturing activity improves as employment jumps

(Nov. 1, 2012) -- Activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in October for the second straight increase in activity following three consecutive monthly declines, RBC Economics reported today. Construction spending in the United States rose by 0.6 percent in September, however, the pace of manufacturing growth in Canada is the weakest in nine months. U.S. private employment, as measured by the ADP employment report, rose 158,000 in October, and initial unemployment claims fell by 9,000 last week.