US manufacturing hit a 3-year low in December

Manufacturing in the US is in a bad place.  Markit's latest reading on US manufacturing activity in December fell slightly to 51.2 from a preliminary reading of 51.3, though this reading was better than 51.1 that was estimated. This is the lowest level for the reading since October 2012.  The Institute for Supply Management followed on Monday with its own reading that showed manufacturing in the US is in contraction.  ISM's index came in at 48.2, down from 48.6 in November and below the 49.0 ...