Compiled ByTraci Purdum New orders for factory goods and growing production made for another positive month in manufacturing. Indeed, the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index rose to 56.2% in June. The June figure was the fifth consecutive monthly increase in the index and 0.5 percentage points above the 55.7% recorded in May of this year. "The growth in manufacturing activity accelerated slightly during June," says Norbert J. Ore, group director for strategic sourcing and procurement at Georgia-Pacific Corp. and chairperson of ISM's manufacturing business survey committee. "Steel price increases are drawing a lot of attention from supply managers, and while energy prices have moderated, they are still a concern. Transportation and equipment; furniture; and textiles report a strong upswing in hiring during June. Overall, June was a good month for U.S. manufacturing." A mark above 50% on the index indicates the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy is growing; a figure below 50% signals contraction. Of the 20 manufacturing industries included in the index, 15 registered growth last month. They were: textiles; glass, stone and aggregate; furniture; paper; transportation and equipment; printing and publishing; chemicals; wood and wood products; fabricated metals; food; instruments and photographic equipment; rubber and plastic products; industrial and commercial equipment and computers; primary metals; and miscellaneous (jewelry, toys, sporting goods and musical instruments).