US manufacturing activity increased in December for a 29th month in a row, along with China's, the Britain's and Australia's, according to the Institute of Supply Management (ISM).
ISM said the purchasing managers' index of US manufacturing activity rose to 53.9, up from 52.7 in November. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.
China's factory output was also up, with the HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index registering an increase to 48.7 in December, up from 47.7 in November, but remained below the growth threshold of 50.
In the UK, factory output according to a survey by Markit Economics and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply increased to 49.6 from a revised 47.7 in November. And over in Australia, the monthly manufacturing index added 2.4 points in December to 50.2, marking its first expansion in six months.
ISM's new orders index grew by 0.9 to 57.6, the third straight month of growth after three months of declines. Prices of raw materials shrank for the third consecutive month, with a December reading of 47.5 after November's 45, it said.
The survey's inventory index registered 47.1 per cent in December, down from 48.3 in November.
"Manufacturing is finishing out the year on a positive note, with new orders, production and employment all growing in December at faster rates than in November, and with an optimistic view towards the beginning of 2012," said ISM's Bradley Holcomb.
