[Willie Green]

A reading of 50 or above in the index means the manufacturing sector is expanding, while a figure below 50 represents a contraction.

Not true. This index is based on a survey.
Only those factories that remain open are included.
As factories continue to shut-down and relocate offshore, they are dropped from the survey, falsely skewing and inflating the index for those that remain.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Not true. This index is based on a survey. Only those factories that remain open are included. As factories continue to shut-down and relocate offshore, they are dropped from the survey, falsely skewing and inflating the index for those that remain.

Willie is absolutely correct. We need to get back to the good old days of the 1950's when we produced much more and didn't buy anything from those nasty foreigners. As you can see from the graph, the 1950's were much better...err...never mind.

Don't let the facts get in the way of your point Willie.