Here, let me help them:
"U.S. manufacturing unexpectedly shrank in June for the first time in nearly two years, a troubling sign that the economy is faltering.
Much better!
It also appears they have forgotten to count. IMHO, July, 2009 to July, 2012 is three years, not two.
FWIW, I just went back to the original article and it now says three years. AP must have dusted off their abacus to double check :)