The US manufacturing sector registered a stronger improvement in operating conditions midway through the opening quarter of 2022, according to February PMI data from IHS Markit. Although only modest overall, output rose at a faster pace amid signs of easing supply chain disruption and the sharpest expansion in new orders since last October. Stronger new sales growth spurred manufacturers to increase staffing numbers and boost stocks of purchases. Pressure on capacity softened as backlogs rose at the slowest pace in a year as material shortages eased. Although input costs increased at the slowest pace for nine months, ... (full story)