By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. manufacturing firms said business improved in November for the fourth straight month, but at a slower pace than in October, the Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday. The ISM manufacturing index fell to 53.6% from 55.7% in October. Readings over 50% indicate more firms said they were growing than said they were contracting. In November, 12 of 18 industries were expanding. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were looking for the index to pull back to 55% in November. The new orders index rose to 60.3% from 58.5% in October. The production index fell to 59.9% from 63.3% in October. The employment index fell to 50.8% from 53.1% in October. The inventories index fell to 41.3% from 46.9% n October.
