ISM, the Institute for Supply Management, provided mixed news in its Report On Business^® for August, 2010.  According to ISM, the PMI Index for the manufacturing sector rose 0.8% from July to 56.3 for August.  The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “Manufacturing activity continued at a very positive rate in August as the PMI rose slightly when compared to July. In terms of month-over-month improvement, the Production and Employment Indexes experienced the greatest gains, while new orders continued to grow but at a slightly slower rate. August represents the 13th consecutive month of growth in U.S. manufacturing.” For full details, visit the ISM website at www.ism.ws