West Coast ports slowdown derails manufacturing

U.S. manufacturers stumbled in February, hurt by a mix of weakness in overseas economies and a West Coast ports slowdown.

The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that supply disruptions stemming from the West Coast ports labor strife pulled down its top-line purchasing managers’ index to 52.9 in February, from 53.5 in January. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline in the index, though its above 50 indicates the sector remains in expansion.

More from the Wall St. Journal.