The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose from 52.7 in November to 53.9 in December, its highest point since June. After experiencing some weaknesses in July and August, the PMI has risen gradually the remaining months of the year. Still, the index has been over 50 – its threshold for expansion – every month since August 2009.

Overall, these figures suggest that manufacturing activity has started to pick up some steam – a good sign as we move into 2012. The index for new orders rose from 56.7 to 57.6 for the month, suggesting growth in future activity. In addition, indicators for production, employment, exports and imports were also higher in December. Inventories, which fell from 48.3 to 47.1, were one of the few areas to contract.

Many of the sample comments from respondents to the survey reflected this positivity. One manufacturer said, “Our business is stable with a very good outlook for 2012.” Yet, others noted some unease moving forward. A computer and electronic products manufacturer, for instance, wrote, “Continued conservative hiring, with tight discretionary spending controls due to slower growth expectations for 2012, driven by Euro sovereign debt concerns and lack of viable U.S. legislative process through the 2012 election.”

These anxieties will continue over the coming months, especially as European and U.S. policymakers struggle with solutions to their respective fiscal challenges. But, it is notable that most of the respondents were more positive than negative, and the fact that the employment variable moved higher is a welcome sign for the industry. It suggests that increased activity will hopefully lead to higher manufacturing employment in the coming months. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release new data on Friday for December employment.)

In the end, today’s ISM figures are a sign that manufacturers have become more optimistic about activity. We have seen this in other surveys, as well, including the regional surveys that were released last week.

Chad Moutray is chief economist, National Association of Manufacturers.

Traveling across the country Saturday, we had the opportunity to read local newspaper stories reacting to the ISM’s December Manufacturing Report. Grim.

AP national story, and the New York Times writes, “Manufacturing Reports Show Depth of Global Downturn.” Grim.

Creighton University’s Ernie Goss uses the ISM methodology to rank the economies midwestern states, so here’s that story, “Survey: Recession will worsen in the months ahead,” and the sidebar,”Mid-America survey state-by-state glance.” Grim.

But then, instead of grimmer, a glimmer. From the New York Times, “Some Forecasters See a Fast Economic Recovery“:

In the midst of the deepest recession in the experience of most Americans, many professional forecasters are optimistically heading into the new year declaring that the worst may soon be over.

For this rosy picture to play out, they are counting on the Obama administration and Congress to come through with a substantial stimulus package, at least $675 billion over two years.

They say that will get the economy moving again in the face of persistently weak spending by consumers and businesses, not to mention banks that are reluctant to extend credit.

Even with the conditions, we’ll take the offering of optimism.