Manufacturing activity grew for the fifth consecutive month in June and the overall economy for the eighth month in a row.

The U.S. International Trade Commission determined on June 20 that no U.S. industry has been injured by imports of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from China.

Frost & Sullivan released a study that projects a boom in desalination plants in Asia.

Thomas Register's survey found that industrial buyer satisfaction with online purchasing has more than doubled over the last three years.

Northwest Pipe Co. announced an agreement to purchase a new state-of-the-art spiral weld pipe mill from Wilson Byard Ltd. of Scotland.

Dresser Inc. has acquired Modern Supply of Ponca City, OK.

Sharon Tube is adding a new ERW mill capable of producing large outside diameters and heavier walls.

The Federation of International Trade Associations has a site for international trade resources at http://fita.org/webindex/.

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry recently reached out-of-court settlements with two companies, B&W International of Brooklyn, and LEO International of Glendale, NY, for importing and selling cast iron soil pipe bearing Charlotte's Red End registered trademark.

Economic growth will continue in the second half of 2002, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their 63rd Semiannual Forecast.