US factory woes add to pressure on Fed to hold interest rates

Worst manufacturing month for three years could influence central bank chiefs when they meet in three weeks

US factories have suffered their worst month for three years, heaping further pressure on the Federal Reserve to hold off from raising interest rates when it meets next month.

A sharp decline in exports and plunging domestic orders were blamed for the fall in activity for February, making the month the lowest point for US manufacturing since the start of 2013 and joint lowest with October 2009.

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