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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Manufacturing activity contracted again in April for the third straight month, the Institute for Supply Management reported Thursday. The ISM index was steady at 48.6% in April, the same as in March. Economists were looking for a decline to 48.0%. Readings under 50% indicate more firms are contracting than expanding. The new-orders index was steady at 46.5% in April. The employment index fell to 45.4% in April from 49.2% in March. The prices index rose to 84.5% in April from 83.5% in March.