UNITED States manufacturing rose slightly in May, a survey showed yesterday, though the pace was still sluggish and suggested the sector may be a drag on the economy in the second quarter.

Financial data firm Markit said its final Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index rose to 52.3 in May from 52.1 in April, which was better than the preliminary reading of 51.9.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Growth in output eased for the third straight month, with the sub-index slipping to 52.7 from 53.7, while the pace of hiring in the sector fell to a six-month low.

"The survey paints a downbeat picture of manufacturing business conditions. Output, order books and employment are all growing modestly, suggesting the sector is at risk of stalling," said Chris Williamson, Markit chief economist.

The gauge of new orders from domestic clients rose to 53.3 from 51.5, helping the main index improve slightly on April's result. That also helped make up for a decline in overseas orders, which fell for the first time in three months.

Williamson said slower growth in the factory sector was likely to contribute to weaker economic growth in the second quarter.

The economy expanded 2.4 percent between January and March, a hefty jump over 0.4 percent in the final three months of 2012.

But economists suspect a manufacturing slowdown and a drop in government spending could sap it of momentum in the second quarter, repeating a pattern seen over the past two years.

The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing PMI for April showed the sector's growth slowed. The May report, due later yesterday, was expected to show the sector remained sluggish.

Consumer spending also fell in April for the first time in nearly a year and price pressures were subdued, suggesting the Federal Reserve may have to maintain its monetary stimulus for a while yet.

The Markit index found that goods-producing firms reported higher input prices in May.