WASHINGTON—Manufacturing grew in December at the second-fastest pace in more than two years, fueled by a gain in orders that will help propel the U.S. economy in 2014.

CLEVELAND—Thirty-seven percent of metal-forming companies predict that economic activity will improve during the next three months, and 50 percent expect an increase in orders, according to the February Business Conditions Report from the Precision Metalforming Association. That’s an increase from 32 percent in January.

CLEVELAND—Metal-forming companies expect a spike in business during the next three months, according to the latest business conditions report from the Precision Metalforming Association.