U.S. manufacturing snaps back; resurgence in COVID-19 cases seen slowing momentum

WASHINGTON — U.S. factory output rose by the most in more than 74 years in June as motor vehicle production accelerated amid the reopening of businesses, but the nascent recovery in manufacturing activity was overshadowed by surging new COVID-19 infections. That was underscored by other data Wednesday showing factory activity in New York state rising in July, though manufacturers were less optimistic about business conditions over the next six months. Businesses have resumed operations after being shuttered in mid-March in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But there has been a resurgence in new infections of the respiratory illness, especially in the highly populated...