No matter what data you look at, manufacturing in the U.S. continues to increase. Sales for all U.S. manufacturers exceeded $1.69 trillion in the 1st quarter of 2012. In comparison, 1st quarter sales of manufacturing goods had falling to about $1.2 trillion at the deepest point of the ‘great recession’ in 2009.
Manufacturing levels have reached, and slightly exceeded pre-recession economic output in nominal or non-inflation adjusted terms. Before the recession, manufacturing 1st quarter sales were at $1.6 trillion in nominal or non-inflation adjusted terms.
So where is a good source for manufacturing output information?
http://www.census.gov/econ/manufacturing.html
The U.S. Census industry portal is also a good source
http://www.census.gov/econ/isp/