Paul Krugman usually is not this buoyant in his economic analyses, but in the NYTimes today he has good things to say about prospects for the manufacturing sector of the US economy. This should be of interest in Lowell, given our history, and assuming that we will need a strong manufacturing sector in both Massachusetts and Lowell to achieve and maintain a stable economy. Read Krugman’s observations here, and get the NYT if you want more.

Close to home, Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday toured the Acme Packet hardware and software company in Bedford, Mass., which plans to hire 180 more people and double the size of its operations in Bedford. Read about it is the Boston Herald, and get the Herald if you want more local business news like this.