10/1/2014
New Orders, Employment and Production Growing; Inventories Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the 16th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 64th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
The report was issued today by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “The September PMI registered 56.6 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from August’s reading of 59 percent, indicating continued expansion in manufacturing. The New Orders Index registered 60 percent, a decrease of 6.7 percentage points from the 66.7 percent reading in August, indicating growth in new orders for the 16th consecutive month. The Production Index registered 64.6 percent, 0.1 percentage point above the August reading of 64.5 percent. The Employment Index grew for the 15th consecutive month, registering 54.6 percent, a decrease of 3.5 percentage points below the August reading of 58.1 percent. Inventories of raw materials registered 51.5 percent, a decrease of 0.5 percentage point from the August reading of 52 percent, indicating growth in inventories for the second consecutive month. Comments from the panel reflect a generally positive business outlook, while noting some labor shortages and continuing concern over geopolitical unrest.”
Manufacturing expanded in September as the PMI registered 56.6 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points when compared to August’s reading of 59 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
A PMI in excess of 43.2 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the September PMI indicates growth for the 64th consecutive month in the overall economy, and indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 16th consecutive month. Holcomb stated, “The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through September (55.2 percent) corresponds to a 4.0 percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis. In addition, if the PMI for September (56.6 percent) corresponds is annualized, it corresponds to a 4.4 percent increase in real GDP annually.”
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 15 are reporting growth in September.
Source: Institute for Supply Management
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