Manufacturing growth slowed in December
Manufacturing expanded in December, as the Institute for Supply Management's purchasing index registered 54.1 percent, a decrease of 5.2 percentage points from the November reading of 59.3 percent.
“This indicates growth in manufacturing for the 28th consecutive month. The PMI recorded a substantial softening in December and retreated to a level not seen since November 2016, when it registered 53.4 percent,” said Timothy R. Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.
A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
“Comments from the panel reflect continued expanding business strength, but at much lower levels. Demand softened, with the New Orders Index retreating to recent low levels, the Customers’ Inventories Index remaining too low — a positive heading into the first quarter of 2019 — and the Backlog of Orders declining to a zero-expansion level," Fiore said.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
