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Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the second consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 44th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
The report was issued Friday by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The PMI™ registered 53.1 percent, an increase of 2.9 percentage points from December's seasonally adjusted reading of 50.2 percent, indicating expansion in manufacturing for the second consecutive month. The New Orders Index registered 53.3 percent, an increase of 3.6 percent over December's seasonally adjusted reading of 49.7 percent, indicating growth in new orders. Manufacturing is starting out the year on a positive note, with all five of the PMI™'s component indexes — new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories — registering above 50 percent in January."
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 13 are reporting growth in January in the following order:
- Plastics & Rubber Products
- Textile Mills
- Furniture & Related Products
- Printing & Related Support Activities
- Apparel, Leather & Allied Products
- Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing
- Fabricated Metal Products
- Transportation Equipment
- Petroleum & Coal Products
- Machinery
- Primary Metals
- Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products
The four industries reporting contraction in January are:
- Nonmetallic Mineral Products
- Computer & Electronic Products
- Wood Products
- Chemical Products
Read the full January 2013 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.