We are confident that 2018 will be a similarly strong year for our industry- starting in 1st quarter where our indicators are all strongly positive.-Net Sales, Lead Times, Employment and Profitability.
PMPA’s Business Trends Index for November 2013 is 116, down 10 points from last month’s value, yet at the highest value we recall for November. November is typically a slow sales month due to seasonal factors. The index is maintaining an average for calendar year 2013 of 122, and for trailing 12 months of 119. …
The good news in todays ISM PMI report is that Manufacturing expanded in June as the PMI™ registered 50.9 percent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points when compared to May’s reading of 49 percent.
The bad news is that ISM’s Employment Index fell 1.4 percentage points to 48.7 percent in June, from 50.1 percent in May. The June decline indicates contraction in employment for the first time since September 2009. We attribute this to the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Net hiring turned negative, job postings declined 3 months straight, separations in August rose, reversing the job gains claimed in July.