ISM Manu. Index Records Decrease for Feb., Remains Positive

Tempe, AZ, March 4, 2019- The February Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) registered 54.2%, an decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the January reading of 56.6%, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. 

The New Orders Index registered 55.5%, a decrease of 2.7 percentage points from the January reading of 58.2%. 

The Production Index registered 54.8%, 5.7-percentage point decrease compared to the January reading of 60.5%. 

The Employment Index registered 52.3%, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points from the January reading of 55.5%. 

The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 54.9%, a 1.3 percentage point decrease from the January reading of 56.2%. 

The Inventories Index registered 53.4%, an increase of 0.6 percentage point from the January reading of 52.8%. 

The Prices Index registered 49.4%, a 0.2-percentage point decrease from the January reading of 49.6%, indicating lower raw materials prices for the second straight month after nearly three years of increases.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in February, in the following order: printing & related support activities; textile mills; computer & electronic products; electrical equipment, appliances & components; fabricated metal products; paper products; wood products; primary metals; chemical products; food, beverage & tobacco products; miscellaneous manufacturing; petroleum & coal products; transportation equipment; machinery; furniture & related products; and plastics & rubber products. The only industry reporting contraction in February is nonmetallic mineral products.