ISM Sees Growth in Both Manufacturing, Services

Washington, DC, May 8, 2008--According to the U.S. Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Spring 2008 Semi-Annual Economic Forecast, the manufacturing sector is expected to grow marginally and the non-manufacturing sector will have sustainable growth.

Revenues and capital investment in the manufacturing sector are expected to rise 1 percent in 2008 with capacity utilization at 78.6 percent. Revenues in the non-manufacturing sector are expected to increase 2.7 percent, which are the same as projections for capital investment. Capacity utilization in the services sector are expected at 85.9 percent.

The report also said that manufacturing sector expects an average 8.5 percent increase in prices in 2008 with service sector prices rising an average 6.7 percent.

The manufacturing sector is also expected to see a 2.9 percent increase in employment versus the non-manufacturing sector's 0.7 percent increase.