November Purchasing Managers’ Index Rose to 59.3%

Tempe, AZ, December 3, 2018-The November Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) registered 59.3%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the October reading of 57.7%, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. 

The New Orders Index registered 62.1%, an increase of 4.7 percentage points from the October reading of 57.4%. 

The Production Index registered 60.6%, a 0.7 percentage-point increase compared to the October reading of 59.9%. 

The Employment Index registered 58.4%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the October reading of 56.8%. 

The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 62.5%, a 1.3-percentage point decrease from the October reading of 63.8%. 

The Inventories Index registered 52.9%, an increase of 2.2 percentage points from the October reading of 50.7%. 

The Prices Index registered 60.7%, a 10.9-percentage point decrease from the October reading of 71.6%, indicating higher raw materials prices for the 33rd consecutive month.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 13 reported growth in November, in the following order: computer & electronic products; plastics & rubber products; paper products; textile mills; electrical equipment, appliances & components; miscellaneous manufacturing; machinery; transportation equipment; chemical products; food, beverage & tobacco products; apparel, leather & allied products; furniture & related products; and petroleum & coal products. The three industries reporting contraction in November are printing & related support activities; nonmetallic mineral products; and primary metals.