October Purchasing Managers' Index Edged Up to 48.3%

Tempe, AZ, November 1, 2019-The October Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 48.3%, an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the September reading of 47.8%, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. 

The New Orders Index registered 49.1%, an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the September reading of 47.3%. The Production Index registered 46.2%, down 1.1 percentage points compared to the September reading of 47.3%. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 44.1%, down 1 percentage point compared to the September reading of 45.1%. The Employment Index registered 47.7%, a 1.4-percentage point increase from the September reading of 46.3%. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 49.5%, a 1.6-percentage point decrease from the September reading of 51.1%. The Inventories Index registered 48.9%, an increase of 2 percentage points from the September reading of 46.9%. The Prices Index registered 45.5%, a 4.2-percentage point decrease from the September reading of 49.7%. The New Export Orders Index registered 50.4%, a 9.4-percentage point increase from the September reading of 41%. The Imports Index registered 45.3%, a 2.8-percentage point decrease from the September reading of 48.1%.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, five reported growth in October: furniture & related products; printing & related support activities; food, beverage & tobacco products; wood products; and computer & electronic products. The 12 industries reporting contraction in October-in the following order-are primary metals; apparel, leather & allied products; textile mills; transportation equipment; plastics & rubber products; machinery; chemical products; petroleum & coal products; electrical equipment, appliances & components; fabricated metal products; miscellaneous manufacturing; and paper products.