Purchasing Managers Index Down Slightly to 50.9% in February

Tempe, AZ, March 2, 2020-The February Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) registered 50.1%, down 0.8 percentage point from the January reading of 50.9%, according to the Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. 

The New Orders Index registered 49.8%, a decrease of 2.2 percentage points from the January reading of 52%. 

The Production Index registered 50.3%, down 4 percentage points compared to the January reading of 54.3%. 

The Backlog of Orders Index registered 50.3%, an increase of 4.6 percentage points compared to the January reading of 45.7%. 

The Employment Index registered 46.9%, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the January reading of 46.6%. 

The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 57.3%, up 4.4 percentage points from the January reading of 52.9%. 

The Inventories Index registered 46.5%, 2.3 percentage points lower than the January reading of 48.8%. 

The Prices Index registered 45.9%, down 7.4 percentage points as compared to the January reading of 53.3%. 

The New Export Orders Index registered 51.2%, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points as compared to the January reading of 53.3%. 

The Imports Index registered 42.6%, an 8.7-percentage point decrease from the January reading of 51.3%.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the 14 that reported growth in February-listed in order-are wood products; furniture & related products; plastics & rubber products; printing & related support activities; paper products; textile mills; primary metals; food, beverage & tobacco products; computer & electronic products; miscellaneous manufacturing; electrical equipment, appliances & components; fabricated metal products; machinery; and chemical products. The three industries reporting contraction in February are petroleum & coal products; transportation equipment; and nonmetallic mineral products.