Purchasing Managers' Index Fell to 58.7% in October

Tempe, AZ, November 1, 2017-The October Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 58.7%, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from the September reading of 60.8%, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

The New Orders Index registered 63.4%, a decrease of 1.2 percentage points from the September reading of 64.6%.

The Production Index registered 61%, a 1.2 percentage point decrease compared to the September reading of 62.2%.

The Employment Index registered 59.8%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage point from the September reading of 60.3%.

The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 61.4%, a 3 percentage point decrease from the September reading of 64.4%.

The Inventories Index registered 48%, a decrease of 4.5 percentage points from the September reading of 52.5%.

The Prices Index registered 68.5% in October, a 3 percentage point decrease from the September level of 71.5, indicating higher raw materials prices for the 20th consecutive month.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in October, in the following order: Paper Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Wood Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Textile Mills; Chemical Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Primary Metals.

Two industries reported the same level of activity as September.