Purchasing Managers Index Slid 7.6 Points in March

Tempe, AZ, May 1, 2020-The April Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) registered 41.5%, down 7.6 percentage points from the March reading of 49.1%, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

The New Orders Index registered 27.1%, a decrease of 15.1 percentage points from the March reading of 42.2%. The Production Index registered 27.5%, down 20.2 percentage points compared to the March reading of 47.7%. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 37.8%, a decrease of 8.1 percentage points compared to the March reading of 45.9%. The Employment Index registered 27.5%, a decrease of 16.3 percentage points from the March reading of 43.8%. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 76%, up 11 percentage points from the March reading of 65 percent, limiting the decrease in the composite PMI.

The 15 industries reporting contraction in April, in order, are printing & related support activities; furniture & related products; transportation equipment; textile mills; fabricated metal products; nonmetallic mineral products; machinery; plastics & rubber products; electrical equipment, appliances & components; petroleum & coal products; wood products; miscellaneous manufacturing; computer & electronic products; primary metals; and chemical products.