The manufacturing sector grew faster in March than expected on the heels of strong production activity and new orders, according to the Institute for Supply Management survey released on Monday. The March data, though, should not so much be seen as a sign of strength to come but rather as a catchup ... READ MORE >
ISM manufacturing index
Softer economic data helps ease inflation concerns
The softer data in manufacturing activities, construction spending and consumer sentiment at the beginning of the year should alleviate some of the recent concerns regarding the rebound in inflation. The manufacturing sector, as indicated by the ISM manufacturing index, has been in contraction mode for ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector in U.S. contracts in November
The manufacturing sector contracted for the second month in a row in November as lower overall demand and persistent labor shortages took their toll, the Institute for Supply Management reported on Friday. The overall index stayed unchanged at 46.7%, implying a decline. Any figure below 48.7% indicates ... READ MORE >
Job openings top estimates amid sharp drop in manufacturing
Job openings edged up in September as labor demand remained strong, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday. The manufacturing sector, according to a separate report from the Institute for Supply Management, declined at a faster rate than expected on falling employment and new ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sentiment improves for the first time in nearly a year
The manufacturing sector in September expanded for the first time in 10 months on the heels of the strongest production growth since last summer, the Institute for Supply Management reported on Monday. We believe the sector has passed its bottom and is on an upward trend, given the tailwinds of higher ... READ MORE >
Contraction in manufacturing eased in August
The contraction in manufacturing sector eased in August, fueled by record spending on new plants in July. The data adds to signals that the manufacturing sector is nearing a bottom and that a rebound is not too far away. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 47.6 in August, up from ... READ MORE >
New data points to further economic slowdown and disinflation
Economic data released on Tuesday suggested that the economy is continuing to slow as the labor market loosened, price gains eased and manufacturing contracted in June and July. Indicators came in lower than expected, implying that while the economy has remained resilient, it has lost some ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector shrinks again in February amid falling demand
The manufacturing sector contracted for the third straight month as higher borrowing costs continued to affect demand. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index in February was 47.7, remaining below the long-term breakeven point of 48.7. An index above 48.7 indicates an ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector nears contraction
The manufacturing sector grew for the 30th month in a row but barely hovered above contraction in November, according to data released by the Institute for Supply Management on Thursday. The ISM’s overall index slowed to 49%, barely above the contraction threshold at 48.7%. It was the third straight ... READ MORE >
Job openings and manufacturing production grow more than expected
Job openings came in hotter than expected in September, suggesting that the imbalance in the labor market will take longer to resolve than originally anticipated. There were 1.9 job vacancies for each unemployed worker, near a record high, according to data from the Labor Department released ... READ MORE >