January manufacturing growth slows
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the eighth consecutive month.
The latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business showed the January PMI registered 51.3 percent, a decrease of 5.2 percentage points when compared to December's seasonally adjusted reading of 56.5 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
The New Orders Index registered 51.2 percent, a significant decrease of 13.2 percentage points from December's seasonally adjusted reading of 64.4 percent. The Production Index registered 54.8 percent, a decrease of 6.9 percentage points compared to December's seasonally adjusted reading of 61.7 percent.
"A number of comments from the panel cite adverse weather conditions as a factor negatively impacting their businesses in January, while others reflect optimism and increasing volumes in the early stages of 2014," said Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
