March 2014 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business - PMI At 53.7%

April 1, 2014

New Orders, Employment and Production Growing, Inventories Growing, Supplier Deliveries Slowing

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the 10th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 58th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.  The report was issued today by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

Manufacturing expanded in March as the PMI registered 53.7 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage points when compared to February's reading of 53.2 percent.  A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A PMI in excess of 43.2 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.  Therefore, the March PMI indicates growth for the 58th consecutive month in the overall economy, and indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 10th consecutive month.  Holcomb stated, "The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through March (52.7 percent) corresponds to a 3.1 percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis.  In addition, if the PMI for March (53.7 percent) is annualized, it corresponds to a 3.5 percent increase in real GDP annually."

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 14 are reporting growth in March.

Source: Institute For Supply Management