PMI® at 54.2%; February Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

New Orders, Production, and Employment Growing

Supplier Deliveries Slowing at Slower Rate; Backlog Growing

Raw Materials Inventories Growing; Customers' Inventories Too Low

Prices Decreasing; Exports and Imports Growing

TEMPE, Ariz., March 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February, and the overall economy grew for the 118th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM^® Report On Business^®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management^® (ISM^®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: "The February PMI^® registered 54.2 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the January reading of 56.6 percent. The New Orders Index registered 55.5 percent, a decrease of 2.7 percentage points from the January reading of 58.2 percent. The Production Index registered 54.8 percent, 5.7-percentage point decrease compared to the January reading of 60.5 percent. The Employment Index registered 52.3 percent, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points from the January reading of 55.5 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 54.9 percent, a 1.3 percentage point decrease from the January reading of 56.2 percent. The Inventories Index registered 53.4 percent, an increase of 0.6 percentage point from the January reading of 52.8 percent. The Prices Index registered 49.4 percent, a 0.2-percentage point decrease from the January reading of 49.6 percent, indicating lower raw materials prices for the second straight month after nearly three years of increases.

"Comments from the panel reflect continued expanding business strength, supported by notable demand and output, although both were softer than the prior month. Demand expansion continued with the New Orders Index reaching the mid-50s, the Customers' Inventories Index scoring lower and remaining too low, and the Backlog of Orders returning to a low 50's expansion level. Consumption (production and employment) continued to expand, but fell a combined 8.9 points from the previous month's levels. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries, inventories and imports — stabilized at a mid 50's level and had a slight negative impact on the PMI^®. Inputs continue to reflect an easing business environment, confirmed by Prices Index contraction.

"Exports continue to expand, at slightly stronger rates compared to January. The manufacturing sector continues to expand, but inputs and prices indicate easing of supply chain constraints," says Fiore.

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

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

• "Strong domestics market. Slow export markets." (Paper Products)
• "Demand remains healthy at the beginning of 2019. However, growing concerns for what could be another round of tariffs in March are further escalating price increases of already constrained electronic components. Expect to see increased lead times and prices throughout Q1 and Q2." (Computer & Electronic Products)
• "Strong start to the year, though weather has been a challenge." (Chemical Products)
• "Still fairly steady with production and services." (Transportation Equipment)
• "Economy showing general strength, especially in manufacturing. Cost pressures and tariff challenges persist but are manageable. General outlook is for stability and potential improvement in the second half of 2019." (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)
• "Orders remain strong. Supplier delivery continues to be challenged on some commodities." (Machinery)
• "Aerospace engine-related business continues to be strong. Energy and general industry-related business is flat to down." (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)
• "Business so far this year is meeting, but not exceeding, our forecast. We are concerned about indicators showing a slight recession for the second half of the calendar year." (Fabricated Metal Products)
• "Uncertainty of steel prices due to Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and lack of resolution of the anti-dumping trade cases." (Petroleum & Coal Products)
• "General business conditions started to slow at the end of January, continuing through February." (Plastics and Rubber Products)

Manufacturing ISM^® Report On Business^® data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Supplier Deliveries Indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum*; Electronic Components (7); Paper-Based Products; Plastic Components; Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (2); Steel* (6); Steel — Hot Rolled* (2) and Steel Products* (10).

Commodities Down in Price
Aluminum* (5); Caustic Soda (5); Memory (2); Oil; Steel* (6); Steel — Hot Rolled* (6); and Steel Products* (2).

Commodities in Short Supply
Capacitors (20); Electronic Components (10); and Resistors (16).

The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
*Indicates both up and down in price.

FEBRUARY 2019 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

PMI^®
Manufacturing expanded in February, as the PMI^® registered 54.2 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the January reading of 56.6 percent. "This indicates growth in manufacturing for the 30th consecutive month. The PMI^® reversed a January increase in expansion primarily through an expansion softening of a combined 8.9 points in production and employment. The index reached its lowest level of expansion since November 2016, when the PMI^® measured 53 percent," says Fiore. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A PMI^® above 42.9 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the February PMI^® indicates growth for the 118th consecutive month in the overall economy and 30th straight month of growth in the manufacturing sector. "The past relationship between the PMI^® and the overall economy indicates that the PMI^® for February (54.2 percent) corresponds to a 3.3-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis," says Fiore.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

New Orders
ISM^®'s New Orders Index registered 55.5 percent in February, which is a decrease of 2.7 percentage points when compared to the 58.2 percent reported for January, indicating growth in new orders for the 38th consecutive month. "Customer demand expansion softened compared to January, with four of the top six industry sectors expanding," says Fiore. A New Orders Index above 52.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

Thirteen of 18 industries reported growth in new orders in February, in the following order: Wood Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Paper Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery. The only industry reporting a decrease in new orders in February is Nonmetallic Mineral Products.

Production
ISM^®'s Production Index registered 54.8 percent in February, which is a decrease of 5.7 percentage points when compared to the 60.5 percent reported for January, indicating growth in production for the 30th consecutive month. "Production expansion continued in February, but at a slower pace compared to January. Production was not able to keep pace with customer-inventory demand and was not able to prevent a growth in backlog orders. Weather conditions causing factory shutdowns may have contributed to the weaker expansion performance," says Fiore. An index above 51.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production figures.

The 12 industries reporting growth in production during the month of February — listed in order — are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Machinery. The four industries reporting a decrease in production in February are: Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Furniture & Related Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products.

Employment
ISM^®'s Employment Index registered 52.3 percent in February, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points when compared to the January reading of 55.5 percent. This indicates growth in employment in February for the 29th consecutive month. "Employment continued to expand, but at the lowest level since November 2016, when the index registered 51.6 percent," says Fiore. An Employment Index above 50.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

Ten of 18 manufacturing industries reported employment growth in February, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; and Chemical Products. The two industries reporting a decrease in employment in February are: Wood Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Six industries reported no change in employment in February compared to January.

Supplier Deliveries
The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations slowed in February, as the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 54.9 percent. This is 1.3 percentage points lower than the 56.2 percent reported for January. "This is the 36th straight month of slowing supplier deliveries, with the index recording its lowest level of expansion since May 2017, when it registered 54.3 percent. Supplier delivery improvement contributed to slight gains in inventory expansion," says Fiore. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

The 12 industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in February — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Computer & Electronic Products. No industry reported faster supplier deliveries in February. Six industries reported no change in supplier deliveries in February compared to January.

Inventories*
The Inventories Index registered 53.4 percent in February, an increase of 0.6 percentage point from the 52.8 percent reported for January. "Inventories expanded for the 14th consecutive month, at a faster rate than the previous month. This growth is due to continued improvement in supplier delivery performance. Inventory expansion achieved its highest level since August 2018, when the index reached 55.4 percent," says Fiore. An Inventories Index greater than 44.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

The 10 industries reporting higher inventories in February — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Wood Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Paper Products; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. The three industries reporting a decrease in inventories in February are: Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

Customers' Inventories*
ISM^®'s Customers' Inventories Index registered 39 percent in February, which is 3.8 percentage points lower than the 42.8 percent reported for January, indicating that customers' inventory levels were considered too low. "Customers' inventories are too low for the 29th consecutive month and recorded their lowest level since December 2010, when the index registered 39 percent. Low customer inventories continue to represent future production-growth potential," says Fiore.

The only industry reporting customers' inventories as too high during the month of February is Apparel, Leather and Allied Products. The 10 industries reporting customers' inventories as too low during February — listed in order — are: Chemical Products; Machinery; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Paper Products. Six industries reported no change in inventories in February compared to January.

Prices*
The ISM^® Prices Index registered 49.4 percent in February, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the January reading of 49.6 percent, indicating a decrease in raw materials prices for the second straight month. The Prices Index has dropped 22.2 percentage points over the past four months. "Prices contracted for the second straight month. Decreases were reported in aluminum, steel, steel-based products, various chemicals and plastic resins. Steel prices have returned to more normal levels. Price increases and shortages continue for passive electronic components," says Fiore. A Prices Index above 52.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.

Six of the 18 industries reported paying increased prices for raw materials in February, in the following order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Machinery. The eight industries reporting a decrease in prices for raw materials in February — listed in order — are: Furniture & Related Products; Wood Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

Backlog of Orders*
ISM^®'s Backlog of Orders Index registered 52.3 percent in February, which is 2 percentage points higher than the 50.3 percent reported in January, indicating order backlogs grew for the month. "Backlogs expanded during February despite the softening of growth in new orders indicating production struggled to keep up with incoming demand," says Fiore.

The nine industries reporting growth in order backlogs in February — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Machinery. The seven industries reporting a decrease in order backlogs during February in the following order are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Textile Mills; Petroleum & Coal Products; Furniture & Related Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Chemical Products.

New Export Orders*
ISM^®'s New Export Orders Index registered 52.8 percent in February, 1 percentage point higher compared to the January reading of 51.8 percent, indicating growth in new export orders for the 36th consecutive month. "Export orders continued expansion at better rates than the prior month, but still at low levels of expansion, consistent with the prior four months. Two of the six big industry sectors contributed to the expansion," says Fiore.

The seven industries reporting growth in new export orders in February — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; and Plastics & Rubber Products. The two industries reporting a decrease in new export orders in February are: Apparel, Leather and Allied Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Nine industries reported no change in new export orders in February.

Imports*
ISM^®'s Imports Index registered 55.3 percent in February, an increase of 1.5 percentage points when compared to the 53.8 percent reported for January, indicating that imports grew in February for the 25th consecutive month. "Imports expansion improved, reversing a three-month expansion decline that was due in part to continued activity to import prior to the Lunar New Year, as well as to avoid potential tariff increases on March 1. The index recorded its best expansion performance since June 2018, when it achieved 59 percent," says Fiore.

The 13 industries reporting growth in imports during the month of February — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Machinery; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. No industry reported a decrease in imports during February.

*The Inventories, Customers' Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders and Imports Indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy
Average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures decreased by two days in February to 146 days. Average lead time for Production Materials was unchanged at 68 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies decreased by three days to 33 days.